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| The Lead Ending Explained and Review: A Beautiful but Bittersweet Farewell to Yi Qin E's Long Journey. (Credits: Tencent Video) |
After 48 episodes of ambition, heartbreak, artistic devotion and personal sacrifice, The Lead (主角) has finally reached its conclusion on Tencent Video. Directed by Li Shao Fei, the drama follows the extraordinary life of Yi Qin E, a Qinqiang Opera performer whose rise to fame comes with a price few people around her can fully understand. The final episode delivers romance, forgiveness and emotional closure, yet it also leaves viewers with lingering questions about the cost of success and whether true happiness can ever fully belong to someone who dedicates their life to the stage.
From its opening episodes, The Lead never pretended to be a simple success story. This was always a drama about people carrying emotional scars while chasing dreams larger than themselves. The finale stays true to that spirit, offering a satisfying ending while refusing to wrap every wound neatly with a bow.
The final chapter begins with tensions reaching boiling point between Zhou Yuzhi and Chu Jia He. Unable to tolerate another accusation, Zhou Yuzhi reveals a humiliating secret regarding the role of Yang Paifeng, exposing that the opportunity was never truly earned but effectively handed over.
Rather than creating gratitude, the revelation becomes another emotional grenade. Chu Jia He sees it as a devastating insult, while Zhou Yuzhi cruelly points out that Chu Jia He lacks the ruthlessness needed to survive in their competitive world.
Just as Chu Jia He prepares to expose Zhou Yuzhi's actions, fate intervenes. The troupe leader announces that Fox Spirit Tribulation has been selected for the Shanghai Theatre Festival, but there is a catch.
The production must complete five performances, directly conflicting with rehearsals for another major opera. The message is clear: Chu Jia He must step aside for the greater good.
Already frustrated and feeling overlooked, Chu Jia He soon finds herself caught in another explosive confrontation when Liu Hong Bing storms into the troupe and accuses her of spreading rumours about Yi Qin E.
The argument spirals into chaos in front of everyone. Unfortunately, emotions get the better of Chu Jia He. In a moment she instantly regrets, she publicly exposes painful details from Yi Qin E's past involving Master Liao.
It is one of the most painful scenes of the finale.
For Yi Qin E, years of buried pain suddenly become public discussion. She retreats in tears while the people around her begin looking at her differently. Some distance themselves. Others whisper behind her back. The stage that once felt like home suddenly feels hostile.
The irony is not lost on Chu Jia He either. Beneath her anger lies genuine frustration. She cannot understand why mistakes made by men often leave women carrying the emotional burden. It becomes one of the drama's strongest social observations and one that resonates throughout the finale.
As gossip spreads, Hua Cai Xiang emerges as one of Yi Qin E's fiercest defenders. Witnessing fellow performers discussing rumours, she explodes in anger and condemns their hypocrisy.
Her speech becomes one of the episode's standout moments, reminding everyone that years spent performing opera have apparently taught some people very little about dignity and compassion.
Meanwhile, Mi Lan quietly works behind the scenes to protect Yi Qin E. Recognising her emotional exhaustion, she helps arrange alternative performances away from the toxic environment. For the first time in a long while, Yi Qin E finds a chance to breathe.
Another major twist arrives when the troupe leadership launches an investigation into the rumour campaign. Panic spreads quickly. Zhou Yuzhi fears losing everything. Her livelihood, her future and her family's financial stability all hang in the balance.
Then comes one of the finale's most surprising moments. Instead of exposing Zhou Yuzhi, Chu Jia He accepts responsibility herself.
Claiming jealousy clouded her judgement, she takes the blame and accepts expulsion from the troupe. It is an unexpected act of self-sacrifice from a character who spent much of the series battling resentment and ambition. In many ways, it becomes her redemption arc.
The drama then shifts towards emotional healing. Yi Qin E returns to performing and gradually regains her confidence. Her uncle Hu San Yuan stands beside her as drummer, reinforcing the family bond that carried her through countless struggles.
At the same time, change arrives for several key characters. Mi Lan leaves Chang'an behind after writing a farewell letter. Hua Cai Xiang prepares for a new chapter as a teacher at the Children's Palace. Before leaving, she carefully cleans her beloved food cart, creating one of the drama's quietest but most touching farewell scenes.
Then comes the moment viewers had been waiting for.
Liu Hong Bing decides he is done waiting.
Determined to marry Yi Qin E, he asks his parents for the household registration documents. When questioned about his intentions, he makes his feelings crystal clear. His dramatic actions eventually land him in hospital, forcing Yi Qin E to confront her true feelings.
Watching him lying injured finally breaks down her emotional walls.
Years of hesitation disappear.
Years of guilt disappear.
Years of fear disappear.
For perhaps the first time in the entire series, Yi Qin E chooses her own happiness.
The wedding sequence that follows is deliberately joyful. Her parents arrive in the city and watch their daughter marry surrounded by friends and family. Liu Hong Bing publicly promises to cherish her forever, while the celebrations provide rare lightness after a series built on emotional hardship.
