In 2022, Chinese drama frequently produced wonderful works, history, Xuanhuan, romantic, mystery, even the most discerning viewers can find a drama that suits them. In this article, we have selected eight ancient costume dramas that are among the best in terms of reviews and reputation.
01 The Long River · 天下长河
Details of The Long River
- Also known as: Tian Xia Chang He
- Aired: November 11, 2022
- Episodes/Duration: 40/45min
- Period Background: Qing Dynasty
- Genres: Historical, Political
- Director: Zhang Ting
- Main Role: Luo Jin as Kangxi Emperor, Yin Fang as Chen Huang, Huang Zhi Zhong as Jin Fu.
Plot Summary of The Long River
”The Long River“ takes the story of water governance in the Kangxi period as the main line. It tells the story of Jin Fu, Chen Huang and other water governance talents who overcome all obstacles to protect the stable water situation of the Yellow River and jointly build dikes that cannot be washed away by floods.
Since a huge flood in the 15th year of Kangxi, the young Emperor Kangxi began recruiting river governance talents. Chen Huang, a 24-year-old scholar who just after the failure of the imperial examination, stood out and was good at river governance. The young Kangxi was eclectic and selected him out.
Chen Huang partnered with Jin Fu, who was also ambitious in governing the river, they spanned half a century of hardships and experienced several major political disturbances.
Due to Chen Huang's outspoken and unafraid character, he was killed by the slander of a traitorous minister in the court. He left behind a book about Yellow River governance-He Fang Shu Yao (河防述要) before his death.
In the 51st year of Kangxi, after the recovery of Taiwan, the pacification of Junggar, the Yellow River management initial success. Emperor Kangxi personally to Yangzhou to inspect the people's livelihood, and visited the River God Temple. There are statues of Jin Fu and Chen Huang in the temple, their excellent qualities have not been forgotten and are well remembered by the people.
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Reviews of The Long River
From character shaping to line quotations, from screenwriting skills to screen presentation, the historical connotation, theme characteristics and artistic characteristics of “The Long River” are quite excellent in the same type of work. There are not only detailed concept of river governance processes, but also many ups and downs of court debates. And there are not only river governance men who sacrificed their lives but also have a tenacious and persistent spirit of river governance. An ups-and-downs epic of river governance was made.
Firstly, “The Long River” has the characteristics of the main theme of history running through the whole drama, with a thick sense of real history. The drama's description of Kangxi, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, Jin Fu, Chen Huang and others, as well as major events such as the governance of the Yellow River, revolt of the Three Feudatories, the recovery of Taiwan, and the pacification of Dzungar Khanate, are in line with historical facts and serious plots.
Secondly, “The Long River” integrates quite a lot of comedy elements, which are complementary to the seriousness, focusing on the performance of characters and plot settings to obtain the effect of light comedy.
Thirdly, the contemporary value dimension presented by “The Long River” reflects the penetration of history. Taking history as a lesson to show enlightenment to people should become the responsibility of historical dramas, it looks through ancient society from the perspective of grassroots governance, providing a new perspective for people to reflect on history.
02 The Wind Blows From Longxi · 风起陇西
Details of The Wind Blows From Longxi
- Also known as: Feng Qi Long Xi
- Aired: April 27, 2022
- Episodes/Duration: 24/46min
- Period Background: Three Kingdoms
- Genres: Historical, Mystery, Crime, War, Adventure
- Director: Lu Yang
- Main Role: Chen Kun as Chen Gong, Bai Yu as Xun Xu, Angelababy as Liu Ying.
Plot Summary of The Wind Blows From Longxi
In 228 A.D., the Shu army attacked the State of Wei in the north and end up with a failure. According to the analysis of the intelligence department of the State of Shu, the false information that led to the wrong judgment of the Shu army was sent by Chen Gong, a senior spy lurking in the State of Wei. Xun Xu, an anti-espionage expert in the State of Shu, was ordered to sneak into the State of Wei to investigate Chen Gong (at the same time, Chen Gong was also Xun Xu's sister's husband).
Chen Gong passed Xun Xu's investigation, but they found that there was also an undercover agent of Wei, codenamed Zhu Long inside the intelligence department of the State of Shu. He not only replaced Chen Gong's information but also prepared to steal the crossbow design of the State of Shu and create chaos in the State of Shu. Xun Xu returned to Shu and prepared to find out who is Zhu Long with Chen Gong.
