The Dutch influencer Rianne Meijer has gone viral in the Netherlands and on Chinese social media after she posted a TikTok video in which she shared the discovery of her boyfriend’s photo in a Chinese TV drama.

“Remember this picture? This is a picture that I posted with my boyfriend a while ago,” Rianne says in the TikTok video, then showing a scene in Chinese TV drama in which a photoshopped photo of Rianne’s boyfriend is featured.

Although Rianne stood next to her boyfriend in the original photo, her face was replaced in the photoshopped edition featured on the Chinese TV drama.

“They look good together, it’s fine!” Rianne jokingly responded to the scene.

Rianne Meijer is an online influencer and YouTuber with some 1.5 million fans on her Instagram. She is known for often posting funny videos and photos, sometimes together with her boyfriend Roy.

The scene featuring Roy’s photo comes from the Chinese TV drama Summer Again (薄荷之夏), which premiered on iQiyi in the summer of 2021.

The scene shows a lady named Mi Ya (played by actress Li Borong 李柏蓉) talking about her relationship with a man named ‘Andre.’

On the Chinese social media site Weibo, many netizens found the incident “embarrassing” and did not understand why the staff would just steal someone’s portrait: “Couldn’t the production team even find a foreign guy to take a picture?”

Others also thought the incident was very funny: “This is the reality of our global village. You’d think nobody would find out, but it’s really not so secret.”

According to Rianne’s most recent Tiktok post update, the show’s production staff has since sent her an apology. She also writes it’s “all good,” adding: “They are so sweet and this gave us a good laugh.”

The Dutch online influencer Rianne Meijer recently discovered a photo of her boyfriend was used in a Chinese TV drama. They photoshopped Rianne out and instead featured actress Li Borong. Rianne's boyfriend is supposed to be a foreign guy named "Andre" in the series 😂 pic.twitter.com/5kF7mMRJmA

— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) October 16, 2021

By Manya Koetse

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Time to binge-watch. These are some of the most popular TV dramas in China that are trending this 2021 season. An overview by What’s on Weibo.

It has been some time since we have made our last overview of popular Chinese TV dramas to watch this season. It’s high time to give an update on the latest popular TV dramas in China, especially because they recently often become trending topics on social media.

In a year in which China is focusing on its space program and is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party, it is noteworthy that several TV dramas have come out themed around the military and historical topics that are being pushed in recent propaganda efforts.

We compiled a shortlist of China’s top TV dramas based on recent top lists of the leading search and online video platforms, from Baidu to iQiyi and 360kan. This is not an official list, since various platforms have their own hot lists that differ based on the site. We have compiled a top ten based on a combination of the current trending lists, with these ten shows popping up in the top ten lists across various top-ranking charts.

You can find most of the dramas with English subtitles available on YouTube or elsewhere – if so, we have included a link. These are the 10 shows that are trending around Chinese social media in May of 2021!

10. The Glory of Youth (号手就位 Hào shǒu jiù wèi)

• Date: Premiered in April of 2021 on Zhejiang Satellite TV
• Genre: Military Drama (49 episodes)
• Directed by: Li Lu (李路) and Zhang Hanbing (张寒冰)
• Screenplay by: Ying Liangpang (应良鹏), Feng Jie (丰杰), Zu Ruomeng (祖若蒙), Xue Tianzhe (薛天智). Adapted from the novel Getting Enlisted Upon Graduation (毕业了当兵去) by Feng Jie.
• Produced by: Propaganda Bureau of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Xi’an Qujiang Film and Television Company
• About: The Glory of Youth is also known under the English title of The Trumpeter in Position. This drama tells the story of four college students joining China’s PLA Rocket Force. It is the first Chinese drama to focus on the Rocket Force.
• Context: This TV series premiered in the same month when a key module of China’s new permanent space station was launched, with Chinese (popular) media increasingly focusing on China’s ambitious space programme.
• Trending: The drama’s premiere was held in Beijing on April 9, with nearly 200 officers and soldiers from the PLARF (People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force) attending the event.
• Link: TLYY (no English subtitles)

