"Deep Lurk" (深潜) is a Republican era spy drama set in 1939, before the Battle of Changsha, where the Japanese were trying to capture the city. It tells how the different Chinese factions worked hard, each with their own ways and means, to overthrow the Japanese’ plans and dismantle their spy network.

I found this to be an engaging and intriguing Republican era espionage drama. I like the brilliant plot, the mystery and the excitement. It kept me thinking and guessing who the real mastermind is, but at the same, there were moments that I was just willing to sit back, relax, and let the story take its course. There is also a balance of conversations and action scenes, so I didn’t get bored by all talk and little action. Although the plot is complex, I like that it is consistent and did not digress into other story lines that usually make one feel overwhelmed. So, throughout the drama, I knew that the story is about espionage, and the Chinese intelligence and counterintelligence efforts focused on thwarting the Japanese’s quest to occupy Changsha. Sure, it touches on family relationships and there is some romance, but they complement the main plot 👍.

All the main and supporting cast portrayed their characters really well. There are many characters so I will only talk about a few. I like Cheng Yi’s portrayal of Yun Hong Shen, how he developed from someone who’s impulsive, somewhat immature but brimming with idealism, into a more mature and tempered Yun Hong Shen, still idealistic but having a deeper understanding of the bigger picture and what’s going on behind the scenes. He is good in the emotional scenes too (and there are quite some of them). Ying Er’s Wen Ye Ming is idealistic, has a strong sense of right and wrong, and is a capable female agent of the KMT’s juntong (军统) or NBIS (National Bureau of Investigation and Statistics). She is good in acting out Wen Ye Ming’s cold and serious exterior, who also has a soft spot for children and the weak. I love the chemistry between Yun Hong Shen and Wen Ye Ming. Their romance is secondary in the story but I like that they put it in 🙂. I think it adds spice to the drama 🌶️. Too bad some of their scenes were removed from the final cut.

I’ve seen Zhang Tian Yang in other dramas playing supporting characters, some more memorable than others. His performance here as Yun Hong Qi is one of the more memorable ones. He is Yun Hong Shen’s protective older brother, and their relationship dynamics are endearing and fun to watch. Plus, he has funny scenes here. Han Cheng Yu also gave justice to Ling Han’s character. I’ve seen him in other dramas where his characters are starkly different from his role here. Ling Han is cold, calculating and hard to break through. He’s a lone wolf and has his own secrets. Han Cheng Yu’s looks and bearing are well suited for Ling Han. The other supporting actors such as Liu Huan (Ke Jing Ping) and veterans Wang Jin Song (Yun Mu Zhi) and He Zhong Hua (Yang Zi Ming) also showed off their acting chops.

As for the editing and ending, I read that 12 episodes were cut from this drama, so there were some scenes in the ending credits that I was waiting for but were not shown. Those cut scenes were obvious, making the ending feel rushed and missing some details. But they still wrap up the story and did not leave the main plot hanging.

Final Verdict ⭐: I would gladly recommend this drama, especially if you like espionage stories! And to maximize your enjoyment, it’s best to watch this without reading spoilers.