#cdramas

he said, like a liar

took one of the best mistranslations from tencent youtube cql and threw it over what is, imho, the best bts picture from cql to exist

"Empresses in the Palace" (also known as "The Legend of Zhen Huan" or "甄嬛传") This is a classic and widely loved drama set in the Qing Dynasty. It follows the story of Zhen Huan, a young woman who enters the imperial palace as a concubine and navigates the treacherous world of court politics, betrayal, and power struggles. The storytelling is intricate, the characters are complex, and the costumes and sets are stunning. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves palace intrigue. "Empresses in the Palace" is pretty much considered the number one Chinese palace drama out there. The script is super deep, it shows sympathy for what women went through back then and celebrates their spirit of fighting back. Another drama with a really deep story is "War and Beauty." (金枝欲孽) It’s in Cantonese, and while the costumes and sets aren’t as fancy as "Empresses in the Palace," the way it portrays tragedy is just as powerful. Fun fact: the original novel of "Empresses in the Palace" wasn’t nearly as deep. The screenwriter totally changed its meaning. In the book, the emperor was super handsome and charming, but the director scrapped that idea. They went with an actor who wasn’t conventionally attractive but had incredible acting skills. That choice made the tragedy hit way harder. Honestly, without the amazing performances and the rewritten script, "Empresses in the Palace" wouldn’t have become such a massive, nationwide hit.

"Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures" (or "延禧攻略") Another Qing Dynasty drama, this one focuses on Wei Yingluo, a clever and determined woman who enters the palace to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death. It’s filled with scheming, revenge, and intense court rivalries. The production quality is top-notch, and the female lead is strong and resourceful, making it very engaging. Compared to "Empresses in the Palace," it’s not as deeply tragic. A lot of it obviously doesn’t match real history, but it’s super emotional and moving. The pacing is fast, and it fits more into the 古装偶像剧guzhuang idol dramas that often cast young pretty actors, and are set in several hundred years ago but talk and act like people in modern days. For Qing Dynasty palace intrigue dramas, I only recommend those two (Empresses in the Palace and Story of Yanxi Palace). But there are other amazing historical dramas, like "Kangxi Dynasty康熙王朝(2001)," "Yongzheng Dynasty雍正王朝（1999）," and"Young Kangxi少年康熙(2004)" etc. They’re all fantastic, though they’re a bit older. I think they have english subs on youtube too. I don’t recommend those Qing Dynasty time-travel palace dramas because, honestly, the scripts just aren’t as good as the ones I mentioned. Either the acting’s not great, or the story just feels boring and dragged out. As for "Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace," just… don’t. It’s a total dumpster fire—pretty much universally agreed on by Chinese netizens. If you’re curious what trash tastes like, well, there you go.

There are palace intrigue dramas based on the Ming Dynasty too, but they’re not as popular. Partly because the scripts aren’t as strong, and partly because the Ming Dynasty just didn’t have the same elements for palace intrigue. That’s a whole other topic, so I won’t get into it. But there’s one Ming Dynasty drama that’s absolutely brilliant, it’s called "Ming Dynasty 1566大明王朝 1566 (2006)." You can find it on YouTube with English subs.

The script is based on serious history by some top notch script writer, and it’s super amazing. I’m not sure if it’s for everyone, though. It’s all about political schemes, imperial strategy, and the cutthroat world of Chinese bureaucracy. If you’ve read books like "Stories about Ming Dynasty/Those Things about Ming明朝那些事儿 by shi yue石悦" （This series had me laughing so hard I was literally pounding my bed in the middle of the night. I stayed up all weeks reading it. Sadly, I don’t think there’s an official English version. It was a huge bestseller in China, though, topped the charts for historical fiction. It brings historical events to life in this super witty way, and the characters feel like they’re right there in front of you. They have e-books version on WeRead of WeChat), you’d probably love it. But it doesn't appeal to people who don't like to see real power plays. Ming history is fascinating, I think it has some of the most intense power struggles in all of Chinese history. But just to be clear, it’s not a palace intrigue drama. It focuses on the imperial court, not the palace后宫hougong (harem).

Also, many old Chinese dramas are incredibly well-made and have stood the test of time, though some might not have English subs due to their age. If you’re interested in exploring more, I highly recommend "Palace of Desire" (大明宫词Daming Gong Ci).

This drama is set in the Tang Dynasty and revolves around the life of Empress Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, and her daughter, Princess Taiping. It’s a poetic and deeply emotional portrayal of love, power, and tragedy within the imperial court. The dialogue is beautifully written, almost like a Shakespearean play, and the costumes and sets capture the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty perfectly. While it might not have the same modern production quality as newer dramas, its storytelling and historical depth are truly exceptional. It has this captivating aesthetic of Tang. If you’re open to exploring older classics, this is a gem worth checking out.

If you’re interested in diving into another epic historical drama, I highly recommend "The Emperor Han Wu" (汉武大帝)(2005). This one is about Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, one of China’s most famous and powerful rulers. It’s a gripping story of ambition, strategy, and empire-building.

The lead actor Chen Baoguo is phenomenal. He totally brings Emperor Wu to life, showing his brilliance, ruthlessness, and complexity. The drama covers everything from political intrigue and military conquests to personal struggles and relationships. It’s a bit more serious and grand in scale compared to palace intrigue dramas, but if you’re into history and strong character-driven stories, this is a must-watch.

I don’t really recommend "Joy of Life庆余年" because, well, it’s based on a straight chinese male-oriented novel男频小说(sorry straight men sir i'm not targeting you or calling you out i know threre are many normal and decent straight men it's just this one is really 直男 if you read it you know waht i mean....). Women aren’t exactly the focus here. It’s also got this heavy fantasy vibe, mixing politics, martial arts, and a bunch of other stuff, kind of like a big, chaotic stew. The male lead basically struts through the story like it’s his personal runway. It’s not historical like "Ming Dynasty 1566" or "The Emperor Han Wu" it’s completely架空 (fictional). So, it’s not my cup of tea. But if you’re curious, give it a shot. Just don’t expect much from it, the hero's girlfriend is pretty much the "perfect woman" fantasy you’d expect from a chinese male-centric novel XD like uncanny valley to me. It reminds me of that cringy feeling I got reading about Luo Ji and his wife in "The Three-Body Problem."

If you’re looking for pure romance and a love story that’s both wildly passionate and utterly heartbreaking, you have to watch "Goodbye My Princess" (东宫). It stars Peng Xiaoran and Chen Xingxu, and their chemistry is off the charts. This drama is all about intense, desperate, soul-crushing love, it’s the kind of story that will absolutely wreck you in the best way possible.

Yes, it has some of the limitations of its historical setting, but the female lead is such a radiant and compelling character. If you want to experience that mix of heartbreak and emotional satisfaction (you know, the kind that hurts so good), this drama is number one. It was insanely popular when it came out, and even now, its theme song is considered a classic.

I don’t really recommend Song Dynasty palace dramas—same reasons, there’s just not much to work with in terms of后宫 (harem) stories. But Song Dynasty slice-of-life dramas? Those are amazing. The best one is "A Dream of Splendor" (梦华录). It was insanely popular, broke records, and even got picked as one of China’s top 10 national TV treasures that year—the only historical drama on the list. A Dream of Splendor absolutely shattered the popularity records for historical dramas. It’s the most genuinely popular costume drama since "Empresses in the Palace."This year’s dramas like Perfect Match have borrowed from its style, whether it’s the setting, the character designs, or the storytelling.