cyn lynn : The First Shot | Recap and Review

Recaps: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

Cast


Huang Jing Yu: Zheng Bei [Zheng North]	Zhang Yu: Jiang Xiao Hai [Jiang Little Ocean]

Wang Zi Qi: Gu Yi Ran	Xie Ke Yin: Zhang Xue Yao

Lin Bo Yang: Zheng Nan [Zheng South]	Liu Run Nan: Zhao Xiao Guang

Zhao Yu Tong: Ding Guo Zhu	Lian Lian: Jiang Ying Zi

Li Nai Wen: Lin Zhi Da	Liu Wei: Xin Tie Gang

Lian Guan Hua: Father Zheng	Ding Jia Li: Mother Zheng

Mini Recaps

[Ep1] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

Year is 1997. Nightclub. A tall, buff, sunglasses guy goes to the back room to get the "good stuff". A high as a kite druggie looks at him and accidentally exposes his identity. How can the bad guys not tell that this guy is a cop? For Halloween, he dresses up as Ghost Cop, Witch Cop, T-Rex cop... Zheng Bei (Huang Jing Yu), Major Crimes detective, beats the snot out of a dozen guys. His sidekick, Zhao Xiao Guang (Liu Run Nan), comes to help him arrest all of the writhing people.

Drug dealer

Random druggie.
No importance to story but his SO BAD expression was hilarious.

It's another drama with pre-credits. Credits are moody and dark. Instrumental music. I haven't heard an OST for this drama yet. Cool old Cantonese songs bring the nostalgia. Drama is set in Halan, a city in Northeast China. The city is a character itself.

It's snowing. In April. Two bald, drug toting, twin brothers pick up a mysterious guy carrying a back pack from the train station. This camera transition is nifty. See expensive watch? See expensive cracked watch time lapsed with the bloody owner hanging from the building?

The mysterious guy kills other brother. Zheng Bei and Zhao Xiao Guang are called to the crime scene of the Halan Dongtie Glass Factory and find drug money but no drugs. A train ticket from Huazhou to Halan was also found.

Huazhou People's Police Academy (In Southern China). A tall, nerdy, glasses guy hands in his test questions with a roomful of students murmuring about how he is first to finish again. Everyone must hate him. A teacher calls out to Gu Yi Ran (Wang Zi Qi) and asks him his plans after graduation. Is he going to stay at the Academy like his father? He's undecided. Folks, these old puke green uniforms are atrocious. Looks even worse not tucked in. Any subsequent outfit, whether leopard print pimp shirt or otherwise, is better by comparison. Like a reverse half-bald Qin Jun Jie effect.

Gu Yi Ran's Auntie asks him to check in on her MIA daughter. He stands outside her door calling for her. No response. He places his ear to the door and seems to smell something off. Kicking the door in, he finds her dead from a drug overdose.

His father consoles him. Gu Yi Ran's mother passed away years ago, Auntie Zhou has always taken care of him and her daughter was like a sister to him. Gu Yi Ran learns that she dated a drug dealer and notifies police to arrest him.

Halan. The twins were Song X & Song Y. Spud is being lazy. A security guard, Jiang Xiao Hai (Zhang Yu), reported the case. Nervously, he recounts his statement. The brothers came back to the factory late at night with another guy in the back seat. The guy had a back pack. He heard noise and when he came, saw Song Y dead on the ground. He ran away to call police.

Jiang Xiao Hai leaves the police station but flashes back to Song Y's voice calling for help and falling from the 5 story building. Jiang Xiao Hai stands from the window watching him fall.

Wild card, Jiang Xiao Hai

Huazhou Police Station. Gu Yi Ran is frustrated that the drug dealer boyfriend's drug tests came back negative. The other cops suspect he is on a new drug, but they don't have the capabilities to test it yet. They have to send out the lab which would take several days and they can't keep boyfriend under custody that long. Boyfriend comes out all cocky and victorious. Gu Yi Ran calls him a failure and unleashes a barrage of insults. He gets right up in druggie's face and dude punches Gu Yi Ran. The other cops haul boyfriend back to jail. This scene has a lot of Cantonese.

Gu Yi Ran: How long is someone locked up for starting a fight at a police station?

