The attention to detail on all of these is just… O_O
Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace后宫·如懿传 has released more images of the wide cast of characters. Starring Zhou Xun, Wallace Huo, Janine Chang, Li Chun, Dong Jie, Tong Yao, Chen Haoyu, Xin Zhilei, Zeng Yixuan, Wu Junmei (Vivian Wu), Chen Xiaoyun, Huang Ming, Jing Chao, Li Qin, Yuan Wenkang, Hu Ke, Zhang Jiazhu, Cao Xiwen, Yu Yang, and He Hongshan, I am assuming these are simply costumes for more minor characters but that in itself is pretty mind-blowing.
Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace后宫·如懿传 has released stills. Starring Zhou Xun, Wallace Huo, Janine Chang, Li Chun, Dong Jie, Tong Yao, Chen Haoyu, Xin Zhilei, Zeng Yixuan, Wu Junmei (Vivian Wu), Chen Xiaoyun, Huang Ming, Jing Chao, Li Qin, Yuan Wenkang, Hu Ke, Zhang Jiazhu, Cao Xiwen, Yu Yang, and He Hongshan, wow these costumes and backgrounds are extravagant.
Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace后宫·如懿传 has released a New Year Greeting. Starring Zhou Xun, Wallace Huo, Janine Chang, Li Chun, Dong Jie, Tong Yao, Chen Haoyu, Xin Zhilei, Zeng Yixuan, Wu Junmei (Vivian Wu), Chen Xiaoyun, Huang Ming, Jing Chao, Li Qin, Yuan Wenkang, Hu Ke, Zhang Jiazhu, Cao Xiwen, Yu Yang, and He Hongshan, unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be much to look at in terms of sets or costumes.
Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace后宫·如懿传 has released a production teaser. Starring Zhou Xun, Wallace Huo, Janine Chang, Li Chun, Dong Jie, Tong Yao, Chen Haoyu, Xin Zhilei, Zeng Yixuan, Wu Junmei (Vivian Wu), Chen Xiaoyun, Huang Ming, Jing Chao, Li Qin, Yuan Wenkang, Hu Ke, Zhang Jiazhu, Cao Xiwen, Yu Yang, and He Hongshan, a quick look for those interested.
OMG just stick to the more literal translation of the title on this one…
Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace (Ruyi Zhuan, The Legend of Ruyi, or the sequel to the Legend of Zhen Huan or Empresses in the Palace) is trying to drum up interest while it seems to be preparing for production. There are various names being thrown around at this point but what seems more certain is that Zhou Xun will be a part of this production. Let’s hope the original author and production team can come together to make something amazing again.
Note: We apologize for constantly posting and removing this one in the last couple hours since there was confusion about who is actually going to be in it. We decided to settle for this version.
Netizens react to the series’s short running time: “Get rid of Consort Hua Fei in two episodes, get rid of the empress in two episodes, and then get rid of the emperor in two episodes.”
Despite previous reports that Legend of Zhen Huan (后宫·甄嬛传) would air on HBO for its American release, the series has actually been picked up by the on-demand media provider Netflix. It recently became available for streaming on Netflix’s website under the name Empresses in the Palace.
Originally 76 episodes long, Empresses has been shortened to six episodes, each with a running time of 90 minutes. Because the American release is so much shorter, some of the cast has seen their screen time all but disappear. The biggest victim is Chen Jianbin‘s Emperor Yongzheng, many of whose scenes were cut to make room for the doomed romance between Zhen Huan (Sun Li) and Prince Guo Jun (Li Dongxue).
The American release of Empresses has been in production for two years, with most of that time spent on the new soundtrack and on the English subtitles. On a random note of interest, Sun Li’s staff protested when Netflix originally posted the actress’s name as “Betty Sun,” saying that she has never used the English name “Betty” and that the website should have used “Li Sun” or “Susan Sun.” (Whoops, guess Wikipedia needs to be edited!)
As of publication, Empresses has a 3.6-star rating (out of 5) on Netflix, but director Zheng Xiaolong says he is not overly concerned with how the series fares in the United States. “The most important thing is that Americans have the opportunity to watch the series and at least have some understanding toward Chinese history and culture,” he stated.
Netflix is currently available in around 50 countries, not including mainland China. However, the company has expressed interest in expanding its market to China, which may be why it purchased the rights to Empresses.
The Legend of Zhen Huan is coming to the United States next year – you would think that there’d be more than enough material to cut a 76 episode long drama into 6 pisodes, but actually, Sun Li was recently spotted in Beijing, filming an extra segment for the show. What do you think – how well would a historical epic like Zhen Huan do in the United States, in your opinion?
When judging the popularity of television dramas, the go-to statistic has always been the drama’s ratings (收视率). Also known as audience measurement or television viewership, a drama’s ratings show how many people tuned in — the higher the number, the more people turned on their TVs to catch the latest episode.
With the rapid development of new media, however, ratings can no longer illustrate the entire picture when it comes to drama popularity. More and more, people are turning to online streaming or downloading in order to get their drama fix, which means a shift in criteria may be necessary.
Recently, Sina published a list of findings from Vlinkage, a Shanghai-based consulting company that monitors data regarding videos and new media in China. Founded in 2012, Vlinkage has amassed what they call China’s most complete information database on actors, movies, and TV dramas, which they then use to evaluate the entertainment market.
In their article, Vlinkage lists 48 dramas that have received more than 1 billion views online. To put this in perspective, that’s how many views Psy‘s “Gangnam Style” MV reached on YouTube five months after it was uploaded. That’s one video. This is 48 dramas, and the one topping the list has almost 7 billion views.
