Imperfect Victim gets near perfect rating on Douban

When Yang Yang received the script for the TV series Imperfect Victim, the award-winning auteur couldn't stop herself from reading the entire story in one go. Despite being in the middle of preparations for a costume drama, the director decided to make time to prioritize the filming of the drama first, she revealed during a recent symposium in Beijing.

The 29-episode series, which recently concluded its first run on multiple networks, including Beijing Satellite TV, is a thought-provoking tale that delves into the sensitive issues of workplace sexual harassment and domestic violence.

With a stellar cast, the drama stars A-list actress Zhou Xun, as a lawyer entrusted with handling a complex case. Her client, portrayed by Liu Yijun, is a tycoon suspected of sexual harassment and the rape of a young assistant, played by Lin Yun, who rose to fame in Hong Kong superstar Stephen Chow's blockbuster The Mermaid.

Propelled by its online popularity, as evinced by its listing as one of the most-watched dramas on streaming platform iQiyi, the series has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 on the popular review aggregator, Douban.

Yang also said that she has been searching for scripts with realism and meaning over the years, looking for an opportunity to express her thoughts on human nature and society in a detailed and intricate manner.

"No one is portrayed as a perfectly good person in the series, mirroring the imperfect nature of most individuals in the real world," said the director, adding that she hopes the drama will empower more women to confront hardship with courage, and find the voice to speak out about the pain they have endured.