24 dramas worth watching in the second half of 2023

In the first half of 2023, excellent works on themes such as science fiction, suspense, and anti-black have frequently appeared, triggering an upsurge of drama chasing by the audience. Recently, various mainstream broadcast platforms have released the list of dramas to be broadcast in the second half of the year, with rich themes and diverse types. "Variety" selected 24 noteworthy dramas from it to feed readers.

"Going North"

Subject: Modern other

Producer: iQiyi, Enlightenment Pictures, Jiangsu Wentou

Director: Yao Xiaofeng

Screenwriter: Zhao Dongling

Starring: Bai Lu, Ou Hao

The play is adapted from Xu Zechen's Mao Dun Literature Award-winning work "Going North", the drama takes Xia Fenghua, Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi and other young people who grew up by six canals as the main line, telling the story of their endeavor to pursue ideals along the canal north, and then return to their hometown and build their hometown, showing the identification of contemporary youth with national culture and the inheritance of national spirit.

"Once Upon a Time in the River"

Theme: Drama adventure

Produced by: Alibaba, Yingying Alchemy Pictures, Standard Image Culture

Director: Count

Screenwriter: Suan, Cui Xiaoxue

Starring: Guo Qilin, Wu Zhenyu

The play is produced by Cao Baoping, and the director has participated in the creation of the popular drama "The Beginning". The background of the drama is set in the overhead world of "Three Slopes", telling the story of Shen Xing (played by Guo Qilin), a migrant worker who accidentally wandered into the adventure and maze, and after encountering Uncle Chai (played by Wu Zhenyu), a three-sided slope storyteller who wandered between many forces, he oscillated and struggled between staying and fleeing. 

"Long Wind Crossing"

Theme: Drama costume

Producer: iQiyi, Agni Pictures, Shengge Film and Television

Director: Yin Tao

Screenwriter: Rao Jun

Starring: Bai Jingting, Song Yi

The play is adapted from Mo Shubai's novel of the same name, telling the heart-warming story of Liu Yuru, the daughter of a cloth merchant in Yangzhou, and Gu Jiusi, a local gentleman, who are married by mistake, and two people with different personalities in a misplaced marriage, from mutual resistance to mutual support and mutual healing.

"Big River 3"

Theme: Contemporary reality

Producer: Noon Sun, iQiyi

Director: Kong Sheng, Sun Molong, Liu Hongyuan

Screenwriter: Tang Yao, Ma Chengyi

Starring: Wang Kai, Yang Shuo, Dong Zijian, Yang Caiyu

The series is adapted from Anai's novel "The Great River Goes East", which tells the story of the transnational cooperation between Donghai Chemical and Luoda Company. As the third work of the "Great Rivers" series of TV series, this plot continues to the end of the second part, and all the creators of the previous work return.

"Winter and the Lion"

Theme: Military drama

Producer: Zhewen Film

Director: Gao Xixi

Screenwriters: Lan Xiaolong, Chen Qiongqiong

Starring: Du Chun, Wang Ziqi, Zhang Bo, Yu Zhen, Xing Yujing

The play is the third work of Lan Xiaolong's "Steel Seventh Company" series after "Soldier Assault" and "My Regiment Commander My Regiment". From the perspective of ordinary soldiers, the series tells the story of the "Seventh Company of Steel" going to the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea after the founding of New China, relying on correct command, overcoming difficulties and dangers, and winning key battles.

"Blossoms"

Theme: Contemporary city

Producer: Penguin Film and Television, Shanghai Film Group, Shanghai Blooming Flowers

Director: Wong Kar-wai

Screenwriter: Qin Wen

Starring: Hu Ge, Ma Yili, Tang Yan, Xin Zhilei

Adapted from Mao Dun Literature Award winning work, Jin Yucheng's novel of the same name. "Blossoms" took 4 years of preparation and 2 years of filming, and was completed in January 2022. The series mainly tells the living conditions of Shanghainese in the 60s and 90s of the 20th century, two special historical periods, truly reproduces the Shanghai style in the early days of reform and opening up, and creates a group portrait of small people in the big era.

