TV series 'The Rebel' resonates with young people

By Zhang Rui
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, August 1, 2021
Adjust font size:

Experts agreed at the "The Rebel" seminar held in Beijing on July 27 that the smash hit Chinese TV series has touched the hearts of young generation while innovating ways to tell revolutionary stories.

A poster of the Chinese TV series "The Rebel". [Photo courtesy of CCTV]

The 43-episode TV series, based on Bi Yu's novella "Rebel" and starring Zhu Yilong and Tong Yao, tells the story of how Chinese revolutionaries fought in the 1930s. While working as a Kuomintang operative, the protagonist Lin Nansheng eventually grows to admire the courage and the beliefs held by the Chinese Communists.

Later as a double agent, he strives to fight against the Japanese regime to achieve national justice and peace. After the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Lin became a true Communist, and continue to make outstanding contributions to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the country at a critical time of the War of Liberation.

Zhou You, the screenwriter and director of the TV series, said at the seminar that the main creative team tried to create the story as close to history as possible.

"In the era of war and chaos, millions of Chinese people, represented by Lin Nansheng, were touched and inspired by the Chinese Communists to constantly seek and finally embark on the right path to save the country, enabling our country to become beautiful and powerful today. With such enlightenment, inspiration and guidance from history, we created this TV series in the most realistic style possible."

Shen Jijun, an executive from China Media Group, shared CSM Media Research's statistics at the seminar showing "The Rebel" was the highest rating show for 20 days in prime time in June on China Central Television (CCTV) and also enjoyed phenomenal online streaming and discussions. On Weibo microblog platform alone there were more than 20 billion views for relevant posts published by users on topics about the TV series.

"It has a brilliant artistic vision. It builds an immersive TV experience for the audience with a high degree of historical realities and dramatic creation, so that it has achieved high ratings, high popularity, high critical claim, and great social influence and feedback," Shen said.

Xu Xiao, deputy head of Zhejiang Provincial Radio and Television Administration, believed the TV series had achieved a comprehensive upgrade of the theme of espionage warfare, and made a breakthrough in this genre resonating with the patriotism of the young audience.

Wang Qiao, vice president of New Classics Media, pointed out that "The Rebel" focused on characters with an omniscient perspective, which was rare, with calm and restrained expression, which once again enhanced the aesthetics of spy war TV drama genre, winning the hearts and recognition of audiences of all ages.

Zhang Ruodan, an executive for streaming giant iQiyi's film and television program planning center, added that the innovative part of "The Rebel" was not to show "confrontations" but to show "how a man makes choices."

"It impressed the audience with the beliefs and ideals of nobodies in the great epoch, and deeply presents the soul and spiritual core of the story," she said.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter