In the past two years, the development of Chinese short length series has become more and more rapid, and this year, there has been a succession of "Please Don't Spoil Me", "Got Old Recently", "The Killer Is Also Romantic" and other popular series. While the influence of short length series is being developed rapidly, innovation and quality are becoming more and more important. On April 16, a Chinese short length series about ancient women's sumo wrestling, "Women Wrestling (瓦舍之素舞遥)", caught the attention of netizens in particular. The short length series industry has never been short of quality episodes, but Women Wrestling is willing to step out of its comfort zone and seek more possibilities in the industry, acting as a pioneer to find a breakthrough and actively try new topics, which makes us feel the vitality of the micro-short series industry.   New China-chic style theme "Female sumo wrestler of Song Dynasty?" Many netizens are attracted by the plot of the series on social media platforms. This has brought hot intuitive feedback to "Women Wrestling". Since the start of the broadcast, Tencent Video has broken 65 million viewers. "Women Wrestling" is the first part of The Theatre Trilogy (瓦舍三部曲). The whole…

The year 2023 marked a hot start and diversified development for Chinese television dramas. As an important art form that restores collective emotions and soothes the public's spirits, this year's drama content ecosystem has become more tolerant. While maintaining stability in thematic creation, breakthrough works have emerged in the fields of suspense, science fiction, micro-history, social issues, female-oriented dramas, and male-oriented adaptations of comics. In the trend of diversified development, 2023 also witnessed a surging wave of authorship cdramas that cannot be ignored. Represented by dramas such as "The Long Season," "Why Try to Change Me Now," "Fearless Blood," "Fake It Till You Make It," and "Stand by Me," this batch of dramas distinguishes itself from others of the same genre in terms of visual and auditory style, narrative aesthetics, and value expression. They possess distinct personal styles of the main creators, primarily the directors, and some have achieved the integration of writing and directing. As an important innovation in the drama ecosystem, these dramas, represented by the authorship trend, not only raise the audience's aesthetic threshold but also broaden the boundaries of expression. They have also achieved satisfactory market performance this year. While authorship dramas have appeared every year,…

In the pursuit of innovation in the Chinese drama market, traditional costume dramas are undergoing a revolution. With the rise of popular elements such as fantasy and idol, true costume dramas are becoming increasingly difficult to find. However, "Fighting for Love" brings a breath of fresh air to the audience with its simple style and authenticity. The drama abandons the glamorous special effects, vibrant costumes, and excessive filters, presenting the essence of costume dramas. Directed by Tian Shaobo, "Fighting for Love" stars Zhang Tianai, Zhang Haowei, Wang Ruichang, and others, and premiered on January 31, 2024. A Mai, the daughter of the Duke Jing of Nanxia, is killed by Chen Qi, her childhood friend. After several years, A Mai, who has grown into a young woman, disguises herself as a man and roams the martial world in order to seek revenge on Chen Qi. By a twist of fate, A Mai saves the son of the Crown Princess, Shang Yizhi, and subsequently helps him escape from danger multiple times. Their destinies become intertwined. As war breaks out, A Mai sheds her feminine appearance and joins the army as an infantry soldier. With her exceptional military talents, she achieves remarkable feats and…

This year's hottest costume drama: A Dream Of Splendor (梦华录, Meng Hua Lu), started broadcasting. Crystal Liu, Chen Xiao, Ada Liu, and Jelly Lin lead the cast. Since the airing, Meng Hua Lu's popularity has been high. Over 200,000 netizens have rated the drama 8.8 out of 10 on Douban. It is worth mentioning that among the TV dramas in the past five months of 2022, there are only four cdramas with a rating of over 8 on Douban: 8.3 for "The Record of Strange Things", 8.2 for "Beyond", 8.1 for "A Lifelong Journey " and 8.0 for "The Wind Blows From Longxi ". A Dream Of Splendor tells the story of Zhao Pan Er (Crystal Liu), a tea store owner in Qiantang, waiting for news of her fiance, Ou Yang Xu (Xu Hai Qiao), who has gone to the capital (Bian Jing) to take the imperial examination. Unexpectedly, when Ou Yang Xu was admitted to Tanhua, he betrayed Zhao Pan Er and married the daughter of a high-ranking court official. Zhao Pan Er is puzzled and sets off for the capital to ask for clarification. In the process, she befriends Gu Qian Fan (Chen Xiao), the commander of the…

