白月梵星 Moonlight Mystique 40 episodes 1月7日 爱奇艺 白鹿、敖瑞鹏
This was the Bai Lu’s big drama to kick start the year and battle it out with Yang Zi’s Flourishing Peony or Guo Se Fang Hua. We weren’t able to squeeze this one in during our Jan recap because it wasn’t officially announced when we recorded our podcast.
Here’s the summary: Bai Shuo and her older sister Bai Xi are rescued in their youth by a mysterious Immortal. Inspired by this encounter, Bai Shuo vows to master the ways of the immortals, dedicating ten years learning from a fraudulent teacher. Finally, the fraud informs Bai Shuo (ft. Bai Lu 白鹿) that the owner of the Bu Ji Tower, Fan Yue (ft. 敖瑞鹏 Ao Rui Peng) is an immortal. Bai Shuo, determined to acquire genuine skills, confronts Fan Yue, who is in reality a demon, and is astonished to discover that the Wu Nian Stone reacts to the human Bai Shuo. Intrigued, he decides to investigate her mysterious connection to the stone for his own purposes. However, news of the Wu Nian Stone spreads rapidly, drawing demons to the town in a race to capture Bai Shuo. Bai Shuo and Fan Yue must defeat their enemies and collect the 5 Feelings to activate the Wu Nian Stone.
Bai Lu is paired up with Ao Rui Peng to headline her first fantasy drama since 2023’s Till the End of the Moon. My initial thoughts have been posted on our website and I just finished watching the drama yesterday so I’ll be updating my review. But in general – I thought the story was fine, if rather disjointed. A lot of the questions are answered in the last 10 episodes. I thought Bai Lu was the weakest link of the main cast. She didn’t bring anything new to the role. I was totally obsessing over the second couple of Fu Ling and Chong Zhao. That was my main motivator for watching the drama.
I was watching The Blossoming Love or 千朵桃花一世开 concurrently and they both followed several similar beats. I like aspects of both but prefer The Blossoming Love more. This drama didn’t breach iQiyi’s 10,000 on its popularity index and as of now, trails in viewership compared to Flourishing Peony and Guardians of Dafeng
了不起的曹萱萱 Cao Xuanxuan’s Love Journey 21 episodes 1月13日 腾讯视频 祝绪丹、翟潇闻
I’m only bringing this up because Zhu Xu Dan has been enjoying the residual popularity from Love Game In Eastern Fantasy but that was not nearly enough to have people watch this new drama. No one, and I mean, no one watched it. This drama aired without much fanfare. I think Tencent just wanted to have this one off its books.
漂白 Drifting Away 14 episodes 1月17日 爱奇艺 郭京飞、王千源、赵今麦
The drama that did catch everyone by surprise is Drifting Away
Here’s the brief premise: In 2002, Police Detective 彭兆林, who, on his way to a crime scene, narrowly misses an encounter with the suspect. The unknown suspect, now a fugitive, goes on a murderous spree, killing several young women before disappearing. One young woman escapes from the murderer and becomes a policewoman. 10 years later, Peng Zhaolin and his colleagues reopen the long-unsolved cases, embarking on a relentless pursuit of the killer.
This drama reached 9500 on iQiYi’s popularity index on the first day of airing and reached 10,000 by Jan 22nd. People really enjoyed the first few episodes of the show but then word of mouth took a nosedive in its second week. I haven’t watched it so not sure what happened. People really enjoyed the portrayals from the leads 郭京飞、王千源、赵今麦. People much prefer 赵今麦 in this role compared to her role in the Princess Royal last year.
异人之下之决战！碧游村 I am Nobody S2 13 episodes 1月18日 优酷
This is the second season of I am Nobody, which is an adaptation of a Chinese man hua. The first season came out back in 2023 to pretty decent reviews. A movie version also came out last year directed by Wu Er Shan, the director for the Creation of the Gods series but it was widely panned. This second season brings back the stars of 彭昱畅、王影璐、侯明昊
Here’s the summary: Zhang Chu Lan (played by 彭昱畅) is forced into the world of Yi people. Side note, I don’t know how the drama is translating it so I’m going to call the Yi People. Zhang Chu Lan grows to become a righteous hero of the Yi People. He and 冯宝宝（王影璐饰) are connected by fate. One sudden event throws their world into chaos. 陈朵 kills a superior and flees, leading to much suspicion. Feng Bao Bao must track the killer. As the drama continues, Zhang Chu Lan must discover the mystery of the town and killer.
