The Queen of SOP

The Queen of SOP is a 2012 Chinese-Taiwanese idol drama produced by GTV and directed by Zhang Boyu. The series assembles a familiar ensemble cast, with Joe Chen, Zhang Meng, Jiang Yi, Godfrey Gao, Zhang Han and Hans Zhang credited among the leads, Hans Zhang playing Tang Jun, also known as Tom. Rather than focusing on a single market, the show premiered on Hunan Television in mainland China before airing on Taiwan's FTV on October 14, 2012. It stepped into the schedule as a replacement for Once Upon a Love, carrying the glossy production values and romantic plot beats typical of regional idol dramas.

The series was produced by GTV and directed by Zhang Boyu, with its initial broadcast on Hunan Television, then on Taiwan's FTV starting October 14, 2012. The cross-strait release helped it reach audiences in both mainland China and Taiwan.

The show didn't gather major international awards, and it isn't widely cited in prize lists outside the region. Its recognition was mostly within fan circles and regional media coverage, where cast performances and promotional events drew more attention than formal accolades.

Among viewers of Asian idol dramas, The Queen of SOP left a mark on the careers of several cast members. Promotional photos, music from the soundtrack and select scenes circulated online, helping the actors gain visibility across Greater China. For fans of the genre, it became part of the early 2010s wave of glossy romance series that relied on star chemistry and style.

Critical and audience reactions were mixed to positive; the available user rating sits at 7.5 out of 10, though that number comes from a small sample of votes. Reviewers tended to note familiar genre conventions, highlighting themes of romance, ambition and interpersonal conflict within glossy workplace and relationship settings. If you like character-driven, romantic melodrama with a polished visual look and a well known cast, this show delivers what fans expect.