Zhao Liying’s new drama The dream maker has been the subject of controversy due to its steadily declining performance. Since its premiere on January 10, the series has struggled to gain momentum. Ratings continued to decline, viewership growth was slow, and its popularity rating on the streaming platform increased only marginally after several days on air.
Before its release, The dream maker was widely expected. The project brought together two big stars, Zhao Liying and Huang Xiaoming, and was directed by Sun Hao, the acclaimed director behind the hit historical drama. Joy of life. Expectations were high, but the results fell well short of forecasts, taking both spectators and industry professionals by surprise.
The drama’s disappointing performance drew inevitable comparisons to Yang Mi’s recent success. In 2025, Yang Mi starred in This flourishing landaired on CCTV8 and quickly became a smash hit. The series has recorded explosive ratings since its first episodes, reaching a peak share of over 4.3%, one of the highest peaks for CCTV8 in recent years. Her audience has grown rapidly and steadily, marking a strong comeback for Yang Mi after facing criticism in 2024 for appearing in numerous underperforming projects.
While Yang Mi seems to be regaining her golden era, Zhao Liying has been struggling with consecutive challenges in What a wonderful world AND The dream maker. Even if only six episodes of The dream maker have aired so far, the drama has failed to resonate with the audience. Viewers criticized the story of grassroots officials developing urban infrastructure dry and devoid of dramatic tension. Storytelling is seen as with few highlights, conflicts are resolved too easilyand Zhao Liying’s screen time is significantly limited compared to the male protagonist Huang Xiaoming.
This is not the first time that Zhao Liying has been at a disadvantage compared to Yang Mi. Previously, both actresses had appeared as supporting characters It has no name. Yang Mi’s role was considered more fully developed and memorable, while Zhao Liying’s character had limited impact in the first part of the film, with more significance reserved for the sequel. As a result, Yang Mi received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while Zhao Liying left the Macau International Film Festival empty-handed.
According to Sina, Zhao Liying and Yang Mi have been rivals for many years, both at the top levels of Chinese entertainment with numerous hit drama series and pan-Asian recognition. However, as Yang Mi regains critical and commercial momentum, Zhao Liying appears to be losing momentum despite winning major awards such as the Flying Apsaras Awards and the Golden Eagle Awards, two of China’s most prestigious television awards.
Industry observers note that Zhao Liying’s current difficulties may stem from script selection. What a wonderful world was considered conceptually ambitious but difficult for general audiences to engage withWhile The dream maker has been criticized for idealized characters and lack of narrative intensity.
Reflecting the harsh public sentiment, one Chinese netizen commented: “A dramatic failure is one thing, but losing to Yang Mi again makes it ten times more embarrassing.”
Sources: K14
