Dark, Moving, and Intense: Hard to Stop Watching
I absolutely loved this drama and hope it continues with a second season. I was so engaged in the subplots that I couldn't stop watching. The stories are poignant, and I was easily invested because they were thought-provoking and captivating. The subplots are centered around family loss, marriage dynamics and regret, power struggles, domestic violence, and refugee trafficking. If you enjoy mystery and social commentary on difficult and insightful topics, you might want to give this drama a chance.Was this review helpful to you?
A Visually Strong Martial Arts Drama, but a Gradual Loss of Engagement
This is a partial review covering episodes 1–26 only.There’s a lot to love about this drama, even though I ended up dropping it around episode 26. I thought it had a strong main and supporting cast, with great characterization and powerful women in both major and minor roles. The narrative itself was incredibly engaging—there was plenty of well-timed comedy mixed with more serious, impactful moments, making it an excellent watch for the episodes I stuck with. I also loved the action and martial arts sequences. They really highlighted Liu Shishi’s dance roots.
However, as the storyline progressed, I began to feel less comfortable with certain narrative directions. One recurring subplot became increasingly prominent and, for me, felt a bit overextended, which affected my engagement with the story. I also found certain relationship dynamics between key characters to be difficult to watch at times, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested. Because of these aspects, I eventually decided to step away from the drama. That said, this is a highly rated series and remains a 2023 favorite for many viewers.
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From Promise to Disappointment: Dropped
This is a drop review—commentary on over half the season.I hosted an end-of-year poll rating the best dramas of 2023, and this one was among the winners. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a favorite of mine, and I ended up dropping it around episode 26. While I loved the opening story and narrative, the strong female characterization, the comedic banter and chemistry between the leads, and especially the villain played by Liu Xueyi—who was beautifully layered and morally gray—I felt that by the midpoint, the rich and compelling story began to devolve. The narrative shifted to focus heavily on the main and second male leads, leaving what was supposed to be the female lead’s story in the background.
Of course, these are just my personal impressions of why it didn’t work for me. As I mentioned, it did win a group poll, so I’m simply offering the other side of the coin for this watch.
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Dropped: Struggled with the Writing and Pacing
I’m sorry, folks, but this just wasn’t the drama for me. I made it a little past the halfway point but couldn’t bring myself to continue. I struggled with both the pacing and the writing.The story didn’t really draw me in, and I didn’t feel particularly engaged with the lead dynamic or the overall direction of the narrative. The humor didn’t land for me, and the conflicts didn’t feel especially compelling. I kept watching, hoping it would pick up or become more engaging, but it ultimately never clicked for me.
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A Halfway Drop After a Promising Beginning
This review is based on episodes 1–15 (roughly half the series).I thought this one started really strong. There was a solid forensic element, and the investigations covered a series of cases with a folklore-inspired, almost mystical tone. It also delves into a deeper layer of trafficking and disappearances, with powerful elites at the center. The performances are strong as well—if you’re familiar with Wan Qian or Qin Junjie, they don’t disappoint.
However, I think I’m going to let this one go. Once the main twist becomes apparent and the forensic aspect is minimized, it settles into a more standard investigative drama. Even though I usually enjoy detective stories, this one has lost some of its impact for me now that I’m halfway through, and there are other shows I’d rather spend my time on.
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Standard Cases, Slow Pacing: Dropped Halfway
This is a drop review—commentary on the first half of the season.I love investigative dramas and watch quite a few of them, and I’m also a big fan of Li Fei—I’ve seen almost all of his costume dramas, including some of his earliest work. Unfortunately, this one just isn’t a win for me. I find the stories fairly plain and, at times, slow-moving. I was only pulled in when Jueming’s origins were hinted, and across the first 15 episodes, I was only moved for about five minutes near the end of one case. If you watch a lot of investigative dramas, the cases here feel pretty standard, and I haven’t found anything that really sets them apart. I also think this drama struggles with pacing, which might have worked better for me if the episodes were shorter.
The character portrayals didn’t quite work for me either. While Li Fei delivers a strong and natural role, I think the script often limits him, and I find that some of the dialogue comes across as unintentionally awkward rather than funny. Likewise, despite standout performances in other dramas—He Hongshan in Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace and The Glory, and Lu Xingyu in Xuan-Yuan Sword: Han Cloud and Legend of Yunxi—I thought their roles here feel somewhat artificial and unconvincing to me.
Now that I’m a few episodes past the halfway point—a stage where I usually stop and reevaluate whether I want to continue a watch—I’ve decided to drop it here.
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