C-drama Recommendations
I tend to like watching TV shows more than movies since I get more content to watch, so here we go!
Keep in mind the following dramas aren’t really made with the same limitations of being “understandable for a Western audience” as the movie rec list I made. Thus, some of these dramas may be utterly incomprehensible even with English subtitles. Watch at your own risk, I guess.
This post is very long. I recommend you read the whole thing, but if you're too bored, to, I will give you right here the top 5 ranking I think you should watch these shows in.
Empresses in the Palace (Zhen Huan Zhuan), the Tale of Zhen Huan (available on YouTube with English subtitles)
Nirvana in Fire (available on YouTube with English subtitles)
The Bad Kids (available on YouTube with English subtitles)
Joy of Life (available on YouTube with English subtitles)
The Story of Minglan (available on YouTube with English subtitles)
All the other dramas on this list are also worth watching! You'll just have to read through my yapping. Sorry.
I WILL PREFACE BY SAYING.
In recent years, I have seen people recommending a drama called 如懿传, or Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace.
DO NOT FUCKING WATCH THIS SHOW. IT IS SHIT.
If you liked it, I have no words. You do you, I guess. Just... why???
This isn't even just my opinion either. It's widely known across literally every Chinese social media site that this show is terrible. I have ZERO IDEA why people overseas recommend it. It's the "sequel" to Empresses in the Palace, Zhen Huan Zhuan (which is arguably the most iconic historic TV show in Chinese history) in that it tells the story of what happens after Empresses in the Palace, and the novel si written by the same author.
I will elaborate on why you shouldn't watch Ruyi in a different post, which I will link here once it's up.
Let's begin. Sorry for that rant.
甄嬛传 Empresses in the Palace (or The Tale of Zhen Huan), 2011
Starring Sun Li, Ada Choi and Chen Jianbing
This is widely-regarded as the most popular c-drama. It’s also my personal favourite c-drama, I’ve rewatched it ENDLESS times and I think I can recite the lines and mannerisms from memory.
It’s a palace harem intrigue story, set in the late Qing Dynasty in the court of the Yongzheng Emperor. His harem of concubines (yes, Chinese emperors had harems) frequently fought and battled with each other for favour or political strength.
The titular character is named Zhen Huan, who is a young girl selected into the harem. She is beautiful, smart and looks very similar to the Emperor’s deceased first wife, Empress Chunyuan.
Zhen Huan (we affectionately call her Huanhuan) quickly rises through the ranks of the harem with her wits. She is politically and socially savvy- a true girlboss. Along the way, though, she encounters much opposition, from other jealous concubines (most notably Consort Hua, who is the haughty, beautiful and favoured younger sister of a grand general named Nian Gengyao).
The reason why Empresses in the Palace is so good is because not only is Zhen Huan almost the perfect MC (she’s incredibly smart but she has practically no plot armour- her failings and success are entirely her own merit), but the other characters are all written very well.
None of them are truly evil, per se, but despite their petty and often cruel actions, you want to sympathise with them even if they do bad things.
Also, the set and costumes and props and actresses are all super pretty!
Like, look at these costumes and accessories!
It's such a visually-stunning show, and Sun Li is so beautiful and likeable as Huanhuan.
The whole show is on YouTube with English subtitles. I don’t know how I feel about the English translations, but they’re not bad per se.
Prior to watching, I’ll include a list of the rankings of people in the palace in case you get confused. From highest to lowest:
皇帝 Emperor = 太后 Dowager Empress (even the Emperor has to listen to her sometimes, even though the Emperor is technically higher ranked)
皇后 Empress
皇贵妃 Imperial Noble Consort
贵妃 Noble Consort
妃 Consort
嫔 Concubine
贵人 Noble One (or Noble Lady)
常在 Attendant
答应 Answerable
官女子 Palace Lady
Being granted a title rather than using your surname (for example, Consort Butterfly is higher-ranked than Consort Smith) is a great honour.
GO WATCH THIS SHOW! It’s so good! The original novel is like, kind of shit. This is the only time the book has ever been worse than the adaptation. It’s very long (like, 70 episodes) but I swear it’s worth it!
