Zhang Linghe's 'This Second on Fire' and Meng Ziyi's 'Hundred Flowers Kill' Lose Out! Top 10 Highest-Rated Chinese Dramas, Champion Drama Sets New Benchmark for Story and Acting

The summer 2024 Chinese drama season has officially kicked off, with Douban ratings rolling in. According to Sohu News, July's dramas showed a polarized performance. Well-received titles include Song Weilong's 'Wild Dog Bone,' Yu Shuxin's 'As Brilliant as Stars,' and Hou Minghao's 'Sparrow Bone,' all maintaining stable ratings between 6.7 and 6.9. In contrast, the highly anticipated Republican-era tragic romance 'This Second on Fire' scored only 5.1, landing at the bottom. The ultimate champion was the low-hype suspense dark horse 'The Suspicious Case,' which surprised everyone with a 7.5 rating. Below is a detailed analysis of July's most popular Chinese dramas and their ratings.

TOP 10: 'This Second on Fire' | Zhang Linghe, Wang Churan (5.1) Adapted from Fei Wo Si Cun's novel, 'This Second on Fire' was highly anticipated before launch. It tells the story of warlord's youngest son, Murong Qingye, reuniting with his former lover, Ren Susu, who is now his fiancée's sister-in-law—a forced, tragic romance. However, the drama abandoned the long-format storytelling advantage, rushing the pace and lacking emotional buildup. The production quality leaned toward short-form content, failing to create the expected poetic atmosphere, resulting in a dismal 5.1 rating.

TOP 9: 'Thousand Fragrances' | Song Weilong, Ju Jingyi (5.8) 'Thousand Fragrances' centers on academy cultivation, identity mysteries, and the growth of the protagonists, Lei Xiuyuan and Jiang Lifei, as they uncover their origins within a sect. The plot relies heavily on traditional xianxia tropes, lacking freshness, but its light and easygoing style makes it a decent 'eating drama'—perfect for casual viewing.

TOP 8: 'Hundred Flowers Kill' | Meng Ziyi, He Yu (6.1) Adapted from a reincarnation novel, 'Hundred Flowers Kill' follows the frail Crown Prince Xiao Huayong and Princess Shen Xihe as they team up against court intrigues after a political marriage. The drama changed 'reincarnation' to a 'one body, two souls' setup. While it lacks the satisfying momentum and couple chemistry of similar titles like 'Word of Honor' or 'Nine Layers Purple,' its solid production quality makes it a drama that improves with each episode.

TOP 7: 'Sparrow Bone' | Hou Minghao, Ai Mi (6.7) Amid a wave of poorly received historical dramas in July, 'Sparrow Bone' retained viewers with its smooth pacing and strong couple chemistry. It follows Jing'an Mansion's heir, Xiao Wuyi, and concubine Xie Jiayu, who fall in love while solving mysteries about their origins and court conspiracies. A standout historical drama worth watching.

TOP 6: 'Beijing Mystery Detectives' | Ma Sichao, Zhai Zilu (6.8) This short-form dual-lead drama tells the story of a spoiled young noble, Zhao Shaochang, and a Western-educated detective, Yuan Hong, who evolve from rivals to partners in solving smuggling conspiracies. The leads deliver natural performances with great chemistry, and the inclusion of folk legends adds flavor. Though the logic in detective work has flaws, the overall quality exceeds expectations.

TOP 5: 'Xiao Fang' | Wang Yinglu, Xin Yunlai (6.8) 'Xiao Fang' follows a rural youth, Yang Xiaofang, who faces marriage and life decisions after an unplanned pregnancy. It tackles real-world issues like women's reproductive rights and urban-rural divides. While the tone is light, some plot points are criticized as unrealistic, and the drama is accused of romanticizing the struggles of unwed motherhood, leading to polarized reviews.

TOP 4: 'As Brilliant as Stars' | Yu Shuxin, Chen Jingke (6.8) Set in a high school, 'As Brilliant as Stars' follows sports equipment custodian Lin Wanxing and mysterious tenant-football coach Wang Fa as they revive a disbanded football team and heal each other. The drama is light, sweet, and visually refreshing—perfect for summer viewing.

2026's Most Handsome Male Actor in Chinese Drama, No. 10: Chen Jingke in 'As Brilliant as Stars' (Image: Sina Weibo)

TOP 3: 'Wild Dog Bone' | Song Weilong, Zhang Jingyi (6.9) This forbidden romance between non-blood-related siblings follows Chen Yi and Miao Jing, who grow up together after family tragedy, only to have their lives shattered by an accidental arson. The cinematography and emotional atmosphere are highly praised. The narrative feels grounded and realistic, with many fans arguing the rating is unfairly low.

TOP 2: 'Dream Painting Notes' | Dai Luwa, Tang Shi Yi (7.4) This three-episode Republican-era short drama follows bank accountant Jiang Xinyu, framed for a crime, who teams up with orphaned painter Xu Yanzhen to forge masterpieces, save national treasures, and clear her name. Despite tight pacing due to short runtime, Dai Luwa and dancer-turned-actress Tang Shi Yi deliver emotionally rich, nuanced performances. Their on-screen chemistry is the drama's highlight.

TOP 1: 'The Suspicious Case' | Wang Chuanjun, Jiang Qilin (7.5) Based on real cases, 'The Suspicious Case' emerged as July's biggest dark horse. It follows a journalist and detective solving a series of jewelry store heists across decades, and two generations of police using DNA technology to identify murder suspects. While some viewers feel the suspense falls short of the director's previous work 'Border Water Affairs,' its solid script and high production quality helped it stand out among idol dramas, proving high buzz doesn't equal high ratings.

July 2024 Chinese Drama Douban Ratings Ranking

1. 'The Suspicious Case' – Wang Chuanjun, Jiang Qilin – 7.5 – Crime Suspense 2. 'Dream Painting Notes' – Dai Luwa, Tang Shi Yi – 7.4 – Republican Era, Dual Heroines 3. 'Wild Dog Bone' – Song Weilong, Zhang Jingyi – 6.9 – Modern Romance 4. 'As Brilliant as Stars' – Yu Shuxin, Chen Jingke – 6.8 – Youth Sports 5. 'Xiao Fang' – Wang Yinglu, Xin Yunlai – 6.8 – Rural Realism 6. 'Beijing Mystery Detectives' – Ma Sichao, Zhai Zilu – 6.8 – Folk Suspense Short 7. 'Sparrow Bone' – Hou Minghao, Ai Mi – 6.7 – Historical Court 8. 'Hundred Flowers Kill' – Meng Ziyi, He Yu – 6.1 – Historical Reincarnation 9. 'Thousand Fragrances' – Song Weilong, Ju Jingyi – 5.8 – Xianxia Fantasy 10. 'This Second on Fire' – Zhang Linghe, Wang Churan – 5.1 – Republican Romance

Source: Sohu News