Editor's Note: With an overwhelming amount of movies, TV series, and variety shows airing each week, how do you choose what to watch? Take a look at the recommendations from The Paper.
【Movies】
Box Office
According to the Lighthouse Professional Edition, as of November 1 at approximately 4 PM, "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," "Fallen City," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Qiao Yan's Heart," and "The War of Volunteering: Life and Death" occupy the top five spots on this week’s single-day box office chart.
Upcoming Films
Looking at the cinemas in November, there are both heart-pounding crisis scenarios and delicate emotional tales that allow audiences to immerse themselves in a world of feelings, or embark on a whimsical journey through fantastical stories.
→November Films | Old and New Friends Reunite
→Interview | "Old Gun" Director Gao Peng: A Shot on a Whim
"On Stage" Premiere
→Premiere | "Fallen City": A Hong Kong Style Disaster Blockbuster
→Premiere | From An Lingrong to Li Qingcao, Tao Xinran Aims to Defy Expectations
Other Recommendations:
【TV Series】
New Drama Updates
Youku's period drama "Senior Brother is Too Steady" started filming on October 24, starring Ao Ruipeng, Sun Zhenni, Ao Ziyi, Aimei, Zeng Keni, Yu Yi, Zhang Changning, and Li Zhehao.
Ben Shan Media's "Rural Love 18" began filming on October 26, while "Rural Love 17" is set to air during the Spring Festival next year.
The historical drama "Youth Again", produced by Hong Luzi and Straw Bear Pictures and adapted from Xinyi Wu’s novel, started filming on October 30 and officially announced its cast, featuring Gao Ye, Hou Wenyuan, Zhang Zixian, Xuan Lu, Wang Zijian, and Ma Qiuzhi.
After five months of filming, the martial arts drama "To the Mountains and Seas" wrapped on October 25 in Hengdian, with its full cast being announced for the first time. The cast includes Cheng Yi, Nazha, Li Kaixin, Xu Zhenxuan, Liu Mengrui, Ding Xiaoying, Zhang Juning, and Zhang Xiaocheng, with special appearances by Zhang Zhilin, Lyu Songxian, Zhao Huaiwei, Yang Lijing, Ding Yongdai, Hu Ke, Qiu Xinzhi, Cao Cuifen, Tong Mengshi, and Chen Yuqi.
The martial arts drama "Dark River Legend", adapted from Zhou Munan's novel, officially wrapped filming on October 28 after four and a half months. The cast includes Gong Jun, Peng Xiaoran, Chang Huasen, Yang Yutong, Kong Xuer, and Zhang Shi'an, along with special appearances from Qiao Zhenyu, Geng Le, Zhang Duo, Zhang Rui, Yan Kuan, Xia Zhi Guang, Dai Luwa, and others.
New Dramas Premiere
"Jade Beads and Silk Curtains"
Starring Zhao Lusi, Liu Yuning, Tang Xiaotian, and Xie Keyin, it tells the inspirational story of the female protagonist Duan Wu (played by Zhao Lusi), who rises from being a pearl collector to a successful businesswoman through her intelligence and hard work. Through her business journey, the show depicts the workings of China's ancient jewelry industry from production to logistics and marketing, painting a vivid picture of the ancient commercial world.
Zhang Yuanhuan, the show's producer, stated that the protagonist's tale begins at an important port along the Maritime Silk Road in Hepu, Guangxi, continues through Guangzhou in Guangdong, and follows the critical overland Silk Road corridor, the Hexi Corridor, highlighting the vast expanse of ancient China's Silk Road. “We define this series as ‘a road movie of ancient Chinese jewelry commerce’,” he stated.
According to historical advisor Professor Cao Jianduan from the History and Culture School of Henan University, the show references works such as "Atlas of Chinese History" for detailed research on the Tang Dynasty Silk Road. "In the Tang Dynasty, transportation was primarily by water, and the route from the pearl production area in Hepu and Guangzhou to Chang'an was planned according to Tang-era traffic routes," Cao said.
The show has garnered significant attention even before its premiere, with viewer reservations exceeding four million. Within an hour of airing on Youku, it broke 7,000 views. Zhao Lusi, one of the current popular young actresses, supports themes of female empowerment and the Silk Road, indicating significant potential for the show. Current viewer feedback suggests that Zhao Lusi appears to be evolving away from the typical naive character often seen in ancient dramas, showcasing a more mature and growth-oriented storyline.
