Chinese Dramas Airing in Aug 2024 

 

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2024-08 Drama Update

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唐朝诡事录之西行 40 2023 7月18日 爱奇艺 杨旭文、杨志刚 古装

Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Season 2 Journey West – 40 ep on iQYi

 

A direct sequel to the sleeper hit from 2022, this drama starts just a month or so after season 1 ends and it follows a crew of individuals as they solve mysterious cases during the early to mid Tang dynasty. 

 

Su Wu Ming played by Yang Zhi Gang is called back to the Capital and helps Lu Ling Feng featuring Yang Xu Wen with a case but they are caught in the middle once again in the power struggle between the Princess Tai Ping and Crown Prince. Lu Ling Feng’s true identity as the Princess’s oldest son is more openly revealed which leads to Lu Ling Feng being demoted to a far off location in the west and Su Wu Ming is stripped of any official post so he’s just a normal guy. But the group, including Su Wu Ming, Pei Xi Jun, Ying Tao and Fei Ying Jun join Lu Ling Feng as he travels west to take up this new post. Pei Xi Jun is matched with Lu Ling Feng while Ying Tao’s tied with Su Wu Ming. Fei Ying Jun is the drunken doctor who is a lifesaver on the trip. This capable crew of 5 people solve numerous mysteries along the journey west.

 

This drama marks the second drama of the year to break 10,000 on iQiYi’s popularity index. Given how little expectation season 1 had, that’s a great achievement for season 2. This cast is not nearly as well known as some of the other dramas in contention for eyeballs this year which online commentators have said reflects how a better script and production is more important than a top idol leading the cast. It’s unclear if the careers of the main cast or at least the young cast will take off after season 2, but even if their careers don’t go anywhere, there is likely enough interest to continue making seasons of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty.

 

I’m thoroughly enjoying Season 2, even more so than season 1. The cases still move at a brisk pace and there is a plethora of characters in each story. Most of my main quips from season 1 were reduced and the show remains fast paced with interesting topics. The mysteries are not as “strange” in my opinion vs season 1 but there are more political undertones and there is more continuity in my opinion in the story line. Compared to the Judge Dee’s Mystery drama earlier this year that didn’t hit the mark with me, these students of Judge Dee and their travel adventures are more engaging.

少年白马醉春风 40 2023 7月19日 优酷 侯明昊、何与、胡连馨 古装

The next drama is 少年白马醉春风 or Dashing Youth. This 40 episode drama stars Hou Ming Hao, He Yu, and Hu Lian Xin. This began airing on Youku on July 19. 

 

This drama is actually the prequel to the surprise 2022 dark horse, The Blood of Youth (少年歌行). It follows the older generation from that drama, depicting their youth, with many returning characters but not actors. Youku saw the success from The Blood of Youth and quickly greenlit this drama, which is also based off of an existing novel and man hua (animated series). 

 

Here’s the premise: The sole grandson of the Marquess of Zhen Xi, Bai Li Dong Jun (ft Hou Ming Hao 侯明昊) prefers distilling alcohol and making wine rather than learning martial arts or becoming a “gentleman”.  Bai Li Dong Jun becomes a pupil of the best martial artist in the world Li Chang Sheng. He’s the eighth pupil under his master, with 7 older senior pupils, each with his unique talents. His best friend, Ye Ding Zhi (ft He Yu 何与), was forced to flee as a childhood as his family was punished for supposed treason. He also encounters the energetic yet mysterious Yue Yao (ft Hu Lian Xin 胡连馨). The three all have different allegiances and responsibilities. Bai Li Dong Jun must decide between country, family, friends, and loved ones.  

 

This drama hasn’t received much buzz online but surprisingly has breached the 10,000 mark on Youku. Hou Ming Hao is certainly getting more screen time with this drama. We recently saw Hu Lian Xin in Fox Spirit Matchmaker Red Moon Pact and she now moves into the female lead role. I’ve been chasing this drama and have posted my initial thoughts online. 

 

冰雪谣 24 2021 7月29日 腾讯视频 高伟光、欧阳娜娜 民初

Next up is Snowfall or 冰雪谣. This 24 episode drama stars 高伟光、欧阳娜娜 and began airing on Tencent on July 29th. 