9. Word of Honor (山河令 Shānhélìng)

• Date: Premiered in February 22 of 2021
• Genre: Wuxia / Martial arts (36 episodes)
• Directed by: Cheng Zhichao (成志超), Ma Huagan (马华干), Li Hongyu (李宏宇)
• Screenplay by: Xiao Chu (小初), adapted from the danmei wuxia novel Tian Ya Ke (Faraway Wanderers) by Priest.
• Produced by: Ciwen Media, Youku
• About: Word of Honor tells the story of Zhou Zishu (played by Zhang Zhehan 张哲瀚), the leader of the emperor’s special “Window of Heaven” organization who leaves his post to pursue freedom. In doing so, he unwittingly gets involved with the martial world and the Ghost Valley master Wen Kexing (played by Gong Jun 龚俊), who wanders the world, always looking for a fight.
• Context:Word of Honor belongs to the danmei genre. Danmei (耽美) and ‘BL’ (for ‘Boys’ Love’) are umbrella terms for contents of ‘bromance’ or male-male homoerotic fiction (read more here). The Chinese web novel author ‘Priest,’ whose work this TV drama is based on, is among one of the most successful authors within the online BL fiction genre in China.
• Trending: Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan are super popular as a ‘couple’ among fans of ‘CP’ in Chinese drama. The practice of imagining a relationship between two characters is known as ‘CP,’ an abbreviation for “coupling” or “character pairing.”
• Link: Viki (with English subtitles), also coming to Netflix!

8. Court Lady (骊歌行 Lígē xíng)

• Date: Premiered April 15 of 2021
• Genre: Costume, drama (55 episodes)
• Directed by: Wang Xiaoming (王晓明), Bai Yunmo (白云默), Shen Zhaoqing (申兆清)
• Screenplay by: Feng Nong (风弄)
• Produced by: Dongyang Huanyu Film Culture Co.
• About: Court Lady features actress Li Yitong (李一桐) and actor Xu Kai (许凯) as Fu Rou and Sheng Chumu. She is a merchant’s daughter, he is the son of the Duke of Lu. When Fu Rou becomes a court lady and Sheng joins the army, their love is put to the test. Their romantic story is set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
• Context: Over the past years, historical dramas in China faced difficulties due to tightening regulations on TV series distorting history and having a “bad influence on teens.” Dramas such as Court Lady but also The Long Ballad have been celebrated by state media for their “appealing storyline” and “positive messages” about China.
• Trending: The drama’s costume design is praised for its accuracy and beauty. Over 3000 costumes were designed for this production.
• Link: Viki (with English subtitles)

7. Octogenarian and The 90s (八零九零 Bā líng jiǔ líng)

• Date: Premiered April 21 of 2021 on Hunan TV
• Genre: City, Family Drama (39 episodes)
• Directed by: Xu Jizhou (徐纪周) and Yi Jun (易军)
• Screenplay by: Long Zhenyu (龙振宇), Zhu Junyi (朱俊懿), Wu Yu’er (邬雩儿)
• Produced by: Zhejiang Huace Film & TV, Xiangxiang Shidai Entertainment, Beijing HualuBaina Film & TV Company, Haining Yueliang Kaihua, Beijing Leben
• About: “Sunshine Home” is the nursing home founded by Grandma Lin, the grandmother of the carefree millennial girl Ye Xiaomei (played by Wu Qian 吴倩). Carefree, until her grandmother becomes terminally ill and hands the nursing home over to Ye, who learns more from the elderly in the home than she could have ever imagined.
• Context: As China is dealing with a rapidly ageing population, there is an increased media focus on the lives and struggles of the elderly.
• Trending: Although this show is among the most popular TV dramas in China at the moment, it has also received criticism for being too superficial.
• Link: YouTube (with English subtitles)

6. Faith Makes Great (理想照耀中国 Lǐxiǎng Zhàoyào Zhōngguó)

• Date: Premiered on May 5th of 2021
• Genre: Period drama (40 episodes)
• Directed by: Fu Dongyu (傅东育), who previously won an award for the drama Phurbu & Tenzin.
• Screenplay by: Liang Zhenhua (梁振华)
• Produced by: Hunan TV
• About: Faith Makes Great is a Chinese TV series based on true stories that happened throughout hundred years of communism in China. The drama is an initiative of China’s State Administration of Radio and Television to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
• Context: 2021 is the year the Chinese Communist Party turns 100. This is one of the TV dramas commemorating the founding of the Party.
• Trending: One of the episodes of this series features the super popular Chinese celebrity Wang Yibo.
• Link: YouTube (with English subtitles)

5. Douluo Continent (斗罗大陆 Dòuluō Dàlù)

• Date: Premiered on February 5th of 2021
• Genre: Fantasy / Adventure (40 episodes)
• Directed by: Yang Zhenyu (杨振宇)
• Screenplay by: Wang Juan (王倦)
• Produced by: Tencent, New Classics Media, Xuanshi Tangmen, Dashenquan
• About: Douluo Continent was adapted from a fantasy novel by the same name written by Tang Jia San Shao (唐家三少). It tells the story of Tang San, played by the ever-popular Chinese celebrity Xiao Zhan. Tang San lost his mother as a child and becomes friends with another orphan named Xiao Wu (Betty Wu) while he is in training to be a Spirit Master. With his rare talents, Tang overcomes many difficulties while growing older and embarking on his journey.
• Trending: The producers of Douluo Continent issued an apology earlier this year for plagiarizing British TV series His Dark Materials and a role within the computer game League of Legends in the opening scene of the drama.
• Link: YouTube (with English subtitles)

