TL;DR: China's government is actively building state-run systems to replace crowd-sourced platforms like Douban for drama ratings. Fans are finding ways to manipulate both the old and new systems. But there are some surprising positive outcomes emerging. Here's what's actually happening.

For nearly two decades, Douban has been the gold standard for Chinese entertainment reviews. However, it has also become notorious for toxic fandom behavior:

• Mass-reviewing campaigns by organized fan bases
• Malicious downvoting of rival idols' projects
• Paid "water armies" inflating scores for sponsored content
• Dramas artificially boosted without actual viewership
• Nasty, unhealthy discussions and comments in general

So, around 2025-2026, several high-profile dramas were accused of bein "fake hits"— many claimed massive streaming numbers while having little genuine audience engagement.

NRTA's move

In early June 2026, China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) announced a major shift: a new national evaluation system designed to replace subjective crowd-sourcing with data-driven metrics. (Press release from NRTA here: https://www.guancha.cn/culture/2026_06_04_819413.shtml)

The key players now are:

System	What It Measures	Who Controls It
CVB (China Audio-Video Big Data)	Actual viewing hours via cable/IPTV/streaming	Government-run
Golden Orange Scores	User-submitted ratings + CVB hybrid	State-backed platform
Douban	Purely community-driven user reviews	Private company

The government claims this is about "cleaning up the industry" and protecting audiences from misleading marketing. Industry analysts say it's also about reasserting control over what counts as quality entertainment.

🍊 How the scoring works

Component	What It Measures	Source
**大众评价 **(Public Ratings)	User-submitted scores from viewers	General audience
**CVB **(中国视听大数据)	Verified viewing hours/playback data	Government-run big data
有效播放市场占有率	Market share of effective plays	Streaming platforms
全网讨论热度	Social media discussion volume	Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu
搜索指数	Search query frequency	Baidu, search engines

Who runs it?

This is not purely government run; it's a public-private cooperation:

Organization	Role
China Network Audio-Visual Association	Lead organizer/developer
China TV Drama Production Industry Association	Co-founder
Tencent Video	Data integration partner
Youku	Data integration partner
iQiyi	Data integration partner
Mango TV	Data integration partner

⚠️ Problems

Welp, it sounds wonderful except:

1. Fandoms are still manipulating ratings

The Golden Orange Score combines user ratings with viewership data. Unfortunately, anyone can register to vote without verifying they've watched the show. A top male traffic star's dramas jumped to 9+ scores on day one before the platform performed "data cleansing and some shows dropped from 8.1 to 6.4 within hours due to suspected coordinated attacks.

2. It ignores youth audiences

CVB primarily captures cable television viewership, which skews older and more rural. Meanwhile, most of China's active fandoms live online (Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Douyin). So the "official" rankings may favor mainstream CCTV dramas while ignoring youth streaming hits.

3. Lack of transparency

Unlike Douban, which allows users to see review breakdowns and flag suspicious activity, the official system's algorithms are opaque. There's no clear appeal process when suspicious voting patterns are detected.

Some positive outcomes

Despite these problems, real viewership Is now trackable. (Apparently, but with the lack of transparency, I wonder how justified this claim is?)

Before this system, studios could claim any number for "streaming success."

The government explicitly stated the goal is to "change industry value orientation" . Instead of encouraging clickbait-style content, the system rewards "high-quality communication" . Investors may now have reliable ROI measurements instead of vanity metrics. (But do they care? cough)

So, why do fandoms behave this way?

To understand the chaos, you need to understand the ecosystem:

Factor	Explanation
Fan economy	Idol endorsements and brand deals depend heavily on perceived popularity, creating financial incentives to inflate numbers
Competition	Fan groups compete for resources; damaging rivals' shows is a common tactic
Cultural influence	Star power drives entire industries; actors with higher "traffic" get better scripts and bigger budgets
Lack of accountability	For years, there were no consequences for mass-reviewing campaigns

Toxic fandom isn't unique to China; one just has to look at K-Pop and K-celeb circles to see how insane it can get.

I hang around Weibo and xiaohongshu a lot, and watching fan shenanigans can be an exasperatin affair.

There was one time when this top traffic star's drama came out, and I saw massive orchestrated campains by his fans to "cleanse the comments section". Ie, massive bullying of anyone saying that the actor's drama/performance is less than Golden-Rooster worthy. I also noticed a lot of the comments defending the actor's drama sounded eerily similar: Same talking points, same reasons. Like a really polished, plastic PR campaign.. Gotta admire the polished campaigns. Someone hire the fandom sisters for public relations! ;P

Is an 'official' rating system better??

Tension	Question
State control vs. artistic freedom	Can a government agency truly measure "quality"?
Data accuracy vs. accessibility	Is hard viewership data always better than opinion?
Industry integrity vs. fan economy	Who ultimately determines what succeeds??

Both systems have strengths:

Aspect	Douban	Official Platform
Audience	Urban youth, active reviewers	Broader demographic reach
Feedback	Detailed opinions, criticism	Verified consumption data
Genre bias	Favors modern/youth content	Favors diverse/quality content
Transparency	Public review discussions	Government-verified reporting

🤔 So, what do you think? My thoughts

I 100% believe you should watch whatever you want, to hell with ratings. (Cough. I should know, I loved Batman v Superman lol.)

