
The Dark Lord 夜天子 is a 40-episode Chinese webdrama that follows the legendary tale of a prison guard rising up the ranks in the political landscape of the Ming Dynasty. It is adapted from a novel by Yue Guan 月关 who also writes the screenplay.

Joe Xu Hai Qiao (Lost Love in Times) takes the lead as Ye Xiao Tian, a prison guard in the ministry of justice. He agrees to deliver a will to a person’s hometown, but ends up becoming the target of a dangerous fight over inheritance. He manages to escape with his life, but gets dragged into impersonating an official under the behest of a cowardly magistrate who uses him for his own gain. Nevertheless, the opportunity serves to kickstart his career in politics.

I’m liking that the drama has got all the essentials down with an interesting setup and stylish visuals. I know practically nothing about Lareina Song (Boyhood), but she seems to fit the bill as the bright and bubbly heroine, and she’s a child actress too which I usually take to mean that she can act. And that’s not even including the ensemble of veteran actors in supporting roles. The series also stars Wang Zitong, Gallen Lo (Song of Phoenix), Hong Jiantao (Fei Ge Zhan Dui), Li-Chun Qun and Chen Zihan (Cover the Sky).
Apparently, first impressions can be misleading, caught the trailer and this wuxia series seems a lot more comedic than it appears. Has anyone read the novel?
Release Date: August 14, 2018 Tencent (two episodes every Tuesday-Thursday at 8pm)
Rate your favorite Chinese dramas in 2018.

Devilsadvocate
sounds it could be my cup of tea
Unknown
i'm currently on ep 39. quite boring for me tbh.
the only reason i keep watching this is Xu HaiQiao
fleur
I actually like this drama a lot, it has many interesting arcs and the characters are all lovely and Joe Xu's acting is good here.
Awam Bharata
Dang.. it's an unhappy ending.. very disappointing. I think there is sequel the dark lord 2?
Kris Young
I accidentally found this series and I was hooked instantly. This is excellently-made, the fun and intensity are mixed so well and the acting is so on point. The chemistry of the leads is so sweet and they are fun to watch together. Hope the Season 2 materializes soon.