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Allegations of Data Manipulation Surges as Coroner’s Diary Hit 10,100 Heat Index in IQiyi and Tops Buzz Set By Critically Acclaimed Hit Drama A Lifelong Journey

A Koala's Playground Posted on by

Don’t mess with C-netizens and their respect and appreciation for well made serious dramas. This week summer surprise hit Coroner’s Diary with Li Lan Di and Ao Rui Peng broke 10,000 and then hit 10,100 heat index in its platform iQiyi, the third iQiyi drama to do so this year after Feud and Drifting Away. It’s also apparently topped the heat buzz of 2022 super acclaimed and popular serious modern period life in early Communist China drama A Lifelong Journey (人世间), and with this news the groundswell of accusations that iQiyi is watering the data for Coroner’s Diary have come up to the forefront rather than just bubbling below the surface. Lifelong Journey currently sits at a whopping 8.4 on Douban and probably not well known with I-viewers but was a big drama that year in 2022. Fans of Coroner’s Diary are saying iQiyi itself changed how to calculate its own heat index in the recent year or two so that is why it’s easier now to break 10,000 but CD doing so does not prove data manipulation, just that the calculation formula has changed for all recent iQiyi dramas.

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Allegations of Data Manipulation Surges as Coroner’s Diary Hit 10,100 Heat Index in IQiyi and Tops Buzz Set By Critically Acclaimed Hit Drama A Lifelong Journey — 47 Comments

  1. Douban rating has just been released. For supposedly hits drama with 50k+ yunhe views daily, 30k raters are too low. It looks like this drama has so many ‘silent passer-by’ lol

  2. This heat index thing is such a joke. While I’m enjoying Coroner’s Diary, it’s nowhere near a masterpiece. Story is ok, but there’s still lots of plot holes. The acting, while generally ok, is not considered impressive, like some other more natural actors/actresses out there. It’s an enjoyable idol drama but not a very impactful or memorable one.

  3. iQiyi has no choice but to lower their standards because full-length dramas are just slowly losing their audience to Honggyuo short dramas. Coroner’s Diary and Feud just don’t have the same buzz compared to hit dramas of previous years.

  4. Why would iqiyi want to manipulate data for this drama anyway? Do either of them have strong resources? I actually quite like Li Landi. Ao Ruipeng, however, I don’t quite get. He’s an average actor (not terrible), but he comes off as a poor man’s Dylan Wang. He doesn’t have the charisma to lead imho. I liked him as support like in Blood of Youth. Meanwhile, stars with more screen presence and better acting are getting trash scripts for lead roles or not getting lead roles at all.

    • I’m guessing maybe because the drama aired right smack dab in the middle of summer and they feel like calling a summer blockbuster so off they go to create one out of thin air since it’s a platform heat index and actually under their control? 😂

    • Dylan Wang isnt the strongest actor either. If anything Ao Ruipeng is way better in acting. Dylan just have better visual. If AR would put on some weight. He would probably look better and visually be more believable in playing strong characters.

      • You’re right, ARP is definitely the better actor but for (costume) idol dramas, acting ability is hardly a make it or break it criteria considering how many traffic stars with no ability still get lead roles. Dylan is serviceable enough in certain characters, and has shown potential like LBFAD (Although I do also strongly credit the voice actor for making that role believable for him). ARP’s heavy make up in CD also isn’t selling strong general vibes. He has a baby sidekick face to me.

      • Preach.

        I don’t get the love for Dylan Wang’s acting. He’s a great person and has plenty of charisma but he isn’t the strongest actor out there and cannot be used as a measuring stick to judge other actor’s performances. I would say Ao Ruipeng, as much as I see his flaws, is a stronger actor than DW. He just needs to develop more onscreen presence and charisma. I say this because he often looks much younger than the character he plays. I had to look up his age while watching Coroner’s Diary, because he looks years younger than his FL, Li Landi, when in reality he’s 4 years older than she is. He’s only believable in very juvenile roles like The Blood of Youth.

    • From what I have heard this drama is made by iqiyi and Ao Rui Peng is signed under them. They want to make him happen. So they (iqiyi) are trying and create their summer “dark horse”

      • That could very well be one of the reasons too. I have seen his name floating around as one of princes of 🍑.

  5. It’s better than feud in many aspects. Many people around me are watching it and loving it. It’s not the best drama, but if Feud could get it, why cant Coroner’s?

    • There are lots of allegations that Feud watered their data too… so yea both dramas, while quite average, have high heat indices.

    • I didnt officially start Coroner but I think it will be better than Feud even if it does bad with numbers. I was so disappointed with feud I cant even couldnt…

    • Feud had better discussions and viral scenes which attributed to the success. While Coroner’s don’t have any. Feud ‘s OST sung by Bai Lu is pretty popular. In every aspects of data, Feud had it better whether it’s baidu index or dou index. So better leave Feud out of this mess

  6. In general, C-ent data and heat indices are jokes. The numbers can all be manipulated by any platform/drama. A good or bad drama isn’t certified or invalidated by data. And it’s gotten to a point where it’s so meaningless as fans just like to use data as bragging rights. I don’t believe or care for any of that. Just watch a drama if it’s good and don’t if it’s not. Many talking points to judge a drama – story, acting, execution, and everything in between. Worth of mouth is enough, no need for fake numbers.

