Synopsis
College student Li Shiqing and game architect Xiao Heyun find themselves trapped in a time loop after a bus explosion. The two investigate the truth and attempt to prevent the tragedy from happening through each cycle. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Qidaojun, produced by Daylight Entertainment.
Overview
"Reset" is a 2022 urban suspense time-loop short drama produced by Daylight Entertainment, adapted from the novel of the same name by Pray Jun. Directed by Sun Molong and Liu Hongyuan, and starring Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai, the series premiered exclusively on Tencent Video on January 11, 2022. The 15-episode series opened with a Douban rating of 8.2, later stabilizing at 7.9. Its viewership exceeded 100 million within three days of broadcast, and the total viewership surpassed 1.2 billion after its conclusion, making it one of the most popular web dramas at the beginning of 2022.
The biggest highlight of "Reset" lies in its unique time-loop setting. In the realm of Chinese domestic television, attempts to combine the high-concept sci-fi element of time loops with suspense and mystery are extremely rare. The series successfully localized the time-loop concept common in Western film and television, incorporating realistic elements of Chinese society such as bus safety and the life struggles of ordinary people, earning high recognition from audiences.
Plot
College student Li Shiqing (played by Zhao Jinmai) experiences an explosion on a No. 45 bus. After the explosion, she is resurrected and finds herself trapped in a time loop—each time she dies, she returns to the moment she wakes up on the bus before the explosion.
Within the loop, Li Shiqing encounters game architect Xiao Heyun (played by Bai Jingting), who is also trapped in the loop. The two strangers are forced to work together, investigating suspicious passengers and searching for the true culprit behind the explosion through repeated cycles.
As the loops progress, they gradually discover that every passenger on the bus has their own story and secrets. There's an old farmer carrying watermelons, an aunt with heart disease carrying medicine, a muscular man engaged in erotic live-streaming, a suspicious man wearing a hat... Everyone is a suspect, and anyone could be the mastermind behind the explosion.
In the process of uncovering the truth, Li Shiqing and Xiao Heyun must not only face the psychological pressure brought by the loop itself but also the fear of possible death in each cycle. As the truth gradually emerges, they discover that behind the explosion lies a more complex tragic story.
Main Cast
| Actor | Character | Character Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bai Jingting | Xiao Heyun | Game architect, rational and calm, responsible for reasoning and analysis |
| Zhao Jinmai | Li Shiqing | College student, kind and brave, the first to discover the loop |
| Liu Yijun | Zhang Cheng | Police captain in charge of investigating the explosion case |
| Liu Dan | Tao Yinghong | Bus driver, complex identity |
| Wang Xingyue | — | Important supporting role |
Broadcast Performance
| Milestone | Data |
|---|---|
| Initial Douban Rating | 8.2 |
| After 3 Days of Broadcast | Viewership exceeded 100 million |
| Total Viewership After Conclusion | Surpassed 1.2 billion |
| Douban Rating | Stabilized at 7.9 |
The series ranked first in the 2022 Suspense Drama Influence Index, becoming the most influential suspense drama of the year. Daylight Entertainment, previously known for works like "Nirvana in Fire" and "Ode to Joy," achieved similar success with this venture into the suspense genre.
Behind the Scenes
Daylight Entertainment is one of China's most renowned film and television production companies, previously acclaimed for works like "Nirvana in Fire" (Douban rating 9.4) and "Ode to Joy." "Reset" is its first attempt at a time-loop short drama.
With only 15 episodes, the series maintains a tight pace, with each episode advancing the reasoning process of the loop. The performances of Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai received widespread recognition. Bai Jingting portrayed the calmness of a rational reasoner and the human struggle when facing the loop with nuanced layers, while Zhao Jinmai vividly depicted the fear and growth of a kind and brave college student within the loop.
Cultural Impact
The success of "Reset" lies in its combination of the imported high-concept of time loops with real social issues in China. Topics explored in the series, such as bus safety, the life struggles of ordinary people, and campus tragedies, sparked heated discussions among viewers. The series is considered an important milestone for Chinese suspense short dramas, proving the viability of short series in the Chinese market.
In December 2022, the series was nominated for Best Chinese TV Series at the 28th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35332289/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%BC%80%E7%AB%AF/56787751
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/%E9%96%8B%E7%AB%AF
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