A scene led by actor Zhang Ruoyun in Joy of Life 2, the most-watched Chinese mainland drama on Disney+. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wang Qiao, senior president of New Classics Media, a Beijing-based production company with rich experience in overseas markets, highlights that costume dramas predominantly captivate audiences in Asia, such as Japan and South Korea, due to cultural affinity, along with a significant following among overseas Chinese communities in the United States.

With the flourishing development of the Chinese television industry, some domestic stars have already gained a fan base overseas. Chinese production companies can now promote their shows in international markets in advance, all of which create better conditions for Chinese dramas to go global, he adds.

The Legend of Shen Li, a fantasy depicting the love story of two celestial beings, was promoted a year prior to its late-March debut in Southeast Asia. This marked the second collaboration between actress Zhao Liying and actor Lin Gengxin, who portray lovers with a tumultuous fate in this captivating narrative. Their on-screen chemistry, previously showcased in the widely acclaimed Princess Agents, has swiftly garnered the attention of foreign fans as exemplified by Wang.

As one of the latest costume dramas to make a splash in the global market, Joy of Life 2 — a tale filled with twists blending alternative history and sci-fi elements — has set a record by becoming the most-watched Chinese mainland drama on Disney's streaming platform Disney+.

Following the success of Joy of Life's first season, which was released in 27 countries and regions, the second season — revealing the further adventures of the protagonist with a mysterious background — has gained popularity in various markets, including North America and Europe, according to Wang.

In addition, science fiction is also emerging as a new frontier for domestic dramas to go global.

In February, the Chinese sci-fi series Three-Body, adapted from Liu Cixin's Hugo Award-winning novel The Three-Body Problem, released all 30 episodes at once on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service. The show made its debut domestically last January, over one year ahead of Netflix's 3 Body Problem.

This move is seen as a positive signal, encouraging Chinese creators of science fiction, a genre that has gained momentum in the country with recent successful works like The Wandering Earth franchise, to produce more quality and innovative series to captivate global viewers, says Chen Liuqi, deputy secretary general of the Science Popularization Education Committee of the China Science Writers Association.

She comments that the streaming of Three-Body on a major North American streaming platform offers an opportunity for Western audiences to delve into modern China and its sci-fi narratives, deeply rooted in the nation's unique cultures and values.

"Chinese science fiction, with its captivating fusion of rich history, profound cultural insights and speculative philosophical traditions, encapsulates a distinctive societal and ethical perspective," says Chen.

"Moreover, rooted in Chinese traditional values that emphasize harmony between science, technology and nature, Chinese sci-fi stories have shaped their distinctive characteristics to differ from their Western counterparts," she adds.

Despite challenges such as cultural differences and the need to expand to more overseas distribution networks, a promising landscape is unfolding in the realm of Chinese television, suggesting a future where C-dramas secure a substantial share of the global TV market, a view shared by the insiders contacted by China Daily.

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