I use Douban ratings as a guide, and often bide by the common saying about Douban ratings: "Anything above 6 can be considered, but anything rated below 6 - the rating is probably justified in some way."

Personally, I just want discussions to stop having fandom dramas all the time. Fortunately in this sub we've cultivated a space where discussions are healthy (but it takes lots of discipline from both mods and members!)

Also, while I know entertainment is a nasty business no matter the country, I'd just like dramas to have a fair shot, you know? It's not at all surprising these days to suddenly hear of a "scandal" when a drama airs. Often, ratings are affected as a result due to public opinion.

Do you think this a net positive for Chinese entertainment?

I personally say yes.

If there's anything I know about the Chinese govt, is that they want their industries to be efficient and competitive. The entertainment industry is no different. In its current state, it's already declining in quality. So, doing something, anything, could help reverse the rot. (Hopefully lol)

Recently, the govt rolled out rules to stomp out the nonsense billing fights that occur before every drama. Now, they just have to ensure that they fill up a form of sorts and it'll appear in the drama credits or something. (And they must declare their real names and nationalities too, which I found funny.) No more order nonsense based on vague perceptions of popularity and awesomeness. woohoo

No more stupid fights! Yays. Gawd I swear if I hear yet another fandom fight breaking out because person A's name was before person B's, I'd throw a couch at something expensive.

And maybe the "official rating" won't 100% reflect everyone in China and may actively ignore idol dramas, I don't know, but at least there's now an authoritative source that is hopefully divorced from market forces. (Ie, not driven by capitalistic $$, that is.)

So, what do you think? Good, bad? Great? Discuss below!

Further reading:

- https://finance.sina.cn/2026-06-22/detail-iniehsct9313300.d.html?vt=4

- https://k.sina.cn/article_5787187353_158f178990200250b4.html?from=ent&subch=oent

- https://www.guancha.cn/culture/2026_06_04_819413.shtml

PS: The research is done with the help of Qwen and Deepseek, which surfaced the articles which I read, consumed. Then, I crafted this post. If there are any mistakes do let me know, I did this quite fast. ;P

Me watching the harem politics, court intrigue, marriage suitors' shenanigans in A Splendid Match 👇:

https://preview.redd.it/s399xpmc2rah1.png?width=300&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd3955358dcd772c38219a785a791a4d6f11df52

Me watching Jinzhao and Yanyun interacting 👇:

https://preview.redd.it/by5bnrnf2rah1.png?width=294&format=png&auto=webp&s=301b47e8b4ede7459ddc2eb0a7de164ded34f56f

It's all the more fun because of their initial impressions of each other:

Jinzhao is all: He's so arrogant and uptight and clearly not a nice man!

Yanyun: Smart but, highly annoying.

Watching these two fall in love slowly is going to be delish.

PS: I've watched eps 1-9, but please don't gimme any spoilers!

Some people just have that magical connection with each other. Some actors simply have the chemistry or charisma to be a couple; it is just not explainable. I think Ren Min and Ci Sha have that in spades, especially since secretly rooting for them in The Rise of Ning, even though Ci Sa's character was obviously a little cray-cray

I love watching Yan Yun basically thinking that he can totally handle this "little slip of a girl." I cannot wait for him to realize later that he definitely cannot handle her after all.

 I am not as interested in, nor am I invested in, the stories of the other suitors, unfortunately. Actually I have a tough time remembering their names haha. 

A Splendid Match reminds me of  Pride and Prejudice. Men and women having tea parties and poetry sessions, when it's actually courting rituals. The men had to restrain their annoyance at being roped in to this theatre while dealing with super serious stuff like war, court politics and betrayal.

I've always found the dicothomy a little fascinating. (Half the time when I'm reading Austen, I'm askin myself: How can they have tea parties when there's a war raging somewhere on the continent and the men would probably go off to fight in them?)

I have to admit, however, that I do not understand what's going on with the court politics in this one. What the heck is going on with Yan Yun's secret mission or whatever it is?

I am also annoyed by the harem backstabbing; in general, I am not in love with harem dramas, so I am just tolerating that aspect as it goes on. 

I don't care about these all I want is to see Yanyun slowly fall in love with Jinzhao, the spitfire ;P

My verdict is that this is a classic Austen-ish bodiceripper; an intriguing drama purely because our lead actors have such good chemistry. At this point, I am watching purely for them.

Welcome to the next instalment of The Ingenious One drama hosted rewatch. There will be discussions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. u/Regenwanderer and I will alternate in hosting these.

Please be mindful of spoilers and about tagging them in the discussions as well.

Masterpost | All episodes | Character flashcards

Episode 33

• Kou Yan ignores Shu Yanan's warnings, depleting Ling Yuan's resources and forcing a desperate Yun Tai alliance.
• Yun Tai's main hall reveals Lord Fu as the secret Sect Master, shocking traditionalists like Zhong Beidou, who defects.
• Lord Fu subtly recruits Yun Xiang for his rebellion; Yun Xiang pretends loyalty to gather intelligence.
• Liu Gongquan reports Lord Fu's treason to Empress Guo; Liu Gonggong survives an assassination attempt.
• Kou Yan reluctantly pledges loyalty to Lord Fu at the alliance summit.
• Yun Xiang and Shu Yanan reconcile by the river, vowing to stop Lord Fu together; Kou Yan blesses their union.
• Nangong Fang manipulates Kou Yuanjie into plotting matricide; Zhong Beidou is betrayed and killed by his own disciple.
• Kang Qiao dies protecting Mo Bufan during a coup; Mo Bufan is shattered.

