知否" Chinese Period Drama Pulled from Streaming Platforms: Fans Disappointed and Upset

A recent surge of online discussion has emerged around the Chinese period drama "知否," also known as "The Story of Ming Lan." The show, which was broadcasted in 2018, has seen a resurgence of popularity due to the availability of the show on multiple streaming platforms. However, viewers have expressed their frustration and disappointment after the show was suddenly pulled from these platforms due to expiring copyrights.

The drama, starring Zhao Liying, Feng Shaofeng, and Zhu Yilong, quickly gained a significant following for its complex characters, intricate storylines, and realistic portrayal of life in ancient China. Fans eagerly tuned in to re-watch episodes or catch up with the show, only to be met with the unwelcome news of the abrupt removal from streaming services.

Netizens took to Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, to express their outrage and disappointment. One user, "纹知否知否应是绿肥红瘦," lamented, "I was watching the show so intently and then it got pulled! I thought someone was arrested, but turns out the copyrights expired! I really want to kick the streaming platform. Can't they just buy another month's worth?" Another user, "人入在世," echoed the sentiment, writing, "Other people's sadness [is] ignoring, [as] if it is not [the] same world."

Many fans also voiced their frustrations with the streaming platform in question, iQiyi, with some users even suggesting the platform had deliberately timed the removal to coincide with the expiration of its competitors' copyrights. One user, " 猫街小巷萌少年的微博视频," expressed their discontent, stating, "I was watching it so excitedly, and then it was gone! I thought something had happened, but it turns out the copyright had expired. I really want to give iQiyi two feet!" Another user, "傻裤很聪明的," seemed to be on the same page, saying, "iQiyi is really smart. All the classic and popular shows' copyrights eventually get bought by them."

This sudden removal has left fans of "知否" in a state of confusion, as users scramble to find alternative platforms that still carry the show. Some fortunate users have access to platforms such as Youku, which still has the rights to stream the show. One user, " 刚好有优酷会员," celebrates this fact, expressing, "I'm so lucky. I have a Youku membership now and can continue watching the show."

The situation has been further exacerbated by the fact that "知否" is one of the few period dramas that resonates with modern audiences, with its grounded storytelling and strong, complex female characters. Nevertheless, some younger viewers are finding ways to adapt, with one user, "人9妇 唯一纯白的茉莉花儿女动公仿 ，节二关注小," suggesting, "It's not like we can't watch it anymore. We can just watch it on a smaller screen like our phones."

The unexpected removal of "知否" due to expired copyrights has caused quite a stir among fans, sparking a firestorm of debate and discussion online. As more international streaming platforms take notice of the show's immense popularity, the fight for the rights to stream "知否" will likely continue to heat up, with viewers eagerly awaiting the next development in the ongoing saga.