嘘，国王在冬眠 Ski into Love 23 episodes Mar 11 Youku starring Yu Shu Xin and Lin Yi.
First up is the drama Ski into love or 嘘，国王在冬眠. This is a 23 episode drama that began airing on Youku on Mar 11.
Here’s the premise – famous manhwa author Wei Zhi 卫枝 starring Esther Yu 虞书欣 is unknowingly embroiled into an AI copyright case. Feeling rather dejected, she, by chance, watches a snowboarding video and becomes inspired by their tenacity, grit, and daring. She decides that her new manhwa will be based on snowboarding. She heads over to the mountains in the north and learn to snowboard for inspiration for her new work. She meets her instructor 单shàn崇 portrayed by 林一. He is a retired snowboarder who was once on the Chinese national team. He was forced to retire due to his sister’s disability and his own injuries. Wei Zhi gradually falls in love with 单崇. He, inspired by her love for her job and unwillingness to quit, decides to come out of retirement and compete again down the slopes.
This was Esther Yu’s first drama since her hit last year with Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and she had been REALLY pushing her new CP or ship with Lin Yi all throughout the red carpet season in early 2025. I think she definitely was hoping that the goodwill from Love Game in Eastern Fantasy would help propel this drama into another hit. There were even cameos from famous Chinese winter olympic athletes to propel popularity. Unfortunately, this drama was a dud, not breaching 10,000 on Youku’s popularity index and even barely breaching 1300 or 13 million views per episode. Lin Yi also got injured training and filming this drama because of all the snowboarding stunts he had to do. I applaud the work ethic so it’s a shame the drama didn’t do well. Apparently over 15 episodes were cut from the original story and the drama, airing in March, missed the high season of the Lunar New Year holidays and winter season. So people really didn’t care about this drama. Yu Shu Xin is still in her comfort zone portraying the bubbly and optimistic young woman. I watched 2 episodes and…wasn’t too impressed.
黄雀 Watch Your Back 24 episodes Mar 18 CCTV 8 starring Guo Jing Fei and Qin Lan
Next up is Watch Your Back, this is a 24 episode thriller starring Guo Jing Fei 郭京飞 and Qin Lan 秦岚 which began airing on CCTV 8 on Mar 18.
Here’s the premise: On the train ride south, the policeman from the north 郭鹏飞 (郭京飞) vows to uncover and arrest the organized pickpockets in the city. After multiple encounters with the thieves, he crosses paths with the aloof and rather distant doctor 黎小莲 Li Xiao Lian (played by Qin Lan). He becomes increasingly confused at who is a friend, and who is a foe? He races against time to uncover the hidden complexities of each case.
I saw a bunch of promotions for this drama and this marks another drama where Guo Jing Fei is in a thriller as a policeman. Word of mouth was decent for this drama and held the second spot in ratings while airing, second to Bai Lu’s Northward.
雁回时 The Glory 30 episodes Mar 18 Tencent starring Chen Du Ling and Xin Yun Lai
This drama came out of nowhere. There was no marketing for it, no preplanning, it just randomly dropped one day out of the blue. Not only that, but the Chinese name of the drama also literally changed the day of the drama airing. It was originally called Gui Nv but then changed to be called Yan Hui Shi. Funnily enough, the day the drama aired, almost ALL of the trending tags were still tagging Gui Nv (the original name).
Here’s the plot overview.
Zhuang Han Yan ft Chen Du Ling grew up away from home in Dan Zhou. Raised by an abusive couple, she had no choice but to escape after 17 years. She returns back to the capital and to the Zhuang manor where she is the 3rd daughter, and daughter of the main wife in the Zhuang household. However, she is not welcomed back with open arms. Her mother hates her and tries to expel her from the manor and the mistress of the house plus her children add more troubles to Zhuang Han Yan’s return. She has to fight tooth and nail to survive in her new environment.
Meanwhile, her sob story of how her caretakers (an uncle and aunt) died raises suspicions from Fu Yun Xi ft Xin Yun Lai, a member of the Court of Judicature Review. However, he does not expose her and instead helps her in various situations. He has his own cases he is trying to solve. Clues point to something happening in the Zhuang manor and he needs Zhuang Han Yan’s help.
I would say, definitely go into it blind and also don’t read anything else while watching the drama. There are lots of fun twists and turns that you do NOT want outside influence to speculate the story.
It has done quite well for itself, breaching 30,000 on Tencent’s popularity index. You can read my full review online. There’s quite a lot to like about this show but I also did rant about the acting of the main leads, especially the main male lead. He is so wooden that literally put a wooden block there and there wouldn’t be much difference with the chemistry with Chen Du Ling.
棋士 Playing Go 22 episodes Mar 25 CCTV 8 starring Wang Bao Qiang and Chen Ming Hao
Here’s another thriller. The drama is called Playing Go 棋士 starring Wang Bao Qiang 王宝强 and Chen Hao Ming 陈明昊. The 22 episode drama began airing on March 25 on CCTV 8 and so far has had great word of mouth.
Here’s the plot summary: In the early 21st century, a regular Go instructor Cui Ye 崔业（Wang Bao Qiang 王宝强) is unfortunately captured as a hostage during a robbery. To protect himself, he has no choice but to aid the robbers escape. During this experience, he discovers that he can use his talents in Go to commit crimes. Pressured by the realities of life, he gradually begins to commit crimes at an alarming rate. His older brother, Cui Wei 崔伟（Chen Ming Hao 陈明昊 饰), a policeman, wants him change his ways but Cui Ye ignores his brother and the two go their separate paths.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Wang Bao Qiang 王宝强 and this has an interesting premise so I might give this a try.