Episode 34

• Mo Bufan prepares to hang himself; Yun Xiang stops him, urging him to fight Lord Fu's rebellion instead.
• Princess Mingzhu tests Yun Xiang's loyalty; he feigns unwavering devotion to Lord Fu.
• Su Mingyu and Ke Menglan prepare to strike Lord Fu's supply lines after learning of Yun Xiang's danger.
• Lord Fu forces Yun Xiang to deliver poisoned wine to Mo Bufan. Yun Xiang's grief hardens his resolve; he secretly coordinates with Shu Yanan to fake Mo's death. Unfortunately, Mo Bufan drinks it to protect Yun Xiang, dying gruesomely. (CRIES)

https://preview.redd.it/lnha0ghxt07h1.png?width=892&format=png&auto=webp&s=16e8a462bf18a6d5ec5de9fe751526d82861e4c5

• Nangong Fang poisons Shu Yanan with aphrodisiac powder, planning to violate her to torment Yun Xiang (this ain't gonna end well ... for Nangong that is); assassins surround Kou Yan.

Uncle Mo, waaaaai?!!

Honestly, I knew this was coming from the first episode I started feeling an inkling of fondness for our scheming but loveable moneylender. By the laws of wuxia, Uncle Mo was marked for death.

I looked nervously at Kang Qiao, especially when Uncle Mo said that he was a reckless fellow and that he would be the death of him. It turns out Kang Qiao was the literally, indeed, the death of him.

And when Kang Qiao died the way he did (oh lawd it was a brutal way to die), I knew Uncle Mo won't be able to bear it. (I was also pretty mad at Kang Qiao for being so damn reckless. Think about your dad! What if you died? Oh well, you dead so that's that.)

Although he had lost his banking empire, the light never went out of his eyes. You could see it snuffed out the moment Kang Qiao died.

For all the noise he makes about losing money, Uncle Mo's reason for living has always been a young man he considered his son.

If Kang Qiao had lived, I had no doubt Uncle Mo would've come back stronger and rebuilt his banking empire. Like Yun Xiang, he wasn't built for Yun Tiao's heartless ways. He had a warm heart beneath his manipulative ways; Yun Tiao's ruthlessness has grounded him to dust.

This scene is so heart breaking. Uncle Mo quietly preparing his son's body for burial, and having to endure Prince Fu's fake comforting at the same time ... ugh

Kudos to the actor who made me love his character so much. In the end, Uncle Mo chose an honourable way out, choosing to use his death to buy Yun Xiang more time. He knew that without it, Yun Xiang would not be able to go through with the "test" and would've done something stupid and end up dying. So, in a way, he went out the best way he could.

Of all the characters in Ingenious One, Uncle Mo's death was the most painful one. I mean, honestly, Jin Biao was another shattering one. But Uncle Mo's world completely crumbled after he met Yun Xiang. If he had been a less loyal and steadfast, moral man, he would've blamed Yun Xiang for it. But in the end, Uncle Mo knew that he had to stand by Yun Xiang because it was the right thing to do. And that's what I love about him.

I feel a tiny bit sorry for Mingzhu

But not completely sorry. While she protests the destruction of her belief that her dad is a loveable and kind fellow, I find her attempts at trying to sway her father from the wrong path weak sauce. (Then again, how do you win against the chief of Yuntai anyway.)

She was also particularly ineffective of doing the right thing. She didn't do anything to protect her supposed friends. She just stood by while her father waged destruction. I think in the end she event went along with the whole scheme.

So, yes, I feel sorry for her but she was far too loyal to her father for her own good. I'm not sure what to think of that except that it's a pretty human reaction, but she could've done something to protect her friends or turn the tables. So much for that, really.

Frankly, her character's journey went on paths that I didn't expect. I didn't know that such a precocious wannabe detective would end up being a tragic (you know that's her fate) character.

End verdict

Absolutely crushing episode but so powerful. The sight of Yun Xiang bowing to Mo's corpse, with Kang Qiao's body lying in bed ... these are two people who were almost a family to Yun Xiang and they're now gone in the most brutal way, killed by a man whom he thought was his benefactor.

After this episode, I had to sit with it and try not to think about murdering the writers, but lawd what a peak wuxia turn of events. It ain't wuxia until someone you love dies brutally and our hero gets tortured mentally for it. I have to commend the actors and writers for that.

I like how understatedly Chen Xiao played this scene. He didn't go into hysterics, he didn't scream. Instead the grief is all in his teary eyes. Because he knew that he could not even give in to emotions at this crucial moment or Uncle Mo's sacrifice will be in vain.

Welcome to the next instalment of The Ingenious One drama hosted rewatch. There will be discussions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. u/Regenwanderer and I will alternate in hosting these.

Please be mindful of spoilers and about tagging them in the discussions as well.

