The Chinese costume drama scene in 2024 feels slow compared to 2023. Last year, big hits with famous actors and actresses delivered strong results. For example, Lost You Forever S1, Destined, Mysterious Lotus Casebook, My Journey To You, and Story of Kunning Palace all earned praise.
Top Performers Still Shine
This year, the top spot still belongs to Joy of Life 2, which set a huge record by reaching 100 million views per episode. Another surprise was The Double, a “dark horse” series that reached 60 million views per episode. Other shows like Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To The West, The Legend of Shen Li, and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy also scored well and pleased viewers.
Highlighting the Flops
On Douban, these dramas got good ratings. But one forum highlighted 2024’s “flops”—the Chinese costume dramas that fell short. The biggest disappointment, according to this forum, is Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red Moon Pact. Viewers had high hopes since it starred popular names Yang Mi and Gong Jun, but it ended up being the year’s biggest letdown. Fans found the acting, chemistry, and storyline boring, turning it into a top example of “Chinese costume drama flops.”
From Hype to Disappointment
Another show facing criticism is Go East, featuring Tan Jianci and Zhou Yiran. Many looked forward to this drama because Tan Jianci shined as Xiang Liu in Lost You Forever. Sadly, Go East started fresh and funny but soon became dull. Its forced romance and weak chemistry left viewers unhappy.
Falling Stars and Fading Scores
Zhao Lusi, a favorite actress for many, also disappointed fans in 2024. Her drama with Liu Yuning, The Story of Pearl Girl, suffered from a dull plot and a frustrating cliffhanger ending. After it finished, its Douban score dropped from 6.3 to 5.8 with over 130 thousand reviews.
In the end, these flops remind us that not every star-studded drama can please audiences. What do you think?
