BBC：延禧攻略问鼎谷歌全球第一热搜剧

BBC日前报道电视剧《延禧攻略》（Yanxi Palace）成为2018年全世界被谷歌最多的电视剧。

爱奇艺上，《延禧攻略》的播放量已超过150亿次。今年7月，该剧在爱奇艺首播，随后才进入中国国内电视频道和70多个海外市场。它蝉联今年夏天中国观看人数最多的网络剧39天。

The protagonist of "Yanxi Palace", Wei Yingluo. [Photo: Weibo]

The Chinese costume drama "Yanxi Palace" was the most Googled television show in 2018, reports BBC News.

The show quickly became a hit in China, and became a topic of heated discussion online. It didn't take long before the show's popularity spread to the overseas Chinese community and beyond across Asia. It has been streamed more than 15 billion times on iQiyi, China's leading video website.

The 70-episode series about Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong's harem tells tales of the power struggles among the imperial concubines such as Wei Yingluo, the main protagonist, who struggles to overcome enormous difficulties in her battle to rise to the top of the harem.

BBC News's introduction of the show on Twitter. [Screenshot:China Plus]

According to the BBC News report, there are a few reasons why "Yanxi Palace" became such a hit. Like the popular shows "Legend of Zhenhuan" in 2012 and "Empress Wu Mei Niang" in 2014, "Yanxi Palace" focuses on the role of women near the center of power in imperial China, which captivate the attention of Chinese audiences. Unlike many traditional Chinese female characters, Wei's toughness, independence, and determination make her stand out.

Details of a historically accurate costume used in the show. [Photo: Weibo]

Another reason for the show's is that the director has taken the bold move of casting new actors. This lowered the cost of the actor's pay, and allowed the production to spend more on sets, costumes, and makeup.

A still of an episode of "Yanxi Palace". [Photo: Weibo]

Another factor in the show's success was the decision to make it available online before it was broadcast on television. iQiyi, which also co-produced the series, helped build the audience for the show early on. It was the most watched series online in China for 39 consecutive days.

Source | CRI Online