Not Just 'The Palace Conspiracy'! Top 10 Most Controversial Chinese Dramas Since Debut, Champion Female Lead is Wu Jin Yan in 'Ink Clouds and Rain'

Since its debut, 'The Palace Conspiracy' has sparked a wave of binge-watching with its revenge thrill and fast pace, but it has also sparked polarized reviews due to its power struggle logic, character settings, and acting methods. In recent years, the Chinese drama market has actually had quite a few similar works. Some people find them too clichéd, dumbing down, and too short, while others find them more addictive the more they watch. This article compiles the most popular short reviews from Weibo and Douban in 2026, comprehensively evaluating the contrast between positive and negative reviews, comment discussion heat, and work topic heat, ranking the 10 Chinese dramas with the most polarized evaluations in recent years since their debut. From 'The Longle Curves' to 'The Folding Screen' to 'The Jade Curtain', all are on the list, with the champion taken by 'Ink Clouds and Rain' starring Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xing Yue.

Ranked 10th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi's 'The Longle Curves' 'The Longle Curves' is a costume drama that combines pre-marital love, court struggles, and suspense cases. Deng En Xi plays the female official Yan Xing of the Ministry of Justice, who is forced to marry Ding Yu Xi's character, the chief of the Internal Guard Bureau, Shen Du, to take responsibility for her third sister's escape from marriage. The two go from mutual vigilance to working together to solve cases and gradually build trust in each other through various crises.

Some viewers think this drama is 'about a seven out of ten,' although 'the first third is not good,' but the later emotions and cases gradually connect, making people feel that 'the ending is acceptable.' Critics, however, bluntly say this is 'a drama that will make you feel bored and stupid as you watch it.' The loopholes in the cases, the judgment of the characters, and the arrangement of the female lead's frequent dangers become the dividing line for viewers to continue watching or not.

Ranked 9th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Liu Xue Yi and Qu Jing Yi's 'The Flower Order' 'The Flower Order' revolves around face-swapping, revenge, and a series of murders. Liu Xue Yi plays Pan Yu, a county magistrate with a complex reputation, while Qu Jing Yi plays Yang Cai Wei, who lives with another face after a face-swap. On her wedding day, Yang Cai Wei is harmed and wakes up to find herself as Shang Guan Zhi. To find out the truth, she has to approach Pan Yu, who is considered the number one suspect.

Supporters call it 'a truly conscientious drama,' feeling that the first few cases have a gloomy atmosphere and dense twists, with the overall performance being 'completely low opening and high closing.' However, another group describes it as 'this rough drama,' criticizing the production and plot, and even criticizing the difference in acting before and after the face-swap as 'indiscriminate acting.' The same character is interpreted by two actors in turn, making the discussion of acting, makeup, and character suitability gradually overshadow the case itself.

Ranked 8th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Liu Yu Ning and Li Yi Tong's 'Book Dream' 'Book Dream' is a costume romance drama with elements of book crossing, comedy, and anti-clichés. Li Yi Tong plays the actress Song Xiao Yu, who accidentally enters the world of the script she auditioned for and becomes the tragic female lead Song Yi Meng. Liu Yu Ning plays the male lead Nan Hang in the script, who was originally supposed to force the female lead to the ending according to the story, but the two rewrite fate in a series of out-of-control plots.

Some people call it 'a very funny costume romance, no problem watching it as a comedy,' and also think that the creative team 'has done the elements they wanted to do to the extreme.' Various repeated deaths, character breakdowns, and modern jokes bring strong comedic effect. Critics, however, describe the product as 'a short drama in a long drama,' and some even exclaim in the later stages 'sometimes the female lead feels a bit dumb.' The crazy pace and exaggerated acting make supporters addicted, but also make another group of viewers feel too noisy and chaotic.

Ranked 7th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Ao Rui Peng and Li Lan Di's 'Morning Snow Records' 'Morning Snow Records' is a detective drama that combines coroner autopsy, family revenge, and costume romance. Li Lan Di plays Qin Wan, who is proficient in medicine and autopsy, and changes her name to investigate her family's wrongful case. Ao Rui Peng plays Yan Chi, the son of the Prince of Rui, and the two, each carrying family secrets, gradually approach the truth while investigating a series of cases.

Viewers who like the romantic line praise 'the CP feeling between the male and female leads is also strong, and it's not bad to watch as a costume romance,' believing that their youthfulness, trust, and working together to solve cases are very attractive. However, viewers expecting rigorous reasoning criticize 'the logic is a complete mess,' and even mock 'the suspense reasoning label is not a fashion item for costume romance.' Watching it as a romance drama or a detective drama often leads to completely different evaluations.

Ranked 6th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Liu Yu Ning and Song Zu Er's 'Folding' 'Folding' is adapted from the novel of the same name by Peng Lai Ke, with the main line of marriage between sworn enemies and love in turbulent times. Song Zu Er plays the intelligent and calm Xiao Qiao, who marries Liu Yu Ning's character, the master of the Wei family, Wei Shao, to protect her family. The two families originally bore a blood debt, and Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao go from mutual probing and mutual use to jointly guarding the people and homeland.

