To Be a Better Man

To Be a Better Man (Chinese: 好先生) is a 2016 Chinese television series produced by LeEco and directed by Zhang Xiaobo. It stars Sun Honglei, Jiang Shuying, Wao Yaoqing, Che Xiao, Lay Zhang and Guan Xiaotong. The series was aired on Jiangsu TV and Zhejiang TV from 31 May to 22 June 2016.

To Be a Better Man
Genre	Drama Romance
Written by	Li Xiao Yu Miao Zhang Yingji
Directed by	Zhang Xiaobo
Starring	Sun Honglei Jiang Shuying Wang Yaoqing Che Xiao Lay Zhang Guan Xiaotong
Country of origin	China
Original language	Chinese
No. of episodes	42
Production
Running time	45 minutes (approx.)
Production companies	Linmon Pictures LeEco Yida Media Changjiang Culture
Budget	US$23 million[1]
Original release
Network	Jiangsu Television, Zhejiang Television
Release	31 May (2016-05-31) – 22 June 2016 (2016-06-22)

Synopsis

Lu Yuan worked hard in America to become a Michelin 3-star chef. To many, he is the Devil incarnate, reckless and wanton. But when it comes to the person he loves, he is an entirely different "good man" who is loyal, kind, and honest. After a nightmarish car accident takes away his friend, he returns home with his remains.

Now returning to China, Lu Yuan initially has three goals. First, he wants to bring the ashes of his friend, who died in the car accident, back to China and let them rest in peace. Second, he wants to return his best friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Jia He to her birth mother, before finding a remote place and committing suicide. However unexpectedly, he met the person he least wants to see and becomes entangled with both his unresolved and new relationships.

Cast

• Sun Honglei as Lu Yuan
• Jiang Shuying as Jiang Lai
• Wang Yaoqing as Jiang Haokun
• Che Xiao as Gan Jing
• Lay Zhang as Xiao Cai
• Guan Xiaotong as Peng Jiahe
• Dong Yong as Peng Hai
• Wan Qian as Xu Li
• Feng Jiayi as Manager Hui Jing

Soundtrack

Soundtrack album

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Singer	Length
1.	"Mr. Right" (Opening theme song)	Ke Ke		2:03
2.	"Far Road (路远)" (Ending theme song)	Cai Kejun	Zhang Lei	5:24
3.	"Forget About Her (忘了她)"	Bi Feng	Perhat Khaliq	5:00
4.	"Be Good (好好的)"	Bi Feng	Ceng Di	4:24
5.	"Song About Love[2]"	Li Yuxi	Li Yuxi	4:11
6.	"Grow"	Li Yuxi	Li Yuxi	4:36

Reception

The drama is both a critical and commercial success. It received acclaim for its heart-warming and realistic storyline, strong performance of its leads as well as cinematography and costume design.^[3][4] According to NetEase, the drama discusses from a detached point of view on searching for the true meaning of life in a society where people blindly chase after materialistic wants. It also touches on the importance of trust, family and love.^[3]

Ratings

Broadcast[5]	Episode	Zhejiang TV CSM52 ratings			Jiangsu TV CSM52 ratings
		Ratings (%)	Audience share (%)	Rank	Ratings (%)	Audience share (%)	Rank
2016.5.31	1	1.000	2.843	3	0.922	2.613	5
2016.6.1	2-3	0.726	2.24	4	0.705	2.174	5
2016.6.2	4-5	0.747	2.25	5	0.839	2.523	3
2016.6.3	6-7	0.867	2.59	4	0.764	2.26	5
2016.6.4	8-9	1.081	3.39	2	0.794	2.52	3
2016.6.5	10	0.980	2.93	2	0.920	2.89	3
2016.6.6	11-12	0.955	2.89	4	1.046	3.16	3
2016.6.7	13-14	1.052	3.20	4	1.124	3.42	3
2016.6.8	15-16	1.070	3.30	3	1.100	3.39	2
2016.6.9	17-18	0.968	3.04	3	1.133	3.56	2
2016.6.10	19-20	1.092	3.33	3	1.092	3.30	2
2016.6.11	21-22	1.186	3.43	2	1.094	3.17	3
2016.6.12	23	1.202	3.58	2	1.200	3.56	3
2016.6.13	24-25	1.594	4.61	3	1.250	3.70	4
2016.6.14	26-27	1.312	3.85	2	1.224	3.59	3
2016.6.15	28-29	1.405	4.23	2	1.245	3.74	3
2016.6.16	30-31	1.214	3.83	2	1.196	3.77	3
2016.6.17	32-33	1.320	4.09	2	1.237	3.77	3
2016.6.18	34-35	1.162	3.81	3	1.464	4.50	2
2016.6.19	36	1.381	4.20	3	1.469	4.66	2
2016.6.20	37-38	1.597	4.93	1	1.555	4.49	2
2016.6.21	39-40	1.738	5.42	1	1.586	4.94	2
2016.6.22	41-42	1.752	5.38	1	1.657	5.09	2
Average ratings		1.169			1.172

• Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
11th National Top-Notch Television Award Ceremony	Outstanding Television Series	To Be a Better Man	Won
22nd Huading Awards	Best Director	Zhang Xiaobo	Nominated	[6][7]
	Best Screenwriter	Li Xiao, Yu Miao, Zhang Yingji	Won
	Best Actor	Sun Honglei	Nominated
	Best Actress (Contemporary)	Jiang Shuying	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actor	Wang Yaoqing	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actress	Guan Xiaotong	Nominated
	Best New Actor	Lay Zhang	Nominated
	Top 10 Dramas	To Be a Better Man	Won
23rd Shanghai Television Festival	Best Television Series		Nominated	[8]
	Best Actor	Sun Honglei	Nominated
	Best Supporting Actress	Guan Xiaotong	Won

International broadcast

Channel	Place	Date	Time	Notes
Jiangsu Television Zhejiang Television	China	May 31, 2016	Everyday 19:30-21:15
Star Chinese Channel	Hong Kong  Singapore  Malaysia  Canada  United States			International Version[1]
VTV3	Vietnam	January 18, 2017	Monday-Friday 12:00