The story remains tense and nail-biting over the entire series. Nearly every episode feels like a cliff-hanger, and the unease never really goes away even during the most peaceful or romantic parts. It doesn't feel cheap, because the direction is such that the tone is very consistent and there is a lot of foreshadowing. It is incredibly well-paced, always on edge. Though the episodes are short, there is enough development of characters and plot-lines that it does not feel rushed.
I love the character development on both the MC Han Yuxi and the doctor Ling Huantao. Han is at times timid and at times resolute, and it makes her feel like a full human, and makes her even more brave (bravery isn't the absence of fear, but when you are afraid and determined anyway). She grows as she faces challenges and through introspection. Doctor Ling is a complex character who can't be reduced into a hero or a villain.
The donghua is chock full of social commentary, without compromising the hero's story. Some parts are obvious as given in a speech by the MC, but some is up to the viewer's interpretation. Is Han living a lie by changing herself, or she asserting control of her own life? It's important to have a good view of yourself and not only look at what others see you as. But that doesn't mean you can completely ignore what others think.
The animation is not bad, but does detract from the overall quality of the work. Unfortunately, the 3D models aren't able to convey the same level of emotion through their movements as live-action. I'm not quite sure why they didn't make this a live-action, as it does feel more appropriate for this kind of work. Maybe filling a cast with similar looking beauties would have been hard. I think that the semi-realistic 3D style used here is definitely a better match for this story than some 2D bishoujo style, because the 3D style gives it a certain verisimilitude which makes the story feel more real and scary rather than fantastical. Some of the shading looks too plastic, and some of the backgrounds look too simple, which detracts a little. It doesn't look as good as something like Yuan Long. But it's leagues better than Berserk.
The soundtrack is amazing. The OP and ED play pieces of the same song, which is both extremely unnerving and exhilarating, and it is blended into the episode seamlessly such that the emotional effect of the story combines with the powerful song. A portion of the song will play during the episode. The story-boarding must have been very clever to reach that compatibility. Several other songs play, like a beautiful insert song "Love You", the soulful "茧", the powerful "來者是我". They stand alone well but also fit the theme of the story. Quite packed for a short series.