Masterpost | All episodes | Character flashcards

Episode 29

• Princess Mingzhu questions Yun Xiang's "bait" strategy; he confirms it's the captured Ling Yuan assassin.
• Yun Xiang meets Shu Yanan alone, asking to start fresh; she coldly rejects him, citing duty to Ling Yuan and opposing paths. However, she's still notably wearing his hairpin.

Episode 30

• Yun Xiang traces the conspiracy to Lord Fu, the emperor's brother, who secretly backs Nangong Fang and Ling Yuan.
• Lord Fu's imperial edicts suppressing the Su family were designed to pave the way for Nangong Fang's Jiangnan takeover.
• Yun Xiang proposes an alliance with Kou Yuanjie to overthrow Nangong Fang, exploiting Lord Fu's blind spot.
• Guanghui Manor is suddenly destroyed, escalating the crisis.
• The power struggle shifts from Jianghu to the imperial court.

My man is such a drama queen

Drunk, lovesick Yun Xiang is both funny and pathetic. When he realises that it is the real Yanan standing in front of him, he loses his marbles.

Nangong Fang makes his moves

The Su family loses its status as a royal silk provider. Uncle Mo runs into banking troubles. I hate Nangong very much.

And in a moment of desperation, Yun Xiang agrees to partner with Yanan's unhinged brother, Kou Yuanjie. I'm sure he knows that he's as trustworthy as a scorpion. And I suspect Yun Xiang has something else up his sleeves or ... he's truly desperate.

Kou Yuanjie, that bastard!

Okay, I admit it. For a moment I really thought he cared for Yuewu. My silly romantic heart actually believed that he was just pretending to treat her like trash to protect her, and they were in a secret relationship. (I've been watching too many idol dramas haha.)

Then I saw him wiping his mouth in disgust, and then she was thrown to Nangong Fang as bait and killed.

https://i.redd.it/pvm6pty6s07h1.gif

Welp, I guess Yun Xiang's plan was foiled by Nangong Fang? Or is this part of an even bigger plan? You can never know with him.

Anyway, Yuanjie didn't even shed a tear and was more pissed that their plan was foiled and he lost an asset.

Enter Lord Fu

https://preview.redd.it/cj1i5olns07h1.png?width=736&format=png&auto=webp&s=8133ae6d2aa9deb5e0983ca0c082dfa027a1ff0a

At first you think he's just an "indolent prince" (as per his own description). But do you get weird vibes from him? But of course we do. Everyone in this universe is suspect and not who they seem. Pretty sure the Prince is Somebody Shady, and while he passes off his alliance with Nangong Fang as a mistake and he was too ignorant/naive to see through him, we are not fooled!

Ugh, I feel rising tension with our little ragtag team, especially with Uncle Mo as he's really suffering from being beaten down by Nangong Fang's schemes. The rule of wuxia is coming true and there's a definite whiff of doom around Uncle Mo. (Sobs)

Remember a few episodes ago, when he was reflecting that Yun Xiang attracts peril, and that his schemes would get them all in trouble? I can't help but think - perhaps, if Uncle Mo were a more ruthless Yuntai disciple, he would've been able to protect himself from suffering so much. I feel bad for him that, for his honour and loyalty to Yun Xiang, he lost everything.

What’s a Chinese drama you genuinely think deserves more love? (Or ahem, the drama had so much love but you want to recommend it anyway. It's okay, we like both!)

This is the place to recommend the underrated dramas, forgotten favorites, niche gems, low-budget surprises, or shows you’re constantly trying to get other people to watch.

Maybe it:

• had incredible chemistry
• surprised you emotionally
• had an amazing storyline nobody talks about
• became your comfort drama
• was completely overshadowed by bigger releases
• made you wonder why more people aren’t obsessed with it

Tell us:

• the drama title
• what it’s about (without major spoilers!)
• why you loved it
• who you’d recommend it to

Recommend away!

Welcome to the next instalment of The Ingenious One drama hosted rewatch. There will be discussions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I, u/Lotus_swimmer and u/Regenwanderer will alternate in hosting these.

Please be mindful of spoilers and about tagging them in the discussions as well.

Masterpost | All episodes | Character flashcards

Processing img 60v5zupkbu5h1...

Episode 25

• Liu Gongquan's troops board the painted boat; Ye Xiao escapes by diving into the river but is later cornered in the market.
• Princess Mingzhu's clever distraction exposes Ye Xiao; he bites poison and dies to protect Ling Yuan secrets.
• Yun Xiang orders shadows to monitor Shu Yanan, confirming her double allegiance.
• Jishan Hall becomes a safe haven for rescued children; Shu Yanan prepares to leave, saying quiet goodbyes.
• Princess Mingzhu gambles to attract Yun Xiang's attention; he recognizes her royal jade pendant and offers to solve the case in 3 days.
• Liu Gongquan agrees to cooperate with Yun Xiang against Ling Yuan's hidden forces.

Episode 26

• Jin Biao refuses to help Yun Xiang offend Liu Gongquan until gifted a new sword, solidifying his loyalty.
• Yun Xiang reveals he knows Ling Yuan's hiding place to Shu Yanan, causing her to panic for her brother's safety.
• Shu Yanan struggles between loyalty to Yun Xiang and her family.
• Nangong Fang manipulates Yuan Ye into reporting to Kou Yan, setting a two-pronged trap.
• Yun Xiang trades Tang Xiao's assets for Mo Bufan's help investigating Ling Yuan.
• Kang Qiao witnesses Shu Yanan meeting Kou Yuanjie, confirming her identity; Yun Xiang waits heartbroken outside her empty room.

