Shows Like Lie Yan
If you were moved by Lie Yan, you will appreciate how these films questions the purpose and weight of our choices while grounding the story in targets the intellect with complex, multi-layered ideas. Carefully balances character depth with narrative flow makes this definitely worth a watch.
Standard feature-length experiences.
Best for fans of who appreciate concise storytelling.
★ Top Picks
The King's Woman
Gong Sunli is the grand-daughter and disciple of military commander Gong Sunyu. Jing Ke and Li have been in love with each other since they were children. While trying to protect Li during an attack, Jing Ke is poisoned. Li’s beauty has seized the interest of the Qin Emperor, Ying Zheng, and Li agrees to marry him to save Jing Ke.
Love Like the Galaxy
Cheng Shaoshang, left behind by her parents who went off to war, faces challenges from a scheming aunt and struggles with estrangement from her family. Lacking love and security, she is cautious in choosing a marriage partner and meets three suitors: Ling Buyi, the emperor's adopted son; Yuan Shen, a talented figure from Bailu Mountain; and Lou Yao, an aristocrat. Despite a rocky path to love, Shaoshang remains steadfast. Her involvement with Ling Buyi leads them into a mystery surrounding his family and identity and together they confront a national crisis, growing through their experiences and upholding their ideals.
The Rise of Phoenixes
When a secret from the past rears its head, respected warrior Feng Zhiwei is forced to choose between revenge and her loyalty to ruling prince Ning Yi.
Nirvana in Fire
Weakened by illness but strong in mind, Mei Changsu enters court politics to seek justice for a tragedy long forgotten.
Princess Agents
During the Warring Period, slave girl Chu Qiao survives a deadly hunting game and is drawn into the ruthless power struggles of the Yuwen family. Trained by Yuwen Yue and bonded with Prince Yan Xun, she faces betrayal and war. As Yan Xun becomes consumed by revenge, Chu Qiao forges her own path, rising as a military strategist and fighting to end slavery.
Story of Kunning Palace
A fallen queen, Jiang Xuening who aspired to have the highest power and authority in her life was held hostage by rebels after the king, Shen Jie was poisoned. In this life, she used everyone around her to reach the authority of the queen but in the end, she remained under house arrest and Xie Wei slaughtered the entire city. Later, she received the decree to be buried with the emperor. She got a second chance to change her fate by not entering the palace but when she woke up after rebirth, she was already messing around. Even though she vowed not to enter the palace, a certain turn of events again entangles her with the palace and Xie Wei whom she hated the most.
The Advisors Alliance
The story of Sima Yi, a great politician and strategist who lived during the Three Kingdoms era. By his side, Sima Yi has his politically-astute distaff members of his household, and pitted against them are the formidable Cao Cao and his heirs. After defending the Kingdom of Wei from Kongming formidable talents, who will end up with the ultimate power?
Parenthood
The trials and tribulations of the very large, colorful and imperfect Braverman family.
More Shows Like Lie Yan
Story of Yanxi Palace
The smart and witty Wei Yingluo enters the palace as a seamstress to find the truth behind her older sister’s death. Believing the imperial guard Fucha Fuheng to be her sister's killer, Yingluo purposely attracts the attention of his sister the Empress Fucha, and is successfully transferred to Changchun Palace as a maid. Over time, she learns that the Fucha siblings are honest and kind-hearted people, and also develops romantic affections for Fuheng.
My Fair Princess
Centers around the legend of Princess Huanzhu during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Ming Dynasty in 1566
A series based on the events in the reign of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming dynasty.
Ice Fantasy
A century after the war between the Ice and Fire Tribes, Prince Ka Suo of the Ice Tribe becomes king, searching for his missing lover and brother. He uncovers a dark conspiracy within his tribe, unaware that his brother, now the Fire Prince with no memory of his past, is leading the Fire Tribe. As tensions rise, the brothers are forced into a new conflict, this time against each other.
Only for Love
Zheng Shuyi, a reporter who excels at her job and is determined to land a front-page story, has tried very hard to earn an exclusive interview with top financial executive Shi Yan. Their love story then blossoms due to a mistake. Zheng Shuyi has written numerous reports through her in-depth research of various industries while Shi Yan is constantly looking for socially responsible start-ups to invest in as he hopes to give back to society as much as he can. Shi Yan finds that Zheng Shuyi's opinions conveyed through her reports coincide with his own, so he agrees to let her write a series of reports on their company. The two eventually open up new opportunities in their career and also find love.
The Story of Ming Lan
Sheng Minglan, the intelligent but overlooked sixth daughter of the Sheng family, hides her talents to survive a difficult childhood and avenge her mother’s death. As she navigates family struggles and political intrigue, she forms a complex bond with Gu Tingye. Together, they rise as a powerful couple, balancing love, loyalty, and duty in a changing empire.
The Vendetta of An
Xie Huai'an, son of the Huben Army's creator, survives his family's massacre. After ten long years in hiding, he returns to Chang'an disguised as a lowly registrar, moving step by step through jianghu clashes and palace power plays in a tense battle of wits to avenge his family and safeguard the realm.
Sullivan's Crossing
After Neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan’s personal and professional life are thrown into turmoil she returns home to Sullivan’s Crossing. While there, Maggie is forced to navigate her complicated present while confronting the painful past she has chosen to ignore for years.
My Journey To You
Yun Wei Shan, a spy longing for freedom, infiltrates the palace to complete a mission. Within the eerie and mysterious palace, she encounters love and friendship, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, and finds the determination to move forward. Together with the rebellious nobleman Gong Ziyu, they grow and mature through their shared experiences.
The Prisoner of Beauty
Xiao Qiao, a clever girl from the Qiao family, marries Wei Shao, the brave and kind master of the Wei family. Despite initial wariness due to ancestral grievances, Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao navigate their relationship with humor and determination. As they face challenges together, they come to appreciate each other's qualities through their warm daily life, intertwined with family and national affairs, and work to restore peace and resolve conflicts.
The Newsreader
An unconventional relationship in a world on the cusp of change; a star newsreader and an ambitious bisexual reporter join forces in a ruthless 1986 newsroom, as events unfold that will change their lives.
Scarlet Heart
Zhang Xiao, a 21st-century woman, is transported back to the Qing Dynasty during Emperor Kangxi's reign after a bizarre accident. She awakens in the body of Maertai Rouxi, a teenage nobleman's daughter, and must navigate life in a past world shaped by her mysterious connection to this historical figure.
Why These Shows Are Similar
These recommendations share core qualities with Lie Yan (2025): Drama themes, similar pacing, and comparable production quality. NoBadPicks uses TMDB collaborative filtering, genre matching, and AI analysis to surface series most likely to resonate with fans of Lie Yan.
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