2018 Mainland Chinese Dramas
Here is a list of Mainland Chinese dramas that aired in 2018. Since this is a list of dramas that I am watching or have watched, it will be updated along the year and will not be as long as other lists that just introduces all Mainland Chinese dramas of 2018. I am always looking for new dramas to watch, so please comment down below your recommendations.
The Legend of Dugu
Episodes: 55
Synopsis:
The last emperor once received a prophecy bearing the words, "The World of Dugu: He who has Dugu, has the world." Because of this prophecy, everyone respects Dugu Xin, a high positioned and loyal court official. He has three daughters: Dugu Ban Ruo, Dugu Man Tuo, and Dugu Jia Luo. Each of the sisters was born blessed with natural beauty and intelligence. The eldest, Dugu Ban Ruo (Ady An), plots to become the next Empress. The second daughter, Dugu Man Tuo (Li Yi Xiao), is recognized as the prettiest and smartest maiden in her land, but she lacks confidence because she is the daughter of a concubine. She is willing to do whatever it takes to gain power and status and to outdo her sisters. Dugu Jia Luo (Hu Bing Qing) is the youngest of the sisters and is the most beloved by her father. She doesn't understand the fight for "The World of Dugu" between her two sisters. As she sees everyone around her dying and suffering because of this prophecy, she feels helpless as she cannot stop this from happening. The once united sisters' bond quickly crumbles due to power and love.
Comments:
There are a lot of dumb characters. All these smart people later become victims of stupidity because of love. The supporting characters definitely steal the show in this one. Ady An's portrayal of Dugu Ban Ruo and Jeremy Tsui's portrayal of Yuwen Hu were phenomenal. These two actors have always been my favorite but they never became popular in recent years. I hope that through this drama, these two will be cast in more productions. As for the main couple, their relationship developed slowly but naturally. The fight for the throne became very boring after a while. Nonetheless, this is a pretty decent drama.
Comments:
There are a lot of dumb characters. All these smart people later become victims of stupidity because of love. The supporting characters definitely steal the show in this one. Ady An's portrayal of Dugu Ban Ruo and Jeremy Tsui's portrayal of Yuwen Hu were phenomenal. These two actors have always been my favorite but they never became popular in recent years. I hope that through this drama, these two will be cast in more productions. As for the main couple, their relationship developed slowly but naturally. The fight for the throne became very boring after a while. Nonetheless, this is a pretty decent drama.
Siege in Fog
Episodes: 50
Synopsis:
Yi Lian Kai (Elvis Han), the third son of a powerful military family, falls for Qin Sang (Sun Yi) at first sight. He forces her to marry him. Already harboring a crush on a man she should not love, she resents Lian Kai, but her feelings for Lian Kai changes after going through obstacles in times of war. However, things get complicated when her old crush, Pan Jing Chi (Jeremy Tsui), returns and works for Lian Kai.
Comments:
I think the BTS of this drama is very dumb. Fei Wo Si Cun, the screenwriter of the drama and the author of the original novel, sued Wonderful Media because the producers continued to work on the project without paying her. Because of this, many viewers, like myself, waited for more than a year to watch this drama. I watched the trailer and this drama looked really promising but the way the drama unwraps ruined it. It backtracked by starting in the future then slowly revealing to us what happened in the past through flashbacks and stories. This drama failed to do this well and totally ruined the drama for me. I was so confused for so many episodes. I am continuing to watch because I see a lot of potential for Qin Sang and Lian Kai and I hope this drama progresses and ends well.
I think the BTS of this drama is very dumb. Fei Wo Si Cun, the screenwriter of the drama and the author of the original novel, sued Wonderful Media because the producers continued to work on the project without paying her. Because of this, many viewers, like myself, waited for more than a year to watch this drama. I watched the trailer and this drama looked really promising but the way the drama unwraps ruined it. It backtracked by starting in the future then slowly revealing to us what happened in the past through flashbacks and stories. This drama failed to do this well and totally ruined the drama for me. I was so confused for so many episodes. I am continuing to watch because I see a lot of potential for Qin Sang and Lian Kai and I hope this drama progresses and ends well.
Old Boy
Episodes: 45
Synopsis:
Wu Zheng (Liu Ye) is a divorced pilot who has grown accustomed to living alone and continues to act like a kid. When his ex-wife dies, his son goes to him for help. This immature adult is now accountable for this teenage boy. He also has to put up with his son's young teacher.