琅琊榜 Nirvana in Fire, 2015
Starring Hu Ge and Liu Tao
It has been a LONG time since I’ve watched Nirvana in Fire and I’ve basically forgotten everything about it (I watched it when I was younger and was not paying attention). Regardless.
At its core, it’s a political thriller about the rise of an underdog politician in the warring states period. What makes this drama so good is the chemistry between Hu Ge (the main actor, playing Mei Changsu) and literally everybody else.
The plotting, the scheming, the subterfuge and espionage and battle and justice-pursuing epic machinations: I really liked this drama even if I’ve forgotten literally everything.
You can consider it a little bit like Game of Thrones? If not nearly as huge a mythological universe, the overall themes are somewhat similar.
This show is just generally very popular even without me advertising it, but go watch it if you haven’t!
知否知否应是绿肥红瘦 The Story of Minglan 2018
Starring Zhao Liying, Feng Shaofeng, Zhu Yilong
Okay, the translation for the title of this drama is really bad, but I suppose it is hard to translate it. 知否知否应是红肥绿瘦 is a very famous line from a Song dynasty poem (by a very famous female poet). Translated directly:
You know, you know? This should be green fat, red skinny.
The actual meaning: Did you know, did you know? This should be a time for green shrubs to blossom, and red flowers to wither.
The main character, Minglan, is the daughter of a high-ranking government official and his concubine (ancient times, noblemen had multiple wives). Since she was not born of the primary wife (and thus is considered an inherently lesser person), Minglan is often mistreated. She is extremely clever and strong-willed, but learns to hide her smarts and personality behind a seemingly-weak and dim-witted mask.
Minglan’s family all battle for their own self-interests. She has many siblings (there are lots of wives and concubines). As Minglan grows up and comes-of-age, she learns to subtly manipulate people, fend off her enemies and experience romance.
Minglan, just like Zhen Huan, is smart and accomplished. She has her wits about her and isn’t blindly in love with anyone, nor does she tolerate people who try to hurt her. However, she’s kind and generous, not cruel, and isn’t annoying or loud. It’s just very satisfying to see her go about her life and live well for herself.
隐秘的角落 The Bad Kids, 2020
Starring Rong Zishan, Shi Pengyuan and Wang Shengdi
The Bad Kids was released as part of a series of TV shows including The Long Night (the next one on this list). The main character, 15 year old Zhu Chaoyang, is the young son of divorced parents. His stepfather and half-sister Zhu Jingjing often do not treat him well, and although he excels academically, he has a cold and unfriendly personality.
Chaoyang’s primary school friend Yan Liang escaped from their orphanage with another little girl, Pupu (a nickname, I don’t remember her actual name). Chaoyang, Yan Liang and Pupu enjoy their time together playing and goofing off and doing slightly-illegal activities (nothing bad! Pupu and Yan Liang are technically missing runaway children, so they’re being pursued by well-meaning police officers trying to return them to the orphanage, and Chaoyang is letting them stay unlawfully at his house without letting his mom know).
One day, while playing in a park across from a mountain, they take a video of themselves singing a popular children’s song. Later, they realise the video contains evidence of a murder.
The murderer is a teacher whose wife wants a divorce, his name is Dongsheng. Dongsheng is a terrifying character. He seems so normal (he’s even quite handsome) but everything he does is just… subtly off. He feels so wrong even though there’s nothing outwardly out of place.
The three kids are terrified at the news and want to turn the video over to the police, but they realise that means Yan Liang and Pupu would be sent back to the orphanage.
Dongsheng and the kids engage in a game of desperate cat and mouse to get the video, get money, and get an alibi in place. However, as the story goes on, you can’t truly like or hate any of the characters. The plot is written very well.
Chaoyuan, who seems like an innocent kid, reveals he has some darkness in him as well. Dongsheng, who is a coldblooded murderer, develops an attachment to the kids and begins to bond with them.
