Zhao Benshan's Surprise Comedy "Let's Go" Passes 23,000 Popularity On Day One With Zero Promotion

"Let's Go" poster | Photo: Tencent Video

Zhao Benshan is back with a brand-new comedy drama, and he didn't even announce it first!

"Let's Go", a 40-episode Republican-era comedy, dropped on November 2 at noon on Tencent Video, under its in-house comedy label "Bandeng Unit," and on Migu Video, with zero advance promotion. Even without any hype, it quickly took off, with its popularity index on the platform passing 23,000 on its very first day.

Why 23,000 matters

Tencent Video's popularity index is one of the main ways Chinese viewers and the industry measure how a drama is doing on the platform. Tencent does not publish how the index is calculated, but entertainment media commonly point to three unofficial milestones for dramas: 26,000, 28,000 and 30,000, with 30,000 seen as the mark of a true breakout hit. Hitting 23,000 on day one puts "Let's Go" within reach of the first milestone right out of the gate, an unusually strong start for a comedy that launched with no posters, trailers or promotion at all.

Zhao Benshan as Jia Gui Tian | Photo: Tencent Video

A Northeastern take on "Let the Bullets Fly"

Viewers have already nicknamed it the Northeastern version of "Let the Bullets Fly". That's because both are adapted from the same story: "Dao Guan Ji" (The Story of Stealing an Official Post) by Ma Shi Tu, one of the tales in his collection "Ye Tan Shi Ji." But while Jiang Wen's 2010 film is a sharp allegory about power, "Let's Go" moves the story to Northeast China in the Republican era and goes all in on absurd, laugh-out-loud comedy.

The drama follows Jia Gui Tian (Zhao Benshan), who mistakenly treats the gravely ill regiment commander Ma De Bing. To save his own skin, he talks Wang Lao Wu, Ma De Bing's look-alike grandnephew, into taking his place as the new magistrate of Fuhu County. But Fuhu County is full of competing powers, and the situation quickly spirals out of control.

Wang Xiao Li as Ma De Bing | Photo: Tencent Video

Wang Xiao Li in a double role

Wang Xiao Li, beloved by audiences as Liu Neng in the long-running "Village Love" series, takes the lead in a dual role. He plays both Ma De Bing, an intimidating commander whom even the local gangs bow to, and Wang Lao Wu, a timid veterinarian who never went to school, knows nothing about officialdom and is terrified of being found out. Switching between the two is the show's biggest source of laughs, and many viewers say he has proven he can carry a drama as its lead.

Wang Xiao Li | Photo: Tencent Video

Zhao Benshan, the legendary comedian known for his decades of hit sketches on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, makes a special appearance and also serves as chief producer. He isn't in every scene, but viewers say his role as Jia Gui Tian, a crafty, street-smart man who just wants an easy life, anchors the whole drama with his signature style.

Many familiar faces from his comedy troupe also appear, including Cheng Ye, Tian Wa, Jiang Yi Shan and Ge Shan Shan. For many fans, simply seeing the troupe reunite on screen is a nostalgic treat.

A scene from "Let's Go" | Photo: Tencent Video

Viewer reactions

Many viewers have said they haven't seen such authentic "Benshan-style" comedy in years, praising its grounded, character-driven humor, its Northeastern dialect and its old-school sketch comedy feel that doesn't rely on internet memes. Others have pointed out that the plot leans heavily on misunderstandings and lucky coincidences, with some calling it an extended comedy sketch, and noted that it doesn't aim for the deep satire of "Let the Bullets Fly." Its goal is simple: to make you laugh.

How to watch

"Let's Go" is produced by Tencent Video, Migu Video, Haixi Media and the Liaoning Folk Art Troupe, with each episode running about 32 minutes. Members could watch the first four episodes on premiere day, with SVIP members getting one extra episode. Two new episodes are released every day at noon, and SVIP members always stay one episode ahead.

Will you be watching "Let's Go"?

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