Comments:
Personally, the pacing of the plot was too slow and vague. I didn't know where the drama would go. There is no climax and barely any conflict. I only stuck around for Wu Zheng and his son's, Xiao Han, interactions. Hu Xian Xu's portrayal of Xiao Han is amazing. He is confident, quick-witted, and hilarious. Liu Ye's real-life personality is very similar to Wu Zheng. The acting in this drama was very natural. Though the plot developed way too slowly and nothing much actually happens, the realistic interactions between characters are worthy of applause.
Meteor Garden
Episodes: 48
Synopsis:
Dong Shan Cai (Shen Yue) comes from an average Chinese family. As a result of her hard work, she is accepted into Ming De University as a Nutrition major. Her goal is to work hard, graduate, and help her mom with her business. Her normal life is disrupted when she goes up against Dao Ming Si (Wang He Di), a rich heir and the leader of the F4, a group of talented bridge card players. The F4 is not only talented but is a group of rich, handsome boys that are loved by all the girls at school. The members of the F4 are Hua Ze Lei (Guan Hong), Fang Mei Zuo (Wu Xi Ze), and Xi Men Yan (Liang Jing Kang). Hua Ze Lei is a quiet guy and a musical genius. He has a crush on Teng Tang Jing (Sun Yi Han) but she does not reciprocate. Mei Zuo is a huge flirt who possesses an incredible memory. Xi Men is a playboy and is Mei Zuo's partner in crime. As Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si battle it out at school, Dao Ming Si starts to fall for Shan Cai but Shan Cai seems to be more interested in Hua Ze Lei.
Ahh... another remake of the infamous Hana Yori Dango or Boys Over Flowers. With the same producer of the well-loved original live adaption, Meteor Garden; a gorgeous looking cast; huge budget; and lots of publicity; many have high expectations for this version. Personally, I think this drama lived up to my expectations. I have some minor issues with the drama, especially in the beginning, but I have learned to look past it because this plot just works. Whether you are comparing this version to other versions or watching it for the first time, you will still swoon as Dao Ming Si protects Shan Cai. This drama I would say is more youthful and fresh compared to the other versions. The actors are younger and their interactions are more like 18-20 year olds. Due to its many episodes, this drama drags a lot and disrupts the flow of the drama. On one hand, this drama has a more elaborate plot and more characters, but on the other hand, the drama just feels so unnecessarily long. I think they should've made this drama around 35 episodes because a lot of the episodes are just filters or dragged out scenes.
Episodes: 45
Synopsis:
Wu Zheng (Liu Ye) is a divorced pilot who has grown accustomed to living alone and continues to act like a kid. When his ex-wife dies, his son goes to him for help. This immature adult is now accountable for this teenage boy. He also has to put up with his son's young teacher.
Comments:
Personally, the pacing of the plot was too slow and vague. I didn't know where the drama would go. There is no climax and barely any conflict. I only stuck around for Wu Zheng and his son's, Xiao Han, interactions. Hu Xian Xu's portrayal of Xiao Han is amazing. He is confident, quick-witted, and hilarious. Liu Ye's real-life personality is very similar to Wu Zheng. The acting in this drama was very natural. Though the plot developed way too slowly and nothing much actually happens, the realistic interactions between characters are worthy of applause.
Meteor Garden
Synopsis:
Dong Shan Cai (Shen Yue) comes from an average Chinese family. As a result of her hard work, she is accepted into Ming De University as a Nutrition major. Her goal is to work hard, graduate, and help her mom with her business. Her normal life is disrupted when she goes up against Dao Ming Si (Wang He Di), a rich heir and the leader of the F4, a group of talented bridge card players. The F4 is not only talented but is a group of rich, handsome boys that are loved by all the girls at school. The members of the F4 are Hua Ze Lei (Guan Hong), Fang Mei Zuo (Wu Xi Ze), and Xi Men Yan (Liang Jing Kang). Hua Ze Lei is a quiet guy and a musical genius. He has a crush on Teng Tang Jing (Sun Yi Han) but she does not reciprocate. Mei Zuo is a huge flirt who possesses an incredible memory. Xi Men is a playboy and is Mei Zuo's partner in crime. As Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si battle it out at school, Dao Ming Si starts to fall for Shan Cai but Shan Cai seems to be more interested in Hua Ze Lei.
Ahh... another remake of the infamous Hana Yori Dango or Boys Over Flowers. With the same producer of the well-loved original live adaption, Meteor Garden; a gorgeous looking cast; huge budget; and lots of publicity; many have high expectations for this version. Personally, I think this drama lived up to my expectations. I have some minor issues with the drama, especially in the beginning, but I have learned to look past it because this plot just works. Whether you are comparing this version to other versions or watching it for the first time, you will still swoon as Dao Ming Si protects Shan Cai. This drama I would say is more youthful and fresh compared to the other versions. The actors are younger and their interactions are more like 18-20 year olds. Due to its many episodes, this drama drags a lot and disrupts the flow of the drama. On one hand, this drama has a more elaborate plot and more characters, but on the other hand, the drama just feels so unnecessarily long. I think they should've made this drama around 35 episodes because a lot of the episodes are just filters or dragged out scenes.