The entire drama is incredibly tense. The three child actors do a terrific job. Literally every actor does a terrific job. Not only is the plot well-done, the acting and pacing is great too. A very good drama!
沉默的真相 The Long Night, 2020
Starring Bai Yu, Liao Fan
This is the other drama that went viral in 2020 with The Bad Kids- it’s part of the same universe.
Yan Liang, now grown-up and a detective, investigates a mysterious murder case.
The killer was caught by police when trying to get past subway security with a suspicious suitcase- it’s revealed the suitcase included a dead body. He confesses to the crime and pleads guilty, but on the day of the highly-publicized trial, he reveals that he has a perfect alibi for when the murder occured.
The victim was once a prosecutor who dedicated his entire life to solving a particular crime. He was sentenced to two years in prison for corruption and bribery. As the story progresses, you begin to wonder who exactly is a murderer, and who exactly is the detective. Who is the victim? Was it the person who died? Was it the person who killed them?
Regardless, the entire drama is incredibly tense. Your brain has to work overtime to keep up with their deductions, but it’s done brilliantly where you want to know and figure out what’s happening with them, instead of getting bored or confused. Every new discovery opens the web of conspiracies up!
In the end, the entire murder case seems like an incredibly long play. You’re left not knowing if any of it was worth it, or if you (and the characters) have wasted away your time, youth and energy on something that was always inevitably a tragedy. The epitome of doomed by the narrative.
This is a very good show. All I can say is, don’t watch it if you want to be in a good mood, but it’s thrilling and gripping and very well-done.
长安十二时辰 The Longest Day in Chang’an, 2019
Starring Jackson Yee, Lei Jiayin
A former army soldier is given 24 hours (or twelve shichen, hence the Chinese name of the show, Twelve Shichen in Chang’an) to uncover and dissolve a terrorist plot against the capital of the empire, Chang’an. If he manages to solve the problem within 24 hours, he will be released from prison (he killed important people) and if he does not, he gets executed.
The terrorist plot is to take place during the Lantern Festival (not CNY, but similar) which is the biggest holiday. As such, the stakes are pretty high.
I never finished this drama, it’s pretty long. I remember the plot being pretty good, though the costuming and some of the action wasn’t amazing. Jackson Yee is a great actor, though!
Again, this is a very tense thriller show. My main complaint is that it’s too long and not fast-paced enough. If you can watch it to the end, I think you’ll like it- I certainly enjoyed it well enough.
庆余年 Joy of Life, 2019
Starring Zhang Ruoyun, Li Qin, Chen Daoming
Based on a popular novel, a transmigrator from the 21st century is born as Fan Xian in ancient China in the fictional Qing (a different Qing than the other Qing Dynasty, this one is 庆, but there is a 清, which is the Manchu Dynasty and the one in Empresses in the Palace) Dynasty.
He is raised as the bastard son of the assistant minister of finance, Fan Jian. Fan Xian’s mother, Ye Qingmei, was a genius inventor who created the Inner Department (a treasury of production of surprisingly-modern goods like soap, etc) and the Overwatch Bureau, basically the CIA.
After Fan Xian experiences an assassination attempt, he heads from the rural manor he was raised in to the capital to find out who tried to kill him.
While he is originally a carefree person who thinks himself unimportant, Fan Xian eventually finds himself involved in many conspiracies and political battles for power, particularly between the princes of the empire, who vie for ultimate control and to one day succeed the throne. He also discovers some choice facts about himself and his mother.
Fan Xian is an excellent main character. He’s humorous and light-hearted, but also very smart, righteous and kind. The story involves many conspiracies and plots, and you never know just what anyone is planning.
The seemingly-lackadaisical Qing Emperor is also a very charming character. He’s a complete bastard, is what I’ll say, a bit of an asshole, but not in the I-do-bad-things-way. He just fucks with you. A gremlin.
He does do bad things, though, and is pretty ruthless, but he’s an emperor, so…
If by the end you also fall in love with the Second Prince, consider yourself part of the club, everyone loves him even if he's a bitch.
