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My one of my top cdrama of all time
To be honest I watched this cdrama because of Tian Xiwei, I was binged watching all her dramas and I happen to watch this BWL, in first EP it already caught my attention and I thought it was really promising. As more episodes progress, it becomes interesting, the way the plot/story unfold- amazing. I dont know with others saying that there are unnecessary scenes but hello that's how the story/plot unfold. Each character has a significant role to help solve the case. The pacing, acting and story is so good, it ended up me upgrading my subscription from standard to premium just to finish EP 21 to 24 in one sitting, I love it, this is one of my fave cdramas. Congratulations #TianXiwei and #Bornwithluck team.Was this review helpful to you?
doubt the doubt
almost halfway through the year and this is my favourite 2026 drama to date. the current rating here on MDL is probably a combination of factors: perhaps some surprise from new Tian Xiwei fans expecting a certain genre and screentime (this was filmed well before the release of Pursuit of Jade), some viewers not appreciating the plethora of uncles because the cast does skew a bit older and male, and the offbeat dark humor not hitting for everyone. note though that the opening Douban rating is one of the highest for the year so far at an 8.0, since rising to 8.1.our main character (Zhang Yi'ang played by Wang Xiao) is a middle-aged policeman who left a precinct under a cloud and is now basically a meme. he and his capable junior (Li Qian played by Tian Xiwei) are transferred back under yet another cloud from his new precinct and assigned to solve the case of a murdered senior colleague. along the way, they meet gangsters, corrupt officials, smugglers, petty thieves and many other undesirable characters, often solving cases through pure dumb luck.
this drama really is an entertaining little gem. the story is well thought-out and narratively sound. the music (when it's not repurposed classics, which is a bit odd and jarring) is perfect and surprisingly deep philosophically (okay, bunny bunny bunny isn't deep but the others are), and the pace never drags long enough to be problematic.
its real strength is the characterisation. the actors are a mixed bunch. some are old hands, some comedy team veterans, a few unknowns, and at least one rapper, while Tian Xiwei sits in her own category here as more of a popular traffic actor who provides a grounded, slightly sly energy in one of the few female roles.
being an ensemble cast, it's difficult to call out specific performances but a few standouts:
- Song Yuhe as Fang Chao: as a relatively unknown actor in these streets, I found him compelling and would love to see more of his work. he elevated a petty thief into a surprisingly intelligent, never-say-die master of disguise and yet still managed to be hilariously stupid without feeling disjointed.
- Dong Baoshi (Gem) as Lu Yibo: takes a terrified weak-man caricature that could easily have been little more than the butt of uncomfortable jokes and brings us someone that we could actually support, probably against our better judgment. another actor (rapper) I'd be happy to see more of.
-Wang Xiao as Zhang Yi'ang: having never seen this veteran do comedy before, I appreciated his dry, well-timed dialogue and tendency to project a confidence and knowledge he did not possess. it played well into the actor's uncanny ability to say one thing while silently displaying his internal thoughts to the contrary.
ask me about almost any character and I can write a paragraph explaining everything about them, from their motivations to their petty dislikes. it's such supremely rich writing and truly elevates this from a simple dark comedy.
my recommendation: if you want something a little different to the usual cute idol/bleak crime drama, doubt the doubt of the rating, anticipate the anticipation, and buckle into your sputtering 1990s hatchback for the ride.
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Came for Tian Xi Wei, Stayed for the Comedy
Honestly, this is one of those dramas I started mainly because of Tian Xi Wei, and I’m glad I did. The first three episodes were seriously so entertaining and instantly pulled me in. I do wish Xi Wei had more screen time, but I’m still really happy seeing her take on a rookie police officer role.What made the drama especially enjoyable for me was the humor. Zhang Yi Ang is the type of character you can never fully take seriously because he’s naturally comedic, and the same goes for the entire team. Even the criminals somehow added to the comedy. I’m usually not very interested in crime-focused plots, but this one managed to keep me entertained throughout, even though I wish the storyline had been a little more gripping at times.
When it comes to the cast, I’m only familiar with Tian Xi Wei and Lawrence Wang, who I remember as Si Ming from *Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms*. Still, you can easily tell the cast is filled with experienced actors. I’m especially glad Tian Xi Wei stepped outside her usual roles and tried something more unconventional. Li Qian had such a cool and refreshing vibe because of her performance.