念无双 A Moment But Forever 36 episodes Mar 27 iQiyi and Youku starring Tang Yan and Liu Xue Yi
After many years, this drama marks Tiffany Tang Yan’s return to a fantasy drama. This 36 episode drama started airing on both Youku and iQiyi. The main male lead of this drama is Liu Xue Yi.
I remember when the drama was filming, there was quite a lot of negativity around it primarily because it’s a fantasy drama but Tiffany Tang is uhh on the older side for this type of romance. I don’t know, what do you guys think. Is that ageist?
In any case, here’s the plot overview.
Thousands of years ago, demons and gods battled and the god Tai He 泰和 used the magical item called the “Left Hand of God” created by Ji Tan Yin to seal away the darkness. However, the magical hand fell to the human realm and the god Tai He fell into deep slumber. From then on, gods disappeared from the world.
The goddess Wu Shuang ft Tang Yan is tasked by the heavens to retrieve the magical hand that is currently hosted by the fox clan’s mighty priest, Yuan Zhong ft Liu Xue Yi. Originally Wu Shuang, also called Ji Tan Yin, was going to simply kill Yuan Zhong for the hand but after learning about his suffering, decides to help Yuan Sheng remove his binds and allow him to live his life before returning with the hand. Together, they work together to bring peace to the land after the ghost clan decides to attack and unease permeates throughout the human and fox realms.
I binged 10 episodes while dealing with jet lag still. It’s perfectly adequate but not amazing. It’s a rather interesting or different set up vs other romances from fantasy dramas. It has not been a massive hit with audiences, breaching only 7000 on both iqiyi and youku so this is not a big win for Tiffany Tang and Liu Xue Yi. Is it a sign that 85 flowers should move on from these types of dramas now? We’ll see. I mean, she looks great for 42.
我的后半生 Love Again 36 episodes Mar 30 CCTV 8 starring Zhang Guo Li, Tong Da Wei and Mei Ting
Next up is a family drama called Love Again or 我的后半生. This 36 episode drama began airing on CCTV 8 on Mar 30 starring 张国立vZhang Guo Li、佟大为 Tong Da Wei、梅婷 Mei Ting. I’m not even going to list the names of the characters, just the actors’ names because they’re all just SO famous that it’s easier for me to keep track this way. Anyways, the premise of this drama is that the patriarch of the drama Zhang Guo Li, who has lost his wife and is living alone, had an extended stay in the hospital. There, he meets the lovely nurse, portrayed by Yang Shu Tong. One thing leads to another and Zhang Guo Li becomes romantically involved with the nurse. His adult daughter, Mei Ting and her husband Tong Da Wei, are worried for her father but wish him well. The two announce their intentions to marry. The nurse reveals her true nature, and asks for the house as part of the marriage. The rest of the drama unravels around the story of this widow.
This is definitely an older person drama but it’s been hilarious seeing all the comments responding that yes, this is a ridiculous premise but my family’s story is even more bonkers.
以美之名 Fight for Beauty 29 episodes Mar 30 Zhejiang, Dongfang, and Beijing TV starring Yao Chen and Jia Jing Wen
This modern day drama features one of my favorite actresses growing up. Fight for Beauty is a 29 episode drama starring Yao Chen and Jia Jing Wen on the topic of plastic surgery.
Qiao Yang ft Yao Chen is a doctor specializing in facial surgery. Zhou Jing Wen ft Jia Jing Wen returns from Germany and created a plastic surgery hospital with her husband. Qiao Yang and Zhou Jing wen were clssmates back in medical school and due to a misunderstanding, had a falling out. 10 Years later, the 2 cross paths again and are now arch enemies.
From my understanding, this drama not only talks about medicine but also discusses plastic surgery. It’s pros and cons. I’ve seen a few clips here and there where Qiao Yang’s character discusses why people do plastic surgery. Seems like a positive message show on inner beauty so maybe I’ll check it out, especially given it features Jia Jing Wen.
乌云之上 Breaking the Shadows 17 episodes Apr 3 iQiYi starring Sun Li
Lastly, let’s discuss Breaking the Shadows. This 17 episode drama started airing on iQiyi. It features Sun Li, whom we know as Zhen Huan from Empresses in the Palace, and Luo Jin in the main roles. At only 17 episodes, this is a highly digestible drama. This is also Sun Li’s first drama to air in 4 years. She tends to be rather meticulous in choosing scripts for projects and isn’t too fussed about being in the public eye all the time. I mean, I totally get it. It’s hard to surpass Zhen Huan so why not pick projects you really like?
In this drama, Sun Li plays Han Qing, a police detective with the nickname of “Unhappy”. She has partnered with Zhong Wei ft Luo Jin for many years. However, one day he disappears after tailing a suspect. After 2 months of no information, Han Qing is worried and painfully trying to figure out clues to find Zhong Wei. A new murder case raises Han Qing’s suspicions and she connects the murder with Zhong Wei’s disappearance. Through the clues, the true suspect’s crime finally comes to light and involves not only disappearance and murder, but also drug trafficking as well.