  7. It’s not about if a drama being objectively good or not. There is no such thing called “objectivity” in performing art. We basically all watch dramas per our own personal preference subjectively. We watch what we like and ditch those which we don’t enjoy. Simple as it! Much ado about nothing to argue or fight about hot indices or unreliable Douban ratings, or even words of mouth. If fans enjoy a drama, that’s their personal taste, and they are entitled to rave about it. If people have different taste otherwise, they are also free to criticize the drama. I just don’t see the point to use unreliable data (which are prevalent in Chinese business practice across the board anyhow) to dismiss others who appreciate different art from you.

    I personally enjoy Coroner’s diary although I’m not crazy about it as if it’s a masterpiece that has replay value. I’m also personally indifferent to A Lifelong Journey that had more or less agitprop for CCP propaganda just like ALL the period dramas set in that era. My fav wasn’t in this state agitprop ALJ. Therefore, ALJ is absolutely irrelevant to me regardless of how others rate about it. I watch dramas to get entertained and wind down from busy life, not to get on social media to brag about personal preference or pose as a showbiz gossip queen LOL. It’s a plus if someone else shares the same taste and has the same preference as mine. Not a big deal if nobody does.

    • Although we have personal preferences, there are parameters to represent what artistic values are and the good use of them in a production. For example, I would not call a script that has plot holes or contradictions good. Or interesting character to one who is completely predictable. Lol.

      I find the narrative of personal preferences useful when I can keep in mind that there is a margin of quality first — I saw a lot of comments saying that TLOZH had an inconsistent plot, and when I asked why, no one gave me an answer that pointed out the so-called flaws. But I did get to name the strengths of the drama.

      • But many viewers said LoZH had plot holes and many viewers also said it didn’t, so… that parameter seems subject to personal opinion as well.

        Everyone can have an opinion but not everyone can explain their opinion well. Maybe those who are unable to explain their opinion couldn’t articulate why they felt LoZH has an inconsistent plot when you had asked them. If you’re looking for someone to be able to back up their opinion on that, here’s a review from a literary critic writing for The Los Angeles Post. It’s only his opinion but at least he supported it.

        https://lapost.us/?p=73218

      • @1+1

        I don’t understand what your comment means. That the margin of quality is not a personal preference?

      • @Zang Hai

        Interesting read. I didn’t enjoy LoZH as much as some of the fans here and the author of that review pointed out some of the same flaws I also noticed and didn’t like in the drama.

      • @Amelie, if the quality margin were a personal preference, what are you basing you on to consider that there are flaws in Legend of Zang Hai? Defects according to what? Emotions? Logic? Comparison with another drama? That’s the question no one answers, that’s what I meant.

        I apologize if you didn’t understand my comment, but I’m not a native English speaker.

    • @1+1, good points! Personally, I’m biased in favor of my own fav, XZ. There are reasons why he’s my fav although I wouldn’t crown his dramas to be Oscar worthy or hype his acting to be on par with Robert De Niro. lol. But I enjoy watching him tremendously. Therefore, his presence has a lot of entertainment value to me. That being said, it’s totally fine if people don’t appreciate him as an actor as long as they don’t initiate malicious attacks or rumors that are unfounded.

      What I want to stress is that, people shouldn’t forget the purpose for us to watch dramas or films, to get entertained at the end!!!! Regardless of ratings or reviews, if we’re not entertained by the acting or the stories delivered, then what’s the point to even argue about production values and quality standards? It’s even more ridiculous to use biased survey or marketing data to brag or dismiss a drama, which is ignorantly abused by a lot of commenters visiting this site. It’s meaningless. What’s the point to nag a dragon fruit fan that market survey shows that the fruit is tasteless, and people don’t even know it exists? lol.

      I think it’s constructive to share personal opinion about dramas including casting, scripts, directing, and production etc, be it positive or critiquing. The most futile talks are fighting about ratings (Douban the most comical one, Yunhe, Maoyen the sort, and even CVB) or reviews, whether viewership data are watered (as many C netizens always insinuate) etc. Those kinds of comments are pretty vacuous.

      • If I wasn’t entertained by a drama, I don’t mind discussions where its values and quality standards are mentioned as long as it’s not done with the purpose of claiming superiority. I find it enriching to know perspectives different from mine or aspects considered critical, because that’s how I gave Princess Pearl a second chance and today it’s one of my favorite C-dramas.

        On MyDramaList no one had a problem letting me know that personal preferences are a determining factor when it comes to enjoying a drama. I agree. However when I wanted to know what flaws they found in Legend of Zang Hai, they replied by telling me that I’m dumb if I cant’t see them or that I have awful tastes for appreciating the entertainment the drama gave me. LOL. I thought, “If they talk about subjectivity, shouldn’t they respect how I feel? Or does it only apply to convenience?”

