Why mystery drama Reset is making waves in China
Chinese mystery drama Reset stars Bai Jingting as game developer Xiao Heyun and Zhao Jinmai as undergraduate Li Shiqing. Together with seven other passengers, the duo is on board a bus 45 that has been planted with a bomb. Realising that they are stuck in a time loop, they have to find a way to save the passengers to stop reliving the bomb scene.
Since the drama’s release on Tencent Video early last month, the story development has been among the hot topics on Weibo.
After catching the entire series, now available on YouTube, we list six reasons why Reset is making waves in China.
1. It's like the Tom Cruise movie Edge Of Tomorrow, and a little of Marvel’s Doctor Strange.
Reset’s concept isn’t something we’re unfamiliar with. In fact, you may find it similar to Tom Cruise’s Edge Of Tomorrow.
While Edge Of Tomorrow’s time loop happens due to being exposed to an alien’s blood, Reset does not explain how or why the time loop happens. It just does, like a supernatural phenomenon.
As the drama Reset has relatively more screen time than the sci-fi film Edge Of Tomorrow, it has the luxury to drag out the iterations, so much so that it can be tiring to watch at times. The first few episodes see Li Shiqing and Xiao Heyun trying all possible methods to prevent the explosion. But every time, somehow or another, the bomb will go off.
It makes you wonder if this is what Doctor Strange meant by he has “seen it all” and there is only one way out of the apocalypse. Unlike Doctor Strange who has the Eye of Agamotto, Li and Xiao have no choice but to painstakingly go through the loops to find that one solution.
2. The prosthetic makeup is stunningly realistic.
In addition to its enticing storyline, Reset does not skimp on the details, especially when it comes to special effects.
In one scene, Xiao’s badly charred upper body has a realistic blend of dried blood, uneven scars and flaky soot.
In another explosion, wispy smoke and “burning rings” on clothes are even added to complement the special effects.
3. The characters are the bombing suspects.
Interestingly, the story takes a unique approach to unravel the mystery behind the bombing.
As Li and Xiao investigate suspects on the bus, they also uncover the background story of each character. From a live-streamer, to a father with a criminal record, to an asthmatic cosplayer, to a poor and homeless guy, each distinctive story forms an integral part of the drama.
4. It touches on social issues as well.
The pleasantly surprising aspect of Reset is that the story even includes social issues like sexual harassment and victim-blaming.
In a memorable scene, a mother lectures her daughter on how her short skirts will invite trouble, but the daughter rebuts, “Because they share your view, the others believe girls should be blamed for being harassed.”
Subtly foreshadowed, sexual harassment also turns out to be a crucial point to the drama, which makes you marvel at how everything flows together to form an almost perfect whole — there is hardly anything to dislike about Reset!
5. Zhou Shen’s gentle but bright vocals in the ending song seems like a stark contrast to the drama’s theme.
Reset’s ending song is an English ballad titled My Only by Chinese singer Zhou Shen, known for his versatile and ethereal voice. Although the emotional song seems to negate the drama’s mystery theme, it is actually for the unlikely romantic relationship between Li and Xiao.
6. The ending makes sure to address each character’s story.
As the bombing and time loop issue comes to an end, the drama does not forget about the stories of the live-streamer, the father with a criminal record, the asthmatic cosplayer, and the poor and homeless guy. Although the perfect ending of Reset may seem ridiculous and too good to be true, the fact that it manages to address all of the sub-plots is admirable.
With great suspense and intense scenes, it is difficult not to binge-watch all 15 episodes of Reset in one sitting.
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