→Zhao Lusi: This Time It’s a “Fallen Beginning,” Living Out My True Self
"Eternal Night Star River"
Starring Yu Shuxin, Ding Yuxi, Zhu Xudan, and Yang Shize, this adventure series is adapted from the novel "Black Lotus Strategy Handbook" by Bai Yu Zhuan Diao Gong. It revolves around the quirky girl Ling Miaomiao, who accidentally enters the world of the strange novel "Catching Monsters" and becomes a cannon fodder character bound to a task system, where failing her mission means she may never return to the real world. The system requires her to constantly advance the main storyline—defeating the big demon—while simultaneously completing side quests to win the heart of the villainess "Black Lotus," Mu Sheng. Therefore, Ling Miaomiao is compelled to join the protagonist’s team and embark on a monster-catching adventure.
The series is produced by Wang Yixu, who has previously worked on hits like "Canglan Jue" and "Why are you So Beautiful." It premieres alongside "Jade Beads and Silk Curtains" and features competition between the two new rising stars, Zhao Lusi and Yu Shuxin. As of this writing, the show has garnered over 23,000 views on Tencent.
Online users jokingly dubbed the series "Baby Xianxia," as this unlimited narrative format is relatively novel within the world of television, bringing a fresh perspective to viewers. Audience feedback indicates that the character aligns well with Yu Shuxin's real personality, and the series contains numerous humorous elements. The overall style and content seem appropriate for the age group of Yu Shuxin's fans. While it may not necessarily become a blockbuster, its data performance is not expected to be poor.
"Good Reunion"
This series, starring Bai Baihe, Li Chun, and Wang Yuwen, is adapted from the serialized novel "The Goddess's Golden Age" on Douban Read, telling the story of the three daughters of the Xiang family residing in Shanghai, Kunshan, and Suzhou.
The eldest daughter, Xiang Qian (Bai Baihe), is 35 and has a promising career; the second daughter, Xiang Zhong (Li Chun), is 31, has a stable job, and works hard; the youngest daughter, Xiang Nan (Wang Yuwen), is 26, loves art, and has a pure and lively personality. The three daughters, representing different age groups, support each other in the "quagmire" of career, marriage, and life, despite their differing personalities.
Currently, the series is performing well on data platforms like Yunhe, Lighthouse, and Maoyan, all ranking in the top five, with over 25,000 views on Tencent. As modern-themed content amidst a sea of historical dramas, "Good Reunion" attracts numerous viewers with its solid writing and relatable performances, earning its place as a quality urban drama. The promotional efforts for the series have been understated, subtly narrating the joys and pains of ordinary lives. However, some viewers have pointed out that while the short clips shared on social media platforms seem enjoyable, the actual plot contains frustration, indicating that while the opening episodes were promising, the story begins to decline after the tenth episode, filled with clichés and melodramatic conflicts, making it incomparable to "Song of the Ordinary." The future reputation will depend on whether the storyline can break free from melodrama and return to depicting ordinary lives.
"The Neighborhood Family"
This series is adapted from the novel of the same name by fantasy author Da Mi, with Da Mi serving as the screenwriter, directed by Zhang Kaizhou, and produced by Hou Hongliang, starring Yan Ni, Li Guangjie, Guo Xiaodong, Jiang Xin, Fan Chengcheng, Guan Xiaotong, and Wang Anyu, along with Lu Yuxiao, Shi Yunpeng, Zhou Jieqiong, Li Qian, and Zhang Ruihan in supporting roles.
Zhengwu has evidently returned to its familiar territory with this period story. The opening features the characteristic slow-burn style of director Zhang Kaizhou, avoiding intense conflict drama. The story slowly unveils the relationship between the two families, the Zhuang and the Lin, who live in the same courtyard, depicting changes and developments over time.
Zhengwu’s influence still remains substantial; while the promotional strategy has been low-key, it garnered considerable praise upon its release, entering the top three in Yunhe’s data rankings, even though streaming data on Mango TV is slightly lower due to platform restrictions, it still ranks within the top ten.
Hou Hongliang mentioned in a speech that "The Neighborhood Family" is a profound exploration of period themes by Zhengwu Sunshine, spanning two decades. This marks a crucial turning point in China’s modernization process. He expressed that the aim of exploring this theme is to "evoke collective resonance among audiences of all ages."
However, period dramas often grapple with outdated values. Some younger viewers feel that Zhengwu’s presentation lacks a critical perspective, being reminiscent of antiquated traditional views on filial piety, with younger actors displaying greater acting range than their adult counterparts. While Zhengwu excels in the realist genre, the question of whether they can achieve self-breakthrough once again at their previous heights remains their challenge.
【Variety Shows】
"Time Music Concert" Season 4 aired its fourth episode on November 1 on Mango TV and Hunan Satellite TV. In this episode, the "Time Family" members Zhang Hanyun, He Jie, Shang Wenjie, Li Xiaoyun, and Li Sidan join forces with "Super Star Avenue" members Yang Zongwei, Liu Mingxiang, Hu Xia, Li Jiabei, and Chen Haoyu for a musical gathering, performing classic songs together.
He Jie and Yang Zongwei share the stage to perform the song "Host
