This is an assessment considered quite low compared to the expectations for a large-scale project and an A-list star taking on the female lead role.
Right from its broadcast, "Tiểu thành đại sự" was ranked by Chinese media as a key film group at the beginning of 2026. The work has a famous production crew, high investment costs and is promoted as the biggest project in Zhao Liying's television career in recent years. However, the audience's reaction was not commensurate with the initial expectations.
On Douban - a reputable film review platform in China, the film only achieved 6.4 points, a figure reflecting a clear differentiation in viewer's opinions. Many comments said that the film's content was dry, the narration pace was slow, lacked climax and did not create strong empathy. A part of the audience appreciated Zhao Liying's acting efforts but said that the weak script made the overall work lack appeal.
Compared to previous successful projects, this is considered a significant step backwards in the career of the actress born in 1987. Once dubbed the "rating queen" of the 85th generation, Trieu Le Dinh has maintained a stable position in the TV drama market for many consecutive years. However, the two most recent projects, "Tại nhân gian" and "Tiểu thành đại sự", have not achieved the expected results, raising questions about her ability to "carry the film".
In which, "Tại nhân gian" is a experimental short film, picky about viewers, while "Tiểu thành đại sự" is a popular project but does not create a spread. The Douban score of 6.4 is considered a low average, making it difficult for the film to create a prominent position in a fiercely competitive market.
Experts believe that Zhao Liying's current problem is not in acting ability but in script selection. Recent roles are not breakthrough, lack psychological depth or are not attractive enough to retain audiences in the context of increasingly demanding tastes.
In addition, competition from actors of the same generation also creates great pressure. While Trieu Le Dinh continuously encountered difficulties, Duong Mich had a successful 2025 with "Sinh Van Vat", causing the media to regularly put the two names on the scale for comparison.
With the current scores and effects, "Tiểu thành đại sự" is unlikely to be considered a work that helps Zhao Liying "reverse the tide". Instead, the film shows that the actress is still struggling in the journey to find a role that is strong enough to create a new impression, escape the comfort zone and reaffirm her position on the Chinese small screen.