Even after marriage, however, Yi Qin E remains committed to her art. When asked about future plans, she makes it clear that motherhood is not her immediate priority. Her focus remains on opera and continuing her artistic journey while she is still at the peak of her career.
Elsewhere, Chu Jia He becomes a major celebrity, while Feng Xiao Xiao eagerly follows her into the entertainment industry. Their storyline suggests that ambition never truly disappears; it simply finds a new stage.
The final scenes belong to Mi Lan and Hua Cai Xiang. Although imprisoned, Mi Lan remains surprisingly optimistic. Preparing for a prison performance and serving as lead singer, she demonstrates that identity and purpose cannot be completely taken away, no matter the circumstances.
It is a quietly hopeful ending that perfectly matches the drama's overall themes.
The ending of The Lead is not simply about Yi Qin E getting married.
It is about her finally reclaiming ownership of her own life.
Throughout the series, Yi Qin E is constantly defined by others. She is the talented performer, the rising star, the object of jealousy, the subject of rumours and the symbol of artistic excellence. Everyone projects something onto her.
Very few people ask what she actually wants.
The finale changes that.
By accepting Liu Hong Bing's love, returning to the stage on her own terms and refusing to abandon her career, Yi Qin E finally makes choices for herself rather than living according to expectations.
The marriage is symbolic rather than merely romantic.
It represents emotional freedom.
Meanwhile, Chu Jia He's ending demonstrates another important theme. Success without inner peace can become its own prison. Although she achieves stardom, her journey remains shaped by sacrifices and regrets. The drama never labels anyone entirely good or bad. Instead, it presents flawed people trying to survive in a competitive world.
Mi Lan's final scenes reinforce the message further. Even when physically confined, she remains spiritually resilient. Her optimism becomes a reminder that dignity comes from within rather than external status.
Ultimately, The Lead argues that greatness often comes with loneliness, but genuine human connection can make that burden easier to carry.
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| Tencent Video |
Yi Qin E ends the series as both a celebrated opera performer and a woman finally at peace with herself. She chooses love without abandoning her ambitions.
Liu Hong Bing gets his happy ending after years of persistence. His devotion is finally rewarded with marriage to the woman he loves.
Chu Jia He sacrifices her place in the troupe but eventually finds success elsewhere. Her ending is bittersweet, mixing victory with reflection.
Hua Cai Xiang transitions into teaching and continues sharing her passion with the next generation.
Mi Lan remains imprisoned but retains her spirit and sense of purpose, ending the series with unexpected optimism.
Hu San Yuan continues serving as one of Yi Qin E's most reliable supporters, proving that family remains the strongest foundation of all.
The Lead (主角) ends with Yi Qin E overcoming years of hardship, marrying Liu Hong Bing and continuing her opera career. Chu Jia He redeems herself through sacrifice, Hua Cai Xiang begins a new chapter as a teacher, and Mi Lan finds hope despite her circumstances. The ending delivers emotional closure while staying faithful to the drama's themes of ambition, loneliness and resilience.
As a drama, The Lead is less interested in easy victories than emotional truth. It occasionally moves at a deliberate pace, but its patient storytelling allows characters to evolve naturally over 48 episodes.
Liu Haocun delivers a layered performance as Yi Qin E, capturing both vulnerability and determination. The series also succeeds because it treats opera not merely as a backdrop but as a living reflection of its characters' lives.
Like many great stage productions, the drama understands that applause eventually fades. What remains are the choices people make after the curtain falls.
Does Yi Qin E end up with Liu Hong Bing?
Yes. After years of emotional struggles and hesitation, Yi Qin E finally accepts Liu Hong Bing's love and marries him in the finale.
Is The Lead ending happy or sad?
The ending is largely happy but carries bittersweet undertones. Most major characters find closure, though some continue facing challenges and consequences.
Why did Chu Jia He take the blame?
Her decision serves as redemption. After contributing to the conflict, she accepts responsibility and protects others from harsher consequences.
What happens to Mi Lan?
Mi Lan remains imprisoned but maintains a positive outlook and continues participating in artistic activities, showing remarkable resilience.
Will there be Season 2 of The Lead?
The Lead Season 2 has not been officially confirmed. There have been rumours suggesting a continuation, but fans should take them cautiously. Current reports indicate the creative team envisioned a meaningful long-term conclusion, though not necessarily an immediate ending.
If a second season happens, it would likely explore Yi Qin E's life after marriage, her continued artistic legacy, the next stage of her career and unresolved developments involving supporting characters. At the moment, however, the finale functions as a complete ending on its own.
The final episode of The Lead leaves viewers with plenty to think about long after the credits roll. Was Chu Jia He's redemption enough? Did Yi Qin E truly find the happiness she spent decades searching for? And if Tencent eventually decides to revisit this world, which character's story deserves the spotlight next?