This review may contain spoilers
A realistic drama that is worth watching
After finishing *Ye Gou Gu Tou*, I can honestly say that it was a rewarding experience. While it is not a perfect drama, its strengths far outweigh its flaws, making it one of the more memorable crime dramas I have watched this year.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the cinematography. Every frame was beautifully composed and helped establish the emotional tone of the story. The drama also did a great job balancing its emotional moments with the suspense of the criminal investigation, keeping me invested throughout most of the series.
That said, there were a few aspects of the writing that could have been handled better. Some plot points felt underdeveloped, particularly Chen Yi's family background. I kept expecting the drama to explain what happened to his parents, but that part of his story was never fully explored. There were also a few scenes that stretched realism a little too far. For instance, Zhang Bin being stabbed multiple times with such a large knife while showing almost no reaction to the pain felt somewhat unbelievable. Fortunately, these moments were relatively minor and did not take away from the overall experience.
The only creative choice that I personally did not enjoy was the decision to have the main couple live together. It is not something I particularly like seeing, but since the drama has a mature and realistic tone, I accepted it as part of the story rather than letting it affect my enjoyment.
When it comes to the performances, I have to admit that Zhang Jingyi did not immediately win me over. During the earlier episodes, I felt that some emotional scenes lacked impact. However, as the story progressed, her performance became increasingly natural and expressive. By the end of the drama, I completely understood why so many people admire her, and I can confidently say that I have become a fan.
One performance that deserves special recognition is the actress who played Miao Jing's mother. She portrayed such a layered and emotionally conflicted character that I found myself constantly torn between understanding her and feeling frustrated with her decisions. She even reminded me of Yang Zi because of her appearance. Watching her finally regret abandoning her daughter was heartbreaking, yet it also made Miao Jing's emotional distance from her feel entirely justified.
I also felt incredibly sorry for Uncle Zhou. Losing the love of his life was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the drama, and his grief was portrayed with great sincerity.
As for Zhang Bin, he was exactly the kind of antagonist who made every scene feel tense. His unsettling smile alone was enough to make me uncomfortable. He was the type of villain you genuinely wanted to see brought to justice, so watching him receive a life sentence was incredibly satisfying. More importantly, it finally allowed Chen Yi to move forward without fear and without having to hide the truth from Miao Jing.
If there is one thing I wish had been different, it would be the ending. I was really hoping for at least one scene showing Chen Yi and Miao Jing getting married or sharing a glimpse of their future together. Still, seeing Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi's natural chemistry during their promotional variety appearances somehow made up for that missing moment, so I eventually made peace with the conclusion.
The investigation itself was one of the strongest parts of the drama. Many cases kept me on edge and made me eager to see what would happen next. There were a few slower episodes where I wished the main characters had more screen time, but overall the suspense remained engaging from beginning to end.
I was also happy to see the drama receive a 6.9 rating on Douban. While some international viewers may consider that average, it is actually a respectable score for this type of realistic crime drama and reflects that it found its audience.
Finally, I want to give credit to the entire production team for bringing this story to life. I was especially impressed by Song Weilong's performance. I have often seen people criticize his acting as being stiff, but after watching several of his dramas, I simply cannot agree. I think he has a broad emotional range and expresses subtle emotions remarkably well. More importantly, he understands the characters he plays, and that is one of the reasons his dramas consistently perform well. This role is another example of how much he has continued to grow as an actor.
As for Zhang Jingyi, this was my first drama of hers. Although she needed a few episodes to completely draw me in, she ultimately delivered a performance that felt sincere and emotionally convincing. Together, she and Song Weilong created one of the drama's biggest strengths. Their chemistry felt effortless both on and off screen, making every interaction between Chen Yi and Miao Jing feel believable and heartfelt.
To be clear, I am not a shipper. I simply think they are wonderfully matched as co-stars, and their natural dynamic makes them genuinely enjoyable to watch together.
