Time traveling princess reflects shifts in costume dramas

What if you could rewind your life by 20 years? How would you live it the second time around?

This premise of the popular online novel The Princess Royal, captivated producer Yuan Yumei when she first stumbled upon the story, and inspired her to create a 40-episode TV series of the same name.

Starring Zhao Jinmai as the titular protagonist, and eldest daughter of the emperor, the series spans two tumultuous decades and unfolds as the princess is poisoned after enduring a cold, loveless marriage to a high-ranking official, who is later murdered himself. Traveling back in time to when they were both young, the pair embark on a journey to unravel their intertwined fates, and work together to solve the mystery behind their deaths.

During a recent symposium in Beijing, Yuan revealed that the costume drama seeks to connect with contemporary audiences by prompting them to reassess their own relationships, and encourages them to contemplate ways to mend any fractured bonds.

Since it was broadcast on Zhejiang Television and streamed on Youku earlier this year, the show has become very popular, as evidenced by reaching over 18 percent of the audience on Youku, and topping the list of most-watched shows on the online platform seven times.

Li Jingsheng, deputy head of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations, said that The Princess Royal reflects a new trend in costume dramas, one focused more on stories set in an alternate history, while still drawing inspiration from centuries-old traditions.

He explained that the drama is clearly influenced by the aesthetics and temperament of the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-581), as exemplified by the fact that the official's journey symbolizes the struggle of individuals of humble background to advance in an era dominated by aristocratic families.