Chinese dramas and films

On April 28, 2026, the 40-episode drama "Lady Liberty" (爱情没有神话) premiered. The show aired in primetime on CCTV-8 and simultaneously streamed on Tencent Video and Migu Video.

The project is based on the novel of the same name by cult author Yi Shu, whose works have frequently been adapted into popular series, including "The Tale of Rose" and "The First Half of My Life". The lead roles are played by Tiffany Tang ("Blossoms Shanghai", "The Lost Tomb") and Mark Chao ("The Heart", "Eternal Love").

The drama’s key slogan is: "Love is not a myth — to love or not to love is free". The story revolves around conscious solitude and the refusal to compromise in relationships. The heroine, Lin Zhanqiao (played by Tiffany Tang), is an independent woman around 35 years old who works as a chief editor at a publishing house. She has steady admirers but deliberately chooses to remain single, rejecting marriage and relationships that do not meet her high standards. She is not against marriage, but she refuses to settle for compromises. Deep down, she dreams of true love and a strong partnership.

Fate brings her together with He Han (Mark Chao), a famouse writer. Together they overcome numerous obstacles in love and career, eventually realising that they matter most to each other.

The story departs from the fairy-tale template of traditional romantic dramas. It explores the boundaries of adult relationships, workplace interests and emotional compromises in intimate partnerships.

Despite the star-studded cast, audience reactions have been mixed. The premiere drew a significant TV audience: the real-time rating on Cool Cloud peaked at 2.0251% during the first ten minutes. However, by the end of the first episode the average rating failed to stay above 2%, and viewer interest dropped by the second episode. On the digital platform Tencent Video, the popularity index exceeded 22,000 within two hours, only to fall to 20,000 the next day.

Advertising integrations were also underwhelming. The series launched with two ads (Budweiser, Vipshop); by episodes 3–4, only one ad remained – far below expectations for an S+ rated drama.

The main reason cited for the show’s lacklustre start is a boycott of its screenwriter Qin Wen, also known for her work on "Blossoms Shanghai". The scandal delayed the series’ release, originally planned for autumn 2025, and audiences are now actively calling for a boycott.

At the end of October 2025, a former employee of the studio behind "Blossoms Shanghai", using the pseudonym "Gu Er", posted several private audio recordings online, sparking strong public outcry. The recordings captured a conversation between Qin Wen and famous director Wong Kar-wai. In the recording, Qin Wen allegedly boasted that she had been arrested for assaulting a police officer but was quickly released thanks to her connections.

The claims caused widespread controversy. Shanghai police were forced to investigate. It turned out that the incident had indeed occurred, but the circumstances had been greatly exaggerated. In 2019, Qin Wen and a friend were detained for a minor traffic violation (cycling in a restricted area). During a verbal altercation, Qin Wen patted a police officer on the back, which was classified as a minor offence. After a report was filed, she was released without punishment. The "connections for release" were simply drunken bravado in a private conversation.

Nevertheless, reputational damage was done. The public’s negative reaction to the boasting about privileges and disregard for the law was so strong that CCTV was forced to postpone the premiere of "Lady Liberty" in November 2025. The screenwriter’s name has now been removed from most promotional materials, but it remains in the final credits, triggering a new wave of outrage.

Sources 1, 2, 3