This post includes a brief plot summary and review of the 2025 Chinese drama “Filter”. Beware of mild spoilers.
“Filter” is a fantasy rom-com drama directed by Chen Yuejin, starring Landy Li as Su Chengcheng and Tan Jianci as Tang Qi. Supporting roles are filled by Gao Hanyu, Luo Qiuyun, and others.
Genre: sci-fi, romance, comedy, fantasy
Short Review: “Filter” is a very bold Chinese drama, as it dares to think “outside the box”. The show combines sci-fi, romance and comedy in an unpretentious manner. Landy Li carries the show with her solid performance as Su Chengcheng. And Tan Jianci complements his co-star with an adequate and engaging performance.
Continue reading for a more in-depth review.
“Filter” tells the story of a young woman whose life is turned upside down when she receives a “magic bracelet” from a complete stranger.
The protagonist of “Filter” is Su Chengcheng, a plain-looking woman who is struggling to find a job, despite being smart and hard-working. At her lowest, she meets an older lady who gifts her a bracelet. But little did Chengcheng know, this bracelet has the ability to transform into anyone and anything she wants.
Nonetheless, assuming new identities is not as fun as Chengcheng thought it would be. Tang Qi, her high school crush, who is now her superior, becomes the main victim of her web of lies. Everytime Tang Qi falls in love with one of Chengcheng’s personas, she inadvertently manages to find some of the gruesome or saddest ways to get rid of them.
Unfortunately for Chengcheng, Tang Qi is an extremely smart man, and he eventually finds out her secret. On the bright side, they also end up together and navigate as a unit to unravel the mystery behind the high-tech bracelet.
One thing I couldn’t ignore was the casting of Landy Li as Su Chengcheng.
The main female character is supposed to be an “ordinary-looking” woman, but Landy Li is far from being “average”.
I guess this is a common issue in Chinese dramas about beauty and transformation: the chosen actresses tend to look way prettier than what’s written on the script. This is just a personal opinion, but I think Landy Li being an undoubtedly pretty girl sort of undermines the show’s message.
It’s hard to buy into the idea of an attractive woman struggling with self-acceptance and the pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. Nevertheless, I think the actress did a fantastic job.
There is some social and cultural commentary on “Filter”, as the show is heavy on themes like beauty, identity and societal expectations.
While watching “Filter”, I couldn’t help but reflect on how sharply it holds a mirror to our obsession with beauty and curated identities. And the bracelet represents our desire and simultaneously the power to achieve what we think is “better”.
The technology from the bracelet is just one step above what we have nowadays. Think about it: we live in an era dominated by social media filters and AI-driven beauty apps. What does it say about us? And needless to say, there are social and psychological consequences of constantly pursuing unrealistic beauty standards.
There is a moment in the show where Su Chengcheng becomes invisible, no one could see her or hear her. She was obviously distraught, and soon after, guilt hit her. At first, Su Chengcheng thought she was being punished for her “greed”: her unbounded curiosity and inability to stop using the “filter”.
However, there could be many interpretations for the incident. Personally, I saw the “invisible” function as an additional feature of the bracelet. But Su Chengcheng saw it as a “wake-up call” to stop using the device.
Now that I think about it, the ability to change our looks is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it enables us to indulge in our selfish vanity. However, it can also turn into a mental prison as we become slaves to narrow beauty standards. It’s harmful when our desire to change our appearance is a result of societal pressure instead of a personal choice.
“Filter” stands out from the Chinese drama landscape with its unique premise.
If I had to label “Filter” into a category, I would say “wholesome sci-fi”. This drama is very different from its peers; I believe it’s the first time I have ever seen an alpaca kung fu kick a human. And I say that with the utmost respect.
In my opinion, “Filter” is very bold and daring because it doesn’t fit into either the sci-fi genre or a modern-day romance; instead, it carved out a distinct place for itself in the Chinese dramaland. Also, I think it was a very original idea to use the “magical bracelet” as a metaphor for our relationship with digital tools, especially the ones that are designed to “beautify” ourselves.
The chemistry between Tan Jianci and Landy Li is not sizzling but warm enough.
Tan Jianci and Landy Li are very competent leads and delivered solid performances. Tan Jianci’s portrayal of Tang Qi is very balanced. The actor was able to bring vulnerability but also make the audience respect him. Tang Qi is a smart man, he is confident in his work abilities but also insecure in certain aspects of his personal life. And Tan Jianci was able to make him relatable.
But for me, Landy Li is the one who completely stole the show. Because of her, I laughed and cried. What I liked the most about her performance was her ability to convey Su Chengcheng’s inner turmoil, which is that she never felt beautiful.
Although the show exaggerated certain scenes, the reality of not being seen just for our inner beauty is indeed heartbreaking. Nonetheless, Su Chengcheng is not someone who is completely hindered by her “lack of beauty”. She is a strong woman who can stand up for herself and others. And Landy Li made me believe that she is Su Chengcheng.
Note: The second leads, Gao Hanyu and Luo Qiuyun, gave us “okay” performances. They provide some comic relief, but their performances are far from being memorable. Their characters are likeable, but there isn’t much depth to them.
Final Thoughts
I’m more than happy that I gave “Filter” a chance. I love shows that dare to innovate and aren’t afraid to look “silly” for the right reasons. Although there are some pretty unhinged scenes in the show, such as the kung fu-savvy alpaca, death by lightning and even death by laughter, the core message is what matters. Love and be yourself.
As mentioned before, there is some romance in “Filter”, but it comes primarily from the second leads because Su Chengcheng and Tang Qi are not very experienced in that department. Nevertheless, whatever they were able to “produce” in the romance department was sweet enough to keep the audience entertained.
Overall, “Filter” is a very fun drama to watch. The show tackles complex questions about beauty and perception in an original manner, making it thought-provoking but not in an overbearing way. Su Chengcheng is a blast. She keeps you on your toes wondering what she’ll do next to keep her secret hidden.
Final Rating: 🍎+ (Good, Almost “Very Good”)
