Zhao Liying’s new drama The Dream Maker has been mired in controversy due to its steadily declining performance. Since its premiere on January 10, the series has struggled to gain momentum. Ratings have continued to fall, viewership growth has been sluggish, and its popularity index on the streaming platform has risen only marginally after several days on air.
Before its release, The Dream Maker was widely anticipated. The project brought together two major stars Zhao Liying and Huang Xiaoming and was directed by Sun Hao, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the hit historical drama Joy of Life. Expectations were high, but the results have fallen far short of predictions, catching both viewers and industry insiders by surprise.
The drama’s disappointing performance has drawn inevitable comparisons to Yang Mi’s recent success. In 2025, Yang Mi starred in This Thriving Land, which aired on CCTV8 and quickly became a breakout hit. The series recorded explosive ratings from its earliest episodes, reaching a peak audience share of over 4.3 percent—one of the highest peaks for CCTV8 in recent years. Its viewership climbed rapidly and consistently, marking a strong comeback for Yang Mi after she faced criticism in 2024 for appearing in multiple underperforming projects.
While Yang Mi appears to be reclaiming her golden era, Zhao Liying has struggled with back‑to‑back challenges in What a Wonderful World and The Dream Maker. Although only six episodes of The Dream Maker have aired so far, the drama has failed to resonate with audiences. Viewers have criticized the story about grassroots officials developing urban infrastructure as dry and lacking dramatic tension. The narrative is seen as low on highlights, conflicts are resolved too easily, and Zhao Liying’s screen time is noticeably limited compared to male lead Huang Xiaoming.
This is not the first time Zhao Liying has found herself at a disadvantage when directly compared with Yang Mi. Previously, both actresses appeared as supporting characters in She’s Got 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 greater significance reserved for the sequel. As a result, Yang Mi received a Best Supporting Actress nomination, 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 standing at the top tier of Chinese entertainment with numerous hit dramas and pan‑Asian recognition. However, as Yang Mi regains critical and commercial momentum, Zhao Liying appears to be losing steam despite having won major accolades such as the Flying Apsaras Awards and Golden Eagle Awards two of China’s most prestigious television honors.
Industry observers note that Zhao Liying’s current struggles may stem from script selection. What a Wonderful World was considered conceptually ambitious but difficult for general audiences to engage with, while The Dream Maker has been criticized for idealized characters and a lack of narrative intensity.
Reflecting harsh public sentiment, one Chinese netizen commented, “A drama failing is one thing but losing to Yang Mi again makes it ten times more embarrassing.”
Sources: K14