October 2025’s Three Big Male Lead Period C-drama Showdown Between Dark River, Sword and Beloved, and Whispers of Fate Sees Similar Reception
So normally when there is a showdown of two or even three big name dramas there is a clear (or clear-ish) winner but this time it seems it’s going to be who did just a liiiiiiitle bit better. Last month in the end of October 2025 saw the release of three big male lead led period C-dramas – first came Blood River with Gong Jun, then Sword and Beloved with Cheng Yi, and slotting in right before month end was Whispers of Fate with Luo Yun Xi. After going head-to-head for one week, C-ent industry insiders are saying all three dramas are getting similar levels of mid-reception, none are hits but also none are getting savaged. Stacked against each other, Sword and Beloved is doing the comparative best thanks to there being an actual front facing OTP love line that is easier for audiences to invest in, plus this being the last installment of a series with a long running narrative across three dramas that will conclude here. Second spot goes to Blood River for being the most solemn and serious with a very honor, loyalty, valor themed narrative. Whispers of Fate could see a step up later as the story really gets rolling since it’s only aired a few episodes so far.
Wait. I thought wof was doing best since it got 13k heat index on mango. Then blood river on youku which reached 10k after 7 days and then sword and beloved which has 9k index om iqiyi
The heat index is not standard across the platforms — you can’t compare across platforms. Each platform has it’s own scale, and each platform ‘controls’ their own heat index. IIRC, 10K is the top for both iQiyi and Youku. Tencent tops at 30K.
Luo Yunxi flopped so hard, the splatters are all over. Thar is the absolute worst one, easily.
Actually between the other two, it’s pretty tied. Both won’t even hit 20 mil average on yunhe so at least for Cheng Yi this is yet another flop while Gong Jun’s is a flat broadcast.
All three are bad and the Ding Yuxi one that came later isn’t any better.
I think the winner in all this is Chang Huasen 😂
Lmao came here to say the same. He’s also currently filming a drama with Dilraba. A true winner indeed!
lol I looked the name up and he is in all three dramas. That is so wild. He is winning for sure.
LOL! Was looking for this comment! Second winner is Liu Yuning, who has songs in all 3 dramas PLUS 2 other drama OST song s- all in the month of October.
The three dramas have been sort of mid for me (with Sword and Beloved surprisingly better than my low expectations), but still enjoyable enough while I wait for the next cdrama to excite me. Not sure if I will finish them, but they’re not bad watches.
The investors who put their money into that 3-installments drama must be crying now. All of them tanked
I am not very excited in any 3 dramas… will check out reviews after dramas ends and decide which or any I will invest my time to watch.
All three dramas are equally bad. I’m looking forward to the next batch of dramas, Dilraba’s Love on the Turquoise Land is coming up soon.
I saw the clips and they do nothing for me… thus my interest is very tepid.
At least this time no one attack Cheng yi acting and professionalism. Lou yunxi should just quit acting in costume drama,he can’t change his physical appearance.
Cheng Yi still can’t act, break out of the bubble and you will see the exact same complaints as last time.
All of these are so bad. Whispers of Fate is told in such a convoluted way I’ve completely lost the plot.
Sword and beloved is easier to follow but kinda generic. I would’ve liked it better with a different male lead.
Boring River is unwatchable.
blood river is more into male oriented drama. with the kind of drama, No wonder this drama written by man LOL. So the writer tend to interested more into power martial arts and political battle than infused into narrative depth especially in the beginning. This drama lean more into man taste. I don’t think I love it. But I enjoy it enough without invested in character