Seige in Fog

Siege in Fog 迷雾围城 starts out mired in controversy as author Fei Wo Suo Si 匪我思存, who also wrote Chronicle of Life sues the production for breaching a 5-year contract that ended March 2016.

In their defense, the producers claim that a substantial investment has already been made since December of last year with no objections from Fei Wo Suo Si and for her to suddenly demand an extravagant sum is unfair and unwarranted.

Not sure what will happen here but stills are out for Siege in Fog, which is a romance drama starring Elvis Han and Sun Yi. Elvis Han has been getting major exposure since Monster Killer with the potential to become the next big star thanks to his smoking physique and onscreen charisma and I swear, I don't ogle every single time but he seriously looks mighty fine in a suit.

Seige in Fog will revolve around a love-hate relationship between its leads where the protagonist is a cut below the average immature male by forcing his love interest into a marriage she never wanted.

To make matters worse, lies of epic proportions are uncovered, putting the married couple at odds with each other. Already, it sounds like Chronicle of Life in a Republican setting, no thank you.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 c-drama recommendations.

Source: EntPeople

Jade Lovers

Jade Lovers 翡翠恋人 is a c-drama dubbed as Diamond Lovers 2, produced by DMG Entertainment in an attempt to repeat the success of a Korean-Chinese collaboration by casting Lee Jong Suk opposite Zheng Shuang.

Set in the 1930s, the story centers around Shen Chen Xi, the daughter of a former magnate whose family falls to ruin after going bankrupt. Her experiences thereafter help her grow from someone muddled in love to an inspirational goddess. 

Bai Luo Han is a man treading morally ambiguous territory by working indiscriminately with both good and bad. Whilst he appears cold and calculating on the outside, inside is a kind-hearted man constantly on the lookout for Chen Xi.

The plot is quite run of the mill but at least there's some potentially exciting conflict given Bai Luo Han's trade and the advantage of a Republican era setting. For that alone, I already like it more than Diamond Lovers, which I never actually saw.

By the way, does anyone feel like Zheng Shuang resembles Jin Se Yeon (Flower in Prison) more and more? Because I seriously did a double take when I mistook the stills for Doctor Stranger.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Small Town Adventures

Set during the Republican era, Small Town Adventures 茧镇奇缘 is a novel-turned-drama adaptation about the murder cases surrounding the Huang family. The cast is led by Victoria Song (Ice Fantasy), Jiang Jin Fu (Legend of Qin), Zhang Zhi Xi (Three Heroes and Five Gallants) and Yang Yang (Three Lives Three Worlds). 

Victoria Song as Du Cun Xiao relies on her investigative skills to unravel the mysteries behind the deaths that ultimately leads to the truth behind her own identity.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Rookie Agent Rouge

Believe it or not, the sheer number of films depicting the war and the era when China embarked on its path to communism is too many to mention and I tend to steer clear of them because such dramas always strike me as having an agenda other than entertainment. Nevertheless, the ones I'd seen rarely included an idol cast.

Disguiser bucked the trend by breaking into mainstream popularity. Now, there's Hunter & Sparrow joining the fray and every one of them is headlined by today's top stars like Hu Ge, Huang Xuan and Li Yi Feng.

Rookie Agent Rouge 胭脂 is no different starring Zhao Li Ying, Lu Yi and Yuan Wen Kang and it is set to premiere in September. Finally, a title that is more than one word, clever and to the point. Is it actually a spy thriller with a touch of comedy or is that too far-fetched?

Rookie Agent Rouge follows the story of a warm-blooded student activist with a burning desire to serve her country. She becomes a Nationalist but is quickly discouraged by the rampant corruption within their ranks until she meets an upstanding member of the Communist party who helps her become a true patriot.

On another note, Yuan Wen Kang got on my radar after watching Imperial Doctress and it's good to see him in different projects as of late, maybe a lead role down the line?

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Source: FSBUS, Cri

Sparrow

Based on an original novel by Hai Fei 海飞, Sparrow 麻雀 is a 2016 Chinese spy thriller set in the 1940s and it is expected to air this year on Hunan TV, going head to head with Zhao Li Ying's spy drama Rookie Agent Rouge. 

Chen Shen (Li Yi Feng) leads a double life as he works under his friend and comrade Bi Zhong Liang (Zhang Lu Yi) as part of a specialized task force that captures anti-Japanese revolutionaries. Chen Shen's codename is Sparrow and his real mission is to bring down the Japanese conspirators.

Despite being explored many times before, the undercover premise never gets old and the stakes are particularly elevated especially in the context of the Sino-Japanese war. Sparrow has the potential to become innately complex in terms of characterization and storyline and if done right, it can prove to be a breakthrough in Li Yi Feng's career as he delves away from his usual roles. 

I realize Zhang Ruo Yun from Monster Killer, who is popping up everywhere these days, is in this as well suggesting a love triangle to further complicate things. The stills look legit and I sure hope the drama doesn't disappoint.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Source: Duitang