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| “A Better Life” gains momentum even as critics stay lukewarm (Sohu/Weibo) |
Chinese actress Sun Li is back on the small screen, and while critics are scratching their heads, audiences are hooked. Her new drama A Better Life may not be winning everyone’s heart for its realism or industry accuracy – but it’s pulling in numbers that can’t be ignored.
The show, which dropped on April 17 on CCTV-8 and Youku (and joined by Dragon TV and Beijing TV on April 26), has quickly surged to the second spot on the viewing charts, just behind Worry-Free Ferry Crossing.
And now that Worry-Free has wrapped, A Better Life looks set to steal the crown.
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| Sun Li’s new drama isn’t perfect, but viewers are loving it |
Starring Sun Li and Dong Zijian, A Better Life dives into the not-so-glam world of insurance sales.
It follows 39-year-old Hu Manli (played by Sun Li), a hard-hitting veteran in the industry whose life goes into a tailspin – job crisis, marriage breakdown, and a career nosedive sparked by none other than a rookie colleague, Xue Xiaozhou. But this isn’t a straight-up workplace drama.
It’s got heart, grit, and a lot of emotional mess.
Let’s be real – the Douban rating sits at a lukewarm 6.1.
Some in the insurance industry have voiced their frustration, claiming the show glosses over the real professional nitty-gritty and leans more into melodrama and family chaos. So yeah, not exactly your textbook workplace series.
But audiences? They’re watching.
In its first week, it only grabbed 1.7% of market share.
Fast forward to last week – it's skyrocketed to 6.5%, trailing just behind the (now-finished) juggernaut Worry-Free Ferry Crossing. That’s what they call not critically loved, but totally watchable.
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What’s keeping viewers glued? Probably Sun Li’s raw and unvarnished portrayal of Hu Manli.
From being the queen bee of insurance to getting slapped down by life in every direction – the role is rich, layered, and oh-so-relatable.
One moment she’s slaying in a power suit, the next she’s staring at her divorce papers alone in bed – her first moment of stillness in the whole show.
In a recent chat with V Magazine’s Chinese edition, Sun Li debunked the idea of ‘instant immersion’ into a role.
“There’s no such thing as getting into character in one second,” she said.
“What you see on screen is the result of loads of prep, from beginning to end.”
And prep clearly pays off.
One scene in particular – Hu Manli pulling her love rival into a pool in a moment of unhinged clarity – was both outrageous and painful.
Sun Li confessed she hadn’t expected the water to be so grimy. “It was like diving into a lotus swamp,” she joked.
“Nearly couldn’t carry on filming.”
Her emotional scenes hit especially hard.
Whether it’s the stress of managing a home, looking after a child and elderly parent, or fighting for dignity in a ruthless industry – Hu Manli feels real.
One viewer described her as “an octopus” – always multitasking, always struggling, always surviving.
And while insurance insiders may feel called out, some netizens argue the show only scratches the surface.
“Reality’s way messier than this,” one comment read.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
So sure, A Better Life may not be the most accurate depiction of the insurance world.
But it’s a story about burnout, betrayal, self-worth, and second chances.
And for many viewers – that hits just close enough to home.
Want a drama that’s messy, relatable, and low-key addictive? A Better Life might just be your next binge.