Why can't our TV series be popular abroad?

Two TV dramas, Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace and the latest online series Story of Yanxi Palace, tell different stories about the court life of the same group of women. Ironically, however, the controversy the two dramas have created has led to their success. In particular, Story of Yanxi Palace indicates the progress of China's entertainment industry has made.

Using industrialization as a subdued theme to cater to the audience's taste, the drama is set during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It has drawn praise both for its storyline and the tough personality of a protagonist, who is the best behaved woman in the palace but does not bat an eyelid before getting back at anyone who hurts her, and climbs up from the lowest-level maid to become a high-powered princess.

Targeted at young urban women with increasing consumption power, Story of Yanxi Palace has become a big hit with those female white-collar workers who face severe competition at the workplace.