Harbin 1944

Theme: Modern revolution

Producer: iQiyi, Straw Bear Pictures, Boji Tianscroll, Dongkai Star

Director: Zhang Li

Screenwriters: Wang Xiaogun, Liu Tianzhuang, Liu Jinfei

Starring: Qin Hao, Yang Mi

Director Zhang Li's new work, the play takes the puppet Manchukuo on the eve of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War as the background of the times, telling the story of Communist intelligence officer Song Zhuowen infiltrating the special services department of the Harbin Police Department, trying to gain the trust of Guan Xue, the head of the special services section, and high-ranking Japanese officials, and removing obstacles to the final victory of the war.

"Orphan Mars"

Theme: Youth science fiction

Producer: Bai Na Qiancheng, Mango TV, Colorful

Director: Zhao Yilong

Screenwriters: Song Jinchuan, Fang Feixiong

Starring: Fei Qiming, Zhao Yiqin, Jiang Wu, Yu Jinwei

"Orphans of Mars" tells a science fiction story from the perspective of teenagers, when alien civilization arrives and the world is facing collapse, a group of enthusiastic high school students resist and save mankind's last hope. The play is adapted from the science fiction novel of the same name by Liu Yang, a doctor of physics, and the original work won the Chinese Science Fiction Nebula Award for the 2019 "Rough Stone Award" in the novel category.

Welcome to Myle Village

Theme: Realistic light comedy

Producers: Perfect World Film and Television, Chunyu Film and Television, China Mobile Migu Company, Youku, Youth Hello Media, Huaer Film and Television, Xianjun Film and Television, Pineapple Vision

Director: Jin Ye

Screenwriter: Liang Zhenhua

Starring: Jin Dong, Zu Feng, Zhang Yuqi, Liu Guanlin

The drama focuses on the work and life of the Chinese medical team going to Africa, telling the story of Chinese medical workers saving lives and establishing deep friendship with local people. The work presents the bittersweet and bittersweet life of aid in the style of light comedy, showing the passing on of the torch of generations of aid to foreign aid.

"River Day"

Theme: Environmental protection

Producer: Mango TV, Mango Super Media, Hao Cool Film and Television

Director: Han Xiaojun

Screenwriter: Zhang Ting

Starring: Huang Zhizhong, Mei Ting, Jiang Wu, Zhang Guoqiang

"Rivers and Rivers" is an environmental protection drama, adapted from the original novel "Outside the River", which tells the story of Zheng Hanjiang (played by Huang Zhizhong), a professor at Qijiang University, who was ordered to solve the local environmental pollution problem. The series focuses on grassroots cadres, showing the responsibility, wisdom and responsibility of cadres in the new era.

"Today's Them"

Theme: Women grow up in the city

Producers: Penguin Film and Television, Tencent Pictures, Zhengfu Pictures, Wannian Pictures, Emei Film Group, China Records, Perfect World Film and Television

Director: Du Xiaoyu

Screenwriters: Qin Wen, Xu Sijiao

Starring: Song Yi, She Shiman, Li Chun, Zhang Guoli, Zhang Chao, Wang Renjun, Li Junxian

Combining female group portraits and gastronomic healing, "Today's Them" takes Chengdu, the capital of food, as the background, and Sichuan cuisine as the introduction, connecting the story of three women with different personalities from meeting each other to walking side by side. Screenwriter Qin Wen has created many women-themed hot dramas such as "My First Half of Life" and "Golden Years".

"Kunpeng Strikes the Wave"

Theme: Major revolutionary themes

Producers: Forbidden City Pictures, Huace Film and Television, Changjiang Film Group, Tianrun Damei, Ciwen Media

Director: Liu Biao

Screenwriter: Ma Jihong

Starring: Liu Chenglin and others

"Kunpeng Strikes the Waves" is a key play to commemorate the 130th anniversary of Mao Zedong's birth, which takes Mao Zedong's search for revolutionary truth in his youth as the main line, and highlights Mao Zedong's wisdom, courage, feelings and responsibilities through a series of events such as organizing young students to go to France for work-study, leading the "Hunan Movement to Drive Zhang Zhang", founding the Xiangjiang Review, and forming the Hunan Communist Group.

