CROSS FIRE: A Gaming/E-sport Drama Everyone Can Enjoy

First of all, I am not a gaming/e-sport drama fan. I dropped Love O2O (only watched the movie version of it), and never watched other dramas from this sub-genre.

However, I came across Cross Fire. After knowing that it has the parallel universe theme I love and reading reviews from non-gaming/e-sport drama watchers, I was intrigued to try it. I got hooked and could not get over it that I decided to write about it.

This drama is based on CrossFire (CF), a massive multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) video game popular in Asia. If you’re interested to know about the game itself, you can read it here.

Having read the game and my introductions, still, the question remains: what is interesting about the drama that you as non-gaming/e-sport drama watchers can enjoy, anyway? Let’s check them out:

WARNING: MILD SPOILERS AHEAD !!!

BUT I LEFT THE NERVE-RACKING PLOTS FOR YOU TO DISCOVER ;D

What the synopsis tells you: It can be shortened as Lu Xiao Bei (from 2019) and Xiao Feng (from 2008) supernaturally meet inside the game CrossFire. When they found out that they both are struggling captains of their respective teams, they help each other with team issues.

What the synopsis does not tell you: Xiao Bei and Xiao Feng not only help each other with team issues but also with their personal lives as well: to change their chilling past and intimidating future.

Watching the trailer after finishing the drama, I can tell that it’s cleverly-edited and doesn’t reveal much of the depth of the story. Unless you understand Chinese, it’s mainly about gaming, e-sport, and time-altering. You may grasp it better with the English subbed trailer here (it’s in low 360p though, need to click CC for the sub).

They meet in the parallel universe inside the game and eventually bond a strong friendship through playing, sharing life stories, and encouraging each other about their struggles in their groups and the competitions. Their brotherhood is challenged a few times when they attempt to change the terrifying past and future.

An Lan (Cecilia Boey). A broke and timid nerd on her way to completing her university thesis, An Lan is Xiao Feng’s housemate at odds. Once introduced to online gaming, though, she becomes the biggest supporter of Team 1-Coin.

Chu Ge (Dai Lu Wa). A cold loner, she literally landed on Xiao Bei’s school desk on her first day of transfer. They became warring desk-mates until their teacher ordered them to study together.

Not the Female Lead, but I want to introduce you to the only female gamer in the team:

Su Jia Yi (Pan Mei Ye). The eccentric cat lover, vlogger, and cosplayer Jia Yi is motivated to prove that female gamers can also excel and advance in the male-dominated E-sport. Later, she bonds with Chu Ge.

TEAM 1-COIN (2008)The natural-born leader Xiao Feng, as the captain, together with his close game buddy Xu Wei (Liu Shuai Liang) formed Team 1-Coin and soon joined by the hot-headed Qi Lin (Yang Kai Cheng), the reluctantly-married Hou Zhi (Liu Yang), the youngster Ah Ming (Francis Huang), and later the crazy Chang Sha (Song Jia Teng). Eventually, An Lan joined as their Team Manager. Started as an on-and-off group that initially played only to win pocket money for barbecues and beers, they were deemed too old for the teenage gamers and ridiculed as a bunch of adult losers with no goals of life. However, once setting up their goal to be the national champion of the first Crossfire competition, they insist on fighting towards reaching their dreams.

TEAM CONTINUE (2019)

Failed to join an established powerful team, Lu Xiao Bei was motivated to form his own team Continue with his long-time friend Cheng Hao (Xia Zhi Yuan) and recruited the eccentric Su Jia Yi, the hot-headed Wang Kai (Zhu Jun Lin ), and the antisocial Ne Zha (Zhang Chen). Eventually, Chu Ge joined as their Team Manager. Originally only forming the team to complete his belated brother’s dream to compete in the CF national league and win the championship, soon Xiao Bei is faced with difficulties uniting his teammates. Only when he understands that there is more than just forming a group that Team Continue excels. Joining them later are Yang Zi (Liu Jie Yi) and King (Wang Qiang).

Although we see many opponent teams and the public that look down on Team 1-Coin and Team Continue, mostly supporting characters are really supportive along their journeys. Below are two supporting characters we come to love too:

Young Lu Xiao Bei (Zhang Bo Wen). At eight years old, the young Xiao Bei adored his older brother Xiao Nan (Zhan Yu) and wanted to be like him. Since the death of his brother, Xiao Bei has stuck not only on his wheelchair but in the past as well.

Lu Xiao Bei’s Dad (Shao Bing). At first, Lu Xiao Bei’s Dad was strongly against his son’s desire to be an E-sport player that Xiao Bei has to play hide-and-seek with his Dad to play CF. Later, he is the team biggest supporter.

There are plenty of gaming scenes that are non-shooting-and-killing, most of them are down hilarious, below are just a few of them. ;D

Looking pretty	Looking sexy
Being goofy	Being flirty
Sending hearts	Playing rock-paper-scissors game
Rescuing knight in distress	BL moment (???)

Our Male Leads Leo Wu sang the opening theme song “Cross Fire” (穿越火线), and Lu Han sang the ending credit song “Land of Dream” (梦寐之地). He also sang “Time Stopped” (时间停了). Group rock GALA sang trailer song “Pure Heart of Chasing Dream” (追梦赤子心), they also performed in the drama during 2008 and 2019 scenes. Full album can be found here.

Credits: all images are official drama posters found in MDL site and Google, as well as screenshots of the drama from the sites with English subs (Youtube, WeTV, etc.).