The 32nd China TV Golden Eagle Award winners announced, Fan Wei and Zhao Liying take top acting honors

The 32nd China TV Golden Eagle Awards, one of the most prestigious television awards in China, announced its winners after much anticipation. The star-studded ceremony honored the best in Chinese television over the past year.

The coveted Best Television Series award went to the sci-fi epic “Three-Body”, adapted from Liu Cixin’s novel. “Three-Body” also won Best Directing for Yang Lei. This marks a major milestone for Chinese science fiction television. Despite production and visual effects challenges, “Three-Body” achieved critical and commercial success with its grand world-building and thought-provoking themes. This win cements its status as a landmark series.

In the acting categories, there was little dispute over the winners. Renowned actor Fan Wei finally took home the Best Actor trophy for his nuanced performance in the period drama “The Longest Day in Chang’an”. Fan masterfully portrayed the world-weary yet determined investigator over several decades, conveying both grit and tenderness. This win rights the wrong of his previous snubs.

Zhao Liying won Best Actress for her role in the romance drama “Half a Summer”. While some argued her co-nominees like Liu Tao gave stronger performances, Zhao’s sheer star power and improved dramatic chops made her a shoo-in with her third straight Golden Eagle Award. Time will tell if she has truly reached the acting heights worthy of sweeping the top awards.

In the supporting categories, Wang Jingchun and Gao Ye were recognized for their scene-stealing turns in “Police Honor” and “The Longest Day in Chang’an” respectively. Both wins were popular choices that added to the credibility of this year’s awards.

Two veterans, Yu Bencang and Zhang Xulin, received Lifetime Achievement Awards. From his early days to his pivotal role in “A Lifelong Journey”, 91-year-old Yu epitomizes the best of an acting career with a tireless devotion to the craft. His moving speech, noting “an actor may not always act well, but must never provide anything harmful”, struck a chord and highlighted the responsibility of artists.

Other notable winners include “Flowering”, a lush period romance, for Best Screenwriter, variety show “Call Me By Fire - Baoshan” and its host He Jiong for taking the variety categories, and the animation “Boonie Bears: The Big Shrink” as Best Animated Series.

Overall, the 32nd Golden Eagle Awards found a strong balance in celebrating popular hits, technical achievements, and powerful performances. By recognizing substantive fare like “Three-Body” alongside commercial successes, it positioned itself as a credible benchmark that both reflects and shapes the Chinese television landscape. As a barometer of the industry, this edition set a positive direction for the future. The Golden Eagle Awards seem to have regained its perch as China’s definitive television honor.