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costume dramas have long been the audience's favorites, and there is no shortage of such classic works in domestic film and television dramas.

whether it is the mythological drama of slaying demons and exorcising monsters,journey to the west”, or the solemn and magnificent historical drama "yongzheng dynasty, or the palace fighting drama of intrigue and deception "the legend of zhen huan".

they have all triggered varying degrees of viewing frenzy at different times.

although the quality of costume dramas in recent years is far from comparable to these classics, there are still some costume dramas that audiences love to watch every once in a while.

this time, we will use ratings, popularity and reputation.plus my personal opinionfor the purpose of judging, i have selected what i consider to be the "10 best costume dramas in the past five years" and ranked them by the way.

next, let’s start from the tenth place:

10th place: "cang lan jue"

i guess many netizens would have doubts about the fact that "cang lan jue" was included in this list.

one reason is that the theme of "ancient idol drama" has been "ruined". the routines of most ancient idol dramas are all the same, and the audience can guess the direction of the plot even with their eyes closed.

the second reason is,yu shuxinthe character design is really unsatisfactory.

especially her distinctive "clip-shaped voice" and her extremely "coquettish" personality, which can easily make people feel disgusted.

because of these two reasons, many viewers who have not watched this drama will probably have a preconceived idea that this must be a tacky ancient idol drama.

but after watching this series, i sincerely feel that it is still worth watching.

in order to make my recommendation more convincing, i specifically found three reasons.

the first reason is that the ratings are higher thanthe journey of flower"high.

thinking back then,zhao liyingit was thanks to "the journey of flower" that her fan base increased by 30 million, and she became a top young actress.

not only did she win the golden eagle award for best actress and was nominated for the magnolia award, she also topped the popularity charts, bringing her years of supporting roles to an end.

although the popularity of "cang lan jue" cannot be compared with it, its score of 8.2 is far higher than the former's score of 7.4.

compared with the "top-tier" works of the same genre, it is slightly better, which shows that it must have its value.

the second reason is that the plot setting is very novel.

this drama, with a humorous setting of a male and female protagonist exchanging bodies, triggers a series of plots and discusses two very obscure love problems.

first, is the imaginary love more beautiful, or is the lover in reality more precious?

the second is, when lovers get along with each other, should they respect each other or control each other?

the answers to these two questions seem simple, but when it comes to every relationship, the rationality of many people will be gradually consumed.

however, this drama is able to use the seemingly "brainless" ancient idol drama format to convey some love truths to the audience in an approachable way, which is very valuable.

the third reason is that yu shuxin showed extraordinary personal charm in this drama.

regardless of everyone's preconceived impression of her, just looking at her performance in this drama, i think the degree to which she fits the role and her ability to shape the character are both remarkable.

if the popularity of "the journey of flower" is due to zhao liying's lovely looks, then the appeal of "little lanhua" comes from both yu shuxin's cute appearance and her lovely personality.

in other words, zhao liying played the role of hua qiangu well, while yu shuxin showed her true colors as xiao lanhua.

in comparison, the immersive feeling that the latter brings to the audience is still amazing.

no. 9: love and destiny

this drama is very similar to "cang lan jue", with the same subject matter, similar plot, and even the origin of the title, which is based on the names of the male and female protagonists.

so, when i first selected this list, i thought about discarding one of the two, but after thinking it over, i still decided to keep both of them.

there are also three reasons for doing this.

the first reason is that the audience's acceptance of ancient idol dramas is actually much higher than other costume dramas.compared to most ancient costume dramas that are very popular but of poor quality, these two dramas can be regarded as conscientious works.

so, i would like to recommend them to audiences who like ancient puppet dramas.

the second reason is that the similarities between the two are only superficial.

even though the two heroines had ties with the hero in their previous lives, and after reincarnation, they changed their identities and developed emotional connections with the hero, the reasons why this was the case were very different.

if you can see different stories in similar settings, it actually has a kind of philosophical meaning of "different paths leading to the same destination", which is worth careful consideration.

the third reason is that the charm of the two protagonists is so strong.

different from "the legend of cang lan", where the idol stars' performances far exceeded expectations and were surprising, the performances of zhang zhen and ni ni in "love and destiny" are so surprising that the word "surprise" cannot be used to describe them at all.

