In news from Epoch Times on October 8, 2025, mainland Chinese actress Zhao Lusi, who is embroiled in a contract dispute with her agency, gained popularity due to her recent drama “Let Me Shine” co-starring Hong Kong actor William Chan. The series, despite rising to the top of WeTV’s global popularity rankings in 11 countries and achieving over 40% daily viewership in Vietnam, faced controversy for featuring a map of the so-called “Nine-Dash Line” used by China to claim sovereignty over the South China Sea. This led Vietnamese authorities to accuse the show of “violating national sovereignty,” resulting in the drama being taken down in Vietnam.
In the mainland Chinese film and television market of 2025, “Let Me Shine” emerged as a phenomenon akin to a dark horse rocketing into the spotlight. Despite the contract dispute between Zhao Lusi and her agency “Galaxy Cool Entertainment” (rumored to involve a breach penalty of 400 million RMB) and a lack of official marketing efforts, the show garnered top ratings and popularity within just 10 days of its premiere. It not only surpassed the highest viewership record of Tencent’s urban dramas but also became the fastest ascender to the “blockbuster club” of 2025.
According to data from “Yunhe,” “Let Me Shine” achieved a daily viewership rate of 39.2%, surpassing prior dramas to become the reigning modern mainland Chinese drama. The show topped the “Cat’s Eye” mainland drama popularity chart, Taiwan’s Netflix viewership rankings, and ranked first on WeTV’s global popularity ranking in 11 countries.
Industry insiders attribute the skyrocketing viewership and popularity of “Let Me Shine” to its non-conventional plot twists and intense climaxes. For instance, viewers were captivated by Zhao Lusi’s portrayal of the manipulative anchorwoman “Xu Yan,” who continuously escapes exposure and stages comebacks with her wit. Additionally, the impressive acting skills of the entire cast, including leads Zhao Lusi and William Chan, as well as the supporting actors, sparked significant discussions. Zhao Lusi’s proactive approach in securing her role, designing costumes, and delivering restrained emotional scenes earned her praise for a transformative performance. Her diverse on-screen looks not only enhanced the visual appeal of the series but also triggered a trend with 230 outfits selling out online.
However, the appearance of the “Nine-Dash Line” map in the 16th episode of “Let Me Shine” led Vietnamese authorities to claim a violation of the country’s Film Law Article 9, resulting in a demand for explanations from the distributors and platforms, and subsequently a complete ban on the drama. The legal implications of the “Nine-Dash Line” are varied, encompassing interpretations such as border lines, historical maritime boundaries, historical rights boundaries, and island boundaries.
In the past, productions such as “Walking Towards the Wind” starring Wang Kai and Tan Songyun, the American animated film “Abominable,” the movie “Uncharted,” and “Barbie” have also faced bans in Vietnam for featuring scenes with the controversial “Nine-Dash Line” map.
Moreover, in a separate incident, iMe Entertainment Group, the organizer of K-pop group Blackpink’s tour, faced a probe by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture in 2023 for displaying the “Nine-Dash Line” map on their website. iMe issued an apology and committed to removing the map. Additionally, mainland Chinese bubble tea brand “Bawang Cha Ji” faced opposition in entering the Vietnamese market due to alleged sightings of the “Nine-Dash Line” on their mobile application.