Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities is my first Chinese drama. What drew me in were the aesthetic, the merpeople and the music. The first couple of episodes were hard to get through, but the previously mentioned things kept me watching. Later on the storyline becomes more streamlined and more enjoyable to watch.

I liked the characters, they were the main reason I watched this through to the end. I was invested in their journeys. I liked the friendships between them more than the romance though. The romance between Su Mo and Bai Ling was here and there. Na Sheng and Yan Xi were sweet together, but Na Sheng’s clinginess could get really annoying.

Other than that I loved the world the story was set in and, again, the merpeople. I’m a sucker for anything with merpeople. The costumes were absolutely gorgeous. The OST is another highlight, every song is beautiful and fits so well. The sets and the CGI, while not great, also had a particular charm.

As for the editing, yes, that is definitely the worst part of this drama. Several important things are skipped over, while less significant things are painfully drawn out. The last few episodes especially feel both too rushed and too slow. Still, I think as a whole it has enough qualities to redeem this.

If the story/the world appeals to you, it’s worth giving this drama a try.