A relatively uneventful and low key episodes where things are being set up for a major, major confrontation. In fact, we spent most of the time like Yun Xiang, hesitant, and totally stuck as he struggles to do what his logic dictates but his heart refuses. About as fun as watching a lizard trying to escape from a goop of quick-drying paint.

Processing video qoz9d200cu5h1...

New detective friends

On a more positive note, I love this Liu Gongquan (granted, I have a soft heart for embroidered guard characters). Not so much that bratty princess who shouldn't be there playing detective.

Processing img l898lc2bcu5h1...

Yanan's dilemma

Poor Yannan. Her brother and that Nangong dude is causing all kinds of problems, it's getting harder and harder for her to maintain her Shu Yanan persona.

Of course you can't hide it from Yun Xiang for long, and Yanan knows that.

Anyone of you loving mopey Yun Xiang? I'm not! The game our one true pair is playing - I know you know but I am acting like you don't know - is so annoying. But at least we are spared noble idiocy on Yun Xiang's part. Thank god for small mercies.

Instead, we're left both of them staring at each other longingly and sadly. Communicate? Nah, we be enemies cos we belong to opposing sects.

All in all a tense two episodes, even if it's as slow as molasses, as deceptions come to a head (especially self deceptions!). Yanan realises that her honeymoon period of jianghu wandering and being free from her Lingyuan roots has come to an end, and that includes her romance with Yun Xiang. They're both not taking it well.

Veteran watchers: if you had to recommend one Chinese drama to hook a complete beginner, what would it be?

And newbies — this is your chance to grill the seniors for recommendations 👀

Tell us:

• what genres you usually enjoy
• whether you like romance, fantasy, historical, mystery, comedy, etc.
• happy endings or emotional damage?
• fast-paced or slow burn?
• short dramas or long epics?

Meanwhile, experienced watchers:

• recommend a drama you think is perfect for beginners
• explain why it works so well as an introduction
• help new fans avoid accidentally starting with a 75-episode emotional war crime

Whether someone is looking for:

• modern romance
• xianxia
• wuxia
• palace drama
• mystery/thriller
• comedy
• angst
• comfort watch

…help a newbie out, drop your gateway drama recommendations below ✨

Welcome to the next instalment of The Ingenious One drama hosted rewatch. There will be discussions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. u/Regenwanderer and I will alternate in hosting these.

Please be mindful of spoilers and about tagging them in the discussions as well.

Masterpost | All episodes | Character flashcards

Episode 21

• Mo Bufan hesitates to report Yun Xiang's progress to the Sect Master, fearing court and Ling Yuan interference.
• The silver shipment contains marked treasury ingots; Mo Bufan realises it's a setup to frame Guanghui Zhuang for treason.
• Soldiers raid the bank; Mo Bufan is arrested and tortured without trial.
• Yun Xiang devises a cover-up: find Tang Xiao's body to make it look like Mo Bufan killed him to silence a witness.
• Shu Yanan secretly meets Kou Yuanjie, revealing she's Ling Yuan royalty sent to infiltrate Yuntai and weaken the Night Owl faction.
• Su Huairou transfers all Su family assets to Su Mingyu, entrusting Yun Xiang with leadership.

Episode 22

• Yun Xiang stops Kang Qiao from recklessly breaking Mo out of prison, reminding him of the legal and financial consequences.
• Su Mingyu bribes the prefectural governor with a fake painting purchase, securing Mo Bufan's release for 35,000 taels.
• Mo Bufan learns Ling Yuan colluded with the court 15 years ago; Yun Xiang writes a truthful report to the Sect Master.
• Kou Yuanjie assassinates a messenger to frame Guanghui Zhuang further, escalating Ling Yuan's internal power play.
• Treasury tribute silver vanishes at the canal dock; pirates strike, leaving officials drowning and ships empty.
• Su Mingyu rescues trafficked orphans, earning Jin Biao's lifelong loyalty; rumors of "sea monsters" spread to cover the theft.

Tang Xiao - ding dong, the evil guy is dead! (Too bad we don't see what happens after he gets devoured by the women in the cell. Yes, I imagine that he was literally eaten alive by them or reduced to mince meat. I mentioned he was the Ramsay Bolton of The Ingenious One world and I thought he met the same fitting ending.)

Priorities!

Uh, I'm glad that Mo is taking his brief stint as a prisoner so well, and I was genuinely worried for a while that Kang Qiao would do something stupid. I don't get it: are martial arts the only thing he learned at Yuntai? I thought that disciples would at least have a higher IQ than this.

What's clear in this episode, at least to me, is that Mo has already chosen his side—it's Yun Xiang, even though he has a lot of hesitation because he realises that Yun Xiang's little side project involves the enemy sect Ling Yuan and the imperial court.

Even Kang Qiao urges caution because, unlike Uncle Mo, he still doesn't trust Yun Xiang and urges Mo to rat him out. He's puzzled why Mo continues to protect him. (Personally, I suspect Mo sees a kindred spirit in Yun Xiang. Despite Yuntai's best efforts, they couldn't drive the compassion out of their hearts, and they are masking hard to conceal their softer sides.)

