Trending on Weibo, Chinese Netizens Say Love’s Ambition Resembles Anna, Reply 1988, and Other Dramas

LayarHijau – On October 9, the Chinese drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), starring Zhao Lusi and William Chan, became a trending topic on Weibo after Chinese netizens accused it of borrowing scenes and storylines from several well-known dramas and films. The topic quickly sparked heated debate online, with some criticizing the show while others defended it.

Premiering on September 26, Love’s Ambition surprised viewers with its soaring ratings despite minimal promotion. Zhao Lusi’s portrayal of Xu Yan, a woman standing up against societal prejudice, drew attention for its apparent parallels to Zhao’s real-life struggle with her agency dispute. Within an hour of release on Tencent Video, the drama’s popularity index surpassed 20,000—outperforming many big-budget productions.

Some netizens pointed out similarities between Love’s Ambition and the Taiwanese drama The World Between Us (我们与恶的距离), starring Alyssa Chia and James Wen, which explores crime cases and journalistic ethics. They claimed certain confrontation and investigation scenes appeared strikingly familiar. Others disagreed, arguing that Love’s Ambition focuses on urban romance and women’s empowerment, far removed from the social commentary of The World Between Us.

The plotline involving a faked identity and hired “parents” also drew comparisons to the Korean drama Anna, starring Bae Suzy and Jung Eun-chae. Some viewers accused the show of copying Anna’s premise, while others countered that this kind of setup—a character hiding her background—is a common narrative trope and doesn’t amount to plagiarism.

Another debated scene features a gas leak incident that netizens linked to Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988), a beloved Korean drama centered on five families in late-1980s Seoul. Critics said the execution was nearly identical, but defenders argued the context and emotional tone were entirely different, World Journal reported.

Netizens also highlighted a scene in Love’s Ambition where the protagonist lists several dishes, claiming it echoes Zhang Yimou’s classic film Raise the Red Lantern (大红灯笼高高挂) starring Gong Li. Some believed this was an intentional visual homage, while others dismissed it as a superficial resemblance without deeper connection.

Additionally, the female lead’s news anchor audition scene was said to resemble a real-life CCTV speech by anchor Zou Yun. Some netizens viewed this as a direct imitation, but others argued that formal speech styles are naturally similar and don’t indicate copying.

Overall, reactions remain divided. While some netizens criticized the writing and accused the drama of recycling elements from other works, others defended Love’s Ambition as a story centered on women’s growth and emotional struggle within marriage—very different from the darker or socially themed shows it’s compared to. A few also suggested that the controversy stems from Zhao Lusi’s overwhelming popularity. Reports indicate that at least 17 new scripts have been offered to her, including three realism-themed projects. In a recent livestream, Zhao commented, “I hope to take on a new drama only when I’m in the best physical and mental condition,” hinting she might not accept a new project anytime soon.