The OSTs also deserve praise because they fit the drama’s dark comedy atmosphere perfectly. Everything felt chaotic in a fun way, which honestly made the experience even better. It’s understandable why the drama is getting attention on local TV, even if it isn’t receiving the same level of popularity on MDL. Personally, I think a 7.3 rating is way too low for a drama this enjoyable, though I can see how this kind of genre may not appeal to everyone.
I probably wouldn’t fully rewatch the entire drama, but I’d definitely revisit a lot of specific scenes because the comedy here was genuinely gold.
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I'll keep this brief
Don't be put off by the low MDL rating. This drama has one of the highest ratings I've seen on Douban - an opening 8 - which reflects its subtle and sophisticated humour. Personally, I love Lawrence Wang/Wang Xiao, and he delivers a wonderfully understated performance in this likeable comedy. In what could have been over the top slapstick, he offers something much more alluring - genuine vulnerability and not-knowing ness. He demonstrates a deep grasp of the principle of "non-doing", and while being clueless about how to solve the cases, somehow allows circumstances and colleagues to nevertheless deliver winning results. As is often the case with c-drama, there are much deeper currents and explorations in something which looks simple at a surface level. I loved all the characters, who were individual and quirky enough to carry the satirical take on stock crime drama characters (the unhinged big shot CEO and the dumb thugs for e.g.). The soundtrack is also amazing! If you want something fun. light, engaging with great acting, I really encourage you to have a look at this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Top-notch production. Even with cops chatting away in offices, it manages to stay dynamic and quite engaging. The C-dramas are brilliant. It works both as a light-hearted comedy and as a police investigation. It probably didn’t need 24 episodes, given that you can guess very quickly who killed whom.
And naturally, there’s no criticism of Chinese police corruption, as the Chinese police claim they’re beyond reproach in every respect. (ACAB everywhere, all the time)
I don’t know why the music had to keep parodying Georges Bizet’s ‘L’amour est enfant de Bohème’ or Dvořák’s ‘New World Symphony’. I just don’t get it.
After "Pursuit of Jade", it feels strange to see Tian Xi Wei in a supporting role like this. She’s so discreet and flawless.
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A Wild, Hilarious Ride That Became One of My Favorites of the Year
Born Lucky ended up being one of my favorite dramas of the year. From beginning to end, it was one heck of a ride, and one of the things I enjoyed most was that I genuinely had no idea where the story was headed next. I initially expected a serious drama, so I was pleasantly surprised by just how funny and entertaining it turned out to be.I know the drama's relatively low ratings might put some people off, and I can understand why it may not be everyone's cup of tea. But personally, I think it's absolutely worth giving a chance because it delivered so much more than I expected.
What really stood out to me was the writing. The humor landed consistently, and the show managed to be chaotic in the best possible way. There were moments that had me laughing out loud, and I appreciated how well the writers balanced the comedy with the mystery and overall story progression.
The cast was absolutely fantastic. Every actor did an amazing job, and it was wonderful to see how each character played an important part in the bigger picture. No one felt unnecessary. Everyone contributed something meaningful, and watching all of these pieces come together as the case unfolded made the experience even more satisfying. It truly felt like an ensemble effort, with each character helping to move the story forward.
And can we talk about the main character? Someone seriously needs to get me whatever luck he was born with, because somehow everything always seemed to work out in his favor. Watching him stumble his way through impossible situations with unbelievable luck was both hilarious and incredibly entertaining.
Overall, Born Lucky was an unexpectedly fun and memorable experience. It kept me guessing, made me laugh constantly, and featured an amazing cast of characters that all had their moment to shine. It might not be a universally loved drama, but for me, it was one of the most enjoyable surprises of the year and one I would happily recommend to anyone looking for something different, funny, and delightfully unpredictable.
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A definitely must-watch comedic crime story
I originally got curious about this show to see TXW in a different role, but what I got was a lot more.At first, I was a bit skeptical about the story since this was my first time watching a Chinese drama of this genre. But every click to the next episode, I got hooked by the curiosity on what comedic scene will play out next and how the ending will unravel. I also got overwhelmed on the number of characters involved in the plot initially, but turns out each played a significant role on the amazingly intricate woven plot of the show. The ending was also satisfying imo.
Overall, a great show indeed.
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Just for the colorful cast of characters, this series is worth watching in my opinion.
Lawrence Wang as the clumsy and cumbersome cop, Eric Wang as the dim-witted and overly sensitive gangster, Song Yu He and Shao Bing as the two unlucky ones despite themselves...
It's funny and very promising; I can't wait to see where the story takes us.
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