Our nerd purposely trap him to buy more time for testing. Now we know why Gu Yi Ran gets beaten up frequently. Father Gu is chemistry professor, but he is unable to figure out how to decipher the blood for the new drug. He asks the cops to let his more persistent son keep trying.

After working endlessly for 3 days, Gu Yi Ran presents his findings to the police. He was able to test for meth and even wrote down a formula for the police to use in the future. It's Meth.

Cute Nerd

Concurrently, Zheng Bei also received the test results for Song XY's blood. Meth. The others are surprised that meth has made it to Halan. It's been around since 1991 but never here yet.

Father Gu watches the news. Druggie boyfriend's place was raided, found to have drugs, and he is locked away forever. Gu Yi Ran turns off the TV. He offer joss sticks to portraits of his mother and the deceased sister. He has failed to protect them.

Halan. Zheng Bei's boss, Director Gao, places him in charge of a new drug busting team. Funny how the reluctant Zheng Bei did an about face when Director Gao was nagging him. He draws out the teams members he will need for this team. Stick people art. Zheng Bei should keep punching people instead. He requests to keep Zhao Xiao Guang. He also wants a forensics expert (fingerprinting back then was done by human eye instead of machines) and someone that can fight.

Xiao Guang is impressed by the big guy waiting for them. This jumpy guy isn't the fighter. He's the forensics expert, Ding Guo Zhu (Zhao Yu Tong). Boxing, wrestling, Sanda. He can't do any of that.

Buff Dopey Nerd

Our fighter arrives. "Mad Dog Yao". She's notorious. And adorable. Zheng Bei reassures Director Gao that he can control her. Zhang Xue Yao (Xie Ke Yin), Zheng Bei's si mei, has the most arrests in the last 2 years. Lady looks petite, but she can carry Han Dong Jun.

Mad Dog Yao

There's one more person to join the team. Director Gao insists they need a drug expert, Professor Gu. Zheng Bei doesn't want some stuffy, old guy who has never been on a mission dragging them down. Good news for him, Director Gao has invited Professor Gu, but he doesn't want to join. Bad news for him, Zheng Bei is ordered to go down to Huazhou to convince him to come. Also good news, Director Gao didn't put meth in his own coffee. He really showed Zheng Bei his knowledge gap with that funny demo.

Zheng Bei's Team
Mad Dog Yao & Professor Gu

Zheng Bei arrives to Huazhou. He asks for Professor Gu and is shocked when our not old nerd answers him.

Flashback to Zheng Bei's conversation with Director Gao. Professor Gu was instrumental in cracking the meth case in 1993! So what we saw of Gu Yi Ran wasn't 1997, but back 4 years ago. Microscopic clues were the dates on his test answer sheet and the TV when he turned it off. Cool! 1993 Gu Yi Ran told his father that he will will stay at the Academy to be a professor and set up a chemistry lab.

1997 Gu Yi Ran introduces himself to Zheng Bei who is still breathless.

[Ep2] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

After getting over his shock that Professor Gu is actually 2 years younger than him, Zheng Bei casually pitches for him to join their Halan team. Professor Gu is smiley and cordial offering him tea.

Zheng Bei's thoughts: "This shouldn't be hard." He's all "Yeah, yeah, this is a great opportunity. But I understand if you don't want this deal of a lifetime".

Professor Gu: I am glad we have an understanding. Buh-bye!
Zheng Bei: *Huh??? I'm rejected?*

Confused Zheng Bei

Zheng Bei calls Director Gao to report his failure. It's not his fault, why would the southern dude want to come to the north ❄ to freeze his cute butt off?

Director Gao: You didn't try hard enough. What kind of person is Professor Gu?

Zheng Bei: He's quite polite. He smiles all the time. He seems approachable at first, but he's.... a little weird. Nice but difficult to get close to.

Director Gao: Whatever. Just get him. *click*

2nd try. Canteen. Professor Gu is chowing down from a big bowl. He smiles when Zheng Bei sits down and offers him his discount meal card. Southerners are so hospitable.

Zheng Bei: Nothing good comes after that smile, right?

Professor Gu: Yep.

3rd try. Zheng Bei asks the HK Cop friend from Ep 1 about Professor Gu. A-Ran is very disciplined. He gets before 6 to run everyday. Zheng Bei doesn't think his thin arms and legs would make a good detective. HK Cop friend loves A-Ran. He defends him and recounts his awesome accomplishments.

