LayarHijau – The period drama Born to Be Alive (生命树), starring Yang Zi and Hu Ge, premiered on January 30 and immediately recorded high ratings from the start. The drama ranked first on the Maoyan platform both on its premiere day and the following day, Monday, February 2, demonstrating significant audience enthusiasm. On national television, CCTV‑8 reported a real-time peak rating of 2.3859% for the first episode—a channel record for this year—although the second episode dropped to an average of 1.77% before climbing again in subsequent episodes, achieving a combined market share of 8.3% with a day-to-day increase of 137%. Episode five set a new viewership record for the channel since the series began.
Born to Be Alive follows Duojie (Hu Ge), Deputy County Chief of Maji County, Qinghai, who establishes a patrol team to tackle the rampant illegal hunting of antelopes on the plateau. Bai Ju (Yang Zi), a police officer newly assigned after graduating from the academy, is eager to join the mountain patrol but is initially denied, leaving her feeling overlooked by the team. Bai Ju’s family dynamic adds emotional depth: she has an older sister and a younger brother, Bai Ji, who once got involved with poachers for money and was almost sold, but Bai Ju managed to save him.
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Filming took place across Qinghai’s highlands, including Golmud and Delingha, at an average altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level. Yang Zi spent approximately 188 days shooting under these extreme conditions, undergoing significant weight loss for the role. Production costs per episode are estimated at 8 million yuan (around IDR 19.3 billion based on an exchange rate of 1 yuan ≈ IDR 2,415), with the total cost for the 40-episode series reaching 32 million yuan (about IDR 77.2 billion).
Audience response has been mixed. Many praised Hu Ge and Yang Zi’s realistic performances and the cinematic quality of the visuals, particularly in capturing the highland landscapes and the emotional connections between characters. A scene where Bai Ju witnesses her brother’s involvement with poaching was highlighted for its strong facial expressions and was considered exemplary acting, while lines such as “This is unclaimed territory, not untouchable territory” conveyed convincing tension.
However, the drama has also faced criticism. Some viewers felt the storyline was loose and flat, and there was debate over Bai Ju’s makeup, with cosmetic contact lenses and other makeup elements considered unrealistic for the harsh plateau environment. Criticism spilled over to review platforms like Douban, where hundreds or even thousands of one-star reviews appeared in a short period, sparking discussions about potential “review bombing.”
Despite this, Born to Be Alive is overall regarded as a drama with significant potential, combining emotional storytelling, deep performances, and large-scale production to make it one of the most talked-about series since the start of the season.
