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It's rare for a drama to spark such polarized reviews as *Son-in-Law*.

This work, originating from a male-oriented corner of Qidian Chinese Network, generated controversy from the discussions surrounding the original novel and its author, making the TV series inherently contentious. The hashtag #电视剧赘婿# (TV Series Son-in-Law) on Weibo amassed nearly 1.3 billion views and over 700,000 discussions. On the other hand, despite an initial Douban rating of 7.1, many users launched a vigorous one-star campaign.

The controversy stemmed from the original author of *Son-in-Law*, "Angry Banana," publicly stating that "this is a male-oriented power fantasy; there's no need to consider female readers." Additionally, in a sexual harassment accusation made by a female online novelist, "Angry Banana's" remarks provoked many women to declare a boycott of the series even before its broadcast.

Having initially lost favor with female viewers, the adapted TV series further alienated many male fans of the original work with the inclusion of scenes featuring a "Male Virtue Academy" and "The Wife Submits to the Husband."

However, surprisingly, the aversion from both the original fans and female viewers did not diminish the show's popularity in the slightest. On the day of its premiere, *Son-in-Law* surpassed 10,000 in popularity on the iQiyi platform. It became the fastest drama to reach that milestone since *Story of Yanxi Palace*.

This proves not only the success of the TV series itself but also reflects the success of the "power fantasy" genre.

Many people attribute this success to a formulaic pandering to the audience, but Zha Zha believes that a TV series that brings joy is already a feat. "After all, you can't expect to learn life lessons from Pornhub," he said.

From the inception of *Empresses in the Palace* in 2011, through *Nirvana in Fire*, *Story of Yanxi Palace*, and *Joy of Life*, the "power fantasy" drama has finally evolved to its latest iteration.

There are several important changes in the iteration of "power fantasy" dramas.

First, the plot is gradually detached from real life, deliberately creating distance between the story and the audience.

Enthusiastic viewer Tian Xiaoqi recalled that in *Son-in-Law*, Right Chancellor Qin Siyuan established the largest gunpowder depot in the Wu Dynasty in Jiangning without the Emperor's knowledge. "This plot point is just ridiculous," he said. However, this detachment from reality provides the audience with a sense of security. Viewers don't have to project any anxieties encountered in real life onto the characters and plot.

Second, the characters' motivations are gradually becoming more secularized. The core motivation of seeking justice in *Nirvana in Fire* and seeking the truth behind the mother's murder in *Joy of Life* has gradually evolved into seeking the recognition of one's wife, relatives, and friends in the family in *Son-in-Law*.

"People are gradually realizing that their greatest achievement in life might just be becoming a department manager. So, it's better to manage their own lives well and achieve family happiness," Tian Xiaoqi said.

Other iterative features are analyzed in detail in the Hu Che Radio program. You are welcome to listen.

The popularity of this drama is already the result of viewers voting with their feet. This reflects that the sense of urgency of contemporary young people is unprecedented. Everyone's life has become a building that can only be built once, with no room for error—no wrong career decisions, choosing the wrong intimate relationship, supporting the wrong CP, or following the wrong idol. We no longer want to bear any extra pressure, even if it comes from the virtual world.

Any criticism of *Son-in-Law* for "lacking depth" or "pandering to the audience" may be valid, but undoubtedly, its emergence and the tropes of the "power fantasy" drama have given viewers simple joy. That's enough.

If you have any opinions on the content of *Son-in-Law* or the "power fantasy" genre over the past decade, or any comments or suggestions on our program production and content, you are welcome to continue to discuss these issues with us in the comments section. We will work hard, thank you all :)