In the world of donghua (Chinese animation), the title My Senior Brother is Too Steady or in Mandarin “Wo Shixiong You Dian Kuaizhang” is one of the series that has attracted quite a lot of attention from cultivation genre lovers. First released in 2020, this donghua offers a different experience from cultivation donghua in general.
Instead of presenting a main character who is ambitious, aggressive, and always wants to be the strongest, this donghua instead presents a main character who is overthinking, full of consideration, and very… very careful. But this is precisely where its uniqueness lies.
Short Synopsis
The story focuses on Lu Li, a disciple of the Tianyuan Sect, who becomes the senior brother of a character named Li Changshou. However, it turns out that his senior brother—Li Changshou—is a very unusual main character.
Different from other cultivation donghua main characters who usually have bold personalities, Li Changshou prefers to be careful in everything. He always makes careful plans before doing anything, including small matters such as looking for medicinal plants.
This approach is what makes many viewers feel relatable and laugh—because it seems to depict people who think too much before acting, but still succeed!
Uniqueness and Attraction
1. Cultivation World Satirical Approach
This donghua cleverly satirizes the common patterns in the cultivation genre. Usually, the main character experiences a drastic leap in power, challenges all enemies, and is full of luck. But here, we are presented with a realistic approach—even too realistic.
Li Changshou prepares many backup plans, makes protective equipment, and even fakes death for safety. This makes him a figure who can make the audience laugh and think, “If I were in the cultivation world, I would be like him too.”
2. Unique and Interesting Characterization
The main character is not the only interesting one here. Several supporting characters such as Master, fellow sect members, and the gods in this world are also given a fairly good portion of the story. The interactions between the characters are full of comedy, sarcasm, and absurd moments that make you laugh out loud.
But what is most interesting is how Li Changshou’s character development never departs from his basic principle: extreme caution. Even when he has become very powerful, he still maintains the principle of “better safe than sorry”.
3. Satisfying Visuals and Animation
In terms of animation quality, My Senior Brother is Too Steady can be said to be quite stable and consistent. The studio that worked on this donghua managed to present a lively cultivation world with magical effects, moves, and quite tense fights.
Although not as classy as Fog Hill of the Five Elements in terms of visuals, the art style used is still pleasing to the eye and not disappointing.
Unexpected Plot
Another advantage of this donghua is the unpredictable storyline. Because the main character always makes long plans, the audience keeps wondering: “What will he do this time?”
Sometimes the plot can slow down because of too much planning and inner monologue, but for viewers who enjoy strategy and internal humor, this is actually a plus.
The moments when Li Changshou’s plans run smoothly—and sometimes fail—keep the story fresh and interesting to follow.
Natural Comedy Elements
One of the main strengths of this donghua is its unforced comedy. Humor comes from situations, internal dialogues, and overreactions of overly cautious characters.
For example, when Li Changshou wants to go to the city, he prepares various talismans, arranges disguises, and even makes substitute dolls, just to buy ordinary equipment. Situations like this invite laughter, not because of slapstick, but because they are too relatable and eccentric.
Hidden Moral Message
Behind all the humor and crazy strategies, this donghua holds a strong moral message: the importance of thinking before acting.
In today’s fast-paced modern world, characters like Li Changshou remind us to take time in deciding something, calculate the risks, and not be too hasty just to pursue ambition.
However, there is also a veiled criticism of being too cautious. That in life, we still have to dare to take risks and learn to get out of our comfort zones.
Is This Donghua Worth Watching?
The answer is: very much so! Especially for those of you who want to watch donghua with a different approach, anti-mainstream, and full of surprises. This donghua is suitable for viewers who like strategy, comedy, and a non-cliché cultivation world.
But if you are looking for fast-paced fights, overpowered characters, or deep romance stories, this donghua might feel a bit slow at first.
Conclusion
My Senior Brother is Too Steady is a smart, entertaining donghua that brings a breath of fresh air to the cultivation genre. The super-cautious main character is the main strength of the story, presenting many unexpected moments and fresh natural comedy.
With stable animation, a smart plot, and interesting character development, this donghua is suitable for those of you who want light viewing but still make you think.
Final Score: 8.5/10
If you like cultivation genre donghua but are bored with main characters who are too good from the start, My Senior Brother is Too Steady is a must-watch option for you!