Overall, *Ye Gou Gu Tou* is not without flaws, but it succeeds where it matters most. With beautiful cinematography, strong performances, emotional storytelling, and an engaging investigation, it delivers an experience that stays with you long after the final episode. It is a realistic drama that I thoroughly enjoyed and one that I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a grounded, emotional crime story.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the cinematography. Every frame was beautifully composed and helped establish the emotional tone of the story. The drama also did a great job balancing its emotional moments with the suspense of the criminal investigation, keeping me invested throughout most of the series.
That said, there were a few aspects of the writing that could have been handled better. Some plot points felt underdeveloped, particularly Chen Yi's family background. I kept expecting the drama to explain what happened to his parents, but that part of his story was never fully explored. There were also a few scenes that stretched realism a little too far. For instance, Zhang Bin being stabbed multiple times with such a large knife while showing almost no reaction to the pain felt somewhat unbelievable. Fortunately, these moments were relatively minor and did not take away from the overall experience.
The only creative choice that I personally did not enjoy was the decision to have the main couple live together. It is not something I particularly like seeing, but since the drama has a mature and realistic tone, I accepted it as part of the story rather than letting it affect my enjoyment.
When it comes to the performances, I have to admit that Zhang Jingyi did not immediately win me over. During the earlier episodes, I felt that some emotional scenes lacked impact. However, as the story progressed, her performance became increasingly natural and expressive. By the end of the drama, I completely understood why so many people admire her, and I can confidently say that I have become a fan.
One performance that deserves special recognition is the actress who played Miao Jing's mother. She portrayed such a layered and emotionally conflicted character that I found myself constantly torn between understanding her and feeling frustrated with her decisions. She even reminded me of Yang Zi because of her appearance. Watching her finally regret abandoning her daughter was heartbreaking, yet it also made Miao Jing's emotional distance from her feel entirely justified.
I also felt incredibly sorry for Uncle Zhou. Losing the love of his life was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the drama, and his grief was portrayed with great sincerity.
As for Zhang Bin, he was exactly the kind of antagonist who made every scene feel tense. His unsettling smile alone was enough to make me uncomfortable. He was the type of villain you genuinely wanted to see brought to justice, so watching him receive a life sentence was incredibly satisfying. More importantly, it finally allowed Chen Yi to move forward without fear and without having to hide the truth from Miao Jing.
If there is one thing I wish had been different, it would be the ending. I was really hoping for at least one scene showing Chen Yi and Miao Jing getting married or sharing a glimpse of their future together. Still, seeing Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi's natural chemistry during their promotional variety appearances somehow made up for that missing moment, so I eventually made peace with the conclusion.
The investigation itself was one of the strongest parts of the drama. Many cases kept me on edge and made me eager to see what would happen next. There were a few slower episodes where I wished the main characters had more screen time, but overall the suspense remained engaging from beginning to end.
I was also happy to see the drama receive a 6.9 rating on Douban. While some international viewers may consider that average, it is actually a respectable score for this type of realistic crime drama and reflects that it found its audience.
Finally, I want to give credit to the entire production team for bringing this story to life. I was especially impressed by Song Weilong's performance. I have often seen people criticize his acting as being stiff, but after watching several of his dramas, I simply cannot agree. I think he has a broad emotional range and expresses subtle emotions remarkably well. More importantly, he understands the characters he plays, and that is one of the reasons his dramas consistently perform well. This role is another example of how much he has continued to grow as an actor.
As for Zhang Jingyi, this was my first drama of hers. Although she needed a few episodes to completely draw me in, she ultimately delivered a performance that felt sincere and emotionally convincing. Together, she and Song Weilong created one of the drama's biggest strengths. Their chemistry felt effortless both on and off screen, making every interaction between Chen Yi and Miao Jing feel believable and heartfelt.
To be clear, I am not a shipper. I simply think they are wonderfully matched as co-stars, and their natural dynamic makes them genuinely enjoyable to watch together.
Overall, *Ye Gou Gu Tou* is not without flaws, but it succeeds where it matters most. With beautiful cinematography, strong performances, emotional storytelling, and an engaging investigation, it delivers an experience that stays with you long after the final episode. It is a realistic drama that I thoroughly enjoyed and one that I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a grounded, emotional crime story.
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