HK Cop Friend is kinda cute

Professor Gu comes and Zheng Bei runs with him, trying to sell him on Halan's four seasons. (Winter, Cold winter, Coldest Winter, 1 week of Spring?) 😂 Professor Gu's OST plays. It's this romantic, serene French melody. Like you are sipping a cappuccino and eating a baguette outside a bakery in Paris. 🥐☕

Zheng Bei's shirt is progressively drenched with sweat and he can't keep up. (There's a BTS leak of this scene. The guys spray themselves with water. WZQ also tries to mess with HJY but gets himself trapped. 🤣 I am ruining the magic here.) 10 km is nothing to Professor Gu. Zheng Bei is impressed.

Gu Yi Ran tells Zheng Bei to return to Halan and stop wasting his time here. He says everything in a sweet, gentle, logical manner.

4th angle. Zheng Bei tells him to just come a couple of days so that he can satisfy his boss, then fake illness to back to the South. 🤒🤣

Professor Gu: Zheng Bei, this is my home. My parents died here, I want to stay close to them. I can't leave.

Zheng Bei, understands. He gives Professor Gu the files to review. He leaves him with these parting words.

Zheng Bei: Buddy, some advice. If you don't feel like smiling, then don't. A forced smile looks worse than crying.

No longer smiling 😂

Professor Gu goes inside his home. The altar has 3 pictures, his mother, the sister, and his father. There are a lot of details in these sets. Someone pointed out a cookie tin that is the same brand as one of the baddies later. Could be just a prop, but this show seems very purposeful in its design. He looks at Zheng Bei's files, something catches his attention. Quick flashback. A bloody shirt is dropped from a car window. The meth in the Song twin's case is 90% purity. He goes into an empty room, opens the closet and takes out a lighter from his father's old lab coat. His father's voice: "You have done everything you could". Flashback of Gu Yu Ran holding the bloody shirt during the thunderstorm. Back to the present, he looks up, resolute.

🥺

Zheng Bei is shocked when Professor Gu shows up, suitcase in tow. He's appalled by his thin trench coat. What? It's his thickest coat. Is April in the Northeast cold?

ZB: We have to buy you a new wardrobe

🛬 Ah choo! Yes. Professor Gu is bewildered by the weather and by Zheng Bei's cute little yellow chicken ribs van.

This van is the 6th team member.
Like Scooby's Mystery Van

Zheng Bei gives Professor Gu his coat which guy should keep since he sneezes all over it. They talk about the snow since Gu Yi Ran has never seen any and criminals.

Gu Yi Ran: You are a good policeman.

Zheng Bei: Because of what I just said? Are teachers so naïve?

Gu Yi Ran has read Zheng Bei's files. Man does his research. Zheng Bei asked him why he changed his mind. Gu Yi Ran is lost in thought, he hesitates before turning back to Zheng Bei with this smile and states his mission is to impart knowledge on them. Zheng Bei tells him he's annoying. 🤣

Professor Gu, Zheng Bei told you to stop smiling

Zheng Bei boasts about how much the department values this new unit. They are getting a fancy new office that can sit hundreds. Corner office. Oops. It's an abandoned dining hall. They aren't in the wrong place. Xiao Guang switches out the sign. He gets a light beating too.

GYR: *Impressed*
ZB: *Sheepish*

The other team members gawk at the elegant new guy. Yao Yao calls herself the star flower of the police. Zheng Bei corrects her, "Police firecracker".

Southern Professors are like UFOs 🛸 in Halan

Xiao Guang: You're Gu Yi Ran? I thought you were a grandpa with grey hair and a cane.
Gu Yi Ran: You can call me that (grandpa) if you like.

Ha! This "I'm your father/grandfather" game has been present that long?

"Grandson"

Xiong, who was on Zheng Bei's old Major Crimes team, comes in to have them join in on a quick undercover bust. Xiong is called Big Bear 🐻 and he looks like one. Zheng Bei will pretend to be the drug dealer to buy the goods from Yuedong (GYR's home area) boss. Gu Yi Ran wants to go on the mission too. He teaches Zheng Bei a couple of useful Cantonese phrases. Zheng Bei is smooth and a quick thinker undercover. Monitoring in the van, Professor Gu micro-smirks when drug boss compliments Zheng Bei's Cantonese but quickly realizes Zheng Bei is in danger.