especially zhang zhen, despite being over 40 years old, he still managed to interpret a heartless and loveless war god so handsomely and movingly even though his costumes and styling were not outstanding.

i have to say that the acting skills of powerful actors should not be underestimated.

ni ni is also unwilling to lag behind. the lingxi played by her shows a different temperament in each life, and her personal aura is also very strong.

therefore, after watching the whole drama, it is hard not to be conquered by the charm of the two protagonists.

seventh place:dream record》

liu yifei once said in an interview that she had absorbed nutrients from many of the roles she had played.

among the many characters she mentioned, one of them is the heroine of "dream of red mansions" - zhao pan'er.

she also expressed very sincerely her love for zhao pan'er in the special issue of "dream of red mansions".

she said that the character of pan'er is a very flesh-and-blood, soulful, and layered character, and in the process of shaping this character, she herself also gained a lot of thinking and nourishment.

liu yifei's understanding of zhao pan'er is exactly why i included "dream of red mansions" in this list.

moreover, in my eyes, not only zhao pan'er played by liu yifei has feminine charm, but sun sanniang played by liu yan and song yinzhang played by lin yun also have unique feminine temperament.

it is actually very rare to be able to see three women with very different personalities achieve the growth they need in a costume drama.

what’s even more rare is that the environment faced by the three female protagonists is far more demanding than the requirements of modern society for women.

but after being lost to varying degrees, they all still firmly found their true selves and eventually became themselves.

if women in ancient times were so brave, modern women should not back down.

therefore, i really hope that this costume drama with a feminine touch can be seen by more female audiences and can bring strength to more women.

seventh place:a inch of lovesickness in a young travel》

this drama is so addictive that you will want to watch the next episode after watching one, because every episode and every plot will firmly grasp the audience's attention.

anyway, i clearly remember that the first time i got into this drama, i watched more than ten episodes in a row, from day to night, until i was dizzy.

you can imagine how exciting its plot is.

one of the things that attracts me most about this drama is that it gives almost every main character his or her own life story.

even in the first few episodes, if you don’t watch the opening and ending credits, many viewers probably don’t know who the male and female protagonists of the show are, but they will still be attracted by the plot.

it was probably around the seventh episode that i suddenly realized that the doctor who looked weak and helpless was actually the powerful male protagonist in the drama.

at first, i thought he was an employee of someone else, but later i found out that he had organized the event himself and pretended to find an employer who arranged a group of colleagues for him.

moreover, the heroine actually "dressed up as a man" and played the role of an unknown thief for several episodes. she was very serious about making herself look ugly, and even her voice and body shape became very burly.

i guess many viewers are like me, who can vaguely feel that she is a woman dressed as a man, but can't feel that she is the heroine at all.

this kind of setting that deceives the audience as well is actually quite rare in costume dramas where the "protagonist halo" is too obvious, so it looks fresh and exciting.

in addition, as the plot progresses, the life stories of many characters will surface.

this setting not only ensures the story of the series, but also makes the existence of supporting characters more meaningful, unlike many series that only treat supporting characters as tools.

especially the villains, each of them has a distinct personality and high iq, and they don't fool the audience at all.

audiences who like "immersive" drama watching will most likely not be disappointed after watching this drama.

6.imperial coroner》

since it was broadcast in 2021, i have recommended this "small but exquisite" costume detective suspense drama countless times.

on the one hand, it looks very "silky", with almost no entry threshold, and you will be attracted by the plot as soon as you open it.

unlike many similar tv dramas, which constantly lay out complex backgrounds, this completely tests people's patience and iq.

on the other hand, it has a very modern core.

although it is a costume drama, the ideas it conveys are very modern.

the story of the heroine working hard, overcoming all difficulties, and finally becoming a coroner as she wished is actually a story about a woman's independence and progress.

the male protagonist comes from a wealthy family and holds a high position of power, but he still respects the female protagonist's behavior from the bottom of his heart, which also makes people admire him from the bottom of their hearts.

what's more, they are a perfect match, and they never cause themselves trouble when they are in love. they are simply a model couple.

this kind of ancient costume detective drama, in which the characters can pursue their careers, date, and investigate cases without any taboos, might not be possible to film even if you spend a lot of money, but this "poor" crew has accomplished it so brilliantly.

therefore, it must be included in this list as a sign of encouragement!

fifth place: "journey to the west"

as a loyal fan of "tang gui", i watched all the first and second seasons without missing a single episode.

