Why Fans Are Tired of Plastic Surgery in Period Dramas

The world of Chinese dramas (C-dramas) is currently facing a wave of criticism from viewers who are growing increasingly frustrated by the abundance of "plastic faces" on screen. The controversy recently peaked with the broadcast of the CCTV drama Always on the Move (Từ nam chí bắc), starring popular actress Jin Chen (Kim Thần). Set in the reform-era China of the 1970s, the drama aims for historical realism. However, Jin Chen's highly visible cosmetic enhancements—including plumped lips, a noticeably sculpted nose, and deeply defined double eyelids—have shattered the immersion for many viewers. Fans argue that her modern, surgically altered appearance feels entirely out of place in a historical setting, making it difficult to connect with her character.

Jin Chen is far from the only actress facing this backlash. Across the Chinese entertainment industry, many stars are turning to plastic surgery to maintain a youthful look, often at the cost of their natural acting expressions. For instance, actress Tao Hong (Đại Đào Hồng), beloved for her sweet and natural performance in the classic series Wind and Cloud (Phong Vân), shocked audiences with her appearance in The Pavilion (Sương mù đình bát giác). Viewers expressed disappointment at her swollen, unnatural facial features, which made her almost unrecognizable. Similarly, Huang Yi (Huỳnh Dịch), once a celebrated period-drama beauty in Wrong Carriage, Right Groom and My Fair Princess 3, showed prominent signs of cosmetic procedures in the drama Marvelous Women (Đương gia chủ mẫu) in her bid to defy aging.

Other notable cases include He Lin (Hà Lâm), whose expressive beauty once rivaled Zhou Xun in Palace of Desire (Đại Minh cung từ), but who now sports a stiff, unnatural face due to cosmetic procedures. Even younger stars like Zhao Yihuan (Triệu Dịch Hoan), once a dream girl for millions of male fans due to her fresh face and stunning figure, left audiences disappointed in the drama Plum Blossom and Red Peach (Hoa mai hồng đào) due to her altered eyelids and overly sharp chin.

According to entertainment critics, while aging is a natural process that is particularly stressful for actors whose careers rely on their looks, the over-reliance on plastic surgery is ruining the quality of television productions. Viewers find it especially hard to accept these modern cosmetic features in roles depicting military personnel or historical figures who lived through times of hardship. The lack of facial expressiveness and the distraction of "plastic features" are prompting a call for a return to natural, diverse beauty on screen.

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