By kdramauniie 
On the evening of January 5, the popularity index of Guardians of the Dafeng peaked at 29,800, just shy of the 30,000 milestone, on Tencent Video. The C-drama has also officially made it onto Tencent’s annual in-platform ranking list.
Guardians of the Dafeng also ranks among the top shows on various platforms and data lists such as Maoyan, Douban, Datawin, Yunhe, Kuyun, Lanying, and Vlinkage. The K-drama is also topping chart of Disney+ Taiwan.
But, despite the increasing popularity, viewers’ reviews still remain divided.
Guardians of the Dafeng is one of the biggest IPs to be adapted into a screen production in recent years. It’s due to this fact that many people began talking about the drama obsessively as early as its project approval stage. Some even labeled Guardians of the Dafeng a blockbuster even before its release, pinning their hopes on it becoming a sensation. Even before its premiere, the series had secured sponsorship deals with 26 brands, held a big launch event, and organized a grand press conference.
On its premiere day, Guardians of the Dafeng‘s popularity index reached just over 26,000. A week into its broadcast, it was still hovering around 28,000. Now, its highest popularity index has climbed to only 29,800. This pales in comparison to Joy of Life Season 2, which reached 32,900 on the day of its return and peaked at over 34,000. Similarly, it falls short of Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and Blossom, which surpassed 30,000 just days after their premieres. Moreover, with its plot based on transmigration, netizens can’t help but compare it to one of the all-time hit C-dramas Joy of Life.
Guardians of the Dafeng tells the story of a modern-day office worker, Yang Ling, who unexpectedly finds himself in the fantasy-filled world of the Dafeng Dynasty. There, he goes by the name of Xu Qi An (Dylan Wang), a Copper Gong tasked with solving cases for the people of Dafeng. Utilizing the knowledge and skills from his life in the modern world, including scientific knowledge and deductive reasoning, he successfully cracks a series of bizarre cases, earning the reputation of a master investigator in Dafeng.
Within the Dafeng dynasty, various forces — such as the royal family, the Astronomical Bureau, and powerful sects — vie for power. Through his wit and talent, Xu Qi An protects the common people and transforms from a nobody to people’s hero.
This is the classic storytelling template for transmigration dramas. Both Guardians of the Dafeng and Joy of Life are based on the premise of a modern individual being transported to a fictional ancient world, which makes comparisons between the two inevitable.
In Joy of Life, Fan Xian (Zhang Ruo Yun) starts as a modern man who gets transported to the Qing Empire. He is overlooked and belittled and his path to growth is fraught with challenges, as he navigates the treacherous worlds of court politics and the martial arts community.
By skillfully maneuvering among various factions, Fan Xian carves out a space for himself while holding onto ideals of justice and equality. Over time, he evolves from a naive young man into a pivotal figure capable of influencing power politics.
Compared to the more serious and politically charged tone of Joy of Life, Guardians of the Dafeng brands itself as a “hip-hop fantasy.” It attempts to blend elements of time travel, fantasy, suspense, and comedy into one package, a bold and unique twist on Wuxia dramas. However, many viewers are not receptive to this mishmash approach. Here are some of the criticisms drama is facing.
In Guardians of the Dafeng, the royal family, the Astronomical Bureau, Confucian scholars from academies, and martial arts sects make appearances one after another. Characters can fly, vanish, and perform extraordinary feats, while the Astronomical Bureau wields all kinds of magical powers, and monsters frequently show up. Such a sprawling and complex world is not clearly explained at the start of the show. Instead, it is presented abruptly, leaving viewers to piece it together on their own.
Moreover, the protagonist Xu Qi An, who travels from the modern world, adapts to the setting of Dafeng almost instantly. Without experiencing any psychological struggles, he jumps straight into solving cases as if completely unfazed by his new reality.
In the original novel, Xu Qi An’s character development is gradual. He carefully navigates the ancient world, starting as a small figure who only wishes to live a peaceful life and avoid trouble. Over time, he grows into a hero with a deep sense of justice and responsibility. However, the TV adaptation skips these crucial steps, making Xu Qi An instantly transform into a regular Dafeng man. He jumps straight into solving cases at lightning speed, while the supporting characters seem to effortlessly follow his lead, advancing the plot in sync.
This rushed progression leaves viewers feeling that the show lacks human warmth and instead has a strong AI-generated vibe.
While Guardians of the Dafeng has faced some criticism, there are several aspects of the show fans are praising. One of them is Dylan Wang’s charm and energy as he brings to life Xu Qi An.
His portrayal of a sharp-witted investigator makes the character appealing, even if Xu Qi An’s adaptation to the Dafeng world feels abrupt.
One of the standout elements of Guardians of the Dafeng is its clever use of comedy. The humor is woven into both the dialogue and the situations, creating moments of lightheartedness that balance out the intensity of the suspense elements.
Additionally, the interactions between the eccentric supporting characters — such as the quirky officials, martial artists — are often hilarious. This blend of humor and adventure makes the C-drama one of a kind to ever grace the screen.
Source: Baidu