Twelve Letters grabs 7.7 on Douban – best rating for a domestic romance drama in 2025 so far
Michelle Topham 
The 12-episode Chinese mystery thriller Twelve Letters aired from August 29th, 2025 to September 1st, 2025 on Tencent Video and on WeTV internationally.
It has since been rated a very high 8.8 out of 10 by viewers using My Drama List, an even higher 9.6 out of 10 on Viki where it is streaming for free internationally, and a solid 8.4 out of 10 on IMDB.
It also reached 21000 on the Tencent Video heat index as the C-drama ended. (Here’s how that heat index is calculated).
With such excellent reviews, it should be no surprise then to learn Twelve Letters has just earned an opening Douban rating of 7.7 out of 10 — an extremely good rating, and one that is likely to increase as time goes on.
That 7.7 Douban rating for Twelve Letters was announced on Tencent Video’s Weibo account earlier today, with a celebratory visual (above) and a comment that said:
#Twelve Letters Douban Score is 7.7# #Twelve Letters Ranks First in This Year’s Domestic Romance Drama Ratings#
The highest opening score on Douban for a 2025 domestic romance drama!
With delicate emotional expression and a solid narrative foundation, it tenderly portrays pure love and redemption across dual timelines. Thank you all for your recognition!
So, yes, not only an excellent opening Douban score for Twelve Letters, but also the best opening score on Douban for a domestic romance drama in 2025 so far.
Why is a 7.7 Douban score for Twelve Letters excellent?
A 7.7 on Douban for a modern Chinese romance drama like Twelve Letters is an excellent rating, and here’s why:
1. The “Douban Curve” is Brutal
Douban users are known for being critical, discerning, and often harsh reviewers, especially towards domestic TV dramas and films. The rating scale is not linear:
9.0+: Masterpiece territory (e.g., classic historical dramas like Nirvana in Fire).
8.0 – 8.9: Considered a very good to excellent show. It means the show has strong acclaim from both audiences and critics.
7.0 – 7.9: This is the zone of a solidly good, well-made, and well-received show. For a genre as common and often-criticized as romance, breaking into the 7s is a significant achievement.
6.0 – 6.9: Mediocre or deeply flawed. A show might be entertaining but have major problems with plot, acting, or logic.
Below 6.0: Generally considered poor or bad.
Therefore, a 7.7 immediately places Twelve Letters in the upper tier of shows, far above the average.
2. The Romance Genre is Particularly Tough
Romance dramas are massively produced and consumed, which leads to audience fatigue with clichés, poor writing, and unrealistic plots. Common criticisms include:
Wooden acting or lack of chemistry between leads.
Illogical plotlines that rely on overused tropes (e.g., miscommunication, love triangles).
Product placement that disrupts the story.
For a romance drama to overcome these common pitfalls and earn a score in the high 7s means it has successfully distinguished itself by being genuinely moving, well-acted, and intelligently written.
3. The Context: “2025’s Highest Rated Domestic Romance”
This is the most crucial part of the promotional text from Tencent Video, and that’s because the rating isn’t being judged in a vacuum; it’s being judged against its direct competitors.
A 7.7 might not seem astronomical, but if it’s the highest score so far in 2025, it means that no other romance drama this year has managed to surpass it. This signifies that:
It has been received more positively by the audience than any of its peers and it is, by the collective measure of Douban users, the best in its category for the year. So far.
4. “Opening Score” is a Big Deal
The “highest opening score” is a major vote of confidence. On Douban, a show often needs a significant number of ratings (tens of thousands) before the platform officially reveals its score.
That’s why a high opening score means:
The initial wave of viewers (often the most critical and engaged) were impressed.
It avoided the common fate of many dramas that start with a mediocre score (e.g., 6.5) and then drop even lower as more people watch.
It generated strong positive word-of-mouth right from the start.
In other words, Twelve Letters has kicked off with a bang on Douban, and chances are the C-drama may rise even further from here.
Twelve Letters stars Zhou Yi Ran (The Land of Warriors) and Wang Ying Lu (When Destiny Brings the Demon) and is now streaming in its entirety free-to-watch on Viki and for VIP subscribers on WeTV.
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