Urban dramas refuse to back down — this time, they were just one step away from breaking out in a big way.

Aside from the consistently strong Tang Gui 3, the urban drama scene has been quite lively in the past two weeks. Three new titles—News Queen 2, Four Joys, and Why Is He Still Single—have debuted one after another, each focusing on workplace, family, or romantic themes. Although none of them achieved explosive growth, each reveals interesting aspects worth noting.

Urban dramas show solid performance

The Hong Kong workplace drama News Queen 2, which was already popular due to its acclaimed first season, attracted over 30 brand partnerships even before airing. Its first three episodes set a record for ad volume and duration on Youku. Douban opened at 7.9, maintaining the IP’s strong reputation.

Season two not only preserves the sharp dialogue, strong female characters, and professional atmosphere of the original, but also expands into timely issues such as the battle between old and new media, AI deepfake misuse, and scandals in the entertainment industry. Many scenes coincidentally align with real-life events, demonstrating the show’s sharp grasp of social sentiment.

Compared with that, Tencent Video’s Four Joys and Why Is He Still Single were more low-profile. Without big IP or traffic stars, they rely on mid-career actors. Yet both performed impressively in lower-tier markets.

Four Joys, which premiered suddenly on CCTV-8 on November 7, broke the channel’s 2025 premiere record on its first day and soon set a new heat record in the Firefly section. The show resonates especially with older viewers thanks to its intense conflicts, fast pace, and complex family relationships. Topics like widowhood during pregnancy, custody disputes, dowry arguments, and workplace discrimination have sparked heated discussions.

Meanwhile, the adaptation of Japanese classic The Man Who Can’t Get Married—Why Is He Still Single—became a surprising hit on Douyin. Since its release on November 16, its short-video popularity has soared to 130 million. Lines such as “Is marriage a pyramid scheme?” became viral memes in the anti-marriage-pressure trend.

Wallace Huo’s comedic performance and Zhu Zhu’s independent, non-compromising female doctor create a widely praised mature CP. According to Yunhe data, Four Joys and Why Is He Still Single now rank second and third in effective viewership share.

But the overall influence is still limited

Even together, the three dramas do not surpass the influence of Tang Gui 3. Although they each shine in certain data metrics, they have not broadened their reach beyond their own audience circles.

Though News Queen 2 maintains strong ratings, its viewer engagement is far lower than the first season. The shift from office politics to broader societal issues adds depth but reduces the intense, thrilling vibe that fans loved.

Four Joys faces polarized reactions. Some enjoy the fast pace and high-impact storytelling, while others find the excessive melodrama unrealistic.

Why Is He Still Single also encounters criticism. The original Japanese series aired nearly 20 years ago, and certain character designs and scenes feel outdated or unrealistic when adapted today.

Ultimately, these issues reflect the common challenges of urban dramas: either becoming overly exaggerated and detached from reality, or innovating in ways that fail to resonate with viewers.

Only by respecting the audience and grounding stories in real life can the genre truly break through.