Chinese costume dramas have gained immense popularity in recent years, both in China and around the world. These dramas are known for their intricate costumes, beautiful set designs, and of course, their unforgettable female leads. While each drama has its own unique story and characters, there are three distinct types of female leads that are commonly seen in Chinese costume dramas. In this essay, we will explore these three types of female leads and examine what makes each of them so compelling. Costume dramas are an enduring theme, particularly beloved by female audiences. Upon reviewing the performance of dramas over the past three years, we have observed that the female leads' characterizations have been continuously innovative in these popular works. Some are powerful and gallant heroines, whose continuous growth propels the work's excitement; while others are clever and lovable young ladies, naturally drawing closer to the audience and evoking emotional resonance.   Female Leads in Hit Costume Drama Among the latest and most popular five period dramas in the past three years, take "A Dream of Splendor," "Douluo Continent," "My Heroic Husband," "Love Like the Galaxy" and "Legend of Fei" as examples. "A Dream of Splendor" features a "career-oriented" female…

"Under the Microscope: The Tax Case of Silk" is arguably the most exciting historical costume cdrama of 2023 so far. Unlike most costume cdramas, "Under the Microscope" presents an exciting taxation curiosity case of the Ming Dynasty in only 14 episodes. The tight plot and accurate restoration of the Ming Dynasty make everyone start looking forward to the second season (there are six stories in the original, and the silk tax case is the first one). The drama is set in the Ming Dynasty time, showing Chinese aesthetics and authentic Ming Dynasty costumes. Shi Yue from Han Fu Shi Dai has compiled a list of the classic hanfu styles that appear in the drama, so let's learn about them.   Shuhe & Zhiduo Shuai Jia Mo, the main character in the drama, is a mathematical genius who relies on measuring land to earn a modest income. He was not enrolled in the civil service and was a commoner. Shuai Jia Mo often wears Shuhe and cloth shoes, highlighting his simple and unpretentious temperament. Shuhe (裋褐): also known as Heyi (褐衣), Buyi (布衣), refers to the rough cloth clothes worn by ordinary people. Feature with cross collar, narrow sleeves, usually shorter,…

The urban fantasy and action cdrama "I Am Nobody (Yi Ren Zhi Xia, 异人之下)" is currently being hotly broadcasted. The series is adapted from the popular Chinese manga series "Under One Person" by Mi Er. Upon its release, it received a high IMDb rating of 9.4. The vast world-building, extraordinary abilities of the Yi Ren (异人), and the unique visual aesthetics rooted in Chinese classical culture have sparked a wave of Chinese fantasy in early September, igniting the passion of many viewers. The ordinary young protagonist Zhang Chulan (played by Peng Yuchang) is drawn into an unprecedented world of Yi Ren after his grandfather's body mysterious disappearance. Faced with the sudden onslaught of other forces and the unexpected arrival of the enigmatic girl Feng Baobao (played by Wang Yinglu), Zhang Chulan is determined to no longer conceal his own extraordinary abilities. As Zhang Chulan gradually delves into the secrets of his grandfather's past, he becomes immersed in the world of the Yi Ren, where the mysteries of history begin to unfold. And Feng Baobao's mysterious background appears to be the key to unraveling the enigma. Confronted with successive crises, the young Yi Ren unite and form deep friendships and bonds.…

