{{Infobox television | image = To_Be_a_Better_Man.jpg | caption = | genre = Drama <br>Romance | runtime = 45 minutes (approx.) | creator = | director = Zhang Xiaobo | writer = Li Xiao<br>Yu Miao<br>Zhang Yingji | starring = Sun Honglei<br> Jiang Shuying<br> Wang Yaoqing <br>Che Xiao <br>Lay Zhang<br> Guan Xiaotong | country = China | language = Chinese | company = Linmon Pictures<br>LeEco<br>Yida Media<br>Changjiang Culture | network = Jiangsu Television, Zhejiang Television | first_aired = {{Start date|2016|5|31|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2016|6|22|df=y}} | num_episodes = 42 | related = | budget = US$23 million<ref name=fox>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/asia/fox-buys-to-be-a-better-man-from-linmon-1201781783/|title=Fox Buys Chinese Series 'To Be A Better Man' From Linmon|date=May 24, 2016|work=Variety|access-date=August 13, 2025|archive-date=October 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014001351/https://variety.com/2016/tv/asia/fox-buys-to-be-a-better-man-from-linmon-1201781783/|url-status=live}}</ref> | image_size = 210 }}
'''''To Be a Better Man''''' ({{zh|s=好先生}}) is a 2016 Chinese television series produced by LeEco and directed by Zhang Xiaobo. It stars Sun Honglei, Jiang Shuying, Wao Yaoqing, Che Xiao, Lay Zhang and Guan Xiaotong. The series was aired on Jiangsu TV and Zhejiang TV from 31 May to 22 June 2016.
==Synopsis== Lu Yuan worked hard in America to become a Michelin 3-star chef. To many, he is the Devil incarnate, reckless and wanton. But when it comes to the person he loves, he is an entirely different "good man" who is loyal, kind, and honest. After a nightmarish car accident takes away his friend, he returns home with his remains.
Now returning to China, Lu Yuan initially has three goals. First, he wants to bring the ashes of his friend, who died in the car accident, back to China and let them rest in peace. Second, he wants to return his best friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Jia He to her birth mother, before finding a remote place and committing suicide. However unexpectedly, he met the person he least wants to see and becomes entangled with both his unresolved and new relationships.
==Cast== *Sun Honglei as Lu Yuan *Jiang Shuying as Jiang Lai *Wang Yaoqing as Jiang Haokun *Che Xiao as Gan Jing *Lay Zhang as Xiao Cai *Guan Xiaotong as Peng Jiahe *Dong Yong as Peng Hai *Wan Qian as Xu Li *Feng Jiayi as Manager Hui Jing
==Soundtrack== {{tracklist | collapsed = | headline = Soundtrack album | extra_column = Singer | total_length = | all_writing = | all_lyrics = | all_music = | title1 = Mr. Right | note1 = Opening theme song | writer1 = Ke Ke | lyricst1 = Tan Xuan | music1 = | extra1 = | length1 = 2:03 | title2 = ''Far Road'' (路远) | note2 = Ending theme song | writer2 = Cai Kejun | lyricst2 = Tan Xuan | music2 = | extra2 = Zhang Lei | length2 = 5:24 | title3 = ''Forget About Her'' (忘了她) | note3 = | writer3 = Bi Feng | lyricst3 = Huang Hui, Tan Xuan | music3 = | extra3 = Perhat Khaliq | length3 = 5:00 | title4 = ''Be Good'' (好好的) | note4 = | writer4 = Bi Feng | lyricst4 = Tan Xuan | music4 = | extra4 = Ceng Di | length4 = 4:24 | title5 = ''Song About Love''<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHTB2ESYss8|title = Song About Love|website = YouTube|access-date = 2025-08-13|archive-date = 2025-04-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250407035722/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHTB2ESYss8&feature=youtu.be|url-status = live}}</ref> | note5 = | writer5 = Li Yuxi | lyricst5 = | music5 = | extra5 = Li Yuxi | length5 = 4:11 | title6 = ''Grow'' | note6 = | writer6 = Li Yuxi | lyricst6 = | music6 = | extra6 = Li Yuxi | length6 = 4:36 | title7 = | length7 = | title8 = | length8 = | title9 = | length9 = | title10 = | length10 = }}
