4 Reasons To Watch Historical Slow-Burn Romance C-Drama "The Double"

The latest hit Chinese historical romance drama “The Double” is an adaptation of the novel “The Daughter of the First Wife” by Qian Shan Cha Ke. It tells the story of Xue Fang Fei (Wu Jin Yan), the daughter of a magistrate, whose life takes a drastic turn after a major upheaval. Saved by her benefactor Jiang Li (Yang Chao Yue), the daughter of the Secretary of State, she returns to the capital city under Jiang Li’s identity. With the help of Xiao Heng, Duke Su (Wang Xing Yue), and others, she gradually uncovers the truth behind the incident, clears her father’s name, and upholds justice to protect the country and its people.

“The Double” is an unexpected summer hit, standing out against the highly anticipated “Joy of Life 2” and “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red Moon Pact.” Since its premiere, the series has quickly captured the hearts of drama fans, becoming the top ranking drama on Youku for 2024. The drama ticks all the right boxes: it is fast-paced and revenge-themed, sprinkled with an alluring romance, featuring intelligent leads and an ensemble of complex characters. With beautiful cinematography and high production value, “The Double” hooks audiences from the very beginning to the end. Check out these reasons to watch below and see why you need to add “The Double” to your binge-watch list!

A courageous and intelligent female lead

Xue Fang Fei, the daughter of Xue Huai Yuan, the magistrate of Huaixiang County, is renowned for her talent and virtue. As a loving wife to Shen Yu Rong (Liang Yong Qi), she helped him achieve an official scholarly title, showed unwavering filial piety to her mother-in-law, and dedicated herself entirely to her family. However, her world is shattered when she is betrayed by her beloved and her family is tragically killed. Determined to seek justice, she assumes the identity of Jiang Li, the daughter of her lifesaver, the Secretary of State, and returns to the capital. With the assistance of Xiao Heng and friends, she relentlessly fights against injustice. Her perseverance ultimately clears her and her family’s name, allowing her to reclaim a new life of happiness and peace.

It is easy for audiences to root for Xue Fang Fei after she endures a grave injustice, losing everything from her reputation to her lover and entire family. Despite experiencing extreme trauma, she does not abandon her morals and principles. While driven by rage, she is not solely focused on revenge. Given a second chance at life, she consistently exercises restraint, avoiding harm to innocent people while executing her elaborate plans for punishment. She reflects on every aspect, including seeking justice for Jiang Li, often prioritizing Jiang Li’s retribution over her own. Despite having a love interest as attractive and mysterious as Duke Su, she remains steadfast in her quest for justice. Though there are moments when she wavers, thwarted by the villains’ schemes, she always recovers and retaliates brilliantly. Moreover, she also considers Duke Su’s interests, protecting and helping him in her own way. Xue Fang Fei is a female lead worthy of respect—strong, brave, empathetic, and intelligent, winning the hearts of viewers rooting for her every step of the way.

An assertive and kind male lead

Next we have the male lead Xiao Heng, also known as Duke Su. He experienced an unfortunate childhood due to the loss of his father, who was killed by Prince Cheng, and his mother, who died from grief. He has always sought to clear his father’s name. After meeting the newly enthroned Emperor Hong Xiao, the two became close friends due to their shared ideals, and Xiao Heng began working secretly on the emperor’s behalf. While tracking down the leader of a salt smuggling gang, he encounters Xue Fang Fei. At first, Xiao Heng just regards her merely as a pawn in his schemes. However, as he gets to know her better, he is gradually drawn to her resilience and strength, eventually finding himself deeply involved in the unfolding drama.

Xiao Heng embodies the epitome of a captivating male lead—tall, handsome, powerful, and intimidating, yet surprisingly a green flag. His cunning intellect perfectly complements Xue Fang Fei. What truly distinguishes Xiao Heng is his intriguing complexity: assertive and commanding, yet remarkably attentive with gestures of kindness and support. Audiences will be enthralled by his confidence, wielding a fan with more finesse than a sword, all while proving to be an exemplary partner to Xue Fang Fei. His commanding presence, smoldering gaze, and charismatic demeanor make him a true scene-stealer. Also, he consistently emphasizes to Xue Fang Fei that they are equals and encourages her to live for herself, independent of anyone else, including him.