鬼吹灯之精绝古城 Candle in the Tomb: The Lost City of Jingjue, 2016
Starring Jin Dong, Chen Qiao’en, Zhao Da
An adaptation of an incredibly popular series of tomb-raiding novels (like Lara Croft), Candle in the Tomb tells the story of Hu Bayi, a former soldier from a line of tomb raiders. He and his friend Wang Kaixuan (nicknamed Chubby) are hired by the mysterious wealthy Chinese-American daughter of a dead Wall Street businessman Shirley Yang to go on an expedition to find the mythical ancient lost city of Jingjue.
Hu Bayi and Chubby, secretly tomb raiders, want to find some treasures and sell them on the black market, but their expedition team is full of government archaeologists.
The city of Jingjue is said to be in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. They first stop at the icy Kunlun Mountain Range to try and retrieve a notebook from an archaeological team that is said to have already gone there, but seemingly died on the way.
Along the way, they encounter multiple dangers and ancient treasures, and the lost city of Jingjue becomes even more mysterious. As the team faces many perils first in the icy mountain range then in the harsh desert, they finally make it to the lost city, only to encounter a place so mysterious they wonder if they are hallucinating.
Jingjue City is so strange that by the end you don’t even know if they were truly there or if the whole thing was almost like a dream. If it was a dream, then when did they begin dreaming?
This show is pretty good! My family really likes Candle in the Tomb, so we’ve watched all the adaptations, but the Lost City of Jingjue is still my favourite. The acting is good and the characters are charismatic and likeable. Chubby is annoying, brash and is prone to having offensive biases, but he's good at heart even if you don’t like him.
繁花 Blossoms Shanghai, 2023
Starring Hu Ge, Ma Yili, Tang Yan, Xin Zhilei
I will start by saying Blossoms Shanghai is not… a show that I would think is understandable to a wider audience. It was filmed entirely in Shanghainese. It is very heavily steeped in Shanghainese culture (very distinct) and Shanghainese nostalgia, so even other Chinese people don’t get it. My mom loved it and I liked it as well, but we are both Shanghainese, so even if you’re Chinese you might not understand most of the references it makes.
Still, it’s very good.
It takes place in the 1990s in Shanghai, an era of unprecedented economic growth. People could get insanely rich overnight, but also lose everything just as quickly. Exports and stocks were beginning to grow in the Chinese market, and the main character, A-Bao, rises from a nobody to the wealthy and respected Mr. Bao (宝总- literally, Boss Bao. “Boss” or 总 zong is added to the end of a businessman/businesswoman’s name to signify their rank) through both his wit and the mentorship of the elderly and mysterious Uncle Grandfather (I know the name is a little weird- you can refer to him as Uncle Ye).
Mr. Bao deals in both stock trading and exports. In that era in Shanghai, most business deals were conducted over a fancy dinner in a restaurant on one road in particular, Huanghe Road (Yellow River Road). As such, the owners of restaurants on Huanghe Road were considered middlemen and business brokers as well.
Mr. Bao’s companions include his old friend, the hot-tempered but pragmatic Ling Zi, who manages a small restaurant owned by Mr. Bao called Tokyo by Night (she studied in Tokyo), as well as Miss Wang, a respected exports broker at the official government exports office. (Back then, in order to deal in exports, you needed a government official to make the deal for you and ensure you weren’t doing anything shady- this is no longer the case)
Mr. Bao’s business faces ups and downs, but he is always able to navigate the market with ease due to his smarts and Uncle Ye’s guidance, as well as the assistance of Miss Wang. However, a new restaurant opens on Huanghe Road, owned by a mysterious woman named Li Li- her intentions, origins and business practices are unknown.
The plot centers around Mr. Bao’s various business practices, which sounds boring but is really quite exciting. Business is shady and high-stakes, so it’s almost like an espionage film. Every character is very well-written and true to life.
With that, I conclude my c-drama rec list. Obviously there's more shows I like, but these are my personal favourites. I know there are much more shows that are MUCH MORE popular (honestly I think Empresses in the Palace and Nirvana in Fire are the only ones on this list I would deem "top five best/most popular shows".
