In early May, two mini-series, “Regeneration” and “To the Wonder,” quickly stood out with their unique narrative structures, cinematic visuals, and profound philosophical reflections on human nature, rapidly gaining popularity both within and outside the industry. Mid-month, after a five-year hiatus, “Joy of Life Season 2” was finally released, with soaring viewership breaking records and unprecedented competition among advertisers for prime slots, cementing its status upon its debut. By the end of the month, “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact” and “Golden Trio” made a high-profile entrance, sparking heated discussions with their high-profile cast, injecting fresh energy into adaptations and dramas focused on older audiences.
From a market performance perspective, “Joy of Life 2” maintained an exceptionally high level of popularity and market share, dominating the landscape. “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact” and “Golden Trio” leveraged strong public appeal to maintain their core audiences. “Regeneration” and “To the Wonder” exceeded market expectations with significant long-tail effects post-broadcast. However, “Reblooming Blue,” “Heroes,” and “Tell No One” either suffered from limited subject matter appeal or were overshadowed by surprise releases, resulting in relatively underwhelming performances.
In terms of reputation, most series scored below 7 out of 10, with no shows reaching a 9. Among them, “To the Wonder” led with a Douban score of 8.8, the highest-rated work of the first half of the year. “Joy of Life 2” quickly garnered a score on Douban in its second week, gradually increasing to a current rating of 7.2. The suspenseful dark horse “Regeneration” was initially well-received but ended with a controversial finale, resulting in a final score of 7.0. Additionally, “Will Love in Spring” concluded in May with a Douban rating of 7.7, a standout among contemporary romantic dramas.
Overall, May's dramas showcased some innovative works that have had a profound impact on the industry. “Joy of Life 2” set a benchmark for the production and marketing of seasonal dramas. “To the Wonder” brought a poetic lens to mini-series, providing a new interpretation. “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact” expanded the dimensions of adaptation dramas by drawing from traditional culture. Despite some shortcomings, these series highlight the ample room for growth in the emerging wave of new productions.
Joy of Life 2 Sets a Benchmark
In the May drama market, “Joy of Life 2” emerged as an undisputed worldwide hit. From its premiere on May 16 to the finale on May 30, the series consistently dominated in viewership, popularity, and ad revenue, providing a replicable commercial model for male-oriented work adaptations. Viewership statistics were impressive, with nearly 18 million pre-subscribers, setting a new record for the highest pre-subscription count in television history. Its popularity score surpassed 34,000, a record on Tencent Video. The series amassed over 1.2 billion total episode views and quickly became the highest-rated mainland Chinese drama on Disney+ upon its overseas release. Commercially, it partnered with 26 brands before airing, averaged nine ads per episode totaling 136 seconds, and reportedly secured a total sponsorship fee of 80 million yuan.
Despite the high ratings and popularity, “Joy of Life 2” received mixed reviews. On one hand, the frequent ads disrupted the viewing experience, causing viewer frustration. On the other, the five-year buildup of audience expectations demanded higher quality. The initial five episodes faced criticism for comedic overtones and dragging pace. It wasn't until episode nine, featuring a heartfelt conversation between Fan Xian and Deng Ziyue, that the storyline began to regain favor.
The latter half of the series featured memorable scenes like the death of Imperial Censor Lai and Lin Xiang's farewell to Dabao, providing a thrilling narrative filled with strategic plot twists. However, overall, the 36-episode content was not as substantial, with the main storyline lacking the clarity and pace of the first season. Several new characters were introduced without fully developed arcs, leaving viewers wondering if certain subplots were mere fillers or foreshadowing future events, especially with the abrupt end to the Jiangnan trip.
From the first season to the second, “Joy of Life” has undoubtedly set a benchmark for successful male-oriented work adaptations. It has established a mature commercial system encompassing content, users, products, industry chains, and advertisers. “Joy of Life 2” also reaffirmed the principle that “content is king” in work adaptations. Only by focusing on the story, respecting the essence of the original work, exploring innovative dimensions, and adhering to high-quality production can work adaptations unlock more commercial potential. The third season of “Joy of Life” faces significant expectations. Scriptwriter Wang Juan appears aware of this challenge, publicly stating on Weibo that Fan Xian will overturn the chessboard and compete at a higher level in “Joy of Life 3.” Hopefully, the current dissatisfaction will be addressed in the next installment.