Our duo, initially suspicious of each other, are now brothers in arms as they both realise that they are not 100% Yuntai-compliant—Uncle Mo has a heart and values relationships, and so does Yun Xiang.

Unfortunately that involves lying to the wiliest person of Yuntai: Their master.

Shady newcomer

100% not inncoent

Well, this new shady person gets Mo thoroughly in trouble when they end up being framed for stealing imperial silver. Uncle Mo's Yuntai training kicks in and he spots the imperial silver... but too late! The government soldiers arrest Mo.

Kang Qiao manages to run away, and honestly, I was a tad worried about him for a while, but Yun Xiang manages to save the day. This, in the end, succeeds in winning Kang Qiao over.

And it turns out the shady person and the shady woman are people Yanan knows.

Yun Xiang forgives

A bow that said a thousand words

After the explosive revelation, Yun Xiang's surprising decision to just "let it be" and not wreak vengeance on the Su family is extremely rare in wuxias, where we are taught that vengeance is everything and sometimes the whole point of the story! So, frankly, I was really surprised by Yun Xiang's reluctance to exact revenge, but I really love it. It shows the nobility of his heart and what I love about his character. He may be wily and intelligent, but he has a noble, righteous heart.

Huairou's actions are to ensure that Mingyu is spared Yun Xiang's wrath (even if the subtext is that she is placing Mingyu completely at Yun Xiang's mercy). But I feel that she knows him well enough to know that he will end up being an honourable advisor instead of a manipulator of Mingyu. She is one crafty, smart lady.

But I feel that even if she hadn't done this, Yun Xiang would not have done anything to the Su family. If he were a "pure", untainted Yuntai disciple, he probably would have utterly destroyed the Sus, but by then he felt some affection for Mingyu and just couldn't bring himself to do it.

https://preview.redd.it/j720gq5o6u5h1.png?width=735&format=png&auto=webp&s=df987851817d6af699e84fdaee291c5c81a93c35

Huairou leaves with the steward (hopefully to finally live their lives without the constraints of class). Mingyu seems to be kept in the dark about the depth of the Su family's betrayal, possibly to spare him the mental 'damage' of knowing that the Su family was partly responsible for the deaths of an entire village. Seeing how he reacted to killing the bandits, I doubt he'd survive that revelation.

Mingyu, Menglan and Jin Biao gets their wishes

Officially married? Unofficially? Anyway, Mingyu is no longer friendzoned, yay!

Mingyu and Menglan are officially together and Jin Biao's orphans are rescued and he gets his orphanage. I'd like to think that this is when they realised that everything they enjoyed at that moment was only possible because of Yun Xiang.

Notice that Menglan is now all dressed up like a married lady, with her hair put up after episode 21? It's sad that she'll never be acknowledged as a 'free' human, but I'm glad Mingyu doesn't care a whit if they are the laughing stock of society. (In the previous episodes, seeing how the two refused to care about society's rules, Mingyu's sister had an emotional reaction. I'd like to think that she realised that she could have done the same, and she was both jealous and shattered that these two were braver than she was. She was feeling both deep regret and admiration at that moment.)

So, seeing Huairou and Steward Qian ride off into the sunset warmed my heart; finally, she is determined to live openly with her lover. Well, at least that's my interpretation.

Well, the working week has just started and perhaps you need some "pep" to start the week. Grab some tea and join our weekly chat thread!

This is a relaxed space to talk about anything related to Chinese dramas — recommendations, actors, tropes, OSTs, current obsessions, dramas you’re struggling to finish, emotional damage, watchlist problems, or whatever is currently living rent-free in your head.

But with ONE caveat: Please do not bring fandom fights here, and keep it civil. Remember our "Be Nice" rule! (Speaking of which, have you read our guide? It'll get you started with all things r/Cdramarecs!

Not sure if your comment deserves its own post? It probably belongs here.

Some conversation starters:

• What drama are you obsessed with lately?
• Which actor keeps showing up on your screen?
• What trope always gets you?
• What drama are you trying to force everyone else to watch?
• Any underrated gems recently?
• Which drama completely destroyed your sleep schedule?

Newbies are absolutely welcome, so feel free to ask for recommendations or drama help too!

FYI our sister sub r/Cdrama has a similiar thread on Wednesdays called 😊Mid-Week Free For All Chat and 🏖️Weekend Talk so do hang out there to chat too!

Welcome to the next instalment of The Ingenious One drama hosted rewatch. There will be discussions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. u/Regenwanderer and I will alternate in hosting these.

Please be mindful of spoilers and about tagging them in the discussions as well.

Masterpost | All episodes | Character flashcards

Episode 17

• Tang Xiao plants spies in Liansheng Lane; Yun Xiang entrusts Ke Menglan and Su Mingyu with operational control.
• Poisoned Tian Hu reports Yun Xiang's cheating methods to Tang Xiao, revealing the mind-control drug's effects.
• Tang Xiao psychologically tortures Jin Biao by forcing him to watch Tian Hu undress, temporarily breaking his spirit.
• Yun Xiang prepares for the final round, using silk pouches with hidden instructions for his allies.
• Day 1 of the 3-day profit competition: Tang Xiao wins through aggressive recruitment; Yun Xiang counters with an outside betting platform.

