How Dare You!?

The Revolution Will Be Catered

To speak of the "isekai" (or *chuanyue*) genre in 2024 is usually to speak of exhaustion. The premise—a modern soul transported into a fantasy world—has been strip-mined by global animation studios until it resembles a hollowed-out narrative husk. Yet, every so often, a work arrives that does not merely inhabit these tired tropes but actively weaponizes them. "How Dare You!?" (*Cheng He Titong*), the buzzy 3D donghua from iQIYI, is one such razor-sharp subversion. It masquerades as a palace romance but operates as a biting satire of corporate burnout, suggesting that the only thing more cutthroat than an Imperial harem is the modern office politics we bring with us.



The series introduces us to Yu Wanyin, a weary corporate drone who wakes up inside a trashy palace intrigue novel. Her role? The "villainous concubine" destined for execution by the mad tyrant, Emperor Xiahou Dan. But the director (credited as Wang Miao in production notes) and the writing team pull the rug out almost immediately. In a scene that has already achieved cult status on social media, Wanyin tests the waters with a trembling, English-spoken "How are you?" The "tyrant" Emperor, eyes widening in shock, responds, "I'm fine, and you?"

In that single exchange of middle-school textbook English, the show shatters the illusion of the period piece. We realize that the Emperor is not a bloodthirsty warlord, but another displaced modern millennial who is just as terrified and exhausted as she is. This is not a story about conquering a kingdom; it is a story about two coworkers trying to survive a toxic work environment that happens to include beheadings.



Visually, "How Dare You!?" utilizes the 3D CGI style prevalent in modern Chinese animation. While Western audiences sometimes struggle with the "weightless" feel of these character models, here, the slight artificiality works in the narrative's favor. The characters *are* avatars in a constructed world, and the glossy, porcelain sheen of the CGI emphasizes the performative nature of their existence. The animation shines brightest in its micro-expressions—the subtle eye-rolls and the "dead inside" stares Wanyin and the Emperor exchange while the court eunuchs drone on about protocol.

The show’s brilliance lies in its refusal to play the hero’s journey straight. Wanyin and Xiahou Dan do not want to rule; they want to "lie flat" (*tang ping*). Their dream isn't national expansion, but closing the palace doors to eat hotpot and play cards. However, the narrative forces them into conflict with the "original" protagonist of the novel—a character who believes she is the main character of history. This creates a fascinating meta-textual conflict: the "villains" are actually rational, empathetic modern people, while the "heroine" is a sociopathic narcissist fueled by plot armor.



Ultimately, "How Dare You!?" succeeds because it treats the desire for normalcy as a radical act. In a genre obsessed with power leveling and empire-building, it dares to ask if the ultimate fantasy is simply finding someone who understands your specific brand of exhaustion. It is a comedy, yes, and often a laugh-out-loud one, but beneath the slapstick and the anachronistic slang lies a tender heart. It suggests that in a world written by others—whether it be a bad novel or a demanding society—the only true victory is finding a partner with whom you can drop the act.