On May 7th, Sina Weibo in Mainland China released the “2024 First Quarter TV Drama Report”. The top 10 list of popularity rankings shows that the ancient costume drama “Walking with Phoenix” starring Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin took the top spot, while the collaboration of Hu Ge and Tiffany Tang, “Blossoms,” ranked second.
Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin’s “Walking with Phoenix” continuously broke viewership records after airing, not only staying at the top of the ratings chart but also according to the data survey of the Chinese Yunhe platform, the market share has reached over 32.2%, meaning that for every 10 people watching TV or streaming mainland Chinese dramas, 3.2 people are watching “Walking with Phoenix.” It can be called a “new viewership ceiling for fantasy ancient costume dramas,” and it achieved a first-quarter championship with a Weibo comprehensive heat value of 98.82.
The story of “Walking with Phoenix” tells the tale of Lingjie’s King Shen Li, who falls into the human world after escaping from marriage, and coincidentally meets the last ancient deity who descends into the mortal realm to experience human life. Their destinies become intertwined, going through various inner conflicts and calamities, finally finding happiness together. The drama started filming on June 14, 2022, wrapped in November of the same year, and premiered on March 18, 2024, on Hunan Satellite TV’s prime time slot, simultaneously streaming on Tencent Video and Mango TV.
Lead actress Zhao Liying collaborated with several actors in the drama: reuniting with leading actor Lin Gengxin after a 5-year hiatus since “Chu Qiao Biography”; reuniting with Ceng Li for the first time in 6 years since “Qing Yun Zhi”; reuniting with Qiu Xinzhi after 11 years since “New My Fair Princess”; reuniting with Wang Yiyao after 7 years since “Go! Youth”; and reuniting with Hou Tongjiang after 9 years since “Chasing Fish Legend”.
Actor Zhou Junwei, who appeared in the drama, was previously banned from posting on Weibo in November 2022 for sharing a blank “A4 paper,” seemingly crossing the red line of the Chinese authorities. The incident occurred due to a tragedy on November 24, 2022, in Urumqi, Xinjiang, where a residential building’s door was locked with wire mesh due to the pandemic lockdown, resulting in at least 10 deaths in a fire, sparking the “blank paper movement” protesting the extreme epidemic measures by the Chinese Communist Party. The ban on Zhou Junwei was just the first step, as his involvement in film and television works would be affected, either being edited out or recast, leading to a setback in his career.
Despite the concerns raised by fans after Zhou Junwei’s ban, the drama was successfully aired, likely due to the large number of cast members involved and its relevance to the changing world events.
The 30-episode TV drama “Blossoms,” starring Hu Ge and Tiffany Tang, two Shanghai-born actors, directed by Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai, marked his first TV drama, impressing viewers with its visual beauty and exquisite composition in each frame. The drama set against the backdrop of Shanghai’s business competition in the early 1990s during China’s reform and opening-up period, narrates the rags-to-riches story of male lead Hu Ge as “A Bao.” After its broadcast on CCTV and online platforms starting at the end of last year, it garnered remarkable attention, boosting tourism in Shanghai and prompting state media to emphasize “stabilizing the consumption fever brought by TV dramas” to revive the mainland’s declining economy.
“Blossoms” secured the 2nd place in this season’s Weibo heat value ranking with 94.46. Analysts attribute the series’ success not only to its compelling storyline and captivating visuals but also to director Wong Kar Wai’s depiction of the vibrant business atmosphere of old Shanghai at that time, providing a comforting “tonic” desired by both authorities and the public in contrast to the current economic stagnation since the city’s lockdown.
Some analysts note that the drama avoided sensitive political issues, thus not accurately reflecting the reality of Shanghai and China at that time. “Blossoms” sparked a wave of business opportunities, such as the “British Blossom Suite” at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai, priced at a steep 16,888 RMB per night, a nearly tenfold increase in online searches for traditional Shanghai snack “Pork Rib Rice Cake,” and a 70% surge in orders for products like “Shanghai private tours” on travel platforms.
In a commentary on January 28, the Chinese official media “Economic Daily” described how the once-vivid scenes in Shanghai were revitalized by the TV drama “Blossoms.”
Additionally, “Flower Song” starring Ju Jingyi and Liu Xueyi obtained the 3rd position with a combined heat value of 91.04. Reports from Chinese media indicate that the drama, a dark horse before its airing, gained unexpected attention by stirring up controversy through its female ensemble cast, particularly Zheng Hehuizi, who criticized unfair treatment and went viral even though her character was written off after just 2 episodes, forming a popular couple with Liu Xueyi.