Chasing Dramas

Many different plot points re-emerge following the death of Noble Consort Gao. Consort Xian get's promoted, Ying Luo becomes Yuan Chun Wang's sister, Consort Chun becomes upset that Fu Heng wants to marry a maid. Though the most important conversations perhaps are the inner reflections of the Emperor who expresses his frustrations he faces of being Emperor in the face of true love, which he cannot...

This episode covers the difference between online only Chinese dramas and the dramas that air on television networks. There is a more stringent process for a drama to be allowed to air on television networks but that comes with certain perks such as eligibility for award shows and prestige amongst the general public. But online dramas do provide more variety and flexibility on content. 

Noble Consort Gao is hit with molten iron from her Wan Zi Qian Hong or Blaze of Colors/Iron Flower Show and leaves her with severe injuries that unfortunately become infected. Recognizing her fate, she decides to dance one last dance for the Emperor before ending her life on her own terms. 

A swarm of bats ruin a palace banquet. The Empress falls unconscious after Noble Consort Gao pushes her amidst the chaos. Wei Ying Luo refuses to see the unconscious Empress, stunning Ming Yu and Fu Heng. She gets bullied the Noble Consort Gao and falls ill. Consort Xian takes over the reigns of the palace and, after an unsteady start, wins over the crowd at a porridge shelter with the help of the...

In the latest episode, Karen and Cathy discuss the current Chinese streaming platform landscape, the overall business model, and the key competitors. There are 4 major players, Tencent Video, iQiYi, Youku, and MangoTV. Tencent Video and iQiYi compete for the top spot while Youku and MangoTV have found their niches. Listen to our latest podcast episode to see the business strategies for these compa...

In an effort to save Wei Ying Luo's life, the Empress banishes her to Xin Zhe Ku to perform hard labor. Wei Ying Luo must find a way to survive as she encounters old foes and gets extra harsh treatment from the Emperor. She finds an unlikely ally in the form of Yuan Chun Wang, who, after being saved by Ying Luo, agrees to become a brother-like figure to her. Unfortunately for the Empress, without...

Fu Heng publicly states his intentions to marry Ying Luo to both the Empress and the Emperor who oppose this match for different reasons. Meanwhile, Ying Luo successfully enacts revenge against Dowager Consort Yu who killed her sister by leveraging a powerful thunderstorm but is punished to do hard labor for this act by the Empress.

Karen provides her thoughts on the recent drama Thousand Years for You or 请君 starring Allen Ren Jia Lun and Li Qin. This 36 episode drama is set during the Republic of China era as the three thousand year old general Lu Yan awakes to seek the woman that saved him all those years ago. She just so happens to look just like Yu Deng Deng, the current leader of the Qing Quan village.

In episodes 24, Hong Zhou, showing no remorse for his previous actions towards Wei Ying Luo's sister, tries to seduce Wei Ying Luo in a night time rendezvous. However, Wei Ying Luo was prepared for Hong Zhou and attempts to kill him instead. Hong Zhou escapes and the two of them flee to the Emperor. Wei Ying Luo accuses Hong Zhou of rape (which isn't wrong). Before the Emperor can decide on a puni...

A potential new relationship between the young stars Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu was exposed earlier this month. In this episode, Karen and Cathy discuss the surprising implications for this new coupling and the broader landscape of celebrity relationships in the Chinese entertainment industry. In recent years, most celebrities do not admit to relationships. Why is that? How do fans play into this la...

After 20+ episodes, we finally find out who was the man who harmed Ying Luo's sister and ultimately caused her death. It is none other than the Emperor's closest brother, Hong Zhou. Hong Zhou is shown to be an arrogant and obnoxious man who then uses his money and status to force Ying Luo into letting go over her anger towards what he did to her beloved sister.

Ying Luo manages to foil two plots against her and the Empress in episode 21 while helping turn the Empress into the Goddess of the River Luo or Luo Shen which enthralls the Emperor. Not only that, the Empress's turn as the goddess creates a wave of imitators in the palace as maids all hope for beauty and good fortune but to deadly results.