相思令 Everlasting Longing 30 episodes 1月20日 腾讯视频 杨颖、宋威龙
This is a historical romance drama. I’m only highlighting this because it features Angelababy! If you remember, Angelababy was essentially soft black listed or canceled in China because she attended the Crazy Horse show for Lisa in Paris back in 2023. That really killed her career and she has been out of the public eye for quite some time. So, it was quite a surprise to hear that this drama, Everlasting Longing, started airing. I watched the 1st episode and its…not that great. Maybe I’ll stick it out and watch a few more episodes. She is using her own voice which I think is a first for a drama. The story and production don’t help with the subpar acting from the main cast.
We’ll see if this is the nail in the coffin for Angelababy’s career. It definitely took a nose dive post Crazy Horse show and this may have helped revitalize it. It did not do well popularity wise, only breaching 22000 or so on Tencent’s popularity indeed and it’s already finished airing rather quietly. So suffice to say…a dud for the main cast.
致1999年的自己 Reopen my Journals 33 episodes 1月24日 腾讯视频 李昀锐、黄杨钿甜、倪虹洁、杨皓宇
Hot off of the great ratings of Blossom or Jiu Chong Zi, Li Yun Rui stars in this drama set in the late 90s about young high schoolers and their families. Man – I feel like people really prefer him in period costume because this drama really hasn’t created a stir. So maybe all of his fans are all CP fans instead?
五福临门 Perfect Match 36 episodes 1月25日 芒果TV（首播），1月27日 湖南卫视(22:00)（上星） 卢昱晓、王星越、吴宣仪、刘些宁、黄圣池、黄杨钿甜、董思成
Here is the next period drama produced by Yu Zheng.
If you recall, we actually had a podcast episode about this drama last year. There was drama because actress Zhu Xu Dan was scheduled to act as the main female lead but she backed out to go act in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. That pissed off Yu Zheng who called her out on it but it seemed like Zhu Xu Dan’s role was swapped in importance. We don’t know exactly what the calculus was there but it was public and ugly on his side. She didn’t really respond to his attacks.
In any case, this drama started airing on Mango TV with 36 episodes
Here’s the simple gist: Set during the reign of Emperor Song Ren Zong in the Northern Song Dynasty, Madam Li has four marriage eligible daughters. To find better prospects, she moves the family to the capital city in search of her second daughter who has married well. But, it is not easy to find eligible and worthy bachelors for her daughters. This is a drama that is all about finding the perfect match.
I feel like this drama hasn’t aired with much fanfare although Lu Yu Xiao and Wang Xing Yue are really promoting the drama. This is the next drama that I’ll watch but there are so many familiar faces that it might be a bit hard for me to pull myself out of their previous dramas. I’ll see how the pair up is between 卢昱晓、王星越
白色橄榄树 The White Olive Tree 38 episodes 2月1日 爱奇艺 陈哲远、梁洁 军旅
Chinese version of Descendants of the Sun which was a massive k drama hit. Raise your hand if you watched it.
Chen Zhe Yuan is the main male lead and Liang Ji is the female lead. Liang Ji plays a reporter who is reporting in a country and comes under fire. She is rescued by a volunteer engineer played by Chen Zhe Yuan. That’s what his title is in the plot summary but he’s basically a soldier. It’s a romance where he’s the soldier and she’s the reporter. There’s been decent marketing for this drama and from what I’ve seen, Chen Zhe Yuan really cared for this role and this drama.
Sadly, it is not doing particularly well ratings wise. It breached 8000 on iQiyi’s popularity index, but is not gaining market share from online viewers. It is solidly 4th behind the likes of Perfect Match, and Moonlight Mystique. I have not followed it closely so I don’t know what exactly is wrong here vs the massive hit that was Descendants of the Sun.