 

Here’s the summary: Set some time in the 1930s, 沈之衡 starring Gao Wei Guang is a wealthy businessman of Hai Dong and owner of the Haidong Daily News. During an event, Shen Zhi Heng refuses to pledge allegiance to the local military and becomes the target of an assassination attempt. He is shot multiple times but surprisingly doesn’t die. He has a secret. Due to a mysterious force that impacted his family, he is now a vampire who has lived a hundred years. He drinks blood to stay alive but also can sustain deathly blows. He flees the scene of the assassination attempt. 米岚, the blind daughter of a local wealthy man, has had enough of her parents abuse and attempts suicide but stumbles upon the injured 沈之衡. She agrees to help him. When she returns home and washes off his blood, she realizes that she can now see. The two face more supernatural events together. 

 

This drama was filmed back in October of 2021 and has had decent anticipation from fans due to the strong following from the source material and its interesting premise. It’s been many years since a drama has had a vampire as a subject matter and this has gotten a lot of – Chinese vampires? Yea! Let’s take a look! It’s also directed by 李木戈 who’s had several hits including Rattan and Fireworks of my heart. The biggest hesitancy though is the main couple – Gao Wei Guang is 17 years older than 欧阳娜娜. She was only 21 when she filmed this drama and the chemistry between the two after the 1st episode is only so so. I’ll keep an eye on this drama to see if it’s worth following. 

四海重明 36 2023 7月31日 爱奇艺/芒果TV 景甜、张凌赫 古装

Lastly – let’s discuss Love’s Rebellion starring Jing Tian and Zhang Ling He. This 36 episode drama began airing on July 31st on Iqiyi and Mango tv. 

 

Based off a novel, here’s the premise. Odd doctor 南颜 (starring Jing Tian) is on a mission to save her mother. She must follow the fairy path or 仙途. In a turn of fate, she becomes entangled with the undercover Fairy Emperor 嵇炀 starring Zhang Ling He. The two accidentally plant a marriage soul seal. For the two of them, one is aloof and cold, full of “fairy” style, and the other likes to seek medical advice and is full of “humaness”. The two people who originally disliked each other continue to find the cure for Nan Yan’s mother but become embroiled in a conspiracy that could destroy the fairy world.

 

This is like the 3rd Zhang Ling He drama this year so he’s on a roll. Since this drama only just started airing, I don’t have too much data on it. I’m hoping this isn’t a cookie cutter fantasy romance but who knows. It’s odd because there were rumors that it was going to air over the last few days with more marketing materials out and trailers but it actually just randomly dropped on MangoTV and iQiYi today with an airing time of 11:30pm. I am not sure exactly what mango tv is thinking with this random airing date. I don’t know if that will help or hurt the group. There isn’t as much excitement I would say for this drama to begin with but given that Zhagn Ling He is the main male lead, there’s probably a baseline buzz around it. It’ll be interesting to see how his chemistry fairs here vs with Zhao Jin Mai in Princess Royal because she was younger in that drama while Jing Tian is older in this one. 

 

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Interestingly enough, there’s been a slew of dramas that have aired with a ton of familiar faces. The reason why I want to mention these is because these are the dramas airing on CCTV or regional TV channels. 

Dream City 梦想城 2021 40 episode 7月9日 央视一套 Youku IQiYI and Mango TV 杨烁、蒋欣 都市 which is all about entrepreneurship and corporate competition involving big data

 

Silicon Waves 赤热 2022 7月14日 央视八套 I Qyi Yi and Tencent 黄晓明、王鸥 都市 which is another business drama this time involving – you guessed it. Silicon and semiconductor chips.

 

燃！沙排少女 36 2020 7月27日 爱奇艺/腾讯视频 张雪迎、许龄月、费启鸣、高旻睿 青春 – this has been shelved for 4 years and finally began airing. 

Go Beach Volleyball Girls

 

私藏浪漫 32 2023 7月31日 湖南卫视金鹰独播剧场 张佳宁、魏哲鸣、王真儿 都市

You are my secret – the premise is the two old classmates decide to get married due to common goals but they quickly come to realize that they become co-workers and have a superior / subordinate relationship. These two need to navigate the waters of how to maintain both their professional and personal relationships

 

小夫妻 2023 7月31日 央视八套 殷桃、郭京飞 婚姻

Husband and wife