Supporters shout 'I really like the female lead's setting in this drama,' and are also addicted to the 'fated destiny' between Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao, believing that political marriage, pre-marital love, and enemy tug-of-war are very attractive for binge-watching. However, viewers who watch to the later stages complain 'the later part is too verbose,' and even say 'even skipping the last 6 episodes is too verbose.' The tension in the early stages is affirmed, but the pace and sub-character subplots in the later stages consume a lot of patience.

Ranked 5th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Xin Yun Lai and Chen Du Ling's 'When the Swallow Returns' 'When the Swallow Returns' is a costume drama centered on family secrets, mansion struggles, and female revenge. Chen Du Ling plays Zhuang Han Yan, who was abandoned by her family as a child and returns to the Zhuang family in the capital as an adult, investigating the truth of her identity through step-by-step probing. Xin Yun Lai plays Fu Yun Xi, the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who notices Zhuang Han Yan while investigating cases, and the two go from mutual use to jointly exposing family crimes.

Some viewers express after watching the beginning that 'the pace is quite good and attractive,' and are also moved by Zhuang Han Yan's 'struggling upward' in adversity and her mother-daughter relationship. However, critics think it 'has a stronger short drama flavor, is emotional, and weak in logic,' and even describe the story as 'shot in a fragmented way.' High-density twists bring a sense of refreshment, and whether the characters' actions and mansion struggle methods can be self-consistent becomes the main controversy.

Ranked 4th among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Zhang Wan Yi and Ren Min's 'Brocade Peace' 'Brocade Peace' combines mansion struggles, family secrets, and green bamboo companionship plots. Ren Min plays Luo Yi Ning, the direct heir of the Luo family, who moves to a side courtyard to live due to boredom with mansion rules. Zhang Wan Yi plays Luo Shen Yuan, a bastard son who has been neglected by the family for a long time. The two are nominally brother and sister but actually have no blood relationship, and feelings arise between them in the process of mutual support and investigating the grudges of the previous generation.

Positive reviews praise 'various ceremonial details are well controlled,' and some people sigh after seeing the wedding scene 'first time seeing such a complete Chinese wedding.' However, negative reviews describe it as 'a low-configuration version of 'Knowing You,' and believe 'the intelligence of the antagonist is not high,' making the female lead's victory lack a sense of satisfaction. Viewers who prefer gentle companionship and family emotions are more likely to be immersed, while those expecting high-IQ mansion struggles may be disappointed.

Ranked 3rd among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Liu Yu Ning and Zhao Lu Si's 'Jade Curtain' 'Jade Curtain' is a costume drama depicting the business revenge of a lower-class woman. Zhao Lu Si plays Duan Wu, a pearl diver who grew up in the pearl field of Hapu, escaped the pearl field, and joined the Yan merchant team to gradually learn the pearl business. Liu Yu Ning plays Yan Zi Jing, a mysterious merchant who approaches Duan Wu with the purpose of revenge and repeatedly pulls between using and protecting her.

Supporters believe that 'the female group image is more dazzling than jewels and jade,' and are also moved by Duan Wu's tenacity from a pearl slave to a female merchant. Critics bluntly criticize 'the plot is dumb,' then list 'bugs everywhere,' and finally choose to 'resolutely abandon the drama.' Female growth, pearl business war, revenge, and love are promoted simultaneously, bringing rich elements, but also making some plots seem crowded.

Ranked 2nd among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Zhou Yi Ran and Chen Du Ling's 'The Elite' 'The Elite' is a big female lead costume drama centered on rebirth revenge, power seizure, and growth in turbulent times. Chen Du Ling plays Chu Chao, the daughter of a military family, who was massacred in her previous life and decides to rewrite fate after rebirth. Zhou Yi Ran plays Xie Yan Lai, the illegitimate son of the Xie family on the periphery of power, and the two test each other in the court and family struggles and gradually become allies.

Supporters describe it as 'the extreme pace of a short drama' combined with 'the exquisite quality of a long drama.' Massacre, rebirth, revenge, and power seizure are continuously unfolded, which seems quite refreshing. However, critics summarize the court struggle as 'baby's scheming' and even sour the state of the lead actors as 'AI robot acting.' The story's refreshing points come quickly, but the process of power acquisition, character growth, and acting layers often cause controversy.

Ranked 1st among recent Chinese dramas with polarized evaluations since debut: Wang Xing Yue and Wu Jin Yan's 'Ink Clouds and Rain' 'Ink Clouds and Rain' is a costume drama that combines rebirth feeling, identity swapping, and female revenge. Wu Jin Yan plays Xue Fang Fei, the daughter of a county magistrate who was betrayed by her husband and buried alive. After being rescued, she returns to the capital with the identity of Jiang Li, the daughter of the Jiang family, and seeks revenge on those who once hurt her. Wang Xing Yue plays Xiao Hong, the Duke of Su, who is good at planning. On the surface, he treats Xue Fang Fei as a chess piece, but in reality, he helps her break the situation many times.

The most representative positive review directly states: 'It's so down-to-earth! So clichéd! So many clichés! But it's so refreshing that it's hard to resist.' Supporters are attracted by the female lead's revenge without internal struggle. Critics, however, think it 'has nothing noteworthy except being refreshing and fast-paced.' This drama concentrates the most addictive features of revenge costume romance, but also concentrates the controversies of dumb antagonists, exaggerated camera work, and weak logic, so it ranks first on the list.