Wallace Huo Tops the List! Top 10 Chinese Drama Male Leads Who Fell from Grace, Including Song Weilong and Liu Yuning: Emotional Abuse Drives Lover to Death, Idol Illusion Shattered

Male leads in Chinese dramas often gain rapid popularity through devoted, powerful, or gentle personas. However, as storylines progress, some characters lose audience admiration due to deception, betrayal, control, or indecisiveness, shattering the 'idol illusion' viewers once held.

This article compiles the 'Top 10 Fallen Idol Chinese Drama Male Leads' based on Weibo and Douban short reviews and public discussions, evaluating character transformation, audience disappointment, and controversy longevity. 'Falling from grace' here does not reflect poor acting, but rather a shift from an initially idealized character to one whose later choices leave viewers disillusioned.

10th Place: Wu Lei in 'Starred in Love'

Wu Lei plays Ling Buyi, a young general in 'Starred in Love'. Publicly, he is a trusted, accomplished official under Emperor Wen. In reality, he is Hu Wushang, the last survivor of a slaughtered family. Burdened by vengeance, he meets Cheng Shaochang and becomes her strongest protector. Whenever she is bullied, he appears to defend her, earning praise as an ideal ancient-costume hero.

However, Ling Buyi hides his true identity and revenge plan even before marriage, unilaterally deciding their future. This shatters the trust-based relationship. Viewers criticized, 'He kept everything from her,' and some said he 'started to break down' after pursuing revenge. Though he deeply loves Cheng Shaochang, he repeatedly excludes her from the truth under the guise of protection. His dominance and unilateral decisions behind the devotion become key reasons for his fall from grace.

9th Place: Liu Yuning in 'One Life'

Liu Yuning plays Ning Yuanzhou, deputy head of the Wuguo Liudao Hall, skilled in martial arts and leadership. Tired of court politics, he plans to retire but takes on a mission to escort an envoy to Anguo to clear his wronged brother's name. Calm and rational, he respects Ren Ruyi's choices—early on, he embodies all the qualities of a mature male lead.

Unfortunately, in the second half, the plot sacrifices logic for tragedy. Ning Yuanzhou shifts from a strategic leader to a tragic figure repeatedly forced into sacrifice. Netizens criticized, 'The script ruined the character,' and 'Everyone got dumber—tragedy for tragedy’s sake.' Rather than evolving organically, Ning Yuanzhou seems pushed off the pedestal by the writers. The intelligence and composure built early on are ultimately wasted by a rushed ending.

8th Place: Deng Wei in 'Lost You Forever Season 2'

Deng Wei plays Tu Shan Jing, the young master of Qingqiu. After being tortured by his brother and left for dead in Qing Shui Town, he is saved by Xiao Yao and stays by her side as Ye Shiqi. Ye Shiqi is gentle and considerate, willing to abandon his noble status for a simple life with her, rarely controlling or commanding her—making him a safe, comforting lead for many viewers.

After reclaiming his identity as Tu Shan Jing, he becomes entangled in family duties, grandmother’s pressure, and an arranged marriage. He fails to decisively handle threats from Fang Feng Yijing and Tu Shan Hou, leaving Xiao Yao waiting and disappointed repeatedly. Viewers called him 'too weak and overly forgiving,' even 'a self-sacrificing saint.' Fans loved Ye Shiqi for staying; they were disappointed in Tu Shan Jing for being bound by family at every critical moment. His charm faded with each delay.

7th Place: Wang Kai in 'Serenade of Peaceful Joy'

Wang Kai plays Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen. As emperor, he values free speech, balances court factions, and maintains national stability. Wang Kai portrays Zhao Zhen’s benevolence, restraint, and imperial dignity with depth, making viewers believe early on he is a compassionate ruler who sacrifices personal feelings for the realm.

Yet in personal relationships, Zhao Zhen’s indecisiveness harms everyone around him. He cannot face Empress Cao directly, allows Zhang Bihan to act arrogantly, and arranges a painful marriage for Hui Rou to compensate his birth family. Viewers joked, 'Please stop taking solo walks, Your Majesty,' mocking how he always meets new women. Others bluntly stated, 'Princess Hui Rou’s tragic love story was caused entirely by Emperor Renzong.' He may be a benevolent ruler praised by history, but he hardly qualifies as a decent husband or father.

6th Place: Yang Yang in 'My Merry Life'

Yang Yang plays Song Yan, a fire station captain. He falls in love with Xu Qin in school, but they separate due to family opposition. Years later, they reunite as a firefighter and ER doctor. Song Yan is portrayed as proud, brave, and responsible—a professional hero who rushes into danger. Their decade-long romance carries a fated, romantic aura.

