Still in post-production, and Overdo is grabbing huge attention
The upcoming Republican era drama Overdo (这一秒过火) has two new visuals out of leads Zhang Ling He and Wang Chu Ran as the drama celebrates 1 million reservations on Tencent Video and 1 million reservations on iQIYI so far.
A pretty stellar number if the truth be told, as the Chinese drama is not currently scheduled to air until some time in 2026. Then again, it is Zhang Ling He as the male lead, and his dramas do tend to pull in the numbers.
The first Overdo visual via Tencent shows the in-love pair smudging soot onto each other’s faces, and smiling, while Tencent says about the plot:
It’s not only about a destined encounter, but about every second spent in love – turning fleeting affection into an instinctive closeness.
Meanwhile the second one (below), which came out via iQIYI, has them in a much less happy environment. When you know what the plot is about (below), you will likely know why.
Overdo began filming back in June, and wrapped its filming on September 28th. The C-drama is now in post-production. Hence, the 2026 premiere date.
What is the Overdo plot about?
The Chinese historical romance drama takes place during the Republican era in China (1912 to 1949), and is based on the novel Ru Guo Zhe Yi Miao, Wo Mei Yu Jian Ni (如果这一秒, 我没遇见你), which was written by Fei Wo Si Cun (匪我思存).
The C-drama is directed by Yi Jun, which is the only downside for me of this one, as I disliked his previous dramas The Princess’s Gambit, and Bloody Romance. Although that was more about their scripts (and in one case, the female lead) than the direction so I will keep an open mind.
Overdo is also another 36-episode drama and, in my experience, it takes an exceptionally good script to satisfactorily pull a romance-based drama along through so many episodes.
Unless it is a crime-based plot, or there is intense political intrigue, which this may feature. Although, if you’re like me, when you read the plot, you will already be intensely annoyed with the female lead before Overdo even starts (LOL):
Set in Republican-era Shanghai, it tells the story of Murong Qingyi (played by Zhang Ling He), the young son of a warlord, who suffers relentless abuse from his adoptive father after being switched at birth. When he escapes as a teenager, he is saved by Ren Susu (played by Wang Chu Ran), but his presence brings calamity upon her entire family, leading to their destruction.
Years later, the two meet again and quietly develop feelings for each other. But in order to save someone else, Ren Susu fakes her death and flees, leaving Murong Qingyi to drown in the anguish of losing her. Three years later, she returns, but this time to become Murong Qingyi’s future sister-in-law.
Now, one is filled with resentment born of betrayal, and the other carries a pain she cannot speak of. As they probe and pull at each other, love and hate become inseparably entangled. Just as misunderstandings begin to clear and their deep affection rekindles, national turmoil strikes.
With the resolve to face death if necessary, Murong Qingyi and Ren Susu confront a formidable enemy. Where will their fate lead?”
Told you. It could be annoying, right? As how many times have we seen a former love interest disappear, and then show up as the fiancée of someone else, along with all the misunderstandings that implies?
Like I said, I will keep an open mind.
The Chinese drama is scheduled to stream on both WeTV and iQIYI, so will likely depend on your location as to where you are able to watch it.
Meanwhile, congratulations on its 2 million reservations so far.
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