The Lead 主角 (2026) 🎭 Discussion: Episodes 11 - 12
🎭 Welcome
Welcome to the discussion series for the drama The Lead, previously known as Main Character. Discussion posts will be running a few episodes behind the VIP schedule.
Note: The "diaries" section is a loose translation and extension of "Xiao'e's Diary" from The Lead's Douyin account.
❗ For any content beyond these episodes, please remember to use Spoiler tags ❗
🎬 Premiered: May 10, 2026 on Tencent🐧and CCTV-1🐑 (MDL)
🎬# of Episodes: 48
🎬Genre: Life | Culture (Qinqiang Opera) | Period Drama (1976 - )
🔗Links: Trailer OST | Masterpost
🔗Episode Discussions: Menu | Episodes 1 - 6 | 7 - 8 | 9 - 10
🎭 Uncle
The cannon blast on the opera stage shattered every little bit of peace and safety I had left.
I’d already been at the troupe for a few months by then. I was getting used to the cold treatment from the other kids in the training class, and how no one seemed to place much attention on me. I still didn’t want to be part of the troupe, but since Heiwan was there with me as the last ranked in both grades and talent, I figured maybe scraping by like this wasn’t so bad. I mean, no matter how bad things got, at least I still had steamed buns, Auntie Hua, and my uncle.
But when I stood on that stage, surrounded by thick black smoke, watching everyone's panicked expressions while the ringing in my ears prevented me from hearing what they were saying, there was only one thought in my head:
Where’s my uncle?
My heart started racing so hard it hurt. The stage suddenly felt huge and slippery, like I was standing in the middle of a fast flowing stream. I almost slipped and fell while people ran past me, shouting silently.
Where was he?
First I saw a blurred shape of someone lying on the stage. I can't tell if it was the darkness of thes stage or the undispersed black smoke, but I could not make out his eyes or nose or mouth. Then someone whose body shaped looked like my uncle stepped forward. He was still standing, but his face and clothes were all blackened. I froze, too stunned to move, and watched him collapse right onto the stage.
And in that moment, the thing inside me that had been holding me up all this time suddenly snapped.
And suddenly we are in a scary movie
After that, each of my days were shadowed by anxiety and fear.
First I was scared that uncle never wake up again. Then I was scared the police would drag him to jail. And later, people started whispering that what he’d done was too serious, that it had become some kind of a “political incident.” I became terrified when Heiwa told me that the punishment for that was to give him "peanuts” — or bullets.
I dug out my most precious white princess dress and went to find Chu Jiaqi. I begged her to ask her dad to save my uncle. But she just looked at me coldly and said it was impossible. She slammed the door behind her, and I could hear all the girls gossiping and recounting all my uncle's previous faults. They must have thought that my uncle deserved what's coming for him.
Luckily, my uncle woke up in the end. Unluckily, the police still came and took him away.
Before he left, he called me over.
I looked at my uncle, familiar, but somehow not anymore. I couldn't hold back my tears at the sight of his burn scars, or perhaps it was the sight of his broken spirit.
He told me he was sorry.
Then he told me I should never give up opera training, because if I did, then his whole life really would’ve meant nothing. My mind was completely blank, but I nodded when he made me promise. And then, he pushed me gently beside him and knelt down in front of everyone from the troupe standing outside the hospital room.
My uncle — the proudest, toughest person I knew — got down on his knees to ensure I would be cared for in his absence.
Auntie Hua and Teacher Milan held my hands as we watched the police take him away.
I ran after the car, crying and yelling,
Uncle! Uncle!
But no matter how hard I tried and how much I ran, I still couldn’t make him stay.
🎭 Historical Context
Revolutionary Model Plays - 样板戏
During the Cultural Revolution, operas, dances and other performances were severely restricted in terms of the exact pieces that could be performed, as well as how they have to be performed, and there were only "8 Revolutionary Model Plays" that were allowed. Though the list increased to about 26 by the end of the period, the saying "8 Model Plays for 800 million people" was commonly associated with the culturally restrictive nature that the performance arts and artists, as well as the general population, experienced during that time.
In the drama, the troupe was noticeably excited to be able to perform Red Guards on Honghu Lake, which was written in 1958. This was markedly different from the very first episodes, when the troupe wasn't all that enthusiastic about starting practice for a performance. This was one of the first signs of the end of the Cultural Revolution, as previously banned plays were slowly being unbanned. The troupe welcomed it like a breath of fresh air, and they expressed that they were finally able to perform something different.
💬 Discussion Questions
What did you think of the reactions of the different members of the troupe after the accident? Why was the accident being pinned as a "political incident"?
Do you think the petition letter from Auntie Hua and Milan had any influence on uncle's outcome?
Why do you think Qing'e "went back on her words" and told Auntie Hua that she doesn't want to remain at the troupe, and wishes to go home at the end of episode 12?
These episodes turned out to be pretty heavy -- any lighter or funny moments that you would like to highlight?
🎭 Bonus
A short love story