There is an ending OST. It's pretty catchy. I don't recall it being used in the drama yet. The ending animation is like being on an acid trip in the snow. Not that this Spud would know.

[Ep3] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

A young boy, who looks early preteen, trudges through the snow. It's vast and never ending. "Lele! Lele" He calls. No response. He suddenly wakes up in his bed, eyes are bandaged, gasping from the nightmare. His mother comes runs over to comfort him, "Bei Bei". It is the Winter of 1980. Young Zheng Bei can't see the light. He is temporarily blind.

Young Zheng Bei

Present day, Gu Yi Ran jumps out of the surveillance van to rescue Zheng Bei. No need. Zheng Bei has taken down a dozen baddies and a couple of grenades. How quaint of Gu Yi Ran to show up when everything is done in a fiery rubble. But he didn't know Zheng Bei was The Hulk. Zheng Bei even rescues him back when a baddie bounces back up to stab him.

Zheng Bei got a little scratch on his neck. He wonders how Professor Gu knew he had exposed himself. Professor Gu has never been on a mission, but he knows junkies' psychology, one would never refuse a hit if offered one. Gu Yi Ran also learned a lesson about the difficulty of field work and promises not to be a drag on them.

Uncle Xie Tiegang (Liu Wei) comes, he's the former captain and Zheng Bei's old Shi fu. After being injured on a mission, he hasn't retired completely, he will be in charge of the team's eating logistics and taking care of them.

Professor Gu looks at their drug blackboard and knows he has a big task. Half his suitcase are gifts for them. Chemistry books! Yay!!! Southerners are so hospitable. The team protests. They don't need no science, fists are enough.

Professor Gu: Ignorance is an obstruction to success. What's worse is not realizing you're ignorant.

Bwhahahaha. This guy is so annoying. He's a Southern belle. Even his insults are slow, gentle and said with a sweet smile. Bless your heart. The team can't wait for him to leave but he disappoints with news that he is transferring here till the case is over.

Meal time. Our annoying nerd is about to unleash his true power. He's never had Northeastern cuisine. Stewed pork with vermicelli. He takes in a whiff of the delicious aroma. Professor Gu is surprised that food keeps coming out for their "little bite". Xiao Guang is all "Are you scared, little Southern dude? this is how much we normally eat." Nerds (him & Guo Zhu) don't eat spicy food. Everyone stuffs themselves...

Besides being cute, this detail is actually important.
He has good olfactory nerves.

Gu Yi Ran: Are you all done eating?

Zheng Bei: You go ahead...

Southern dude scared the Northeasterners

Professor Gu piles the last bowlful of food into his. That's the 3rd one. Everyone is stunned. Professor Gu would be a mukbang superstar these days.

Uncle Tiegang: I like him.
Spud: You have good taste, Uncle.

"None of you guys are like him or my granddaughter" 🤣

Amused Zheng Bei

Now I understand why mukbangs are popular

Wang Zi Qi asked the director to add on this personality trait. It made him very lovable from the beginning even if he was being super annoying. He ate the most during every eating scene and gained 15 lbs by the end of this drama. That's why the first 2 episodes he was rounder because those scenes were taped last.

Zheng Bei assigns tasks but leaves Gu Yi Ran at the office because he eats too much. "Go digest." On the train, Zheng Bei and Xiao Guang asks the attendant if he saw their suspected murderer. Zheng Bei notices his expensive watch. Train guy remembers they were men but not much detail besides that.

It's getting late, but they all need to go back to the station for Professor Gu's class. Zheng Bei illustrates to Xiao Guang the usefulness of Professor Gu with an elegant driving analogy and reassures him that Gu won't stay long in tough Halan. Please don't let this be foreshadowing.

Professor Gu's students 😂

Zheng Bei takes Professor Gu back to his home. Super efficient Director Gao had canceled the guest house when Zheng Bei first reported Gu wasn't coming giving us this Perfect Strangers sitcom. Zheng Bei's walls are painted black because his eyes are sensitive to light from when he was lost in the snow. Snow blindness. Zheng Bei gives him the bed and he will sleep on the cot. Professor Gu doesn't want to impose, but Zheng Bei says he's used to the cot. Zheng's parents, sister, and Xiao Guang live in the units next door in the row.