Weibo exploded over the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend as the popular Chinese actor, Li Yi Feng was caught in a scandal for soliciting prostitutes. Karen and Cathy break down the timeline for what happened and how the story broke for the now canceled actor. 

Emperor Qian Long contracts scabies and the Empress volunteers to tend to her husband. Wei Ying Luo, trying to find more information about her sister's death, also agrees to come along. The Emperor turns into a pouting child as he tries to combat his illness and is "bullied" by Ying Luo in an effort to cure him. At the Emperor's birthday, the women of the Imperial Harem present their gifts. The Em...

Our latest drama review is for Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀 2022)! Listen to our latest episode to hear Karen discuss the general plot, characters, what she liked and didn't like, and her overall review of the drama!  Set in a fantasy land, Xiao Lan Hua (ft Esther Yu) as a kind-hearted young orchid fairy with limited powers and no real name. She watches over the written fates of all b...

The 5th prince is ultimately saved from pending death after a local doctor is summoned by the Emperor to reveal that the newborn simply had jaundice and could be cured easily. This diagnosis and additional evidence brought forth by Consort Chun turns the tables against Noble Consort Gao who is confined to her palace as punishment. After a degrading visit by her father, Noble Consort Gao refocuses...

In our episode recorded September 1, Cathy goes over the two big scandals of late in the Chinese entertainment industry- 1) Yang Zi supposedly sharing cake with her friend, Liu Xue Yi which would not have been problematic if they weren't caught in a series of lies denying this, and 2) Zhang Tian Ai released a recording of her and Xu Kai Cheng, whom she was dating, where he admits to cheating on he...

Noble Lady Yu gives birth to a son while the Empress is away but her son is born with golden pupils. Noble Consort Gao who arrived just as the child is born, claims that this is a terrible omen and orders the child to be buried alive. Why would that be? There is a ton of history that Cathy explains in this episode so be sure to check it out! 

Our latest drama review is for Love Like the Galaxy 星汉灿烂 月升沧海! Listen to our latest episode to hear Karen discuss the general plot, characters, what she liked and didn't like, and her overall review of the drama!  The young woman Cheng Shao Shang finally meets her birth parents who are both generals in the army for the first time since birth after they went off to fight in war for her...

Wei Ying Luo successfully enacts revenge on the arrogant Prince Yi at the Sharing Prosperity by Sharing Meat ceremony. However, Fu Heng catches onto her ploy and avoids punishment. He promises Ying Luo that he wasn't involved in her sister's death. With the death of her family, Consort Xian finally snaps and cleverly enacts revenge on Concubine Jia. She is no longer the sweet and serene consort bu...

A few surprising releases hit platforms the last few days including Chen Xiao and Wang Yi Bo's police thriller Being A Hero and the 3rd installment of Ode to Joy.

Consort Xian experiences life-changing events after learning that her father participated in bribery. Her brother and mother also both passed on the same day. Given this event, she vows to become more powerful in the palace. Meanwhile, Prince Yi, cousin to the Emperor, decides to help Noble Consort Gao in eliminating Yingluo with little success. 

Noble Consort Gao's dog is the star of these episodes as it first was used by Concubine Pin to scare Noble Lady Yu in hopes of causing a miscarriage. That fortunately failed but the dog became the center of attention once again after Ying Luo used it to misdirect the Emperor's ire when it was revealed that the lychee trees he specifically gifted to the Empress was destroyed. Elsewhere, Consort Xia...

Cathy brings you the latest updates on currently airing Chinese dramas and the announced dramas that will air in August 2022.

Ying Luo is summoned to work for the Empress at Chang Chun palace which was her plan all along in order to create opportunities to speak to Fu Heng, the Empress's brother about her deceased sister. But now at Chang Chun palace, she must engage with the likes of Noble Consort Gao more frequently. Elsewhere, Consort Xian has to decide what to do after finding out her brother has been embroiled in a...