Hey folks, big news! The 32nd Golden Eagle Awards has officially opened for voting, and the buzz is real. The nominee list is packed with heavy hitters—The Sea in My Dreams, The Longest Promise, and more—enough to make your head spin.
But let’s be honest, voting can be a real headache. Some netizens are grumbling: “If it’s a popularity award anyway, why not just hand it to the shows with the highest ratings and views? Why all the fuss?” At first, I totally agreed. I thought I’d just cast a quick vote for my favorite drama. Then I realized… you need to register, log in, fill in details, solve a captcha. Ugh. Total mood killer.
And here’s the kicker—you have to vote for at least 18 works. Seriously? Beyond a handful of favorites, the rest are pure blind clicks. By the end, you feel like a headless fly bumping around.
Add in the sheer power of fanbases, and the whole thing feels like a battlefield. One fan might juggle dozens of accounts, while fan clubs organize armies to storm the voting site. For smaller shows, survival looks tough.
Of course, others argue it’s not that simple. Even the biggest stars can’t make it if their work isn’t good enough to be nominated. Plus, the Golden Eagle results aren’t based solely on fan votes—experts and the TV association also weigh in, with the final tally being an average of all three. That does sound a bit more balanced.
Speaking for myself, I only managed to watch a few dramas this year: The Knockout, Season of Romance, and Mysterious Lotus Casebook. Among them, Mysterious Lotus Casebook stood out—finally, a no-CP wuxia drama after ages! The fight scenes were sharp, the brotherhood themes stirring, and both its buzz and reviews were stellar.
The Sea in My Dreams tells an inspiring story of young people chasing their dreams. Being a Hero dives into the dangerous world of anti-drug police—intense and eye-opening. Immortal Samsara is another fantasy romance, though I’ll admit I need to catch up on that one.
At the end of the day, Golden Eagle voting is one big spectacle. Some cry “unfair,” some look for deeper meaning, and others just watch the drama unfold. But deep down, we all hope the award will honor truly outstanding works. If it turns into nothing more than a popularity contest, it risks losing its credibility.
So, who’s your pick this year? The wildly popular Xiao Zhan, the steadily rising Cheng Yi, or the ever-reliable Yang Zi? Whatever the outcome, let’s hope this year’s Golden Eagle Awards bring us winners that audiences and critics alike can cheer for—and keep China’s TV industry shining bright.
