So I read this really helpful explanation of what constitutes an explosive hit C-drama (爆剧 Bao Ju) and what dramas made it that big in the past decade or so. The five dramas that are genuine mega mega mega hits that earned the moniker of Bao Ju were (in no particular order): Joy of Life, The Legend of Zhen Huan, The Untamed, The Knockout, and Nirvana in Fire. The common denominator to a Bao Ju is the leads across the board are elevated at least one level if not more in popularity and commanding higher salaries because of it, the drama not just gets high viewership during its run but has a very long tail of people still watching even years later, little to no marketing spent on it vis-a-vis its return on buzz and name recognition, and finally all the veteran actors all benefitted as well from the largesse of the hit. So for Joy of Life, Zhang Ruo Yun vaulted to becoming the very top of male actors in the male lead period novel adaptation genre, the drama still gets strong viewing on platforms, and all the veterans in the drama were rewarded greatly by how successful the drama was for their own careers. Below are specifics on the other dramas.