Story of Yanxi Palace
Episodes: 70
Synopsis:
Wei Ying Luo (Wu Jin Yan) enters the palace to investigate the death of her sister. With a spunky, daring attitude and street smarts, she quickly becomes well-known in the palace. She soon rises in ranks and becomes one of Empress Fu Cha Rong Yin's (Qin Lan) more trusted servants. She also attracts the attention of other concubines who want to kill her and Emperor Qian Long (Nie Yuan) who is annoyed by the empress' protection of her. As she investigates her sister's death, she falls deeper and deeper into the trap that is the Forbidden Kingdom. As she maneuvers her way around jealous, evil concubines and the many rules that control the Forbidden Kingdom, she learns the truth of her sister's death and will stop at nothing to get revenge.
Currently, I have binged-watched the 40 episodes that are available in just a couple of days and I loved every second of it. This drama is super suspenseful and I just wish there are fewer spoilers on Youtube. The first thing that caught my attention is the cast. For me, the cast feels relatively new. I know the cast members are all very experienced but I feel like they have not been in more recent, popular productions so I am glad this drama is giving them a chance to shine. The acting is great overall. The female lead uses her whole mouth to talk which is distracting and Charmaine's lips and her lines do not match but I am now used to it.
I love the interactions in this drama. It feels like everyone falls for Ying Luo's charms, but I mean, who wouldn't. One of my favorite interactions is between Ying Luo and Empress Fu Cha. The Empress is the best example of a kind, elegant empress. She is fair and is like a sister and teacher to Ying Luo. Seeing the way the Empress loves and cares for a servant is truly beautiful. I also love Ying Luo's loyalty to the Empress. My second favorite interaction is between Ying Luo and Emperor Qian Long. This emperor is really a breath of fresh air. He is so funny and kind of dumb at times. Ying Luo is always tricking the Emperor and he always believes in her only to realize after she is long gone that he has been tricked. I would rewatch the whole drama just to see the Emperor mad and get played by Ying Luo. A lot of people say that this drama is really refreshing because the female lead is strong from the start but I did not find it unique as I can name many examples of a strong female character from the start, but I do appreciate her cleverness and her attitude in life.
Episodes: 70
Synopsis:
Wei Ying Luo (Wu Jin Yan) enters the palace to investigate the death of her sister. With a spunky, daring attitude and street smarts, she quickly becomes well-known in the palace. She soon rises in ranks and becomes one of Empress Fu Cha Rong Yin's (Qin Lan) more trusted servants. She also attracts the attention of other concubines who want to kill her and Emperor Qian Long (Nie Yuan) who is annoyed by the empress' protection of her. As she investigates her sister's death, she falls deeper and deeper into the trap that is the Forbidden Kingdom. As she maneuvers her way around jealous, evil concubines and the many rules that control the Forbidden Kingdom, she learns the truth of her sister's death and will stop at nothing to get revenge.
Currently, I have binged-watched the 40 episodes that are available in just a couple of days and I loved every second of it. This drama is super suspenseful and I just wish there are fewer spoilers on Youtube. The first thing that caught my attention is the cast. For me, the cast feels relatively new. I know the cast members are all very experienced but I feel like they have not been in more recent, popular productions so I am glad this drama is giving them a chance to shine. The acting is great overall. The female lead uses her whole mouth to talk which is distracting and Charmaine's lips and her lines do not match but I am now used to it.
I love the interactions in this drama. It feels like everyone falls for Ying Luo's charms, but I mean, who wouldn't. One of my favorite interactions is between Ying Luo and Empress Fu Cha. The Empress is the best example of a kind, elegant empress. She is fair and is like a sister and teacher to Ying Luo. Seeing the way the Empress loves and cares for a servant is truly beautiful. I also love Ying Luo's loyalty to the Empress. My second favorite interaction is between Ying Luo and Emperor Qian Long. This emperor is really a breath of fresh air. He is so funny and kind of dumb at times. Ying Luo is always tricking the Emperor and he always believes in her only to realize after she is long gone that he has been tricked. I would rewatch the whole drama just to see the Emperor mad and get played by Ying Luo. A lot of people say that this drama is really refreshing because the female lead is strong from the start but I did not find it unique as I can name many examples of a strong female character from the start, but I do appreciate her cleverness and her attitude in life.
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