Core Viewpoint - The Chinese costume drama industry is facing challenges, with fans increasingly concerned and new projects garnering more attention than ongoing series, indicating a struggle for the genre in 2025 [1] Group 1: Industry Challenges - The current "cold winter" in the film and television industry has raised the cost of trial and error, making it difficult for both established and emerging talents to absorb the losses from failed dramas [2] - Fans are investing more time and money, leading to a "supervision" culture where they seek more control over casting and production decisions [2] - Despite the decline in new drama energy, discussions around directors remain vibrant, with multiple actors appearing in several dramas, providing audiences with more material for comparison [2] Group 2: Director Performance - The transition of directors in the costume drama sector shows mixed results, with only 7 out of over 30 dramas this year directed by Hong Kong directors, indicating a dominance of mainland directors [5][9] - Notable performances include Zheng Xiaolong and Yang Yang, who successfully captured the essence of male-oriented costume dramas, achieving ratings of 7.1 and 7.5 on Douban respectively [7] - The rise of younger directors, such as Zhi Zhu and Yang Long, reflects a shift towards fresh perspectives, with Zhi Zhu's work on "入青云" receiving acclaim for its visual aesthetics [9][10] Group 3: Audience Expectations - The definition of a good costume drama director is evolving, with audience preferences shifting towards those who can create engaging narratives and compelling character dynamics [19] - The success of dramas like "入青云" highlights the importance of storytelling and character relationships, which resonate well with viewers [15] - The emergence of short drama directors is seen as a potential solution to rejuvenate the genre, as they are adept at creating impactful visuals and engaging narratives within shorter formats [22][27] Group 4: Gender Dynamics in Directing - There is a noticeable trend of female directors in the short drama space, which may be attributed to their better understanding of female audience preferences [27] - Female directors often resonate more with female viewers, leading to more relatable content and effective handling of romantic and emotional themes [27] - The industry is witnessing a diversification of talent, with many young creators from non-traditional backgrounds gaining recognition [27]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing trend of actors in the ancient costume drama genre, highlighting that despite attempts at transformation, the industry remains dominated by established figures in realistic dramas, indicating a stagnation in opportunities for new talent [1] Group 1 - The actors mentioned, including Yang Mi, Liu Shishi, Tang Yan, and Zhao Liying, are still actively participating in ancient costume dramas, reminiscent of the 2010s [1] - The article suggests that while there have been numerous discussions about transformation, the barriers to entry in realistic themes are high, with established actors like Sun Li and Hai Qing dominating this space [1] - It is implied that the industry is aware of the superficial nature of these transformations, as genuine opportunities have been constrained by existing industry rules [1]

Core Viewpoint - The ancient costume drama genre, while mature and a key player in China's overseas content, faces challenges of innovation and audience fatigue due to formulaic storytelling and character development [1][2]. Group 1: Innovation Challenges - Recent popular ancient costume dramas like "Book of Dreams" have set new viewership records for 2025 but struggle with maintaining narrative quality as the plot becomes predictable and repetitive [1]. - The "tiger head, snake tail" phenomenon is common among recent ancient costume dramas, where initial creativity fails to sustain throughout the series, leading to viewer disengagement [1][2]. - The integration of modern psychological principles in dramas like "Eternal Night Star River" and "Palm Heart" shows initial promise but ultimately falls short in delivering a cohesive story [1]. Group 2: Production and Narrative Issues - The trend of borrowing elements from short dramas has led to a loss of the unique immersive experience that long dramas traditionally offer, resulting in fragmented storytelling [2]. - The production process, characterized by a conveyor-belt approach, often compromises the quality of the script, as multiple writers contribute to a single project, leading to inconsistencies in narrative and character development [2]. - The core appeal of ancient costume dramas lies in emotional depth and character growth, which is jeopardized when the focus shifts to quick, superficial storytelling [2]. Group 3: Future Directions - There is a need for ancient costume dramas to balance innovation with strong storytelling and character development, ensuring that new ideas are built on a solid foundation of narrative quality [3]. - A long-term perspective that respects creative processes and integrates innovation with coherent storytelling is essential for the genre's continued success [3].