The Imperial Coroner 2 (2026) - Final Review

Final review/rating: The Imperial Coroner 2 (2026) - Nostalgia can only take the dream team so far in this uninspired sequel

This is 7/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮  from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         7 Stars Plot:                      6.5 Stars Acting/cast:           7 Stars Chemistry:             7 Stars Music:                    7 Stars Re-watch value:      6 Stars Enjoyment factor:   7 Stars

I was so excited to see this hotly anticipated sequel to The Imperial Coroner (2021) and wanted to love it so much. Season 1 was an absolute gem of a drama, and was easily a 9 out of 10 stars for me (👉review). Season 2 brings back the original Director (Lou Jian), one of the original Screenwriters (Qian Xiao Bai), and all of the original main cast members - our dream team of Chu Chu (Su Xuai Tong), little goldfish Xiao Jin Yu (Wang Zi Qi), Jing Yi (Yang Ting Dong) Lang Yue (Zhao Yao Ke). Even adorkable older bro Xiao Jin Li (Wang Yan Bin) is back. Surely a recipe for success? 

But alas, despite a promising start and the warm nostalgic feeling of a reunion with old friends, it was evident early on that The Imperial Coroner 2 (2026) was not on par with the original in terms of novelty and whimsy. The cases were bland, the relationship dynamics often felt contrived, and the drama's pedestrian pace and predictability meant that it was mediocre at best. 

Albeit the occasional moments of brilliance that reminded me why I loved season 1 so much, season 2 definitely falls short by comparison. I give it a 7 out of 10 stars, but that is a subjectively generous score - it is more of a 6.5, with an extra 0.5 added for pure nostalgia. 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

The Imperial Coroner 2 (2026) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:                      The Imperial Coroner 2 (2026)

Chinese title:         御赐小仵作2

Episodes:               28

Genre:                    Detective, historical, mystery, romance

Original network:  Tencent 

Release date:         15 Jan 2026

Airing schedule:     15 Jan - 27 Jan 2026

Synopsis:

This sequel is set three years after The Imperial Coroner (2021). It follows the story of imperial coroner Chu Chu and Prince An Xiao Jin Yu, and their friends and colleagues, Jing Yi and Leng Yue, as they navigate married life while continuing to do the crucial work of the Three Judicial Ministries三法司. 

  

The Imperial Coroner (2021) - Final Review

Final review/rating: The Imperial Coroner (2021) - A delightfully clever gem of a drama in the historical detective genre 

This is 9/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         9 Stars Plot:                       9 Stars Acting/cast:            9 Stars Couple chemistry:   8 stars Music:                    8 Stars Re-watch value:      9 Stars Enjoyment factor:   9 Stars

The Imperial Coroner (2021) is the best detective genre drama I've seen in quite some time! It's delightfully clever - the plot unfolds with some truly ingenious cases, which do not insult the intelligence of the audience.  

Add to that a young and talented cast with exceptional chemistry and just enough romance to be sweet without being cloying, and you get a very enjoyable drama that's definitely worth a watch and re-watch. 

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

The Imperial Coroner (2021) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  The Imperial Coroner

Chinese title: 御赐小仵作

Episodes:  36 + extra episode

Genre: Detective, historical, mystery, romance

Original network: Tencent

Release date:      29 April 2021

Airing schedule:  29 April 2021 - 20 May 2021

Synopsis:

Chu Chu is an aspiring young coroner, who comes from a family of coroners.  She heads to Chang'an to obtain a post and to make a mark for herself.  There, she meets the brilliant head of the criminal investigative bureau, Prince Xiao Jin Yu, who is impressed with her talent and unafraid to hire her despite her gender.   

Prince Xiao Jin Yu assembles a formidable investigative team in Chu Chu, Leng Yue and Jing Yi. Together they investigate and solve an 18 year old cold case and uncovers its links to a current conspiracy that threatens to overturn the empire itself.