The hot-blooded Xianxia drama "Lord of Snow Eagles," directed by Li Dachao and starring Xu Kai, Gulnazar, Bai Shu, and Lu Tingyu, is currently airing. This drama is adapted from a novel of the same name. The story revolves around Dongbo Xueying, a young man with an ancient bloodline, who becomes entangled in the conflict between righteousness and evil as he strives to save his mother. Along the way, Xueying meets and falls in love with Yujingqiu, a descendant of the divine race. Together, they overcome numerous obstacles and eventually grow into the legendary Lord of Snow Eagles that shines brightly in the Orient. Xianxia dramas have always been popular among young audiences in Chinese film and television productions. Creating a unique worldview is often essential for such dramas. In terms of production value, Xianxia dramas tend to have relatively high costs due to special effects shots, action choreography, green screen editing skills etc., which require time and financial resources. Some large-scale productions even rely on CG technology to enhance visual effects. "Lord of Snow Eagles" has indeed created an expansive and innovative world view. Its fight scenes and special effects are commendable; if we overlook its conventional plotlines and focus…

"A League of Nobleman" (君子盟) is the latest thriller detective drama directed by Yang Fan and Jia Xiaoxiong, starring Jing Boran and Song Weilong, broadcast on January 30, 2023. The drama is adapted from the novel Zhang Gong An (张公案) written by Dafeng Guaguo. It tells the story of Zhang Ping, a simple and upright young man who loves reasoning and investigating, and young gentlemen Lan Jue, who is elegant and gentle Ceremonial Master. They jointly explore and investigating cases, find the true circumstances of Lan's birth, and work together to maintain justice and protect the peace of the people.   Next detective drama classic? Classic detective dramas appeared frequently in the early years. "Young Judge Bao" not only has eye-catching ratings but also makes many classic clips unforgettable to the audience. "Detective Dee" series not only had the highest ratings at that time but also created the most classic image of Di Renjie in the history of TV series. The drama "Judge of Song Dynasty" in 2005 is still a classic in the hearts of many audiences. The series is enough to surpass most ancient costume detective dramas in terms of plot, performance, and theme depth. However, with the…

In this year's Chinese film and television works, a part of them have satisfied the emotional value of the audience. For example, "The Knockout" and "Meet Yourself", as well as "No More Bets" and "Full River Red". The quantification of emotional value is difficult, but works that can be crowned with this concept are either popular or favored by certain groups, at least winning the resonance of some people. Which works belong to this category this year, and why have they conveyed emotional value?   "The Knockout": Confrontation of Emotions and Class Crossing Although it was broadcast in the first quarter, the influence of "The Knockout" unsurprisingly lasted until the end of the year. The success is essentially a triumph of emotional representation. The thrill and satisfaction of crossing classes bring indescribable pleasure to the audience. In the popular comments from the audience, there are many descriptions such as "growing stronger and becoming a big shot" and "step by step towards success". Justice triumphs over evil, and the root causes of evil provoke deep thoughts. The protagonist Gao Qiqiang (played by Zhang Songwen) and An Xin (played by Zhang Yi) complete a dual revenge. Initially, Gao Qiqiang, a fishmonger, was…

Get ready to fall in love with "Romance of a Twin Flower", the latest romantic comedy cdrama that is taking the entertainment industry by storm. This Chinese drama series is a perfect mix of heartwarming romance and hilarious comedy, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a feel-good show. With its captivating storyline, characters, and breathtaking cinematography, "Romance of a Twin Flower" is sure to leave you smiling and swooning from start to finish." "Romance of a Twin Flower" is a historical romantic comedy television series directed by Xie Ze and starring Ding Yuxi, Peng Xiaoran, Yi Dachuan, Mark Chao, He Changxi, and Jia Nai. The drama premiered on March 21st, 2023. Based on the novel of the same name by Bai Lu Cheng Shuang, the series tells the story of Ji Man, a talented young woman with exceptional business skills who unexpectedly loses her memory. She takes the place of her twin sister Nie Sangyu in the Ning Mansion and uses her business acumen to resolve crises, while experiencing ups and downs with Ning Yuxuan and growing and finding happiness along the way.   Basic Information of Romance of a Twin Flower Also known as: Chun Gui Meng…

