Visionary director Xu Bing challenges conventional storytelling with his latest psychological thriller What A Wonderful World, which premiered on iQiyi this Wednesday. This eight-episode tour de force stars acclaimed actress Zhao Liying and rising talent Yin Fang in a mind-bending exploration of identity and human connection.
The narrative centers around a ride-hailing driver whose fragile psyche manifests multiple distinct personalities. His primary reserved nature contrasts sharply with his most prominent alter ego – a vivacious escape room designer portrayed by Zhao Liying. As these identities battle for dominance, a poignant love story emerges between personalities that can never truly coexist, transforming his journey toward mental stability into a heartbreaking romance.
Actor Yin Fang shares his thoughts on the new drama What A Wonderful World during a preview screening in Beijing on May 26.
At a recent Beijing preview event, Yin Fang revealed the production’s deeper philosophical intentions: “While we use dissociative identity as our narrative framework, this isn’t a clinical examination of mental illness. We’re holding up a mirror to contemporary emotional isolation – how modern individuals profess self-sufficiency while secretly craving connection, often redirecting that longing into digital escapes or material substitutes.”
The actor described his unique approach to portraying the protagonist’s fractured consciousness: “I treated Zhao Liying’s character as completely real within our story’s reality – someone to genuinely love and cherish. This required maintaining dual awareness: fully committing to the relationship’s authenticity while remembering its psychological origins. It’s perhaps the most challenging role of my career.”
Early reviews praise the series for its innovative narrative structure and emotional depth, with particular acclaim for Zhao’s transformative performance switching between multiple character dimensions within single scenes. The production design reportedly uses subtle visual cues to distinguish psychological states, creating a layered viewing experience that rewards close attention.
