Crime is one of the most mature genres in C-drama, with numerous classics produced over the years. Despite its familiar narrative arc, the intense conflicts, gripping investigations, exploration of human complexity, and the eventual triumph of justice—a near certainty in mainland dramas—continue to make it compelling entertainment. Many series also incorporate a touch of realism, highlighting pressing social issues.
This season saw several crime dramas emerge as both popular and critical favorites, most notably the latest adaptation of works by acclaimed crime writer Zijin Chen, whose novels have inspired a string of hit series—including Burning Ice (2017), The Bad Kids (2020), and The Long Night (2020)—all of which scored above 8 out of 10 on rating platform Douban.
In sharp contrast to those earlier adaptations, Born with Luck adopts a humorous tone, using absurdity and trope-subverting characters to bring an unusual sense of lightness to the crime genre.
Besides crime dramas, an urban romance and a realistic drama centered on the life of a folk opera performer have also stood out. Here’s our list:
Born with Luck
Sidelined detective Zhang Yi’ang (played by Wang Xiao) and rookie officer Li Qian (Tian Xiwei) from the provincial bureau are dispatched to the small city of Sanjiangkou to reinvestigate the death of a local deputy police chief six months earlier after an anonymous tip surfaces. Upon arrival, they are met with cold shoulders and skepticism, and Zhang himself soon becomes the prime suspect in the subsequent death of the bureau director.
While pursuing leads at the local train station, Zhang sprains his ankle but accidentally apprehends a wanted serial murder suspect. A string of seemingly minor criminals leads the investigation to a criminal network tied to a local tycoon. As miscommunication and misunderstandings spread among both the police and the criminals, Zhang and his team repeatedly make breakthroughs, turning his reputation around.
The show’s Chinese title, “Low IQ Crimes,” perfectly encapsulates the essence of the series: a group of not-so-smart criminals falling into the hands of not-so-brilliant but luckier police officers. Adapted from Zijin Chen’s 2020 novel of the same name, the show departs from traditional detective dramas by favoring dark humor and comedy over suspense, starring known Chinese comedians such as crosstalk performer Shao Bing.
Though some have criticized the storyline for relying heavily on coincidence and for softening the antagonists compared to the novel, many still see the show as a rare, valuable offering in C-drama that delivers a pure, lighthearted, and effortless viewing experience. “I don’t think every novel needs to pursue depth; it’s enough if it’s enjoyable to read,” echoed the novel writer Chen.
Some fans have even defended the seemingly absurd plots, saying that if you’ve ever watched a police documentary like Guarding Jiefangxi, you’ll notice that there is often no clear logical explanation for why perpetrators, not geniuses at all, do what they do. Its solid 8.0 rating on Douban speaks to its popularity, inspiring many memes and discussions on social media.
Light to the Night
If you’re looking for a more classic-style suspense detective drama with tighter logic, Light to the Night, featuring two parallel timelines and an investigation stretched over 21 years across three generations of policemen, is definitely worth checking out.
In 1997, a father and daughter vanished from an elevator on the abandoned 18th floor of a residential building. Closed as a voluntary disappearance to evade debt at the time, the case is reopened in 2006 when the father resurfaces, only to be found dead. The investigation hit another dead end when the prime suspect also dies in an accident. Veteran detective He Yuanhang (Pan Yueming) and his protégé Ran Fangxu (Dylan Wang) work together to unravel a web of secrets and confront a truth far more elusive than they ever imagined.
The show has been praised for its audiovisual design, which effectively captures the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of the recurring crime scene, an aging residential building, while distinct color palettes and temperature grading help differentiate the two different timelines.
The suspense is effectively sustained through layered mysteries and a shocking final reveal. However, the main criticism is that the 28-episode series centers almost entirely on a single case, which makes the narrative feel somewhat drawn out in parts. The show currently holds a 7 out of 10 rating on Douban.
The Dark Romance 危险关系
University lecturer Yan Ling (Sun Li) was facing a career crisis when her best friend died by suicide. Grieving and overwhelmed by pressure from work and family, she finds comfort in psychiatrist Luo Liang (Wu Kangren), a patient listener who offers professional insights to help her navigate her struggles. Bonding over shared childhood trauma, the two begin a romance that soon spirals into a dangerous emotional storm.
Meanwhile, a police investigation into her friend’s death uncovers a criminal ring that teaches men emotional manipulation techniques to scam women—and Luo may be involved. Inspired by the dark trend of PUA (pickup artist) culture, a form of psychological abuse in intimate relationships in which abusers manipulate emotions and erode their victims’ confidence to gain control, the series sparked wide discussion over emotional violence and toxic relationships. Premiered on March 31 on the video-on-demand and streaming site iQIYI, the series currently holds a rating of 7.9 on Douban.
Director Xue Xiaolu, known for writing the 2001 drama Don’t Respond to Strangers, a pioneering series that spotlighted domestic violence, cited the real-life case of Bao Li as her starting point for the project in an April interview with Portrait magazine. In 2019, this Peking University student was driven to suicide by the psychological manipulation and abuse of her boyfriend, Mou Linhan. The case sparked wide public attention to psychological abuse as a form of domestic violence.
Lady Liberty 爱情没有神话
Set in China’s booming online literature industry, the romantic drama follows veteran editor Lin Zhanqiao (Tang Yan) and her former colleague, ex-boyfriend, and now bestselling novelist He Han (Zhao Youting) as Lin navigates both her career ambitions and evolving views on love and marriage. Alongside their turbulent relationship, the series also explores contentious issues, including infidelity, tit-for-tat in the workplace, online harassment, dysfunctional families, and even AI-generated writing.
Adapted from “Single Woman,” a novella written in the early 1980s by renowned Hong Kong romance writer Yi Shu (亦舒), the series reworks the original story to better resonate with modern audiences. The heroine, originally a middle school teacher, is reimagined as a seasoned editor in modern Shanghai. Like many recent adaptations of Yi Shu’s works, the drama emphasizes singlehood, marriage, and separation as conscious personal choices for its independent female characters.
Despite criticism for its overly glamorous depiction of the online literature industry and repetitive breakup-and-reunion plotlines, the drama still earned praise for its nuanced take on modern intimacy and emotional uncertainty. Rated 6.9 on Douban, it offers a thoughtful reflection on adulthood and modern relationships beyond conventional romance formulas.
The Lead 主角
Adapted from the novel of the same title by Chen Yan, winner of the 2019 Mao Dun Literature Prize, The Lead follows the life of Qinqiang opera performer Yi Qing’e (Liu Haocun) and the rise and fall of the centuries-old art across the four decades of reform and opening-up.
This drama was filmed primarily on location in Shaanxi, the birthplace of Qinqiang opera, and features dialogues in local dialect. The production team began training some of the young actors in the art form more than one year in advance, according to the local newspaper Sanqin Daily.
Premiered on CCTV-1 and Tencent Video on May 10, the series features acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou as executive producer and pop icon Faye Wong performing the theme song, blending traditional Qinqiang vocal techniques, instruments, and Shaanxi folk melodies. Despite centering on a single protagonist, the series is full of well-developed supporting characters, including the maverick drummer and Yi’s uncle Hu Sanyuan (Zhang Jiayi), and the troupe’s leading actress and Yi’s mentor, Hua Caixiang (Qin Hailu).
As a mainstream serious drama, The Lead has also been criticized by some younger viewers as too “old school,” particularly for its slow pacing and stale themes, such as the idea that success is forged through suffering. Nevertheless, the detailed depiction of the opera performers’ artistry and passion captivated audiences, inviting a renewed appreciation of the enduring charm of Qinqiang opera.
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