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| 'Feud' Fires Up iQIYI Charts Despite Getting Roasted Online — Bai Lu x Joseph Zeng Drama Divides Viewers |
The new xianxia drama Feud starring Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng Shunxi might’ve got a rough welcome online — but you’d never guess it from the numbers. Despite trending for all the wrong reasons (yep, “ugly” made the hot search), Feud has shot up the iQIYI Heat Index since its premiere, breaking 9,000 points in under 24 hours and setting 2025’s fastest climb on the platform so far.
So what’s the fuss all about?
Well, let’s start with the visuals. Netizens have been proper savage about the styling — from the “awkwardly designed” costumes to that now-infamous scene being called “Guanyin hugging Nezha” (you can’t unsee it once it’s said).
While Joseph Zeng’s visuals are still doing their thing, some viewers reckon he just doesn’t sell the whole “overbearing lord” vibe. Meanwhile, Bai Lu isn’t dubbing herself this time — and a fair few fans say they can tell, with the voice work feeling a bit off.
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Then there’s the so-called lack of chemistry between the leads, with online chatter asking whether Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng even look like they’re in the same drama, never mind a twisted romance involving marriage, divorce... and remarriage. Three times over, no less.
But for all the backlash, there's something undeniably watchable going on. Feud opened with a light, almost cheeky tone — a naive girl head over heels, a cold noble with mysterious baggage — but viewers are already clocking that this might just be a smokescreen.
Whispers are flying about bigger twists to come, and fans are curious to see how this disaster couple’s story actually unfolds. Is she really that naïve? Or is there more brewing behind those big lovestruck eyes?
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Yu Zheng’s Got Something to Say (Obviously)
It wouldn’t be a Yu Zheng drama without a bit of off-screen drama, too. The producer has been all over social media defending Feud, claiming the hate is cooked up by jealous rivals and even suggesting hot search trends were being manipulated before the first episode even aired. Bold accusations, as always.
Yu Zheng urged fans not to get pulled into the negativity, saying the Heat Index alone proves Feud’s popularity. And to hammer the point home, he made some wild predictions: 8,000 points by night one, 10,000 by day two.
When that felt a bit too ambitious (especially during Gaokao season, China’s major college entrance exams), fans clapped back — and he quietly updated the post, giving Feud a three-day target instead. Even so, it cracked 9,000 by the 24-hour mark. Not too shabby.
Even actress Huang Yi chimed in with some support, posting: “How is it bad? I think it’s pretty good.” Maybe not the most in-depth review, but in a storm of online chaos, a little thumbs-up goes a long way.
So, Where’s This All Going?
With summer break just around the corner and Bai Lu’s fanbase in full swing, Feud might be polarising, but it’s definitely not fading away quietly. It’s the kind of show people love to hate — or hate to love — and that’s often a recipe for viral success. The plot’s just warming up, the online buzz is still boiling over, and all eyes are on whether it can cross the golden 10,000 Heat Index mark before the weekend’s out.
Whether you’re here for the drama or just watching it for the memes, Feud is proving one thing: bad reviews don’t always mean bad ratings.