New Interpretations Injecting in Mini-Series
While the immense popularity of “Joy of Life 2” was anticipated, the success of “To the Wonder” was unexpected. Even the director was surprised when this mini-series, adapted from Li Juan's essay collection, garnered the top Douban rating for 2024 Chinese dramas with just eight episodes, creating a literary and cinematic sensation reminiscent of the vast wilderness of Altay.
In recent years, mini-series have predominantly focused on suspense genres. “To the Wonder” broke new ground by adapting essays into a mini-series format, pioneering a new path for domestic mini-series. The story, centered around three generations of Han Chinese women running a general store in a minority region, weaves themes of youth romance, intergenerational conflict, and the clash of old and new within the enchanting landscape of northern Xinjiang. It constructs a healing narrative for contemporary society, offering not just a visual feast but also a moment of tranquility and self-redemption for viewers, addressing the spiritual exhaustion of modern life. This healing effect is a key reason for the show's rapid rise to fame.
Simultaneously airing with “To the Wonder” was “Regeneration,” another rare gem in the mini-series category. “Regeneration” begins with the death of the protagonist, Feike, unfolding his life through the narratives of five scam victims at his memorial, presenting a complex tale of human nature akin to Rashomon. Despite its brief 10-episode span, the series adeptly uses a multi-timeline narrative to explore individual choices, life situations, and human desires, continuously intriguing viewers with its unpredictable twists.
The unique aspect of “Regeneration” lies in its avoidance of overtly stimulating or thrilling plots. Instead, it advances through character role-switching, plot reversals, and shifts in character psychology, redefining the suspense genre in Chinese dramas. The rapid rise of “To the Wonder” and “Regeneration” signifies the increasing diversity in the mini-series market. However, compared to the well-established long-form dramas, mini-series still face the risk of quality control issues due to their shorter narrative lengths. For creators, the challenge is to ensure that mini-series, with their concise and refined characteristics, achieve long-term impact and enduring vitality.
Expanding Creative Dimensions of Genre Dramas
The May drama market not only crowned “Joy of Life 2” as the ratings winner, but also witnessed significant innovations and breakthroughs across various genres and themes. “Reblooming Blue” utilized intangible cultural heritage as a medium, offering a fresh perspective on inspirational emotional dramas. It redefined the narrative of returning to one's roots to start anew, showcasing the journey of young people who leave first-tier cities to find themselves and face new challenges in adversity. The seamless integration of urban drama elements with local industries provided innovative solutions for boosting local cultural and tourism development.
“Golden Trio,” viewed from the perspective of the elderly, tackled silver anxiety. The daily antics of Zhang Guoli, Wang Gang, and Zhang Tielin continued within a new framework and character relationships, presenting vivid and authentic stories of the elderly. The series inspired viewers by exploring the potential for a more positive, enriched, and relaxed elderly life through themes of unity in small communities and mutual assistance in larger ones.
“Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact,” an adaptation of a popular Chinese anime, achieved a record-breaking debut on iQIYI, reaching a peak popularity score of 7,225. This series meticulously incorporated elements of traditional Chinese culture into its narrative, telling a love story that defies societal prejudices and promotes the values of bravery and breaking free from constraints. It enhanced the cultural depth of domestic anime adaptations and marked a beneficial attempt in the realm of fantasy period dramas.
“Insect Detective Season 2,” the sequel in a popular series, made a strong return after four years, with a market share second only to “Joy of Life 2” and “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact” within its first week. The series stood out by weaving entomology into its mystery plots, adding a layer of intrigue and scientific analysis to each case, and examining legal and ethical issues alongside human complexities. This season also boldly ventured beyond domestic boundaries, featuring cross-border investigations, expanding the creative scope of Chinese suspense dramas.
By the end of May, historical drama “My Wife's Double Life,” period drama “Year after Year,” and Qing dynasty drama “The Last Cook” were released. These dramas have received moderate feedback but have yet to ignite widespread discussion.
Looking ahead to June, the major video platforms are gearing up for the summer season. Scheduled releases include the period romance “The Double” starring Wu Jinyan, Wang Xingyue, and Chen Xinhai, and the urban drama “Time is Just Right” featuring Qin Hailu, Bao Jianfeng, Zuo Xiaoqing, and Tian Yu. Anticipated releases also include the urban romance “The Tale of Rose” starring Liu Yifei, Tong Dawei, Peng Guanying, and Lin Gengxin, the period romance suspense drama “Follow Your Heart” with Luo Yunxi and Song Yi, and the urban life drama “As Husband as Wife” featuring Yin Tao, Guo Jingfei, Qi Xi, and Zhang Yunlong.