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Reviews of The Wind Blows From Longxi
“The Wind Blows From Longxi” takes the Three Kingdoms era as the background to carry out reasonable imagination and creation, opening up a new perspective of ancient costume spy war drama. The interlocking thrilling stories bring more young audiences into this magnificent flames of war era full of blood, loyalty and responsibility, opening the extraordinary things of ordinary people from the perspective of small people and interpreting the true meaning of heroes.
The classical and atmospheric style also brings traditional Chinese aesthetics into a wider audience vision. The main creative team build a ladder to a better quality of drama creation. Carefully polish the lights, pictures and compositions, and work together to create an atmosphere of the Three Kingdoms era, so that the audience can be naturally immersed. It uses the thrill spy story to bring the audience a participatory drama viewing experience, show the awe of the content and the audience, and also put the spirit of craftsmanship for excellence into practice.
03 A Dream of Splendor · 梦华录
Details of A Dream of Splendor
- Also known as: Meng Hua Lu
- Aired: June 2, 2022
- Episodes/Duration: 40/45min
- Period Background: Song Dynasty
- Genres: Historical, Romance
- Director: Yang Yang
- Main Role: Crystal Liu as Zhao Pan Er, Chen Xiao as Gu Qian Fan, Ada Liu as Sun San Niang, Jelly Lin as Song Yin Zhang.
Plot Summary of A Dream of Splendor
Zhao Paner, who runs a tea shop in Qiantang, has been waiting in anticipation for her fiance Ouyang Xu, the top three in imperial examination, to return and marry her. But the fact is that Ouyang Xu was going to marry the daughter of a senior official of the current dynasty. Unwilling to be destined, Zhao Paner vowed to go to the capital to seek justice.
On the way to the capital, she met Gu Qianfan, the commander of the imperial city department who came from a powerful family but was upright., and she was involved in a big case in Jiangnan, so the two got to know each other. Later, Zhao Paner used her wisdom to save Song Yinzhang, the first pipa master in Jiangnan, who was cheated into marriage and abused, and Sun Sanniang, a bold cooks who was forced to run away from home by her harsh family. From then on, the three sisters walked together and finally arrived in the capital, and attracted by the prosperity of this city. But they were then faced with the obstruction of Ouyang Xu.
In order not to be expelled from the capital by Ouyang Xu, Zhao Paner, together with Song Yinzhang and Sun Sanniang, went through hardships and gradually developed their new small teahouse into the largest restaurant in the capital, harvested their sincere emotions and feelings of life, also opened a door of equal redemption for countless ancient ordinary women.
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Reviews of A Dream of Splendor
Zhao Paner can be said to be the biggest highlight of “A Dream of Splendor”, as well as the source and driver of the story. She is beautiful, wise and staunch, but one of the most important qualities is her self-love and self-improvement. She became an inferior identity because of her father's crime since she was a child. Although she was later pardoned, but this matter could not be erased from other people's memory, which became the stain she didn't want to mention. Zhao Paner in the drama constantly struggles and is indomitable to fight against injustice and discrimination. Her heart is extremely strong and this powerful internal driving force is her self-love, self-improvement and regretlessness.
The other two main characters in the drama: Song Yinzhang, who was a musician, and Sun Sanniang, who is excluded by his family. Like Zhao Paner, they are all from a humble family. In the early episodes, although their misfortunes seem to originate from an unfaithful lover, the source and the culprit is the ancient feudal society.
The drama cleverly set a tortuous love story as the beginning, but it is actually a story against feudal ideas. Instead of making the three poor women feel pitiful themselves, the director showed the idea that only loving themselves and working hard are the best way of life. In the drama, Zhao Paner, Sun Sanniang and Song Yinzhang went from avoiding family background to accepting family background, and finally broke the shackles of origin to themselves.
04 Strange Legend of Tang Dynasty · 唐朝诡事录
Details of Strange Legend of Tang Dynasty
- Also known as: Tang Chao Gui Shi Lu
- Aired: September 27, 2022
- Episodes/Duration: 36/45min
- Period Background: Tang Dynasty
- Genres: Historical, Mystery, Wuxia, Adventure, Mystery
- Director: Bai Shan
- Main Role: Yang Xu Wen as Lu Ling Feng, Yang Zhi Gang as Su Wu Ming.
Plot Summary of Strange Legend of Tang Dynasty
“Strange Legend of Tang Dynasty” tells the story of a series of anecdotes that happened in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The bizarre Chang'an black tea is all the rage in Changan. Whether it is a wellness drinks or a harmful thing? The disappearance of the bride in Chang'an City has occurred one after another.
