The Interpreter () is a 2016 Chinese television series starring Yang Mi and Huang Xuan, based on the novel Translator (翻译官) by Miao Juan. It aired on Hunan TV from 24 May to 19 June 2016. The series was the highest rated drama of the year, with an average national viewership rating of 2.63%.
Synopsis Qiao Fei, a university student majoring in French studies, has aspired to become a translator since she was young. Raised by a single mother suffering from a serious illness, she has to support herself working as a waitress. One night she gets into a trouble with a guest, and the two of them are taken to the police station. The guest happens to be Cheng Jiayang, a young but already famous professional French translator. The next day, she finds out that Jia Yang is actually her examiner at the prestigious Institute of Advanced Translation where she dreams of getting a job. Although they start their relationship on the wrong foot, Qiao Fei earns Jiayang's praise when she successfully overcomes his tests and the two start to develop feelings for each other. When everything seems to be going smoothly, problems start to arise one after another. Jiayang's mother strongly opposes their relationship and the reappearance of Gao Jiaming, Qiao Fei's ex-boyfriend, causes additional misunderstandings between Qiao Fei and Jiayang. Mounting problems eventually lead to their separation. Only after overcoming their respective life challenges they meet again and rekindle their love.
Cast Yang Mi as Qiao Fei Huang Xuan as Cheng Jiayang Gao Weiguang as Gao Jiaming Zhou Qiqi as Wen Xiaohua Li Xirui as Wu Jiayi Zhang Yunlong as Wang Xudong Wang Renjun as Zhou Nan Li Dongheng as Li Lei Yi Yanting as Yang Yan Li Yunao as Wu Ming Zhang Mingming as Ao Tian Jiang Xifan as He Zhe Yang Xueying as Wen Jing
Soundtrack
Reception The series is a commercial hit in China. Its premiere achieved a national viewer rating share of 6.87%, and topped 2016's overall market share for the first half of the year. Viewership ratings also reached as high as 2%, making it the highest rated drama of 2016. The topic "Dear Translator" (亲爱的翻译官) attracted over a billion readers within five days. On the online video platforms Mango TV (芒果TV) and LeTV (乐视电视), the series has received more than 100 million views. On the Asian TV drama platform Viki, the series was rated 9.3 out of 10.
The series was praised by Martin Dahinden, Swiss ambassador to China. The series was coincidentally filmed during the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China–Switzerland relations, and was sponsored by the Switzerland Tourism Board.
There is a sequel titled Negotiator that has cast Yang Mi and Huang Zitao as leads. The sequel has a different storyline.
Ratings +Hunan TV ratingsAir dateEpisodeCSM52 city network ratingsNational Internet ratingsRatings (%)Audience share (%)RankRatings (%)Audience share (%)Rank24 May 20161-21.4134.25611.765.84125 May 20163-41.5184.55511.956.36126 May 20165-61.8395.4812.156.87127 May 201671.434.4111.775.72128 May 201681.4484.5711.766.26129 May 20169-101.9825.76312.498.06130 May 201611-122.1756.58112.417.94131 May 201613-142.3546.98512.949.2911 June 201615-162.3447.21612.849.2712 June 201617-182.3577.14612.788.8213 June 2016191.154.81511.846.8414 June 2016202.0576.68312.609.3615 June 201621-222.3216.85113.1410.0516 June 201623-242.2806.88712.819.2017 June 201625-262.1676.55212.658.6618 June 201627-282.4657.47913.3610.8919 June 201629-302.317.14213.5211.46 110 June 2016311.6295.23312.228.42111 June 2016321.645.0212.288.10112 June 201633-342.1396.24912.839.38113 June 201635-362.0205.90312.668.93114 June 201637-382.0265.94812.839.25115 June 201639-402.1926.5413.0810.1116 June 201641-422.1486.63913.0110.06117 June 2016431.5855.19812.319.12118 June 2016441.8365.9812.5510.04119 June 2016Classics1.885.64712.658.991Average ratings2.048%6.19%12.63%8.74%1
Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result2016 8th China TV Drama Awards Top Ten Television Series Talented Actor Award Huang Xuan2017 22nd Huading Awards Best Actor Best New Actor Vengo Gao Top 10 Television Series
Spin-off A spin-off was also produced, titled Negotiator, also based on Miao Juan's novel.
References