Complex villains

“The Double” also features an array of complex multifaceted characters. Besides our main leads and wonderful supporting cast, the drama showcases not one but three main villains! All of whom you would love to loathe, they all have unique backstories and motivations for their terrible deeds. As a viewer, you may even feel sympathy, but you’ll also wish for their downfall.

First, there’s Shen Yu Rong, Xue Fang Fei’s ex-husband who comes from a modest background. With Xue Fang Fei’s support, he passed the imperial examination and rose to become the top scholar. However, he catches the eye of Princess Wan Ning and ruthlessly abandons his wife in pursuit of his career. He emerges as a true villain—weak, pitiful, and consistently delusional, always deflecting blame for his own actions and mistakes.

Next is Princess Wan Ning (Li Meng), the eldest princess and daughter of the late emperor. Sent as a hostage to the Dai Kingdom, she endures immense suffering and returns home to face disrespect and malicious gossip. Resentful of the royal family, she begins to support her brother, Prince Cheng, in his bid for the throne. During this time, she meets Shen Yu Rong and falls in love with him. Princess Wan Ning’s story is truly heart-wrenching; one can’t help but sympathize with her deep pain and sense of helplessness. Abandoned and uncared for, her resentment and self-focus almost seem justified. However, despite her severe hardships, this does not excuse her from causing harm to innocent people.

And finally we have Ji Shu Ran (Joe Chen), the wife of Jiang Yuan Bai, the Secretary of State, and the stepmother of Jiang Li. When she was young, she fell in love with a painter, Liu Wen Cai. However, her father disapproved of the relationship and severely injured Liu Wen Cai and forced Ji Shu Ran to marry a foolish young nobleman. To avoid this marriage, Ji Shu Ran, under her father’s instigation, killed Ye Zhen Zhen and became Jiang Yuan Bai’s second wife. She also schemed against Jiang Li, causing her to be imprisoned at Zhennu Hall for a decade. However, she never anticipated that Xue Fang Fei would take Jiang Li’s identity and come back for revenge.

A sizzling slow-burn romance

“The Double” struck gold with its leading couple. As individual characters, Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng are charming, but together they are a force to be reckoned with. While the story focuses on revenge and seeking justice, it is the slow-burn romance that makes it captivating and significant. The interactions between Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng are rich with chemistry and emotion, showcasing their transition from enemies to friends and finally as lovers. There’s no official moment of their union, yet even in Xiao Heng’s brief confession, it’s a tacit acknowledgement of their bond. What sets them apart is their unwavering rationality. Even after falling in love, they remain perceptive, drawing logical conclusions about each other’s motives.

Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xing Yue deliver stellar performances as Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng, igniting the screen with their captivating chemistry and expressive eyes. Although their scenes may be brief, their playful exchanges and intimate interactions keep audiences wanting more. Initially viewing each other as mere chess pieces in their personal schemes, they gradually develop an unspoken trust and mutual respect. As their bond deepens, they come to recognize each other’s significance in their lives. It’s amusing as a viewer to witness Xiao Heng, renowned as a ruthless duke one should avoid, yet Xue Fang Fei consistently seeks his aid, to which he readily agrees.

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blacksesame88 is a long-time Asian drama and entertainment addict. She enjoys discussing her favorite dramas and sharing her knowledge of Asian entertainment. When she’s not watching dramas, she’s busy snapping aesthetic photos of delicious food on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter and join her for recaps of the current dramas she’s watching, also feel free to say Hi and have a chat!

Currently watching: “As Beautiful As You” and “Present, Is Present”
All-time favorite dramas: “Go Ahead,” “Nirvana In Fire,” “Queen In Hyun’s Man,” “A Witch’s Romance,” “Love O2O,” “Skate Into Love,” and “My Mr. Mermaid.”
Looking forward to: “Snowy Night: Timeless Love” and “The Legend of Jewelry.”