To Be a Better Man (Chinese: 好先生) is a 2016 Chinese television series produced by LeEco and directed by Zhang Xiaobo. It stars Sun Honglei, Jiang Shuying, Wao Yaoqing, Che Xiao, Lay Zhang and Guan Xiaotong. The series was aired on Jiangsu TV and Zhejiang TV from 31 May to 22 June 2016.

To Be a Better Man
GenreDrama
Romance
Written byLi Xiao
Yu Miao
Zhang Yingji
Directed byZhang Xiaobo
StarringSun Honglei
Jiang Shuying
Wang Yaoqing
Che Xiao
Lay Zhang
Guan Xiaotong
Country of originChina
Original languageChinese
No. of episodes42
Production
Running time45 minutes (approx.)
Production companiesLinmon Pictures
LeEco
Yida Media
Changjiang Culture
BudgetUS$23 million[1]
Original release
NetworkJiangsu Television, Zhejiang Television
Release31 May (2016-05-31) –
22 June 2016 (2016-06-22)

Synopsis

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Lu Yuan worked hard in America to become a Michelin 3-star chef. To many, he is the Devil incarnate, reckless and wanton. But when it comes to the person he loves, he is an entirely different "good man" who is loyal, kind, and honest. After a nightmarish car accident takes away his friend, he returns home with his remains.

Now returning to China, Lu Yuan initially has three goals. First, he wants to bring the ashes of his friend, who died in the car accident, back to China and let them rest in peace. Second, he wants to return his best friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Jia He to her birth mother, before finding a remote place and committing suicide. However unexpectedly, he met the person he least wants to see and becomes entangled with both his unresolved and new relationships.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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Soundtrack album
No.TitleWriter(s)SingerLength
1."Mr. Right" (Opening theme song)Ke Ke 2:03
2."Far Road (路远)" (Ending theme song)Cai KejunZhang Lei5:24
3."Forget About Her (忘了她)"Bi FengPerhat Khaliq5:00
4."Be Good (好好的)"Bi FengCeng Di4:24
5."Song About Love[2]"Li YuxiLi Yuxi4:11
6."Grow"Li YuxiLi Yuxi4:36

Reception

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The drama is both a critical and commercial success. It received acclaim for its heart-warming and realistic storyline, strong performance of its leads as well as cinematography and costume design.[3][4] According to NetEase, the drama discusses from a detached point of view on searching for the true meaning of life in a society where people blindly chase after materialistic wants. It also touches on the importance of trust, family and love.[3]

Ratings

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Broadcast[5] Episode Zhejiang TV CSM52 ratings Jiangsu TV CSM52 ratings
Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rank Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rank
2016.5.31 1 1.000 2.843 3 0.922 2.613 5
2016.6.1 2-3 0.726 2.24 4 0.705 2.174 5
2016.6.2 4-5 0.747 2.25 5 0.839 2.523 3
2016.6.3 6-7 0.867 2.59 4 0.764 2.26 5
2016.6.4 8-9 1.081 3.39 2 0.794 2.52 3
2016.6.5 10 0.980 2.93 2 0.920 2.89 3
2016.6.6 11-12 0.955 2.89 4 1.046 3.16 3
2016.6.7 13-14 1.052 3.20 4 1.124 3.42 3
2016.6.8 15-16 1.070 3.30 3 1.100 3.39 2
2016.6.9 17-18 0.968 3.04 3 1.133 3.56 2
2016.6.10 19-20 1.092 3.33 3 1.092 3.30 2
2016.6.11 21-22 1.186 3.43 2 1.094 3.17 3
2016.6.12 23 1.202 3.58 2 1.200 3.56 3
2016.6.13 24-25 1.594 4.61 3 1.250 3.70 4
2016.6.14 26-27 1.312 3.85 2 1.224 3.59 3
2016.6.15 28-29 1.405 4.23 2 1.245 3.74 3
2016.6.16 30-31 1.214 3.83 2 1.196 3.77 3
2016.6.17 32-33 1.320 4.09 2 1.237 3.77 3
2016.6.18 34-35 1.162 3.81 3 1.464 4.50 2
2016.6.19 36 1.381 4.20 3 1.469 4.66 2
2016.6.20 37-38 1.597 4.93 1 1.555 4.49 2
2016.6.21 39-40 1.738 5.42 1 1.586 4.94 2
2016.6.22 41-42 1.752 5.38 1 1.657 5.09 2
Average ratings 1.169 1.172
  • Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

Awards and nominations

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Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
11th National Top-Notch Television Award Ceremony Outstanding Television Series To Be a Better Man Won
22nd Huading Awards Best Director Zhang Xiaobo Nominated [6][7]
Best Screenwriter Li Xiao, Yu Miao, Zhang Yingji Won
Best Actor Sun Honglei Nominated
Best Actress (Contemporary) Jiang Shuying Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Wang Yaoqing Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Guan Xiaotong Nominated
Best New Actor Lay Zhang Nominated
Top 10 Dramas To Be a Better Man Won
23rd Shanghai Television Festival Best Television Series Nominated [8]
Best Actor Sun Honglei Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Guan Xiaotong Won

International broadcast

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Channel Place Date Time Notes
Jiangsu Television
Zhejiang Television
  China May 31, 2016 Everyday 19:30-21:15
Star Chinese Channel   Hong Kong
  Singapore
  Malaysia
  Canada
  United States
International Version[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fox Buys Chinese Series 'To Be A Better Man' From Linmon". Variety. May 24, 2016.
  2. ^ "Song About Love". YouTube.
  3. ^ a b "《好先生》网播量突破100亿 领跑现象级大剧". NetEase. June 28, 2016.
  4. ^ "《好先生》成现象级大剧 口碑成就2016剧王品质". NetEase. June 24, 2016.
  5. ^ "电视剧收视率排行榜 | 收视率排行" (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  6. ^ "华鼎奖提名公布投票开启 《人民》吴刚陆毅齐入围". Sina. April 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "第22届电视华鼎奖获奖名单公布". Sina. May 18, 2017.
  8. ^ "23届上海电视节入围名单公布 《欢乐颂》获八项提名". ent.ifeng (in Chinese). May 24, 2017.
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