After airing, Song Yan’s speech, gestures, and attitude toward love sparked widespread backlash. A highly-liked comment asked, 'How can Yang Yang make a firefighter look so artificial and oily?' The powerful professional image was seen by some as deliberately showy. His attitude toward Xu Qin was criticized as preachy and emotionally controlling. When the supporting character Meng Yanchen gained more popularity than the lead, Song Yan’s idol aura nearly vanished.

5th Place: Song Weilong in 'Go Ahead'

Song Weilong plays Lin Xiao, who, after his sister’s accidental death and parents’ divorce, is blamed by his mother and becomes emotionally repressed. Adopted by Li Hai Chao’s family, he grows up with Li Jian Jian and He Zi Qiu, becoming the quiet, protective older brother. Early Lin Xiao is quiet yet gentle, one of the most heartbreaking characters in the series.

As an adult, his relationship with Li Jian Jian suddenly turns romantic. His possessiveness, jealousy, and psychological trauma erupt, turning natural familial affection into something oppressive. Some viewers said, 'I feel sick seeing Lin Xiao now.' Many negative reviews criticized the abrupt romance, arguing that a healing family story was turned into a love triangle, making the once-gentle brother a pursuer viewers want to escape.

4th Place: Lin Gengxin in 'The Story of Rose'

Lin Gengxin plays Fang Xiewen, a senior to Huang Yimei in graduate school. Compared to the radiant Huang, Fang is ordinary and reserved, but wins her heart through practical care—cooking, supporting her life. Pre-marriage, he seems like a stable partner who can build a life with Rose, leading to marriage and a child.

After marriage, Fang Xiewen is consumed by insecurity and jealousy, interfering in his wife’s work, friendships, and clothing, trying to trap her in domestic life. Viewers called their marriage 'suffocating!' and warned, 'Fang Xiewen, not even Lin Gengxin can save you now.' He transforms from a gentle senior to a controlling husband—so drastically different before and after marriage that Lin Gengxin became a collective target of audience backlash.

3rd Place: Li Zefeng in 'Nothing But Thirty'

Li Zefeng plays Xu Huan Shan, husband to Gu Jia and a fireworks designer and company owner. Gu Jia quits her job to support his dream, manages the household, handles business operations, relationships, and client crises. Early Xu Huan Shan seems romantic, talented, and family-oriented—his family is seen as a model of happiness.

Xu Huan Shan gradually gives in to Lin Youyou’s flattery and affection, cheats on his wife, ignores Gu Jia’s warnings, and secretly produces dangerous blue fireworks, causing an accident that lands him in prison. Viewers nicknamed him 'Xu Fangpao' and said he committed an 'unforgivable' moral betrayal. After the drama aired, he was attacked online, and Li Zefeng joked, 'I’ll insult myself first,' showing how completely Xu Huan Shan fell from ideal husband to national 'toxic man'.

2nd Place: Chen Xingxu in 'East Palace'

Chen Xingxu plays Li Chengyan, the fifth prince of Feng Dynasty, who approaches Princess Xiao Feng of Xizhou as 'Gu Xiao Wu'. As her savior and lover, he gains her trust. He catches fireflies for her, dances the Wangchuan with her—she believes she’s found someone to spend her life with. But this love is politically motivated from the start. Li Chengyan uses Xiao Feng to locate the Dan Chi royal tent and personally destroys her family.

After losing his memory, he falls for Xiao Feng again, yet still hurts her through power, deception, and possession. Viewers said, 'This is the most toxic male lead I’ve ever seen.' Others believe he may love Xiao Feng, but 'he wants too much'—unwilling to give up the throne or her—ultimately watching her escape East Palace through death.

1st Place: Wallace Huo in 'Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace'

Wallace Huo plays Hongli, later Emperor Qianlong. As Prince Bao, he grows up with Qingying. Even when her family falls from grace, he insists on marrying her. They believe they can support each other in the deep palace, and Ruyi sees their youthful bond as her lifelong anchor. But after Hongli ascends the throne, he is gradually corrupted by imperial power, suspicion, and desire. Their once-equal love becomes a ruler’s demand and judgment over a consort.

Qianlong demands loyalty and endurance from Ruyi but repeatedly favors new concubines. After suspecting Ruyi of a secret affair with Ling Yuncheng, he emotionally abuses her, ultimately leading to her death. Viewers lamented, 'A pure youthful love consumed by power,' and declared, 'He didn’t love Ruyi—he loved his own control.' The most idealized husband became the cruelest betrayer.