Towards the Truth (2025)

Engaging Storyline, Strong Performances, Subtle Bromance, Cliffhanger Finale

"Towards the Truth" is a captivating thriller drama filled with mysteries and twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, this hidden gem seems to have flown under the radar, with fewer than 500 viewers on MyDramaList at the time of this review and even fewer ratings. It's no surprise that the overall score remains low, but that does not reflect the drama's true quality. With its solid acting, compelling storyline, and well-crafted scripts, it certainly deserves more recognition.

One possible reason for its low viewership and score could be the poor subtitle quality, as noted by some viewers. Given the complexity of the plot, accurate and coherent translations are crucial to understanding and enjoying the drama.

Storyline
Set during the Song Dynasty, the drama explores themes of injustice and corruption, focusing on the crimes of the wealthy and powerful who evade punishment through influence and nepotism. At its heart is Shen Song (played by Wang You Shuo), an exceptionally intelligent scholar who passes the imperial examination but clashes with the emperor, leading to his dismissal from court.

Struggling and downcast, Shen Song finds refuge with a kind constable who introduces him to his uncle, a restaurant owner. Shen Song then transitions into a skilled cook. However, his unique ability—a double iris in his left eye that allows him to peer into the past and uncover the truth—brings him back into the world of crime-solving. Though initially reluctant, he is forced to use his "gift" to investigate a gruesome crime involving over 60 corpses.

During this investigation, Shen Song meets Gong Sun Li (Zhang Chen Xiao), the son of a high-ranking treasury official. Gong Sun Li, despite his privileged background, is earnest, compassionate, and driven by a desire to fight injustice. Together, the two form a formidable team, joined by others, to crack cold cases and challenge the corrupt officials who enable societal inequality.

What I Liked
֎ Shen Song and Gong Sun Li: These two characters are the soul of the drama. Shen Song’s intelligence and moral compass, paired with Gong Sun Li’s unpretentious charm and unwavering integrity, make them incredibly relatable and inspiring. Their dynamic and camaraderie are highlights of the show, portraying mutual respect, care, and occasional humor.
֎ Character Depth: The drama does an excellent job of delving into the multi-faceted personalities of Shen Song and Gong Sun Li. Shen Song’s unique eye ability is used creatively to reveal his past, while Gong Sun Li’s relationship with his father showcases his complexity and personal growth.
֎ Themes of Justice: The exploration of systemic corruption and the struggle of upstanding individuals against societal rot is both thought-provoking and relevant.
֎ Humor and Pacing: Despite its serious themes, the drama incorporates moments of humor, particularly through its portrayal of government officials reluctant to challenge the status quo. Its fast-paced narrative ensures there’s never a dull moment.
֎ Brevity: At just 16 episodes, the drama packs a lot into its runtime without feeling rushed.

Areas for Improvement
While the central characters are well-developed, many of the supporting characters, including Qin Er (a supposed main character), feel one-dimensional. By the end of the story, her backstory and motivations remain largely unexplored, which is a missed opportunity to enrich the narrative.

Additionally, the sheer number of plots, subplots, and twists may overwhelm some viewers, particularly with subpar subtitles making it harder to follow.

Final Thoughts
"Towards the Truth" is a well-crafted drama with compelling characters, a gripping plot, and a strong message about justice and integrity. Its nuanced storytelling and fast pacing make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Despite its shortcomings, particularly in subtitle quality and character development for the supporting cast, it remains a highly underrated gem.

The enigmatic character who compels Shen Song to use his unique eye to uncover the past and solve cases remains shrouded in mystery throughout the drama. His/her true identity is only unveiled at the very end, leaving viewers with a tantalizing cliffhanger that sets the stage for further intrigue.

For fans of historical mysteries and thrillers, this drama is definitely worth your time. It’s a pity that it hasn’t reached a wider audience, but those who give it a chance will likely find themselves engrossed in its story and rooting for its upstanding protagonists.

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Hidden gem of Bromance detective themed drama

It literally dropped out of nowhere with not much promotion for it on IQIYI but it was a pleasant surprise because we were in a very bad mood after the Outrageous Censoring that happened to Youku's bromance drama (The Way Home ) after it already aired.
I wasn't expecting much as I know China comes heavy on Bromance dramas by Censoring them and How I Was Wrong with this one ,,
IQIYI platform released half of the drama's episodes on the first day of its release,, 8 Episodes on the first day for VIP members, and the second day Three episode ,,, the drama was complete in only four days LOL
And the Bromance was Bromancing so strong
For example, the second male lead kept finding excuses to become the male lead's best friend and when the male lead went into a Coma, the second male lead literally broke down sitting on his bed and didn't leave him for one second and the female lead was standing there watching their bromance Blooming LOL
The second male lead kept hugging the male lead catching him every time he fell ill and sometimes faced danger for the male lead and tried to help him despite his lack of smartness or fighting skills
The female lead was there for Censorship's sake only
She was literally standing watching the male lead as she likes him getting all the care and love from his best friend

This drama also has a good detective story and the cases were really weird and complicated,, it wasn't Cliche detective drama or just bromance for the bromance's sake No, it was deep and meaningful


The Only downside of that Haste release of the drama like it was Hot Nuclear Weapon is its Subtitles which were AI-generated translations and it wasn't very good

Another thing, sometimes I felt the acting skills of the second male lead weren't as good as the male lead's acting skills
I really Thank IQIYI for its full release of the drama before BL fans make edits that attract Censoring police to come down on it
I hope to see sa econd season of this drama as it was hinted in the finale that there is a second season and I really hope that IQIYI takes all the Bromance dramas of China on its platform

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