        I’m still curious because I don’t get any coherent answer. I like it when folks are able to sustain their opinion – if there is a cause, there is also a consequence.

        I agree with your comments regarding Douban and its relatives.

      • @1+1, I can’t disagree with you though.

        As to LoZH, XZ’s dramas always got a lot of hate or belittled for many reasons that aren’t worth your attention cuz those mockers are drugged, and I just don’t bother to waste time feeding you the rubbish. LOL. I personally think LoZH’s production quality beats the Untamed, but TU’s story is more inspiring with depth. Nowadays, TU is still my favorite C drama. And XZ surely is my fav.

        I’ve had enough history with his antis and basically am done with those keyboard nugus. LOL. I don’t want to waste time arguing with antis regarding whether LoZH is a good or hit drama. I’m pretty sure LoZH definitely got a lot of attention during it’s first run. I’ll explain a bit. A Chinese drama streaming sites such as Youku or any plagiarized streaming site usually has a user platform for viewers to upload their comments while watching the drama at the same time. It’s called bullet screen (彈幕). It’s a bizarre chat room since users’ comments popped up right on top of the screen displaying the drama you’re watching. If you turn on that bullet screen, then the chat room is basically running simultaneously and visually in tandem with the drama screen. Therefore, you would be watching the drama and viewers’ comments at the same time without staring away from the same screen. LoZH’s bullet screen literally exploded to the extent that there were so many viewers’ comments to almost completely block the drama screen. Not only fans, antis also watched the drama, and as expected they fussed a lot and bickered with fans until the last ep of LoZH. LMAO. If you don’t turn off the chat room (bullet screen), then there’s no way to see anything in the drama. LOL. That’s how hot the drama is. LOL. It’s phenomenal.

        I honestly have never seen any other C dramas with the same level of attention. If LoZH isn’t considered a hit, then what others? There’s no way to validate any heat indices and ratings, if they were watered or not. As a certified actuary in the US myself, I’d love to see any statistics to validate any ratings or heat indices etc. Unfortunately anything coming out of China is just not transparent. But at least based upon the bullet screen on any streaming site, one would be dishonest to deny the phenomenal popularity of LoZH that other dramas can’t beat.

  8. There is pretty solid news on why iQiyi is doing this. It is not related to actors so no one think I am going after them.

    This is an internal iqiyi thing. They are inflating the data, no doubt but the real question is if anyone is going to report them because this is actually illegal in China. Tencent was called in for this a few years ago, let’s see if iqiyi is.

    • What will happen if they are reported? Like they have to pay a fine? The heat indices of all three online platforms are highly suspicious to me. Also the number of reservations made before a drama airs too.

    • What a random comment. This article isn’t about LoZH. Legend of Zhang Hai cannot be the best C-drama ever because it doesn’t exist. It’s Legend of Zang Hai. So much for loving it. You didn’t even get the title right. 😂

  10. I’ve seen another meh story this year get crazy ratings for a weak story, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s happening here too. I think the companies and the fans are all trying to delude themselves into feeling better. Lol

    • Your comment is 💯 and I agree. The companies market and hype to make money. The fans rejoice in bragging rights. The actors ride on the wave as if they’re real big shots. And they all think only the audience is dumb and blind and enjoying the whole circus show. 😂

      • @Over

        I wanted to avoid you since you’ve been stalking me ever since we had a disagreement but here you are again with a different username yourself. Please stop stalking me!

    • Your comment is 💯 and I agree. The companies market and hype to make money. The fans rejoice in bragging rights. The actors ride on the wave as if they’re real big shots. And they all think only the audience is dumb and blind and enjoying the whole circus show.

      Checked out two dramas this year because of all the rage. LoZH was no masterpiece and zero rewatch value. Feud was even worse. Better than Goblin? Never trust Yu Zheng. Lol.

  11. Why I can’t read comments..
    Sometimes it shows, but most of the time it doesn’t. I need to see other opinions..

    • This site has been a little weird lately with all the hiccups. It’s hard to see the latest articles and comments. I post but not even sure that my comment will make it.

  12. The story is ok so far) and the production looks good, however the acting by both leads leaves much to be desired. Except for smiling or crying Li Landi has exactly one facial expression which has me wondering whether she had too much medical beauty or her acting is actually this bad. Ao Ruip3ng’s performance is slightly more varied, but his stick-thin figure (why are people complaining only about Luo Yunxi?) combined with his Joker-like weird grin are very distracting. Fortunately, the supporting cast provides some acting quality.
    Overall, nothing to write home about, so any “sensational buzz” is most likely due to some sort of data manipulation, be it by the platform or fandoms buying subscriptions.

    • I can’t take you seriously calling Landy Li’s performance bad when in other comments you have fiercely defended wooden actors like Yang Chao Yue and Song Wei Long. I also remember you saying that Kim Namgil is an average actor while you were praising Song Kang. There are opinions and then there are people who take drugs before writing lmao.

  13. The comments section is getting crazy. People used to fight and that was bad enough but now there are people using multiple names, using other people’s names, stalking behavior and such.

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