4. My Treasure (生活家 Shēnghuó Jiā)

• Date: Premiered on May 13 of 2021
• Genre: City Drama (35 episodes)
• Directed by: Liu Haibo (刘海波), who also directed the 2019 show In the Name of the Law (and many others)
• Screenplay by: Teng Yang (滕洋)
• Produced by: iQiyi, Yuanshi Pictures, Tomorrow Film
• About: My Treasure follows the life of fresh graduate Qiu Dongna (Vicky Chen) and the struggles she faces while starting up her career and dealing with the people thwarting her plans.
• Context: Over recent years there has been a rise in Chinese TV dramas with a strong female leading role.
• Trending: The main role of this show, Qiu Dongna (邱冬娜), has won the hearts of many netizens on Chinese social media.
• Link: YouTube (with English subtitles)

3. Dancing in the Storm (风暴舞 Fēngbào Wǔ)

• Date: Premiered April 25th of 2021
• Genre: City, Spy drama (43 episodes)
• Directed by: Liu Xin (刘新), who also directed the 2020 hit show Hunting (猎狐)
• Screenplay by: An Zhiyong (安志勇) and Fu Li (傅莉)
• Produced by: Ciwen Media, iQiyi, Manmei Film
• About: Dancing in the Storm focuses on Clark Li Junjie (William Chan 陈伟霆) who works at an information security company where he accidentally discovers the company’s dangerous dealings with external parties. This discovery is the start of an investigation into a complicated web of intrigue.
• Context: This show should not be confused with another one with a similar title, namely Storm Eye (暴风眼), which is also a 2021 drama. That Chinese ‘national security’ drama came under fire for “overly dramatic plotlines.”
• Trending: The Weibo hashtag page of this drama (#风暴舞#) has by now received over 260 million views on Weibo.
• Link: YouTube (no English subtitles)

2. Awakening Age (觉醒年代 Juéxǐng Niándài)

• Date: Premiered in February of 2021 on CCTV
• Genre: “Red drama”, Revolutionary historical drama (43 episodes)
• Directed by: Zhang Yongxin (张永新)
• Screenplay by: Long Pingping (龙平平)
• Produced by: CCTV
• About: Awakening Age tells the story of how the Party was founded, focusing on the events taking place in between 1916 and 1921.
• Context: 2021 is the year the Chinese Communist Party turns 100. This is one of the TV dramas commemorating the founding of the Party.
• Trending: Awakening Age has a hashtag page on Weibo (initiated by CCTV) that by now has received over 590 million views.
• Link: YouTube (no English subtitles)

1. A Love for Dilemma (小舍得 Xiǎo Shědé)

• Date: Produced in 2020 and premiered on iQiyi on April 11, 2021
• Genre: Family drama (42 episodes)
• Directed by: Zhang Xiaobo (张晓波), who also directed hit show Nothing But Thirty (三十而已, 2020)
• Screenplay by: Zhou Yifei (周艺飞)
• Produced by: iQiyi and Linmon Pictures
• About: This season’s super popular TV drama A Love for Dilemma is themed around family, parenting, and China’s competitive education system. In the series, two stepsisters compete against each other over the school results of their children. The family’s ‘grandpa’, played by famous actor Zhang Guoli (张国立), tries to create harmony around the dinner table between his daughter and stepdaughter, but the rivalry between the two and how they raise their children intensifies nevertheless. While stepsister Tian Yulan urges her little son to work hard in school and focus on his grades so that he can go to the best high school and university, sister Nan Li places more emphasis on the general development of her children and wants them to enjoy their childhood. Both mothers, however, question their own choices when facing challenges with how their children perform at school.
• Context: One of the reasons this drama is so popular in China right now is because of its depiction of the competitive education system and parent-child relationships of ordinary Chinese families.
• Trending: A Love for Dilemma ignited discussions on the term of ‘involution’ on Chinese social media (read more here), especially when discussing China’s education system, where competition starts as early as kindergarten and the pressure on children to succeed in the ‘gaokao’ college entrance exam starts many years before it takes place.
• Link: iQiyi (including subtitles)

Wanna read more on Chinese tv dramas? Check our other articles here.

By Manya Koetse
Follow @whatsonweibo

Spotted a mistake or want to add something? Please let us know in comments below or email us. First-time commenters, please be patient – we will have to manually approve your comment before it appears.

©2021 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.