"The Rose Story"

Theme: Urban

Producer: Sunli TV

Director: Wang Jun

Screenwriter: Li Xiao

Starring: Liu Yifei, Huo Jianhua, Tong Dawei, Wan Qian, Peng Guanying, Lin Xinxin, Wei Ni

The play is adapted from Yishu's novel "The Story of the Rose", which takes the growth of the heroine and three relationship experiences as the main line, telling the story of her growing from a workplace white to a successful entrepreneur and living a wonderful life. The series integrates multiple elements such as love, workplace, and inspiration.

"Plum Blossom Peach"

Theme: spy war love

Producer: Yaoke Culture

Director: Jiao Yongliang

Screenwriter: Haifei chief editor (written), Ni Xueli screenwriter

Starring: Guan Xiaotong, Han Dongjun, Tian Lei, Lu Huangzhen, Jiang Yi, Wang Xiuzhu, Liu Haikuan, etc

Screenwriter Hai Fei once again worked on the theme of spy warfare. The series tells the story of former lovers Zuo Shuangtao and Chen Jiaping who reunited unexpectedly during the Republic of China, regained love in the sea of espionage and chased the same faith. The script of the play took three years to polish, trying to break away from the traditional spy war narrative mode and present the transformation and growth of young revolutionaries.

"Dragon Boy"

Theme: Youth Campus

Producer: Youku, Wow Haw, jointly produced by Hunan Education TV

Director: Ding Hei

Screenwriter: Chen Shu

Starring: Zhang Ruoyun, Huang Yao

"Dragon Boy" focuses on senior teachers and students, telling the story of gold medal teachers leading students who have gone astray to regain their original hearts. The play continues director Ding Hei's consistent realistic style and presents the variety of life under the college entrance examination. This is also the second collaboration between director Ding Hei and Zhang Ruoyun after "Police Honor".

"From South to North"

Theme: Contemporary involvement in the case

Producer: iQiyi, Drama World Production, Bai Na Qiancheng, New Media Eslite, Ministry of Public Security Golden Shield Film and Television Culture Center, Online Drama Media jointly produced

Director: Zheng Xiaolong

Screenwriter: Gao Mantang

Starring: Bai Jingting, Jin Chen, Ding Yongdai

Through the variety of life on a train, a group of neighbors are warm, witnessing the innovation and development of the motherland, and interpreting the torch inheritance of the spirit of the new and old generations of railway cadres and police. Screenwriter Gao Mantang is good at creating era themes, and his representative works include "Crossing the Guandong", "Wenzhou Family", "Old Chinese Medicine" and so on.

"Ball Lightning"

Theme: Contemporary science fiction

Producer: Produced by iQiyi, co-produced by Yitong Legend and Dream New Film and Television

Director: Dai Mo

Screenwriter: Chen Sicheng (Chief Screenwriter)

Starring: Tong Yao, Wang Anyu

The play is adapted from Liu Cixin's science fiction novel of the same name, telling the story of an earthling who has been monitored by aliens since he was a child and returns to Earth by chance, leading everyone to use ball lightning to trigger nuclear fusion and destroy the Observer's plan. The content of the story is linked to the "Three-Body Problem" series.

"Shangganling"

Theme: War

Producer: Bona Films

Director: Liu Weiqiang

Screenwriter: Zhi Yaqing

Starring: Wang Lei, Huang Xuan, Liu Haocun, Yuan Wenkang, Pan Binlong

Liu Weiqiang directed a long drama for the first time. Yu Dong, chairman of Bona Film, once revealed that this is a strong plot and fast-paced war drama, expected to have 24 episodes, and is planned to be launched on the occasion of commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

"Persona of the Apocalypse"

Theme: Ancient legends

Producer: iQiyi, Free Cool Whale

Director: Lu Yang, Qiao Lei, Fan Chuan

Screenwriters: Yu Yang, Lu Yang, Qiao Lei

Starring: Huang Xuan, Wu Yue, Zhang Rongrong

Following "The Wind Rises in Luoyang", Huang Xuan once again starred in a costume suspense drama. "Persona of the Apocalypse" is adapted from Ma Boyong's novel of the same name, telling the story of a mysterious epidemic outbreak during the late Ming Dynasty, and the story of Jin Yiwei Chu Sijing (played by Huang Xuan) in the crisis of island survival. The play is also the first cooperation between Huang Xuan and Wu Yue.

