The Chinese costume drama known in Vietnam as Ga Kim Thoa stayed above 10,000 points on Youku’s heat index for 19 consecutive days, Tuoi Tre reported, citing Sohu. Discussion of the milestone coincided with viewer criticism of an AI label visible in some landscape footage.
The platform’s engagement benchmark
According to the figures cited by Tuoi Tre, the previous longest run at that level was 18 days, shared by two dramas. Youku changed how it calculates heat in July 2024, the starting point for the comparison. Ga Kim Thoa first crossed 10,000 points 48 hours and 17 minutes after release, the fastest recorded among the service’s dramas in 2026 in the cited figures. The score is Youku’s own measure of attention on the platform.
Viewers question the finished footage
Tuoi Tre described landscape scenes carrying an AI Generated label. VnExpress, citing Sina, said the text appeared faintly in the right corner of the frame for several seconds. Some viewers also discussed the integration of characters and backgrounds. Responses ranged from treating the label as a small editing slip to questioning the checks applied before release. Tuoi Tre reported that the production team and Youku had issued no official response at the time of its coverage.
VnExpress identifies the drama as an adaptation of a novel by Xiao Jiaren, with Tian Xiwei and Yan An in the cast. Tian plays two characters linked by a switch in their identities. The heat record and the debate concern distinct aspects of the release: interest measured by Youku and viewers’ reaction to particular shots.