 |
| Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei Drive Pursuit of Jade to No.1 in Weekly Drama Rankings. (Credits: Tencent Video) |
Costume drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) has tightened its grip on the 2026 drama race, topping both viewership and character popularity charts in Week 11, according to Yuhne, Datawin, & Kuyun Data Entertainment’s latest release. With standout numbers and consistent daily dominance, the series is fast becoming the benchmark for current small-screen success.
Fronted by Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, the drama pulled in a commanding 750 million weekly views across all platforms, securing a clear No. 1 finish. It also led the on-demand rankings with 718 million views, reinforcing its strong cross-platform pull.
The momentum has been steady rather than spiky—Pursuit of Jade has already logged nine daily No. 1 placements and held above 100 million daily views for five consecutive days, a signal of sustained audience retention rather than short-term hype.
Trailing behind, My Destiny, starring Tan Songyun and Dong Qing, placed second in all-platform weekly views with 334 million. Its on-demand performance was more modest, landing third with 96 million views.
Close on its heels, Wonderful Times, led by Mei Ting and Tian Yu, secured a top-three finish with 331 million weekly views, maintaining a stable per-episode average of around 20 million during its run.
 |
On the on-demand side, Love Story in the 1970s, featuring Chen Feiyu and Sun Qian, continues to show impressive staying power post-finale.
Ranking second with 119 million weekly views, the drama’s peak average of over 40 million per episode highlights a clear long-tail effect—viewers are still catching up, keeping it relevant beyond its broadcast window.
Character popularity rankings tell a similar story of dominance. Zhang Linghe’s Xie Zheng topped the chart with a score of 19,094, while Tian Xiwei’s Fan Changyu followed closely at 18,580.
Both roles have benefited from strong writing and consistent screen presence, with audiences responding to their dynamic as much as the wider narrative.
 |
| iQIYI |
Amid the costume drama wave, urban romance About Love carved out its own space. Liu Yuning’s Xiao Bei broke into the top three with a score of 16,839, standing out as one of the few modern characters to challenge the period-drama stronghold.
Online reactions have been split but engaged. Fans of Pursuit of Jade have praised its casting and pacing, calling the pairing of Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei “effortless” and “unexpectedly sharp,” while others point to its consistent plot progression as a key factor behind its chart run.
More critical voices, however, argue that the dominance of costume dramas is beginning to crowd out variety, with some viewers calling for stronger contemporary storytelling to balance the market.
Meanwhile, supporters of Love Story in the 1970s continue to highlight its emotional depth, suggesting its slower burn is exactly why it holds attention beyond its finale.
Are you backing the current chart-topper, or is another drama quietly doing it better?