Chasing Dramas

Just as we said summer was a bore, new relationship bombshells and news were shared this past week! Wu Jian Yan, fresh off her success from The Double, shared a photo on Weibo shocking everyone on her update. Actress Zhang Yu Qi roasted actor Yu Shi on a talkshow for cheating on her but there's so much more to his scandalous past. Huang Xiao Ming announced his first new relationship since his...

Fan Xian swiftly avenges his friend Teng Zi Jing's death. He is promptly captured by Zhu Ge of the 1st Bureau for disregarding orders, but is ultimately freed by the Emperor for his public actions

Summer is officially over and it was a rather muted one in the Chinese entertainment industry. There wasn't one breakout star of the summer. The Double, starring Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xing Yue, performed the best but the two leads fizzled out in the summer. Lost You Forever Season 2 was the biggest disappointment this summer with its poor plot, lack of CPs, and poor characterizations. Karen and...

In episode 13 of Joy of Life S1, just when everything seemed to be going Fan Xian's way with his engagement to Lin Wan'Er and bromance with Teng Zi Jing, things take a sudden turn. Fan Xian and Teng Zi Jing are ambushed at Niu Lan Jie with a powerful assassin from the Kingdom of Northern Qi. Teng Zi Jing dies protecting Fan Xian. Fan Xian is in complete shock at the loss of his friend. He...

In August, Zhang Wan Yi and Wang Chu Ran headlined a historical romance drama Are You The One. Tan Jian Ci leads Go East in a historical comedy and Ding Yu Xi and newcomer Deng En Xi star in the historical romance Melody of Golden Age. All of these dramas have only been decent, a step down from the buzz of their prior dramas. We discuss other dramas that have aired in Aug and early September as we...

Fan Xian and Wan'Er are both ecstatic to find each other's true identities as not only the person each other likes, but as each other's betrothed. Fan Xian starts to help cure Wan'Er's sickness with another late night visit with medicine. Meanwhile, something is off with Si Li Li.

In a recent bombshell post, Joy of Life actor Zhang Hao Wei, known for his portrayal as the Crown Prince, was revealed to have discussed prostitutes and potentially even establishing his own brothel! These voice recordings set off a whole firestorm with legal notices and declarations being posted all over Weibo. Will Joy of Life be in peril? Actress Song Zu Er who was softly canceled last year mig...

Fan Xian takes matter into his own hands to rid his engagement to Lin Wan'Er. But when he does go to her residence to cause chaos, he finds that his chicken leg girl is none other than Lin Wan'Er herself. An incredibly cute episode where these two finally learn each other's identity.

The Emperor and Mei Zhi Li engage in a thrilling conversation where the Emperor shares his displeasure at Mei Zhi Li allying himself with the Crown Prince, a sign of disloyalty. The punishment? Death.

We were having a blast watching the Paris Olympic games and so was everyone in China! The French certainly put on a show and the Chinese athletes performed extremely well. Listen to our latest podcast episode as we discuss the top trending sports, events, memes, and moments from these Olympic games!

Fan Xian is summoned to trial after his assault on Guo Bao Kun landed the poor man bandaged up like a mummy. The trial at the Capital Court becomes a battleground for not only Fan Xian and Guo Bao Kun, but the Crown Prince and 2nd prince as well

A new variety show - Travel with the Royal Family has been a hilarious Empresses in the Palace 甄嬛传 reunion. The general premise of this variety / reality show is to have the hosts and guests travel around China to experience local culture especially with the minorities within China. The regular cast includes Ada Choi - Empress. Lan Xi - Shen Mei Zhuang, Zhang Xiao Ling - Wen Shi Chu, Tao Xin Ra...

Fan Xian finally runs into the girl of his dreams, his Chicken Leg Girl, at the poetry meeting. While they get to speak for a little bit longer, he forgets again to ask for her name. Meanwhile, he finds details of Guo Bao Kun's involvement in Teng Zi Jing's family's death and heads to a brothel where he meets the beautiful courtesan Si Li Li to enact a distraction.

The Olympics are in full swing captivating audiences in China. A slew of dramas have aired but haven't been able to compete with Olympic buzz. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Season 2 Journey West starring Yang Xu Wen and Yang Zhi Gang has been a surprising delight after a strong first season. Dashing Youth, starring Hou Ming Hao, He Yu, and Hu Lian Xin, is a prequel to the 2022 The Blood of You...

Former k-pop boy band EXO member, Huang Zi Tao, publicly announced his relationship to Xu Yi Yang on social media on July 13. Normally, these types of announcement garners a lot of discussion but this time, there's been more mockery/ridicule. We explain who they are and why this relationship announcement missed the mark.

In episode 7, Fan Xian goes undercover to find more details on Teng Zi Jing's case and is surprised and suspicious at how easy the entire mission was. The next day at the poetry meeting, Fan Xian tries to find his chicken leg girl but fails. Annoyed at this and Guo Bao Kun's constant provocations, he writes one poem that stuns the entire gathering. News of this masterpiece, called Deng Gao...

Tencent saw 5 Chinese dramas breach 30,000 on its popularity index in the first half of the year. Youku saw 5 breach 10,000 while iQiyi only had one. We discuss which dramas they were and also which dramas had the highest tv ratings in 1H24.

In episode 6 of Joy of Life, Fan Xian wanders off to find the Overwatch Council and is surprised and bemused to see Wang Qi Nian as a member there. Fan Xian finds his mother's tablet and has a better understanding of the world she tried to build. At the palace, everyone has their eyes set on Fan Xian's performance at the poetry meeting. Lin Wan Er tries to meet Fan Xian for a discussion bu...

The 29th Magnolia Award had quite a bit a drama when the nominations were announced including Wang Yi Bo fans being upset he was not nominated and then questioning whether Tang Yan, Yang Zi and a few others were deserving of their nominations.

Fan Xian and his siblings head out for a nice lunch in the capital. They find that the Dream of the Red Chamber that Fan Xian memorized and wrote for Fan Ruo Ruo is now an incredibly popular book that's selling in the black market. Fan Si Zhe hears this and immediately wants to partner up with Fan Xian. Meanwhile, they are intercepted by Guo Bao Kun and Li Hong Cheng and invited to a literary/...

A full new slate of dramas have geared up for the summer season. New Wu Xia Drama Legend of Heroes is another adaptation of Legend of the Condor Heroes. Luo Yun Xi and Song Yi star in an original period romance drama Follow Your Heart. Meanwhile, Zhang Ling He has found his groove in The Princess Royal with Zhao Jin Mai. The hotly anticipated season 2 of Lost You Forever is slated to air on July 8...

Fan Xian meets his father Fan Jian who gives him the rundown of the capital. The Princess Royal Li Yun Rui currently controls power of the Royal Treasury which she would lose once Fan Xian marries her daughter Lin Wan'Er, thus making him a prime target for attack.

Summer 2024 has been dominated by two dramas that are star representatives of the genre of their source IP, Nan Pin or Books of the Male Gaze and Nv Pin or Books of the Female Gaze. In today's podcast episode, I discuss these two book genres, the tropes typically found in these books, and how they have translated on screen. Joy of Life represent the Nan Pin books and dramas and the Double repr...

Fan Xian heads to the Capital of the Qing kingdom but meets a myriad of characters along the way including a beautiful "Ms. Chicken Leg". When he finally arrives at the Fan Manor in the Capital, his family dynamics also become quite eventful.

Actress Zhou Ye garnered negative publicity due to her attitude towards the "6th Princess" which is actually CCTV6. We discuss what happened and why the "6th Princess" is important.