Episode 18

• Tian Hu's poisoning worsens; Ke Menglan discovers her loyalty is drug-induced and resolves to fight back.
• Ke Menglan attempts to seduce Su Mingyu to protect him from Tang's trap; he refuses, proving genuine love.
• Su Mingyu and Shu Yanan uncover Ke Menglan's forced betrayal; Shu Yanan stabilizes Tian Hu's poison temporarily.
• Tang Xiao bribes the Nan Du Governor to avoid confrontation, but Su Mingyu's restraint frustrates his plans.
• Liansheng Lane raises odds to 1:3, bleeding funds intentionally as part of Yun Xiang's larger trap.
• Mo Bufan manipulates market forces behind the scenes, waiting for Tang Xiao to overcommit.

Look, I love this show. But these two episodes? I felt like it could be condensed into half an episode. Okay, maybe I'm just not a fan of zombie mind control stories.

Me, 80% of these episodes

Enter zombie Tian Hu

So Tian Hu is basically a zombie puppet going "Yes, master" to Tang Xiao. And Ke Menglan is forced to work for that slimy Tang Xiao because of it.

Ngl, I just wanted it to end, eventhough I get the purpose of it. I felt that these two episodes dragged on way too long for my patience. (I mean we knew that Ke Menglan isn't going to betray Su Mingyu, right? Just me? Then again, I did fear a smidgen she would croak and SMY would go on a major rampage or something.)

Charming. But 11/10 will cast her as the lead role for a horror movie. Playing the vengeful maiden who died on her wedding day.

The gamble
Yun Xiang tries to trick Tang. We all had zero doubts he'd win, so it wasn't exactly tense. More like "just get it over with" territory.

Compared to previous episodes, these two episodes were bland. I guess I prefer my battles to be done by swords not at the gambling tables haha.

However, we do get a horribly tense moment when Tang Xiao forced Tian Hu to seduce Jin Biao. Fortunately, our man is far too honourable for this and let's just say that Tang Xiao is 100% marked for death for this.

As a villain, Tang Xiao is a monster; a simple one, I suppose, because compared to Qi Tianfeng, he has zero shades, just simply black and slimy. He is Ramsay Bolton level of "I can't wait for him to die miserably" hatefulness.

So, personally I felt these two episodes wasn't super exciting for me, and it was annoying to deal with zombie Tian Hu. (Such magical potions the jianghu has!) But I can't wait to see Tang Xiao burn for what he did to her. Grrr

Random thoughts
That said, this little cooking snippet below showed how far our scheming Yuntai duo has come. They used to hold back their true selves, pretty sure the other person is out to get them. Now, Uncle Mo is cooking for Yun Xiang (!), Yun Xiang is trying to chaotically 'help', and being playful at that and they're eating together like a family! Yun Xiang, for the first time since we've met him, looks relaxed and happy.

https://reddit.com/link/1u03rdq/video/24qfwjcs4u5h1/player

Sigh, these two! The writers >!are really gonna hurt us down the road aren't they...!<

Question for y'all: Did you find these two episodes a drag like I did? Or was I just in a bad mood? Let me know if I'm being too harsh, or if you were also checking how much runtime was left.

What’s a Chinese drama you genuinely think deserves more love? (Or ahem, the drama had so much love but you want to recommend it anyway. It's okay, we like both!)

This is the place to recommend the underrated dramas, forgotten favorites, niche gems, low-budget surprises, or shows you’re constantly trying to get other people to watch.

Maybe it:

• had incredible chemistry
• surprised you emotionally
• had an amazing storyline nobody talks about
• became your comfort drama
• was completely overshadowed by bigger releases
• made you wonder why more people aren’t obsessed with it

Tell us:

• the drama title
• what it’s about (without major spoilers!)
• why you loved it
• who you’d recommend it to

Recommend away!

What’s a Chinese drama you genuinely think deserves more love? Or it's so misunderstood you feel like defending its honour?

This is the place to recommend the shows you’re constantly trying to get other people to watch.

It may not have been perfect, but it:

• had incredible chemistry
• surprised you emotionally
• had an amazing storyline nobody talks about
• became your comfort drama
• was completely overshadowed by bigger releases
• made you wonder why more people aren’t obsessed with it

Tell us:

• the drama title
• what it’s about (without major spoilers please!)
• why you loved it
• who you’d recommend it to

And if you're brand new to the sub, this is your chance to grill your seniors about their best recommendations! Drama propaganda is encouraged here. (wink wink)

Welcome to the next instalment of The Ingenious One drama hosted rewatch. There will be discussions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. u/Regenwanderer and I will alternate in hosting these.

Please be mindful of spoilers and about tagging them in the discussions as well.

Masterpost | All episodes | Character flashcards

https://preview.redd.it/iwsgg8g4h15h1.png?width=862&format=png&auto=webp&s=8e48253cc3ddbb8f61d9453fa959ce58518e0461

Episode 13

• Cornered and betrayed by Tang Xiao, Qi Tianfeng surrenders to Yun Xiang to save his brothers.
• Confesses he was merely an accomplice in the Luo village massacre; the true mastermind links to Tang Xiao and a higher power. He reveals that Wen Cong was the one who orchestrated the Shu Escort Bureau's destruction to expand power, which shattered Yun Xiang's worldview.