六姊妹 Six Sisters 38 episodes 2月3日 央视一套 梅婷、陆毅 生活
This is definitely the drama for all of the parents and grandparents. This is a drama set through the 60s-80s. Well I think that’s the timing. Anyways – the dad wanted to have a son and after 20 years only has 6 daughters. The dad unexpectedly passes and the mom is now left to raise 6 daughters. This drama follows these 6 daughters, their mother, and grandmother.
It has a star studded cast with award winners and familiar faces from other dramas. 梅婷、陆毅领衔主演，邬君梅、奚美娟、刘钧、吴倩特别主演，李晨特邀主演，高露、颖儿、曹斐然、李嘉琦
We’ll see if this can become a hit like Romance in the alley
漫影寻踪 Street Corner Story 12 episodes 2月4日 爱奇艺 王安宇、匡牧野、杨颖 民初
This is a drama set during the Republic of China era. Filmed all the way back in 2021 for like a month. I’m honestly surprised it’s even airing since it’s been 3 plus years. We’re only bringing it up because it’s once again Angelababy. Interestingly, she has been utterly demoted. She was a big star back in 2021 and had top billing for this drama. But now, Wang AN Yu has top billing and she’s been relegated to “special appearance”. That’s definitely a demotion for her. Again, not sure why a bunch of her dramas are airing right now and basically to no interest online. Her market interest has certainly been depleted.
掌心 Kill my sins 30 episodes 2月7日 优酷 刘诗诗、窦骁、郑业成、宣璐、徐娇
As for a drama I am looking forward to, it is Zhang Xin or Kill My Sins. It features Liu Shi Shi and Dou Xiao as the main couple. This is a historical thriller set in the Tang dynasty.
Liu Shi Shi plays Ye Ping An who is a wandering doctor. Due to a mysterious and hidden cold case, she arrives in Luo Yang. Because of various odd cases, she garners the moniker of a witch doctor. She is someone who is skillful at manipulation which causes people to avoid her. Yuan Shao Cheng is a member of Da Li Si or the Court of Judicature Review. Because he is of the pariah status, he is considered a stinky rat. Even though he has many skills, he cannot earn respect for his skills. He yearns for power and is focused on capturing opportunities to rise to the top.
At this time, a murder occurred in Luo Yang. An official died gruesomely in his home. Before he died, he summoned Ye Ping An to help him with a heart condition and she was the only witness at the scene of the crime. Yuan Shao Cheng is tasked with solving the case. Despite oddities, he decides to try to pin the death on Ye Ping An as a scapegoat in order to climb the ranks. What will happen to Ye Ping An? That is what we will find out in this case.
Ooooo interesting! Part of the production crew includes folks who were involved in the Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty so we shall see how this turns out. I’m assuming it won’t be TOO bad. I will definitely chase it.
仙台有树 Love of the Divine Tree 40 episodes 2月7日 爱奇艺 邓为、向涵之、张维娜 、曹煜辰、陈鑫海、胡嘉欣、张睿、何中华、白澍、赵柯、赵子琪、艾米
Facing off Liu Shi Shi’s and Dou Xiao is Xian Tai You Shu or Love of the Divine Tree. As you can tell, it is a fantasy drama. It features Deng Wei as the main male lead and relative newcomer Xiang Han Zhi. This drama will air on Feb 7 on IQiyi. If I recall, Deng Wei filmed this back in 2023 when he got a lot of attention post Lost You Forever. He has lost some popularity or intrigue since then so we’ll see if this helps elevate him to the next level in terms of popularity.
What’s this drama about? 20 years ago, XI Xian sect leader Mu Qing Ge featuring Xiang Han Zhi offered a golden pill to help prevent evil spirits in a mythical water source wreak havoc on the world. SHe was misunderstood as an evil person and was killed. Her disciple, Su Yi SHui featuring Deng Wei, found out the truth about her sacrifice before she died and worked tirelessly to reincarnate her. 20 years later, Mu Qing Ge is reborn as Xue Ran Ran. Su Yi Shui takes her under his care but when the seal that protected the mythical waters weakened, Su Yi Shui has no choice but to sacrifice everything to recreate the seal. He works with Xue Ran Ran to save humanity against these evil threats.