TV

Three-Body Conundrum: Why Liu Cixin’s Trilogy Defies Adaptation

Three-Body’s epic scale and its fiercely guarded fan base present challenges to adaptations

TV

Podcast | How China’s Micro-Dramas Spread At Home and Abroad

What‘s it like working in China’s micro-drama industry as producers and apps spread the ultrashort format abroad?

TV

TV Show Highlights the Lives of Professional Hostesses

A popular thriller set in 1980s Taiwan humanizes the women behind a difficult and stigmatized profession

TV

Sister Act

Hit talent show featuring ‘older’ women may not be feminist—but viewers are ready to forgive

TV

Love for Boys’ Love

Unrealistic portrayals of gay men in straight women’s fantasies raise questions for LGBT representation in media

TV

Five Most Typecast Chinese Actors

Besides unoriginal plots and characters, some Chinese shows even reuse actors

TV

Top Reality Show of 2018: Dunk of China

The smash-hit variety show combined basketball with pop culture to lure millions into watching

TV, ANCIENT HISTORY

Hair Razing

Two recent dramas offer new explanations to why the wife of Emperor Qianlong cut her hair—and got herself banished from court

TV

Meteroic Flop

Netflix remake of beloved teen drama slammed for slavish devotion to “socialist values”

TV

New Variety Shows of Spring 2018

Celebrities singing, celebrities cooking, celebrities raising kids—oh, and some street dancers too