Great Expectations

Hong Sanyuan arrives in 20th century Shanghai with his mother and his close friend Qi Lin, hoping for improved prospects. Under the mentorship of ferry leader Yan Hua, Hong gets pulled into local networks where business, muscle, and loyalty overlap. As he rises in influence, he becomes enmeshed in a bitter contest between two dominant conglomerates and, later, in the political currents that shape the city. The series follows his shifting alliances and moral choices as ambition, family ties, and power push him into ever more dangerous territory, without revealing the outcomes of those conflicts.

Created by Chen Sicheng and Ze Xie, the series premiered in 2018 and stars Chen Sicheng, Yuan Hong, Tong Liya, Fu Dalong, and Amber Kuo. The production is noted for its period settings and large ensemble cast, blending action sequences with dramatic set pieces.

There aren't widely reported records of major international awards or nominations for this show, at least in sources readily available, so its recognition seems more audience based than awards driven.

Viewers and some reviewers praised the show for its strong performances and polished production design, especially in recreating Shanghai's early 20th century atmosphere. While opinions vary, many appreciated the mix of action and interpersonal drama, and the series earned a solid viewer rating on some platforms.

The show leans into themes of ambition, loyalty, and the costs of power, often showing how personal decisions ripple into larger political and commercial struggles. Its action and confrontations highlight shifting social orders and the compromises characters make as they pursue influence, giving the drama a tension that keeps momentum across episodes.