iQIYI's TV Drama Two Idiots 5 Gains Popularity in China, and Thai Scenery Impressed Overseas Chinese Audience

          BEIJING, China--25 May--Xinhua-AsiaNet/InfoQuest
          The first Chinese made and Thailand filmed web comedy TWO IDIOTS 5, has won national wide acclaims since its first episode shown on 15 May on China's largest video platform iQIYI. As of 26th of May, it has received over 200 million views, with up to 30 million Chinese viewers following the series. Thai viewers are also delivering resoundingly great reviews, particularly for the two leading characters who show the Chinese people's sense of humor and optimism.
          iQIYI, China's leading video streaming platform established 7 years ago, has the largest subscriber base of all streaming sites in China. According to the latest iResearch data in April, Chinese users spent as many as 6 billion hours on iQIYI App, making it the second most-used App in China only following WeChat. It also provides a large amount of content to international subscribers. 'The Mystic Nine' and 'Yuzui', the two iQIYI made web series obtained highly attention and lively discussion in both local and global markets. According to US mobile analytic firm App Annie's data, iQIYI ranked the seventh in terms of revenue among all Apps globally.
          Chinese TWO IDIOTS 5 pokes fun at embarrassing things, Thai viewers: Welcome to shoot Thai version of TWO IDIOTS
          The "IDIOT" describes a class of young people that are although without background and seemingly useless, still adhere to the dreams of greatness. Since the first season premiered on iQIYI in 2014, the first four seasons have received over 2.6 billion views, and is becoming one of iQIYI's most popular web comedies. It has also achieved the reputation as "Chinese No. 1 Web Comedy Brand" in Chinese film and TV market.
          The fifth instalment in the series stars popular Chinese comedic actors Sun Yizhou and Zhang Haiyu. Sun's character has relocated to a Dean of Students in a Chinatown technical school in Bangkok to escape gambling debts he incurred. His friend, the character played by Zhang, plays a local car wash worker. The two, struggling in a foreign city create non-stop misunderstanding and jokes arising from cultural barriers in their everyday exploits.
          Thai viewers are not unfamiliar with Chinese TV shows, with 'My Fair Princess' and 'Meteor Garden' being great successes in Thailand in early years, particularly in the younger viewers' category. And TWO IDIOTS 5 will make it an enjoyable experience for Thai viewers through the embodiment of "Chinese and Thai culture collision and exchange". Thai viewers have expressed that 'The two Chinese friends are very fun, they might not be successful, but they are optimistic and they try very hard' and that 'Actually Thailand has a lot of guys like these, there should be a Thailand version'.
          TWO IDIOTS 5 popular amongst Thailand born Chinese viewers
          The series is named Thai adventure for the amazing time they have in Bangkok. TWO IDIOTS 5 is the first Chinese web comedy to be shot entirely in Thailand since the big success of film Lost in Thailand shot by director Xu Zheng.
          In order to truly show the characteristics of Thailand, the cast and crew stay in Thailand for three months, experiencing local internet cafes, rent bookstores, food market, also classes in the Thai university; interact with the MC on Thai live streaming platform, and make friends with Thai hotel owner, as guest of Thai family. Besides the 150 crew members behind the scenes, 200 Chinese and Thai cast members and 50 lady-boys were invited to participate in the shooting. Ultimately this show displaying a true Thailand, including the famous tourist attraction - Salakran Nonthaburi which is the Chinatown technical school, and helping mark the beautiful Thailand scenery on every Chinese tourist's map.
          Source: iQIYI
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