Understanding the Third Viewing | The Rise and Fall of Historical Dramas: The Creative Puzzles Behind "Success" and "Failure"

Column Introduction: "It was only after the third watch that I truly understood..." is a frequently used phrase in online comments, often indicating that after repeatedly savoring a beloved film or TV show, one can grasp its classic scenes and deeper meanings. "Only after three viewings can one truly understand" describes a podcast series where host Sanhe invites friends from the film and television industry to share insider insights and interpret the hidden implications of cinematic works.

Episode Introduction: Historical romance dramas, often associated with terms like "naive," "youthful," "superficial," and "fan culture," are a genre that has nonetheless held up a significant portion of the domestic drama landscape in recent years. Highlighting some of the popular domestic shows from the past decade, many are historical romances. In 2024, following the breakout successes of "The Blossoming Flower," "The Era of Adversity," "The Elegance Between Flowers," and "Clouds in the Ink Rain" in the first half of the year, the second half saw a series of historical romances failing to perform well, prompting voices within the industry and market to question the viability of this genre. Is this really the case? Is the historical romance genre truly over? What stories lie behind its creation?

In this episode of the podcast, two young screenwriters join Sanhe for a lively discussion analyzing the performance of historical romance dramas in 2024, delving into the reasons behind hits and "flops." They examine the thorny issues of the creative process—from plot structure to character development—exploring new boundaries in the creation of historical romance dramas. Focusing on the emerging trend of "long-form to short-form" storytelling, they discuss the opportunities and challenges this transformation brings to the genre. It is hoped that whether one is a fan of historical romance dramas, a critic of the genre, or a professional in the film and television industry, all can reflect together on the past, present, and future of historical romance dramas during this dialogue.

Host for this Episode: Sanhe

Guests for this Episode: Luo Junyue (works include "Reboot," "Sand Sea," "Big Character," etc.) / Ouyang Lou (works include "The Young Poet of Long Wind," "Tale of the Nine-Tailed Fox," etc.)