to be honest, i personally prefer the first season because it brought me more freshness and i was more fascinated by it.

although the second season continues the essence of the first season and has a slightly higher rating, i always feel that it is a bit of a "replacing old stuff".

audiences who have watched both series may agree with this point. in fact, many of the routines in the second season have been used in the first season.

so, when the second season just started, i could roughly guess the truth when many cases had just begun to be investigated.

so, why should "tang gui 2" be included in this list?

the reason is very simple, because i am reluctant to say goodbye to "tang gui 2" before it even ends.

moreover, until now, i have not found another costume drama currently airing that can compare with it.

this shows that there are indeed very few good costume dramas nowadays.

"tang gui 2" not only broke the curse that sequels must be "bad", but also took the lead in this year's drama rankings, which is really rare.

you have to know that the team that created this drama is a team that has filmed many "eye-catching dramas". even the leading actor of this drama, yang zhigang, has been questioned and ridiculed by many netizens.

but they still stepped out of their "comfort zone", "turned the tide", and created two excellent works in a row.

so, when i judge tang gui 2, i think not only of the show, but also of the people behind it, its place in the industry, and its connection to its predecessor.

i hope everyone can also pay attention to this drama and its predecessor, because these two sincere works are full of respect for the audience.

fourth place:under the bustling city》

"under the prosperous city" is the third costume detective suspense drama to appear on this list, and it is also the highest ranked one.

compared to the approachable "the imperial coroner" and the exquisite luxury of "tang gui 2", the most touching thing about "under the prosperous city" is the metaphors that appear throughout the whole text and the ubiquitous speculation in the plot.

in other words, this drama has a threshold, and the threshold is not low.

if you just treat it as a "sentimental drama" or a "drinking drama" and watch it half-heartedly, you may not understand it. but as long as you are patient and watch it carefully, it will definitely bring you a different viewing experience.

it uses a series of murders that occurred during the ming dynasty to deeply analyze human nature.

the audience can feel the fun of suspense and reasoning as well as the unfathomable inner world of the characters in the thrilling plot.

what is even more moving is that these seemingly long-ago stories of the ancients are still inspiring to people and events today.

i was deeply impressed by how the detective qu sangeng, who was pure-hearted at the beginning, became "corrupt" in the process of pursuing right and wrong.

after that, how to extricate yourself from it and realize higher-level ideals and ambitions.

how did his master and mother help him understand this world where right and wrong are difficult to distinguish from each other from a secular perspective?

this kind of character setting and plot arrangement is different from most stereotyped, routine, or black-and-white costume dramas.

moreover, it also uses many images, such as the names of various insects, birds and beasts, to reveal the cruel truth that the world under the prosperous city is like a ghost.

in short, the more i watch this drama, the more i feel that there are many practical meanings behind it that are worth exploring and reflecting on.

if you feel that you are a "late bloomer" and often fail to understand the people and things around you, perhaps this drama can be a window for you to peek into the outside world.

third place:heaven moves vigorously》

so far this year, my favorite costume drama besides "tang gui 2" is this drama which is misleading by its name.

maybe many people are like me. when they first hear the name, they think it is a historical drama with a heavy didactic tone.

it is undeniable that its name is indeed too inspirational, but it must be pointed out that its plot is not at all obscure.

on the contrary, it is more watchable than most costume dramas.

first of all, its plot is smooth, and both the fighting scenes and the literary scenes are very outstanding.

the series begins with a "treasure hunt" in which various forces compete with each other in wits and courage. there are both wonderful fighting scenes and witty and humorous verbal exchanges.

so i was really excited and happy watching the drama.

secondly, i personally did learn something from this drama, butit is not about forced preaching or indoctrination, but about "seeping" from the shallow to the deep, from the outside to the inside.

take the changes in clothing styles and daily tools during that period, for example. the series does not explain them in a rigid manner, but strives to realistically restore the daily situations of the time and make a contemporary atmosphere.

so after watching this drama, i had a concrete understanding of the "sense of the times" at that time.

another point is that it uses a very interesting story.it conveys the theme of "self-improvement".

while allowing the audience to feel the weight of history, they can also feel how specific historical figures struggled and made choices in the tide of the times.

so, when i watched this drama, it was like watching the "awakening era of the late qing dynasty and early republic of china". what i saw was not just a group of passionate young people with flying ideals, but also a shocking piece of history.

