The most googled television show of 2018 was a period drama from China, despite the search engine being blocked there.
Google's annual search trend ratings found its users were more interested in China's Story of Yanxi Palace than any other international program.
The show has been a runaway success for iQiyi, a Chinese streaming service, where it has been viewed more than 15 billion times.
YouTube
Set in 1700s China, it follows protagonist Wei Yingluo as she seeks revenge for the death of her sister.
Actress Wu Jinyan plays the lead, who enters a royal palace and rises in the ranks of the concubines.
The 70-episode epic, built around powers struggles and palace intrigue, has drawn comparisons to HBO's Game of Thrones.
According to Google, The Story of Yanxi Palace was searched extensively across Asia in countries like Singapore and Malaysia, but also from within China itself.
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