==Reception== The drama is both a critical and commercial success. It received acclaim for its heart-warming and realistic storyline, strong performance of its leads as well as cinematography and costume design.<ref name=net>{{cite web|url=http://ent.163.com/16/0628/11/BQL4945R00034VDC.html|title=《好先生》网播量突破100亿 领跑现象级大剧|date=June 28, 2016|work=NetEase|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023064003/http://ent.163.com/16/0628/11/BQL4945R00034VDC.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.qq.com/a/20160624/019934.htm?qqcom_pgv_from=aio#p=1|title=《好先生》成现象级大剧 口碑成就2016剧王品质|date=June 24, 2016|work=NetEase}}</ref> According to ''NetEase'', the drama discusses from a detached point of view on searching for the true meaning of life in a society where people blindly chase after materialistic wants. It also touches on the importance of trust, family and love.<ref name=net />
=== Ratings === {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible jquery-tablesorter" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="1" rowspan="2" |'''Broadcast'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=电视剧收视率排行榜 {{!}} 收视率排行|url=http://www.tvtv.hk/archives/category/dianshiju|access-date=2020-06-06|language=zh-CN|archive-date=2021-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005081419/http://www.tvtv.hk/archives/category/dianshiju|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! colspan="1" rowspan="2" |'''Episode''' ! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''Zhejiang TV CSM52 ratings''' ! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''Jiangsu TV CSM52 ratings''' |- !'''Ratings (%)''' !'''Audience share (%)''' !'''Rank''' !'''Ratings (%)''' !'''Audience share (%)''' !'''Rank''' |- |2016.5.31 |1 |1.000 |2.843 |3 |0.922 |2.613 |5 |- |2016.6.1 |2-3 |'''<span style="color:blue">0.726</span>''' |'''<span style="color:blue">2.24</span>''' |4 |'''<span style="color:blue">0.705</span>''' |'''<span style="color:blue">2.174</span>''' |5 |- |2016.6.2 |4-5 |0.747 |2.25 |5 |0.839 |2.523 |3 |- |2016.6.3 |6-7 |0.867 |2.59 |4 |0.764 |2.26 |5 |- |2016.6.4 |8-9 |1.081 |3.39 |2 |0.794 |2.52 |3 |- |2016.6.5 |10 |0.980 |2.93 |2 |0.920 |2.89 |3 |- |2016.6.6 |11-12 |0.955 |2.89 |4 |1.046 |3.16 |3 |- |2016.6.7 |13-14 |1.052 |3.20 |4 |1.124 |3.42 |3 |- |2016.6.8 |15-16 |1.070 |3.30 |3 |1.100 |3.39 |2 |- |2016.6.9 |17-18 |0.968 |3.04 |3 |1.133 |3.56 |2 |- |2016.6.10 |19-20 |1.092 |3.33 |3 |1.092 |3.30 |2 |- |2016.6.11 |21-22 |1.186 |3.43 |2 |1.094 |3.17 |3 |- |2016.6.12 |23 |1.202 |3.58 |2 |1.200 |3.56 |3 |- |2016.6.13 |24-25 |1.594 |4.61 |3 |1.250 |3.70 |4 |- |2016.6.14 |26-27 |1.312 |3.85 |2 |1.224 |3.59 |3 |- |2016.6.15 |28-29 |1.405 |4.23 |2 |1.245 |3.74 |3 |- |2016.6.16 |30-31 |1.214 |3.83 |2 |1.196 |3.77 |3 |- |2016.6.17 |32-33 |1.320 |4.09 |2 |1.237 |3.77 |3 |- |2016.6.18 |34-35 |1.162 |3.81 |3 |1.464 |4.50 |2 |- |2016.6.19 |36 |1.381 |4.20 |3 |1.469 |4.66 |2 |- |2016.6.20 |37-38 |1.597 |4.93 |1 |1.555 |4.49 |2 |- |2016.6.21 |39-40 |1.738 |'''<span style="color:red">5.42</span>''' |1 |1.586 |4.94 |2 |- |2016.6.22 |41-42 |'''<span style="color:red">1.752</span>''' |5.38 |1 |'''<span style="color:red">1.657</span>''' |'''<span style="color:red">5.09</span>''' |2 |- ! colspan="2" rowspan="1" |'''Average ratings''' ! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''1.169''' ! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''1.172''' |} * Highest ratings are marked in '''<span style="color:red">red</span>''', lowest ratings are marked in '''<span style="color:blue">blue</span>'''