The cases are complicated and confusing, and people's hearts are mysterious and difficult to identify. Young general Lu Lingfeng was ordered to investigate the case and encountered Su Wuming, the last disciple of Di Renji, they work together to broke eight different strange case in Chang'an.
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As an ancient detective suspense drama, “Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty”, combined with the features of characters, strange cases and spectacle of visual effects, the whole presents a unique drama style, which is an exploration of strange imagination empowering genre innovation.
- The first is the strangeness, the drama includes palace anecdotes, magic and exotic legends and other novel story elements, which makes the whole work show the characteristics of seeing the truth and seeking justice in the absurdity.
- The second is dramatic. The protagonist has always been in danger of encountering crises and overcoming challenges. The drama pays special attention to showing the subtlety of human nature in ancient scenery and tense plots.
- The third is authenticity. Although the drama is intended to be strange, the scenes in which the little characters are squeezed to survive in the multi-party game also show a reverse reality.
At the same time, the drama is more three-dimensional and full of the main characters, based on the strange people and things in a more appropriate way to shape. It also focuses on the heroic and fearless spirit of the small characters who go forward and break through the maze in the macro background, showing the world behind the prosperity of the world in a real but fantasy way.
05 Love Between Fairy and Devil · 苍兰诀
Details of Love Between Fairy and Devil
- Also known as: Cang Lan Jue
- Aired: August 7, 2022
- Episodes/Duration: 36/45min
- Period Background: Alternative reality
- Genres: Xuanhuan, Romance, Fantasy
- Director: Yi Zheng
- Main Role: Dylan Wang as Dongfang Qing Cang, Yu Shu Xin as Xiao Lan Hua, Zhang Ling He as Chang Heng, Xu Hai Qiao as Rong Hao.
Plot Summary of Love Between Fairy and Devil
In the ancient times, the Xilan clan was exterminated, and the goddess of Xilan was protected by the whole clan was sealed as an orchid and floated into the earth. Ten thousand years later, she was reborn as a low-level fairy orchid in heaven, and inadvertently resurrected Dongfang Qing Cang trapped in Haotian Pagoda. Because of the curse inadvertently inflicted on him, Dongfang Qing Cang had to protect the little orchid. In the process, Dongfang Qing Cang, who had long been loveless, fell in love with the meek and lovely little orchid.
Stills of Word of Love Between Fairy and Devil
Reviews of Love Between Fairy and Devil
The biggest difference from other similar works is that the plot of “Love Between Fairy and Devil” is not delayed. Emotional development with the straightforward expression of the plot, the anti-dramatic operation and the anti-routine storytelling method restored to the original rustic state have made the audience's sense of watching dramas rise sharply.
The drama was counterattacked into the public eye under the serious homogenization of similar works, indicating that the key to impressing the audience lies in the creator's intention and innovative presentation. Although artistic creativity can be unfettered, even science fiction and fantasy themes originate from life. Only works close to life can make powerful special effects and exquisite costumes work.
06 Love Like the Galaxy · 星汉灿烂·月升沧海
Details of Love Like the Galaxy
Also known as: Xing Han Can Lan · Yue Sheng Cang Hai
Aired: July 5, 2022
Episodes/Duration: 56/45min
Period Background: Alternative reality
Genres: Historical, Romance, Political
Director: Fei Zhen Xiang
Main Role: Leo Wu as Ling Bu Yi, Zhao Lu Si as Cheng Shao Shang.
Plot Summary of Love Like the Galaxy
The Cheng family's daughter named Shao Shang was left by her parents with her grandmother since she was young because of the war, but her ruthless aunt tries to make things difficult for her at every turn. In the face of many traps, Cheng Shaoshang has been tolerant to survive, covering up the sharp edge and waiting for his parents to return, but due to years of alienation, it is difficult to pick up the family affection.
The love-starved Cheng Shaoshang has met the new emperor's foster son Ling Buyi, the talented Yuan Shen from the White Deer Mountain, and the son of a noble family Lou Yao, all of whom have their own advantages and disadvantages. In choosing the right person to marry, Cheng Shaoshang is both inferior and pragmatic. Although the emotional road is full of many difficulties, she never regrets her every choice.
While getting along with Ling Buyi, she is also involved in the mystery of Ling Buyi's family and birth by mistake. Amid all these events, Cheng Shaoshang repeatedly achieves miraculous results and learns how to get along with her parents and how to manage her love from Ling Buyi's family relationship. At the same time, Cheng Shaoshang and Ling Buyi changed and grew up in these experiences, slowly reconciling with themselves and their families, adhering to their inner justice, working together to resolve the national crisis, and achieving a good story.
