The man who made China rich—but at what cost? Bureaucracy has never been this bingeable.
Season 1 • Episode 48
LatestAfter Mao Zedong's death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping returns to power amid political turmoil. Facing divisions within the Communist Party, he leads crucial economic and defense reforms, steering China toward a hopeful future and laying the foundation for the country's revival.
Acting
Ma Shaohua's uncanny Deng: warm grandpa, steel underneath
Production
Propaganda budget but arthouse patience—rare combo
Writing
Makes Central Committee meetings genuinely suspenseful
Ma Shaohua
Deng Xiaoping
Nie Yuan
Shopping Mall Manager
Sa Rina
Zhuo Lin
Zhang Jiayi
Xi Zhongxun
Qianhua Wang
Deng Lin
Shen Aojun
Deng Nan
Zhu Hongjia
Deng Pufang
Wu Gang
Tian Zhiyuan
Yin Xiaotian
Tian Yuan
Jin Xin
Xiao Mo
Song Jia
Cao Hui
Song Xiaoying
Wang Guangmei
Dai Chunrong
Gao Chunlan
Li Guangfu
Hu Yaobang
Sun Chun
Wu Jieping
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Commissioned for Deng's 110th birth anniversary—state TV's most expensive drama ever, watched by an estimated 200 million viewers.
Director Wu Ziniu smuggled in subtle critiques: notice how Deng's reforms always leave someone behind, often women.
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