Five most discussed TV dramas in the first half of 2017

1. Ten Miles of Peach Blossom

Adapted from a popular online novel of the same name, a TV series called Ten Miles of Peach Blossom has hit the small screen during the Spring Festival.

Set in a fantasy world where monsters, gods and humans coexist, the story tells a love story between a 140,000-year-old fox princess and a 50,000-year-old dragon prince.

The story has won many fans for its beautiful scenes, poetic dialogues and popular stars.

The most important reason for turning the online novel into the TV series is the strong demand from fans.

The novel was published by Shenyang Press in 2009 and has sold 1.1 million copies.

According to an industry insider, the online popularity and potential for market earnings from the online novels could propel the TV series or film to be the next blockbuster.

A still of the TV series A Ten Miles of Peach Blossom

A still of the TV series A Ten Miles of Peach Blossom

A still of the TV series A Ten Miles of Peach Blossom

A still of the TV series Ode to Joy 2

2. Ode to Joy 2

Renowned as a Chinese version of Sex and the City, Chinese popular urban drama Ode to Joy returned to the small screen on May 11, its premiere gaining a high viewership rate of 1.34 percent and 1.55 percent on Dragon TV and Zhejiang Satellite TV, respectively.

Ode to Joy mainly follows the story of five young women who live on the same floor in an apartment building, also called "Ode to Joy" in Shanghai city.

The five female protagonists, ranging in age from their mid-20s to early 30s, come from different social and educational backgrounds, but all want a better life both in love and at work. However, things don't always go the way they expect them to.

In an episode of the drama, Qiu Yingying was dumped by her beloved boyfriend, Ying Qin, a programmer working at an IT company, when he finds out Qiu is not a virgin.

Even as Qiu's friends think of ideas to restore the relationship, Ying turns them down firmly. His mother even says Qiu is not a pure and chaste woman.

Since that episode was released, there's been heated discussion about "virgin obsession" on social media platforms.

A still of the TV series Ode to Joy 2

A still of the TV series Ode to Joy 2

A still of the TV series Ode to Joy 2

A still of the TV series Princess Agents

A still of the TV series Princess Agents

3. Princess Agents

"I really like this magical drama and I usually only watch Korean dramas or movies but I have to admit the Chinese actors are really talented and the story is wonderful," says Canadian online user Sara Rojas on YouTube.

The magical drama she refers to is Princess Agents, a costume detective drama that first aired on the Hunan TV channel on June 5.

Set against the backdrop of chaotic times during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) when innocent citizens are often kidnapped and turned into slaves, the drama follows a woman, Chu Qiao, as she rises from a lowly slave to a successful military strategist, as well as a female general in the people’s hearts.

Princess Agents releases two episodes a day from Monday to Thursday, and foreign online users can watch its English version six hours later on YouTube.

To appeal to foreign viewers, producers have set up an official YouTube account that boasts over 15 million views and 125,000 followers by July 12. Each episode attracts over 60,000 hits on average.

A still of the TV series Princess Agents

A still of the TV series Princess Agents

A still of the TV series The First Half of My Life

4. The First Half of My Life

Adapted from popular Hong Kong writer Isabel Nee Yeh-su's novel The First Half of My Life, the 42-episode TV drama of the same title stands as a dark horse amid fierce TV competition during the summer holiday.

Gathering a cast full of veteran and renowned actors including Chen Daoming, Mei Ting, Ma Yili and Yuan Quan, the drama mainly tells the inspirational story of a housewife-turned-career woman.

In the drama, lead actress Ma Yili stars as Luo Zijun, a simple-minded and dubious housewife.

However, her carefree life encounters misfortune after an unexpected divorce.

Luckily, with the help of her best friend Tang Jing, she makes changes and creates a new life for herself.

By emphasizing the importance of female independence, the series has caused heated discussions online and obtained high ratings since it began to air on July 4.

A still of the TV series The First Half of My Life

A still of the TV series The First Half of My Life

A still of the TV series The First Half of My Life

A still of the TV series The Glory of Tang Dynasty

5. The Glory of Tang Dynasty

A TV series inspired by a legendary queen is making waves in China. The Glory of Tang Dynasty, being shown on Beijing Satellite TV since late January, has been adapted from the popular novel of the same title, and chronicles the life of Shen Zhenzhu, wife of the 8th-century Emperor Daizong.

Jing Tian, who starred in the film The Great Wall, directed by Zhang Yimou, plays the role of Shen, a tough queen who sacrifices herself to protect the people and her husband, played by Ren Jialun, an upcoming star.

The series has been made with a budget of around 260 million yuan ($38.68 million), and shot in 70 sets, with massive digital backup.

A still of the TV series The Glory of Tang Dynasty

A still of the TV series The Glory of Tang Dynasty
A still of the TV series The Glory of Tang Dynasty