second place: ancient love song

"ancient love song" is a "dark horse drama" that came out last year, and it topped many lists.

after watching this series, i also think that its plot setting, costumes and props are all very outstanding.

it adds a new twist to the already "unbearably clichéd" time-travel drama.

shen buyan, a best-selling historical author, encountered the "demon queen" lu yuan through time travel. after gaining a new understanding of her, he developed a two-way love affair with her for a thousand years.

but their story happened on a contradictory timeline, so that he didn't know when she was deeply in love, and she didn't know when he was deeply in love.

this setting of the male and female protagonists meeting "in reverse" on the timeline will make the emotional relationship of the protagonists very special and will also give people a bright feeling.

moreover, in order to highlight the "contradictory" emotional trajectories of the two people, the crew also spent a lot of effort on their costumes.

during the six time travels, the male protagonist's clothes change from light to dark, while the female protagonist's clothes change from dark to light, suggesting that the increasingly mature and stable male protagonist meets the increasingly immature and ignorant female protagonist.

when they met for the third time, the colors of the male and female protagonists' clothes were the most similar, and that was also when their mental ages were closest.

in addition, "ancient love song" is also a drama full of ancient charm.

many elements from the book of songs are used in the drama. for example, the verses sung by lu yuan are actually from xiaoya cai wei, which reads "when i went away in the past, the willows were swaying; now i come back, it is raining and snowing."

for example, the scene where the hero first travels through time and meets the heroine on a rainy night actually corresponds to the description in "wind and rain" in "zheng feng", "the wind and rain are dark, and the cocks are crowing; i have seen a gentleman, how can i not be happy."

even the locations in the play use many ancient allusions to allude to the deep love but shallow fate of the two protagonists.

for example, mirror flower tower and water moon pavilion are taken from mirror flower and water moon, nanmeng lake comes from nan ke yi meng, and liuli valley and caiyun suburbs are taken from the fact that colorful clouds are easy to disperse and glazed glass is fragile.

if we only look at these aspects, "ancient love song" can indeed take the lead among a number of costume dramas, but from my personal opinion, this drama is still hampered by its tight budget.

whether it is the choice of actors or the construction of the scenes, they are far from being comparable to the well-budgeted costume dramas. this also leads to a lack of immersion when watching the drama and frequent distractions.

so, even though i like it, i put it in second place.

first place: "do you know? it should be green, fat, red and thin"》

many netizens may not have expected that the first place on this list would be "knowing".

because the story of zhao liying and feng shaofeng falling in love, getting married, having a child, and then getting divorced always gives people a feeling that it is a very old story.

but the fact is, it has only been more than 5 years since "knowing your destiny" became popular.

the two people in the play had a happy ending, but outside the play, they felt a sense of ups and downs.

at first, i was also struggling over whether to put this film on this list, but after much consideration, i still added it and ranked it first.

because whether it is from the ratings, popularity, reputation or my personal opinion, there is no dispute that this drama won the championship.

in the following years, there has not been any drama that can be compared with it, which is why, even today, there are still audiences who rewatch this drama with relish.

the valuable thing about this drama is that it gives people a feeling of being fresh every time they watch it. if you watch it again with a different mindset, you will have completely different feelings.

for example, when i first watched this drama, i always felt sorry for minglan missing qi heng, and i was also indignant because she became a stepmother.

but as i grow older, i can feel the beauty in regret.

moreover, as my life experience becomes richer, i can also feel more ways of dealing with the world contained in "knowing".

the most obvious thing is that i always felt that minglan was a very "frustrated" heroine. from childhood to adulthood, she was either bullied by this person or that person.

but now, i can fully understand her way of survival of "hiding cleverness".

there are also the many teachings that old lady sheng gave to minglan. i used to always feel disgusted, but now, i am willing to "listen to advice."

because there are very few dramas that tell everyone the "truth" so sincerely.

i won’t give examples one by one here. if you have watched it before and happen to like the drama, then i strongly recommend that you watch it again.

i believe that in the process of re-watching, you will definitely have a new understanding of yourself and the drama.

the above 10 dramas are, in my opinion, the 10 best costume dramas in the past five years.

if you have a favorite costume drama, please leave a message in the comment area and let’s discuss it together! (written by wu erfu)