Nat

Let me start by saying that The Bionic Life absolutely does not deserve the low rating it has on here. I understand that most people probably watched it because of Song Weilong since he pretty much blew up after the release of Shine on Me, and it's possible their expectation was for something completely different since he's mainly known as a romantic drama lead. But I appreciate his desire to act in something different for a change. He nailed the role regardless.

The Bionic Life is a 12-episode sci-fi thriller set in the nearest future. It follows a hot-headed investigator, Cheng Nuo (Song Weilong), and an empathetic agent with a background in psychology, An Qiu (Wen Qi), as they hunt down bionic humans. The premise is simple but interesting enough — it explores the blurred lines between human consciousness and artificial life humans created and now they’re trying to get rid of it. The idea is thought-provoking and will stay with you long after you finish watching.

While there are various stories in each episode that Cheng Nuo and An Qiu are investigating, there is also a central storyline that runs through the entire drama, which keeps things interesting. The individual cases and the overarching mystery work together to keep the pace fast and engaging.

I think this is one of those dramas that could actually use a few extra episodes. I just don’t know if there was any budget for it. I would have liked a little more insight into both main characters — their personalities, their dynamics — and probably a few more scenes between them to show the change in Cheng Nuo more gradually. That said, the last episode, where he finally comes full circle, is extremely emotional. Both characters, despite the foreboding feel of the drama, get a satisfactory ending.

For fans of Song Weilong coming here after his romantic roles — fair warning, this is not a drama that has any romance. But both main characters care about each other deeply, and you might enjoy the ending they get regardless. But don’t expect any courtship or anything of the sort. Their stories are set up in a way where even without romance, it's compelling to watch because it's an extremely emotional and high-stakes situation for both of them to overcome.

As far as production goes, this was done well. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it had good quality cinematography and color grading that fit the atmosphere and kept the drama at a noir feel throughout. It kind of reminded me of early seasons of The X-Files. Yep, I said it.

Overall, The Bionic Life is a great short drama you can finish in a couple of days if you want to try something different. Go into it with an open mind and you will enjoy it. Ignore the lower ratings — the stories and the central mystery keep things moving, and the last episode will hit you harder than you expect before we get to the very satisfactory ending.

I truly enjoyed this more than I thought I would.