Detective Chinatown 2

Theme: Suspenseful reasoning comedy

Producer: Produced by iQiyi, co-produced by Yitong Legend, Wanda Film and Television, and Chengya Film and Television

Director: Yao Wenyi, Wang Tianwei

Screenwriter: Chen Sicheng (Chief Screenwriter)

Starring: Qiu Ze, Shang Yuxian

"Detective Chinatown 2" continues to tell the detective story of Lin Mo (played by Qiu Ze), and many new characters such as the genius hacker Kiko will appear. "Detective Chinatown" was broadcast in January 2020, and more than 280,000 people on Douban gave an average score of 7.1. The second season continues to be produced by the main creators of the movie version, and Wang Baoqiang, Xiao Yang, Zhang Junning, Liu Haoran and others will make cameo appearances.

"Happy Grass"

Theme: Foreign aid

Producer: Five Continents Communication Center, Perfect World Film and Television

Director: Bai Tao

Screenwriters: Li Jiuhong, Fan Shengzhen

Starring: Guo Tao, Si Ni, Zhang Chao, Han Dong, Zheng Hehuizi

Based on Lin Zhanxi, the "father of fungi", the play tells the story of China's fungus technology team going to South Pacific island countries to carry out fungus planting, industrial cultivation, technology promotion, poverty reduction and development, etc., so that the "happy grass" of fungus has taken root in the world, showing China's contribution to promoting the global poverty reduction process.

"To Love for a Long Time"

Theme: Youth Love

Producer: Yulele, Youku

Director: Niu Chao

Screenwriter: Li Yang

Starring: Yang Zi, Fan Chengcheng

The play is adapted from the novel "Who Do You Like at the Age of Seventeen", focusing on the 7 young people who grew up together in the family home of Space City, telling the story of them walking through the green years together, and reuniting after many years to understand love and friendship again. Singer Sun Yanzi not only sang the theme song for the play, but also made a cameo appearance in the play.

"Glory in Blood"

Theme: History of major revolutions

Producer: Fujian Film Studio

Director: Chen Li

Screenwriter: Li Xiaodan

Starring: Wang Renjun, Wang Zhifei, Chen Long, Liu Zhiyang, etc

The drama mainly tells the story of Mao Zedong and Zhu De meeting Jinggangshan after the Autumn Harvest Uprising and the Nanchang Uprising, transferring to western Fujian to establish the Soviet region, convening the "Gutian Conference" after hardships and twists and turns, establishing the fundamental principles of ideological party building and political army building, and leading the Chinese revolution to victory after experiencing the counter-encirclement and suppression in the Soviet region, the bloody battle of the Xiangjiang River, and the Zunyi Conference.

"Scout Heroes"

Theme: Modern military brigade

Producer: Dongyang Chunyu Film and Television Culture Co., Ltd

Director: Zheng Xiaolong, An Zhanjun

Screenwriter: Liu Gejian

Starring: Luo Jin, Ma Sichun

The drama tells the story of Liang Chen, chief of the reconnaissance section of a division of the Chinese Volunteers, who was brave and resourceful during the period of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, and led the reconnaissance company to successfully complete the arduous tasks assigned by his superiors many times. Different from the previous large-scale war dramas, "Reconnaissance Heroes" takes reconnaissance, rescue, surprise attacks and other scout combat missions as the main focus, and writes the heroic deeds of the volunteer army relying on superb strategy and tactics, defeating the strong with weakness and winning more with less.

(Part of the content is organized according to online public information, subject to official information)