Despite boasting big stars like Yang Zi and Cheng Yi, several high-budget Chinese historical dramas failed miserably this year. From poor CGI and recycled plots to weak performances, these productions—once highly anticipated—ended up drawing harsh criticism and disappointment.
1. The Journey of Legend (Cheng Yi, Gülnezer Bextiyar)
Adapted from the novel Shen Zhou Qi Xia, the drama promised complex characters, thrilling twists, and intense battles. However, the TV adaptation stripped away the depth, leaving behind a hollow, nonsensical storyline. Cheng Yi’s stiff acting and poor line delivery, paired with Gülnezer Bextiyar’s reputation as a “pretty vase,” made matters worse. Despite its 300 million yuan budget, the CGI and costumes looked outdated, prompting viewers to question where the money went.
2. In the Name of Blossom (Yang Zi, Li Xian)
As a sequel to Flourished Peony, expectations were high. Unfortunately, the lead character, He Weifang (Yang Zi), lost her strong, clever image, becoming fragile and frustrating. The storylines about business and power struggles were bland and repetitive, failing to deliver any excitement. Even the reunion of Yang Zi and Li Xian—once a fan-favorite duo—lacked chemistry this time around.
3. Feud (Bai Lu, Joseph Zeng)
Promoted as a mix of love, revenge, and fantasy, the drama fell flat with recycled tropes from other xianxia works. Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng’s lack of synergy made their performances stiff and unconvincing. With the same massive 300 million yuan budget as The Journey of Legend, the visuals still appeared cheap and uninspired. The plot leaned too heavily on tragedy without emotional depth, making it forgettable after just a few episodes.
4. Shadow Love (Song Yi, Ryan Cheng)
Airing in summer—a prime slot for historical dramas—this series still bombed. Its storyline felt like a messy “hotpot” of illogical subplots, with political schemes serving only as filler for a lackluster romance between Song Yi and Ryan Cheng. Song Yi failed to embody a strong female general, appearing delicate and disconnected from her co-star. Poorly edited battle scenes added to the chaos, leaving audiences unimpressed. The drama earned a dismal 4.8 rating on Douban.
5. When Destiny Brings the Demon (Arthur Chen, Wang Yinglu)
Based on the popular novel Xiang Shi Zu Xian Shang Xian Yu, this drama was one of the most anticipated projects of the year. However, it quickly disappointed with a weak script and offered little originality. Arthur Chen’s emotionless performance and Wang Yinglu’s exaggerated expressions ruined any chance of chemistry. With a flimsy romance and uninspired storytelling, fans quickly abandoned the show.
These five titles highlight how big budgets and star power don’t guarantee success. In a year packed with historical dramas, audiences are demanding stronger scripts, authentic performances, and higher production quality standards that these projects failed to meet.
Sources: K14
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