Wang Baoqiang Caught in Public Opinion Storm, New Drama “Chess Player” Accused of Plagiarizing American Drama

The grassroots mainland Chinese actor Wang Baoqiang, who produced and starred in the new drama “The Chess Player,” ran into a “plagiarism controversy” after it aired on CCTV, the Chinese state television, on March 25. Many viewers pointed out that the plot and characters of the drama bear a striking resemblance to the classic American series “Breaking Bad,” igniting a firestorm of public opinion online.

“The Chess Player” tells the story of Go teacher Cui Ye (played by Wang Baoqiang) and how he gradually descends into the abyss of crime.

Some netizens have listed the similarities between “The Chess Player” and “Breaking Bad”: both dramas revolve around honest individuals getting involved in crimes due to unexpected circumstances. Wang Baoqiang’s character Cui Ye is a Go teacher, while Walter White in “Breaking Bad” is a chemistry teacher, with the setting of characters “crossing into crime” almost identical.

Moreover, both characters are pushed to a dead end by life – one turns to robbery, the other to making drugs; both have a rebellious son at home and a wife who is on the verge of divorce; most notably, the presence of police relatives is a common thread: Cui Ye’s brother is a policeman, while Walter White’s brother-in-law Hank is a drug enforcement agent. Even the protagonists’ sidekicks bear a strong resemblance: Xia Sheng, the naive younger brother in “The Chess Player,” is strikingly similar to Pinkman in “Breaking Bad”; the plots of both dramas follow a similar trajectory – a male lead, paired with a sidekick, meet by chance, and then go into crime together.

Netizens have criticized, with some saying, “The Chess Player simply took the features of ‘Breaking Bad’ and applied them directly to a Chinese context.” They have dubbed “The Chess Player” as a “Chinese-ified condensed version” of “Breaking Bad.”

In response to the public outcry, the screenwriter of “The Chess Player” reportedly admitted to “referencing” “Breaking Bad,” but the production team has yet to provide a direct response regarding authorization. As the producer and lead actor, Wang Baoqiang’s company’s involvement has drawn criticism towards him personally.

People’s opinions have been divided, with some supporting the idea that “borrowing frameworks is common” and even calling it “imitation.” On the other hand, many have lashed out, stating that in 2025, rehashing a series from 16 years ago seems outdated and questioning why China is still producing a Chinese version of a show like “Breaking Bad” that originated in 2008, lamenting the scarcity of original Chinese scripts.

Born in a rural village in Hebei, Wang Baoqiang practiced martial arts at the age of 6, spent time as a lay disciple at the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song from 8 to 14, and later ventured to Beijing. At 42 years old, he has appeared in multiple films such as “Lost in Thailand” and the “Detective Chinatown” series, and last year he wrote, directed, and starred in the film “The Ferryman.” His films have grossed over 10 billion RMB at the box office in total.