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Award !! Category !! Nominated work !! Result!!Ref. |- | 11th National Top-Notch Television Award Ceremony || Outstanding Television Series||''To Be a Better Man'' ||{{won}}|| |- | rowspan=8| 22nd Huading Awards || Best Director || Zhang Xiaobo ||{{nom}} || rowspan=8|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2017-04-28/doc-ifyetwsm0910503.shtml|title=华鼎奖提名公布投票开启 《人民》吴刚陆毅齐入围|work=Sina|date=April 28, 2017|access-date=2017-04-29|archive-date=2020-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801074211/http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2017-04-28/doc-ifyetwsm0910503.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=huading1>{{cite web|url=http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/ent/tv/sinacn/20170518/06037869334.html|title=第22届电视华鼎奖获奖名单公布|work=Sina|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 26, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109023029/http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/ent/tv/sinacn/20170518/06037869334.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | Best Screenwriter || Li Xiao, Yu Miao, Zhang Yingji ||{{won}} |- |Best Actor || Sun Honglei ||{{nom}} |- |Best Actress (Contemporary) || Jiang Shuying ||{{nom}} |- |Best Supporting Actor ||Wang Yaoqing ||{{nom}} |- |Best Supporting Actress ||Guan Xiaotong ||{{nom}} |- | Best New Actor ||Lay Zhang ||{{nom}} |- |Top 10 Dramas ||rowspan=2|''To Be a Better Man''|| {{won}} |- |rowspan=3|23rd Shanghai Television Festival || Best Television Series || {{nom}}||rowspan=3|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.ifeng.com/a/20170524/42937368_0.shtml|title=23届上海电视节入围名单公布 《欢乐颂》获八项提名|date=May 24, 2017|work=ent.ifeng|language=zh|access-date=May 24, 2017|archive-date=May 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515155249/http://ent.ifeng.com/a/20170524/42937368_0.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | Best Actor || Sun Honglei ||{{nom}} |- | Best Supporting Actress ||Guan Xiaotong ||{{won}} |}
==International broadcast== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Channel||Place||Date||Time||Notes |- |Jiangsu Television<br>Zhejiang Television||{{CHN}}||rowspan="2"|May 31, 2016||Everyday 19:30-21:15|| |- |Star Chinese Channel||{{HK}}<br>{{SIN}}<br>{{MYS}}<br>{{CAN}}<br>{{USA}}|| ||International Version<ref name=fox /> |- |VTV3||{{flag|Vietnam}}||January 18, 2017||Monday-Friday 12:00|| |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://ku.ent.sina.com.cn/tv/16033 To Be a Better Man (Sina.com direct)]
{{Jiangsu Television Happy Theatre}} {{Zhejiang Television Dramas}}
Category:2016 Chinese television series debuts Category:Television shows set in Shanghai Category:Chinese romance television series Category:2016 Chinese television series endings Category:Jiangsu Television original programming Category:Chinese drama television series Category:Television series by Linmon Pictures