The gap between Chinese and American TV series from the second season of Fargo

Compared with the popular domestic TV series, American TV series have always been regarded as the benchmark of the industry. Some people have joked that American crime dramas are about solving cases, how dedicated the police are, and how the process of solving cases is tortuous; while domestic police dramas are about the love stories of the police.

On February 22, Sohu Video, the leading American drama platform in China, announced that it would exclusively introduce the second season of Fargo. As soon as the news came out, it aroused the enthusiasm of a large number of American drama fans - "This evil and delicious drama is finally here again."

Let’s start with this great drama and analyze what gaps domestic TV dramas still have to overcome compared to American dramas.

How to evaluate the second season of Fargo

"It's a perfect enjoyment to watch this drama. I haven't had my TV box record a whole season of an American drama for a long time." The Observer once gave such a high evaluation to the first season of Fargo. At the same time, the first season of Fargo also won three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards in 2014, becoming the biggest dark horse in American dramas that year.

After the great success of the first season of Fargo, the American FX cable TV network immediately put the creation of the second season on the agenda. The new story is set in the 1970s and continues the narrative and camera style of the previous season. As soon as this news came out, fans really worried about the show, thinking that it would be difficult to surpass the masterpiece of the first season and become a mediocre work that started brilliantly but became more and more ridiculous in the end.

However, the facts once again proved the plasticity of the show and the outstanding strength of the screenwriters and filming team. When the second season of "Fargo" officially met with the audience on October 12, US time, everyone was shocked. The fast-paced plot, the appropriate gloomy atmosphere, and the absurd and interesting humor settings staged an amazing high-level drama. All those who doubted that the second season would tarnish the reputation of the first work regretted what they had said.

Atlanta Times commented: "The casting is excellent, the plot is richer and more tortuous than the first season, and the wild imagination and evil horror are presented in a very high-end way." In the top ten dramas of the year published by Entertainment Weekly film critics, Fargo Season 2 topped the list and was named the best drama of the year. Fargo also has a place in the top ten American dramas of 2015 announced by the authoritative American Film Institute (AFI). Some comments even said: The Fargo series can be regarded as the pinnacle of TV series.

The overall style of the play is close to magical realism. The chaotic and absurd reality contains a lot of metaphors and is dotted with supernatural phenomena. The screenwriter has multiple plot lines. The characters are well-developed, and the causes and consequences of the behaviors are clearly explained. The actors' performances are very tense and there are many noteworthy points. When talking about the play, a famous domestic film critic said: "If you are tired of the lengthy and dull Chinese dramas and want to try something different, Fargo will definitely satisfy the audience's dark heart."

Different American dramas and stereotyped Chinese dramas

When it comes to the difference between the richness of American TV series and the monotony of Chinese TV series, many people attribute it to the relevant national policies, which limit the screenwriters' imagination. The constraints of relevant policies are one aspect, but even if the policies were completely open, could we produce masterpieces like "Fargo", "Game of Thrones" and "Breaking Bad"?

At present, in China, the biggest investment in shooting a TV series is the actor's salary. Even if a popular star cannot act, he can play the leading role as long as he is popular. This leads to a shortage of funds for shooting, writing and producing a TV series. TV series are nothing more than telling stories to the audience. In the United States, the biggest investment in a TV series is often the script and screenwriter. Generally, there will be multiple screenwriters. No matter how famous the actors are, the plot of the TV series will not be specially planned for the actors, but the plot is the priority. For example, Colin Hanks, the leading actor in "Fargo", whose father is Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, does not have the airs of a second-generation star, and his performance in the show was praised.

In terms of shooting time, Chinese TV series are usually shot at a speed of one episode every two days, and they will shoot 60 episodes first regardless of the ratings, so there are often many flaws in the series. The weekly broadcast model of American TV series is constantly changed based on user feedback. If it is found that the audience is not buying it, the ratings are not good and it is very likely to be taken off the shelves.

In addition, in terms of the peripheral development and scalability of TV series, domestic teams are still in the early stages. At the beginning of filming American TV series, peripheral products are planned. In addition to copyright fees, a large part of the income comes from peripheral derivatives, and preparations are made for secondary development of the plot, such as shooting sequels and derivative dramas. This relies on the mature production line of American film and television production, while China still has a long way to go.

In general, Chinese dramas still have a lot of room for improvement in terms of actors, screenwriters, production, and technology. If the audience is tired of watching the anti-Japanese war fever and palace fighting dramas in Chinese dramas, they might as well watch a few episodes of American dramas as a snack. It is understood that as the number one platform for American dramas and variety shows, Sohu Video has always maintained a strong investment. This year, it has introduced the best new dramas in the United States, including "Legends of Tomorrow", "Quarantine", "Rush Hour", "Quantico", etc. At the same time, the high-quality American dramas that have been renewed for new seasons, including "The Big Bang Theory", "Gotham", "The Strain", "The Last Ship", "Outlander", "Bloodline", etc., will continue to be exclusively broadcast on Sohu Video.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.