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While depicting the wonderful family group and the healing process of Ling Buyi and Cheng Shaosheng's companionship, “Love Like the Galaxy” also focuses on the personal growth of the characters, creating a vivid character image and presenting the audience with a distinct and visible trajectory of the character's growth from the perspective of in-depth drama and the expression of delicate shots.
Although Ling Buyi is cold on the outside and hot on the inside, he also has an extreme side to his personality. While protecting his lover, it is difficult to avoid hurting his lover. Cheng Shaoshang, who is so frank and cute, dares to love and hate, has developed a hedgehog character due to the lack of family affection. She doesn't know love or how to love others.
Such imperfect character settings add a sense of truth to the role, moreover they put down their personal love and hatred to reconcile with themselves. The growth and transformation from personal little love to looking at the safety of the country and the world will also bring a unique immersive drama-watching experience to the audience.
07 New Life Begins · 卿卿日常
Details of New Life Begins
- Also known as: Qing Qing Ri Chang
- Aired: November 10, 2022
- Episodes/Duration: 40/45min
- Period Background: Alternative reality
- Genres: Historical, Comedy, Romance, Life
- Director: Zhao Qi Chen
- Main Role: Bai Jing Ting as Yin Zheng, Tian Xi Wei as Li Wei
Plot Summary of New Life Begins
Due to a marriage selection, girls from all over the country gathered in Xinchuan. Yin Zheng, the low-key young master of Xinchuan, accidentally met Li Wei, who just wanted to lose the election and live a comfortable life in her hometown, jointly starting a new life full of problems but interesting.
With Yin Zheng going to court, they gradually shared the same taste and heart. They not only shared three meals and four seasons together, but also grew up together with other brothers and sisters with different personalities and destinies, writing the warm daily life of the big Xinchuan family.
Stills of Word of New Life Begins
Reviews of New Life Begins
“New Life Begins” with strong comedy color., the characters in the drama change the performance style of the past ancient costume dramas, and focus on the daily presentation way, presenting a series of daily stories to the audience, which is more like a love documentary. The drama is full elements close to real life, which not only completes the audience's strange experience of ancient times, but also uses alternative reality stories to explore the hot topics of real society.
The soundtrack of “New Life Begins” is dexterous, the color is fresh, the character design is simple, and the character relationship is simple, presenting a fairy tale scene. Through the daily life of the hero and heroine, it helps the audience heal the soul, decompress the psychology, and spread positive energy with the sense of fairy tales to a certain extent.
08 Side Story of Fox Volant · 飞狐外传
Details of Side Story of Fox Volant
Also known as: Fei Hu Wai Zhuan
Aired: August 31, 2022
Episodes/Duration: 40/45min
Period Background: Qing Dynasty
Genres: Historical, Wuxia, Adventure
Director: Lian Yi Ming
Main Role: Qin Jun Jie as Hu Fei, Liang Jie as Yuan Zi Yi, Xing Fei as Cheng Ling Su.
Plot Summary of Side Story of Fox Volant
During the reign of Qianlong period, the young Hu Fei stepped into the dangerous world for revenge on his father. On the way, Hu Fei offended the bully Feng Tiannan because of injustice, and fell in love with Feng Tiannan's daughter, Yuan Ziyi, the Tianshan school heroine.
When Hu Fei found his enemy Miao Renfeng, Miao had been framed by the sinister Tian Guinong and was blind. Hu Fei didn't want to take advantage of Miao's danger, so he took a risk to come to Yaowang Valley to find an antidote. In Yaowang Valley, he met Cheng Lingsu, a disciple of the Poison King, and the two had a sad and beautiful love.
As he kept approaching the truth, Hu Fei found that it was someone else who killed his father, and he gradually developed admiration for Miao. And Miao finally got rid of the real murderer Tian Guinong. While revenge, Hu Fei also worked with Yuan Ziyi and Cheng Lingsu to smash the Jianghu conspiracy of Fu Kang'an want to hold the world's head conference.
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Reviews of Side Story of Fox Volant
“Side Story of Fox Volant” retains most of the essence of Jin Yong's original novels, and innovates some of the content. Although there are many love scenes, it can feel the long-lost return of Jianghu atmosphere in the character's experience. For the aging Jin Yong fans, it is also a blessing to enjoy an authentic Jin Yong martial arts novel.