Episode 14

• Yun Xiang reflects on Wen Cong's teachings, realizing true strategy requires a righteous heart, not just cunning.
• Yun Tai's uber secretive, voice in the middle of a forest Sect Master questions Yun Xiang's methods but acknowledges his success protecting Nandu's merchants.
• Yun Xiang's next Big Bad target: Tang Xiao! (Be afraid, Tang Xiao, be very afraid!)
• Yun Xiang plans to transform Liansheng Lane into Nandu's premier gambling house, directly challenging Tang Xiao.
• Qi Tianfeng's brothers are massacred by pirate leader Guan Hai on Tang Xiao's orders; Qi vows bloody revenge.

After episodes of big battles, fire and Su Mingyu PTSD staring at walls, episodes 13-14 threads are tied up and the Big Bad Qi Tianfeng's arc comes to a close.

Su Mingyu is saved by love

Like, of course. Su Mingyu keeps insisting he’s “fine” to his sister and lady love (translation: he’s about to fall off the deep end). But in a rare moment of vulnerability with Menglan, he confesses—he's thought of himself as this worldly, capable fighter, but he's ashamed by how undone he is now by the sight of blood.

He couldn't wash off the blood, but he doesn't want to throw away Menglan's gift either

Menglan tells him it's because he’s kind at heart; he accepts it, kinda. But what truly snaps him out of the PTSD fog is when Qi's henchman escapes and takes Menglan hostage ...and SMY lets him go.

Probably not the smartest thing a jianghu person would do, but I think this is the moment when he realiesd that he's not made for the jianghu. If he’d killed him, SMY would’ve probably spiraled past saving. (Worse, develop an ambivalence or liking for it, which could result in his lady love turning away from him eventually).

So, I suppose we can say that in end, SMY was saved by love - Menglan grounded him. Awww😄

The fall of Qi Tianfeng

QTF destroys his meridians and internal energy, but is it permanent?

Well, I have to say, I really admire that Qi Tianfeng isn't your typical narcissistic bad guy. He seems to genuinely care for his men and they seem to love him. I really feel for him when, despite sacrificing so much, his men still ended up dead and he's left all alone. I have to keep reminding myself that this is the man who destroyed the Yun Xiang's village, and also ruthlessly tried to destroy the Su family.

Yanan lets him live to suffer as a "powerless vagabond". A fitting end. And now that the men whom he'd lived for is gone, he's truly destroyed. (Or is he? Why do I feel like he'll be back. HMMMM)

https://preview.redd.it/50fnoz64j15h1.png?width=898&format=png&auto=webp&s=752f2a2856ed4b6e7319e8a2a4bafed6913e6879

Everyone Gets a Break

Post-Qi Tianfeng chaos, our characters get to breathe. Yun Xiang and Yanan dates. Su Mingyu is smiling again and Jin Biao is back to being silly at the gambling tables. A respite before the next combat to take down the next villain, because they need to rest up well before stirring the muck in the deep pond.

https://preview.redd.it/ptu9qqfqh15h1.png?width=874&format=png&auto=webp&s=6f86cdfd9efe7876e5b6af70b63d6fdd362d4832

But the next big bad target has been selected: Tang Xiao.

Someone warn him! His days are numbered and it ain't gonna be pretty.

What do you think about Qi Tianfeng’s end? What's your favourite moment?

So I managed to convert my 76-year-old mum to watch a Cdrama. 😆 Specifically, the Epoch of Miyu! I had such a big chuckle because today she told me that she is watching Miyu again for the second time. Triumph!

My mum and I used to watch Kdramas together, and we would mutter about the bad guys while I ask her if she thought the ML is cute or if she was impressed by what she saw during the showering/bath scenes 😆. (Her answer, always unimpressed: "Handsome? Okay only la")

But the Kdrama phase passed and now mum is more into YouTube gossip videos about British royals or Brangelina (please don't ask) and I have been trying to get her to watch a Cdrama instead of that brainrot lol.

I tried to recommend her a few dramas but she would literally fall asleep while we watch it together.

But I won big with Miyu! And I tell you, Wallace Chung is the only ML she has vaguely praised ("He's a gentle man, not rough"). We had a lot of fun cussing at Nie Yucheng, his mistress and commenting on the kissing scenes 😂.

How about you? Did you manage to convert anyone to watching Cdramas? have Cdramas become an activity you do together?

Veteran watchers: if you had to recommend one Chinese drama to hook a complete beginner, what would it be?

And newbies — this is your chance to grill the seniors for recommendations 👀

Tell us:

• what genres you usually enjoy
• whether you like romance, fantasy, historical, mystery, comedy, etc.
• happy endings or emotional damage?
• fast-paced or slow burn?
• short dramas or long epics?

Meanwhile, experienced watchers:

• recommend a drama you think is perfect for beginners
• explain why it works so well as an introduction
• help new fans avoid accidentally starting with a 75-episode emotional war crime

Whether someone is looking for:

• modern romance
• xianxia
• wuxia
• palace drama
• mystery/thriller
• comedy
• angst
• comfort watch

…help a newbie out, drop your gateway drama recommendations below ✨