LayarHijau – Chinese urban workplace drama Irreplaceable (无可替代) has drawn criticism from viewers who feel its conflicts resemble power struggles in an imperial palace more than professional competition in the workplace. In contrast, the historical romance drama Against the Current (兰香如故) has received praise for portraying the lives of servants in a noble family’s residence with rules and dynamics that feel realistic.
Irreplaceable focuses on the consulting industry and follows Xu Chi, a young woman determined to make a lot of money and become irreplaceable because of her family experiences. Ye Xinzhi, meanwhile, is an executive at a leading fast-moving consumer goods company. Their relationship initially develops into one of mutual support, with Ye serving as both a mentor and a friend to Xu, before eventually turning romantic.
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Irreplaceable’s Workplace Conflicts Criticized as Unrealistic
In real life, many people have compared workplace competition to power struggles in an imperial palace. However, the conflicts in Irreplaceable have been criticized for lacking a convincing workplace setting. The characters’ rivalries are also seen as straying from ordinary workplace logic, making it difficult for the drama to generate discussion or resonate with viewers.
One scene that drew criticism takes place when Xu Chi is still in college and competing for an internship at a leading consumer goods company. After the interviews, the final selection results are announced through a list posted on a bulletin board. Some viewers criticized this method as outdated.
Another scene that raised eyebrows occurs when Xu Chi reveals her family background in front of a crowd in an attempt to gain Ye Xinzhi’s approval. She explains that her father’s infidelity destroyed their family, that her mother died after enduring prolonged emotional distress, and that she needs to earn a substantial amount of money to buy back her grandmother’s old house.
The disclosure of such deeply personal family matters in that situation struck some viewers as awkward and unconvincing.
Xu Chi Is Portrayed as Too Capable, While Her Senior Colleague Becomes an Obstacle
The criticism intensifies after Xu Chi graduates and begins working at her dream company. Although she holds a bachelor’s degree from a university that is not among China’s most prestigious institutions, she is portrayed as more capable than many colleagues with stronger academic backgrounds.
Even the senior colleague assigned to mentor her, who previously ranked first in the team’s performance, ends up relying on Xu Chi to point out and correct mistakes.
There is nothing wrong with portraying a protagonist as intelligent and hardworking. However, when her abilities are exaggerated to the point that she outperforms nearly everyone around her, the character can become less convincing.
Another problem lies with the senior colleague assigned to guide Xu Chi. Pregnant and afraid that the newcomer will replace her, she decides to make Xu’s working life difficult.
She assigns Xu Chi menial tasks and takes her to questionable drinking gatherings unrelated to her work. This deliberate attempt to undermine a new employee is portrayed so excessively that it makes viewers uncomfortable.
The intense rivalries, excessive scheming, and questionable character motivations make the workplace in Irreplaceable feel like a fictional world dominated by palace-style power struggles.
Nevertheless, this comparison is not necessarily entirely negative. Intense conflicts at least suggest that the drama offers character clashes that could keep viewers engaged. Those willing to accept elements that depart from reality may still find the intrigue entertaining.
Irreplaceable Trails Far Behind Against the Current in Viewing Share
Unfortunately, Irreplaceable’s performance has been less impressive as it approaches its finale. According to Yunhe data, the drama’s viewing share peaked at just 11.7 percent. That figure falls far short of Against the Current, which recorded a viewing share of more than 40 percent during the same period.
The comparison between the two dramas is particularly interesting because Against the Current has been praised for depicting life among servants in a noble family’s residence in a way that resembles the modern workplace.
The drama follows Xu Lanxiang, who works as a servant at the Lin family residence. The servants are divided into different ranks, with each responsible for different duties. Those who perform well can receive promotions or rewards, while those who make mistakes may face punishment from their masters.
Although the story takes place in a fictional ancient setting, the early episodes depicting the servants’ lives feel grounded and concrete. The rules governing hierarchy, division of responsibilities, rewards, and punishments are clearly established, preventing the conflicts from feeling arbitrary or contrived.
As a result, comparisons between the servants’ lives in Against the Current and the modern workplace tend to be complimentary. By contrast, the claim that Irreplaceable resembles a palace power struggle is more often used to criticize weaknesses in its storytelling.
Viewers Want Conflicts That Make Sense
The contrasting reactions to the two dramas illustrate that viewers do not necessarily demand stories that perfectly replicate reality. What matters more is having consistent rules, believable conflicts, and characters whose actions align with the motivations and circumstances established by the story.
This is particularly important for contemporary dramas. Conflicts that stray too far from reality and feel artificially manufactured can make a story seem hollow and stiff. By contrast, stories grounded in everyday experiences and guided by recognizable logic provide a stronger foundation for character development.
Ultimately, a drama’s appeal depends not only on the scale of its conflicts but also on how convincingly those conflicts are constructed. When viewers can understand why characters act as they do and see plausible consequences for their decisions, their journeys of growth and transformation become more meaningful.
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