Every year, the most explosive, buzzworthy, and actor-elevating genre undoubtedly belongs to costume dramas. This is why every year, costume dramas flood the market, attracting both investors and actors. In the upcoming lineup of Chinese video platforms in 2024, costume dramas have earned an incredibly important position. In this article, the highlights of the costume dramas that will soon be aired on Tencent Video and Youku Video.   1-Costume dramas on Tencent Video Among the upcoming lineup of costume dramas on Tencent Video, they have the fewest number compared to the other four major Chinese video platforms, with only 14 productions. However, there are still plenty of potential blockbusters among them, most of which are sure to become highly-discussed hot dramas.   The Legend of Shen Li Leading the pack is the director Deng Ke's "The Legend of Shen Li," starring Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin. It is adapted from Jiu Lu Fei Xiang's novel "Ben Wang Zai Ci." The reunion of these two actors reminds people of "Princess Agents," as the second season of that show is still eagerly anticipated. Audiences can only temporarily relieve their longing through "The Legend of Shen Li." Zhao Liying's talent is beyond doubt,…

In the past two months, the top projects in the film and television market have gathered. On August 31th, the total box office of summer Chinese films exceeded 20 billion yuan, breaking the record for domestic box office in the same period of history. Moreover, four films: "Lost in the Stars", "Never Say Never ", "Creation of the Gods Ⅰ: Kingdom of Storms" and "No More Bets" all surpassed 2 billion yuan at the box office. At present, it is expected that the final total box office for this season will reach 21 billion yuan. On the other hand, the drama market lagged a little behind the movie market, especially after entering July when there was a concentration of top dramas; only "Lost You Forever" and "Mysterious Lotus Casebook" achieved explosive data. To some extent, having a concentration of popular projects can help boost market activity and potentially create blockbusters. By looking at how movies and dramas perform, we may be able to understand specific situations within both industries from an industry perspective as well as from a market point of view. Given that Chinese film and television companies are generally choosing to focus on both movies and TV dramas…

In the year 2023, supporting actors such as Gao Qiqiang, Ye Bingshang, and Meng Yanchen made a comeback with their outstanding charisma, heralding the year of supporting roles in cdramas. A year later, this phenomenon not only did not fade away but intensified. In the currently popular drama "In Blossom," Zheng Hehuizi, in a guest appearance, overshadowed the female lead Ju Jingyi in just two episodes, sparking discussions among viewers. Even though Zheng Hehuizi personally responded, urging netizens not to create opposition between female actors, it did not quell the audience's desire to resist the mainstream and assert their own voices. From supporting roles stepping up to supporting roles stealing the show, what kind of emotional journey do audiences go through? How will it affect the creative direction of the entire film and television industry?   The Ultimate Characterization of Supporting Roles For a long time, many people have attributed the unexpected rise of supporting roles to a kind of mystery. However, even in the realm of the mysterious, upon deeper examination, one can find underlying reasons. Firstly, from the perspective of creative norms, it is easier to shape an outstanding supporting role than a main character. The protagonist, as…

Directed by Su Zhaobin and Lin Ziping, with Ni Ni and Bai Yu as the leading actors, and Jin Han, Meng Ziyi, and Zhang Yishang making special appearances, the fantasy adventure cdrama "Parallel World (西出玉门)" is currently airing. The drama tell the story about Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong, one searching for the truth of their identity and the other unraveling the mysteries of the past, join forces to venture deep into the desert. In the depths of the desert, dangers lurk at every turn, as if invisible hands are pulling them into the the Jade Gate. Amidst various forces, they navigate through numerous troubles, unraveling the truth and gaining insights into true love through life-and-death trials. The truth seems within reach, but they also find themselves ensnared in a larger conspiracy. With its magnificent spectacle, unique visual style, tight pacing, and gripping storyline, the drama quickly captivates audiences of different ages and backgrounds.   A contemporary fantasy that lands with finesse "Parallel World" is a fresh attempt at Chinese fantasy drama. In previous fantasy dramas, the fantastical elements were often derived from the convergence of the past and present or the turmoil of human hearts. "Parallel World" takes a…