Upcoming Period Dramas May to July 2016

The Flower in Prison (April 29 MBC)

A drama about a female lawyer born in the prisons of the Joseon Dynasty and her resolve to fight for human rights. Starring Go Soo and Jin Se Yeon (eng subs on Viki).

Mirror of the Witch (May 13 JTBC)
A princess is abandoned for being born with a frozen heart until she meets a man named Heo Jun, the famed physician from the Joseon era who is revered till this day (eng subs on Viki).

Chinese Paladin 5 Yun Zhi Fan (May 23 Hunan TV)

The much-anticipated sequel to the Chinese Paladin franchise starring Han Dong Jun and Gu Li Na Zha. The series premieres right after The Classic of Mountains and Seas (eng subs on Viki).

Lucky Tianbao (Jun 6 QQ)
Two brothers fight over love and life in a historical comedy that's also a drama? Starring Kim Ki Bum, Zhu Zi Xiao and Zhao Li Ying.

Legend of Liu Shan Men (Jun 20 QQ)

Liu Shan Men is will revolve around investigative bureau in the Ming Dynasty. Starring Raymond Lan and Dilraba Dilmurat.

Decoded (Jun 20)

A pitting of intelligence not unlike the acclaimed spy drama Disguiser (eng subs on Viki).

Chang Ge Xing (Jun 23) (Jul 26) 
Liu Xiu and his friends are youthful passionate individuals during a tumultuous period and as time passes, they each end up playing significant roles during the Han Dynasty. Starring Ruby Lin and Yuan Hong

The bad news is Chang Ge Xing is delayed again but on the bright side, Ruby Lin and Yuan Hong have some exciting news of their own (eng subs on Viki).

Demon Girl (Jun 30)
A half demon falls in love with an earnest man from a wealthy family in a fantasy romance drama by Yu Zheng. Starring Zhang Zhe Han.

Old Nine Gates (Jul 4)

Set for a simultaneous web and TV broadcast, Old Nine Gates is the prequel to The Lost Tomb. Starring William Chan and Zhao Li Ying.

Legend of Chusen (Jul 17)

Another much-anticipated fantasy xianxia of swords and magic in a never-ending fight between good and evil. Starring Li Yi Feng, Yang Zi and Zhao Li Ying.

Border Town Prodigal (Jul 18)
Gu Long's classic wuxia will be remade with a fresh twist starring Zhu Yi Long and Viann Zhang Xinyu.

Novoland: The Castle in the Sky (Jul 20)
After City of Devastating Love comes another fantasy c-drama set in Novoland about the battle between the humans and the Yu Clan. Starring Zhang Ruo Yun, Guan Xiao Tong and SNH48 Ju JIng Yi.

Ice Fantasy (Jul 24)

The big-budget Chinese production about about the Ice and Fire tribes in a land of fantasy and magic. Starring Feng Shao Feng, Victoria Song and Ma Tianyu (eng subs on Viki).

Above dates are estimates only, the actual air date might vary. Dates that have been crossed out means that the premiere is delayed.

Legend of Chusen

Based on a novel called Zhu Xian written by Xiao Ding, the Legend of Chusen 诛仙青云志 is a big-budget fantasy wuxia starring Li Yi Feng (Sword of Legends), Zanilia Zhao Li Ying (Legend of Zu), Yang Zi, TF Boys, etc. and it premieres on July 2016. 

All the excitement surrounding this drama is largely due to casting where names like Angelababy where thrown into the pot until it finally secured its leads in Li Yi Feng and Zanilia Zhao Li Ying, two of the most sought after stars of today. 

Period dramas is a genre that is getting a lot of love these days that even c-pop idol boyband TF Boys is appearing in the series, no doubt to cater to younger fans.

Legend of Chusen is about Zhang Xiao Fan, a young man with mediocre skills made up for by an abundance in determination to become a martial arts hero of the Qing Yun Sect. 

Li Yi Feng will once again play a character that has an alternate persona, Sword of Legends much? Frankly, Li Yi Feng's character looks and feels like a reboot of him as Bai Li Tu Su, which is not a bad thing considering the former's success but redundant nonetheless.

On the other hand, Zanilia Zhao Li Ying is getting a lot of flak for not fitting the bill as the character Bi Yao. It was unexpected given that she is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful faces in the Chinese entertainment industry but stills don't lie.

No wonder people are making comparisons to cosplayer Qiu Xiao Chen and some netizens even took it upon themselves to photoshop their own version of Zhao Li Ying as Bi Yao the way that it should be. At least the production team seems to be listening since the recent batch of promotional stills are certainly eye-catching.

For plot summary, synopsis, etc., check out my 2016 c-drama recommendations.

Source: Newyx, DuiTang, Douban