Television shows need a boost.

After the hype surrounding "The Lone Path" and "Walking Amidst the Brilliant Sky," prime-time television dramas on VTV and other channels have cooled down, lacking the massive viral surges on social media seen before.

EXPANDING CONTENT AND CHANGING BROADCAST TIMES ARE STILL NOT A "HOT STORY"

Recent television dramas have shown more diverse content, no longer focusing on family dramas or romance, but rather on everyday stories that are deeply rooted in reality. They depict the struggles of the poor and those facing hardship, rather than luxury cars, CEOs, mansions, and spoiled rich kids… Viewers can still find many humane, positive, and healing stories with a distinctly Vietnamese flavor in dramas like " My Father Who Stayed Behind," "Dusty Roads," "Mother Sea," "Gentle Sunshine," "Cold Sun," "Rainbow on the Horizon," and "The Heir to Tam Duc…" However, these dramas still lack the "attraction" of " The Lone Path , " " Walking in the Brilliant Sky ," and even those that were once huge hits.

Gentle like sunshine

PHOTO: VFC

Since the beginning of 2025, Vietnam Television - VFC Film Studio has proactively developed a strategy to change the prime-time broadcast schedule for films in order to attract viewers of all ages and create a habit of watching films at fixed times, but the effect does not seem to have been as expected.

Commenting on the current stagnation of Vietnamese television dramas, director Do Thanh Son stated: "In my opinion, this is because Vietnamese television dramas today lack sincerity, identity, and, more importantly, genuine stories. We chase trends, forcing ourselves into formulas like 'family - betrayal - love triangle - poverty overcoming hardship,' but we do it superficially, the scripts lack depth, and the emotions aren't resonant enough. It's understandable that viewers get bored after watching just a few episodes."

A rainbow on the horizon

PHOTO: VFC

Speaking about the quality of television scripts, the director of " Walking Amidst the Brilliant Sky" further shared that we lack the time and environment to nurture good scripts. Many young screenwriters are very talented, but they are pressured to meet monthly or quarterly deadlines, "leaving no space to think deeply, write thoroughly, and nurture their work." Director Do Thanh Son believes: "A good script needs to be read, edited, critiqued, and lived with the writer for at least a few months. We don't yet have a professional process for that."

Watching current television dramas, viewers can easily spot actors playing the same type of role, a character type perfectly suited to them. No matter how good the actor is or how popular they are, this can become monotonous. Furthermore, actors don't have many opportunities to showcase their creativity and create impactful performances in different roles. While there are many young actors in television, their acting is often lacking, and they don't have distinctive qualities, so even in leading roles, they fail to make a lasting impression on viewers.

Director Do Thanh Son also warned about a situation occurring in some film crews where actors are chosen solely based on the number of followers they have on social media, rather than because the actor is suitable for the role or has good acting ability.

HOW TO CREATE A "LEAP FORWARD"?

According to representatives from several television production companies, they have been experimenting with short series. Short series represent flexibility in today's digital age, where audiences tend to prefer concise yet emotionally resonant content. Reducing the number of episodes can raise script standards, focusing on suspense and subtle plot points.

Cold sun

PHOTO: VFC

"To create a real breakthrough for television dramas, producers need a clear strategy, from specifically identifying their target audience, creating works that suit their tastes, and defining their filmmaking style. In addition, establishing a clear process throughout all stages makes film production faster and more efficient. Simultaneously, creative marketing strategies are needed to promote the film, effectively utilizing social media platforms and interacting regularly with the audience. Finally, producers need to be willing to change and experiment with different genres," said a representative from Hoa Binh Film.

Finding new faces and providing further training for young actors is also very important. Currently, VFC is still holding auditions and training programs for young actors. Several other organizations have also planned to establish training classes and discover young acting talents through casting and practical acting programs.

"We need a systematic and long-term ecosystem for training and supporting young actors. As for familiar actors, don't just cast them in the same roles. Let them try roles that are outside their usual storyline, let them be 'crushed,' let them fail, fall in love with the wrong person, or play villains in films," director Do Thanh Son suggested.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phim-truyen-hinh-can-them-cu-bat-185250630230425057.htm