Love this home set

They go to Zheng's family restaurant to eat. Mr. Zheng's Chicken Ribs. Our foodie is treated well. Zheng Father and Zheng Mother (Played by acting pillars Lian Guan Hua and Ding Jia Li) are sweet and like this teacher. Zheng Nan (Lin Bo Yang), Zheng Bei's little sister, comes home from working at the hair salon and is immediately interested in the handsome new guy, much to Xiao Guang's annoyance. She's hilariously flirtatious. Zheng Bei, being a typical big brother, tells her to stop being infatuated with his new colleague or else he will kick her out. 🤣 He also makes fun her perm. It looks old. What does he know, that's in style these days. Looking old is in style? All this is so true, love it.

Her hair is so accurate for the times

Professor Gu is very busy eating but Zheng Nan sends a shiver down his spine.

Zheng Nan: Yi Ran, ge ge.... You don't look like a local.

Her voice is perfect too

True foodie. He didn't drop his chicken when frightened.

Zheng Bei's and Xiao Guang's reactions are equally hilarious. Professor Gu looks at Zheng Bei. "Save me."

Giggling every time Zheng Bei gnashes his teeth
Xiao Guang's eyebrow cock

Zheng Nan wants to hear his Cantonese and singing after learning that he is from the South. Professor Gu can't sing, but Xiao Guang can.

Very Andy Lau

Zheng Bei loses his appetite and takes Professor Gu home.

Xiao Guang: Professor Gu, Professor Gu. How is my Cantonese? Isn't it good?

Professor Gu: It's nice. Try not to speak Cantonese from now on.

Aww, Zheng Nan gives Zheng Bei a cell phone that she bought for him. She saved up a year for this. She doesn't want her parents to worry about him so now he's more reachable. She's the perfect little sister. He pats her head, she whines that he is messing up her hair, they leave but she tries to catch Professor's Gu attention with an awkward little wave. 😅🤣😂

Nokia?

White Building aka Song Twin murderer asks to use a local store's phone, leaving behind bloody fingerprints on it.

[Ep4] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

Prison van. Back of a buzz cut head. He looks around. Jiang Xiao Hai enters prison.

Zhang Yu is amazing. He looks even younger here.

Credits!

Gu Yi Ran is awaken by a sleep talking Zheng Bei. "Lele. Lele" he mumbles. Our Southern professor must think Northerners are weird. Not as surprised as Zheng Bei when he comes to their office at the police station. Professor Gu has cleaned and organized it completely. I need a Professor Gu for my home. He also wheels in the most gigantic black blackboard to replace their pathetic puny one. Yay! He gives everyone a desk and he will sit just sit in the lab.

Case review: The killer came up from the south by train with drugs. While meeting with the Song brothers, who were likely drug pushers, something happened with the deal leading to their deaths. Our super efficient Professor Gu has organized the glass security guard roster and they realized that Jiang Xiao Hai lied about being on duty (one of the Song bro was instead) and that Guo Zhu's newly discovered 3rd footprint has the same shoe size as Xiao Hai.

Jiang Xiao Hai is back for questioning. He said he was scared and that was why he didn't tell them that he tried to pull up a Song bro, but couldn't, and watched helplessly as he fell to his death. He told them about hearing the Song brothers fight with the killer and that the killer had a huge backpack.

Convenience store owner reported the bloody fingerprint on his phone.

Professor Gu deduces killer will likely break up his drugs in small packages to sell for escape money. Guo Zhu is staring at his food. He's made a discovery, the fingerprint from the convenience store looks like that of the crime scene. He remembers fingerprint patterns by finding similarities with objects or food around him, like this sausage he's been looking at. He shows it to Yao Yao who is unimpressed and eats it.

Guo Zhu: Hey! Don't eat my evidence! Bei ge....

Zheng Be: Can you stop bickering like kids? Why did you eat his sausage?

Yao Yao: This is meat. And I'm hungry.

This drama is serious about food

Spud snickers because she's a middle schooler. Guo Zhu was right. Sausage pattern is like killer's fingerprint. Team now has a narrower search area. Popcorn to celebrate. Yao Yao's dad made it for them. Zheng Bei tells her to offer Professor Gu some.

Professor Gu: The coating on popcorn machines contains lead. Eating too much popcorn can lead to chronic lead poisoning, which damages the nervous and digestive systems. I suggest you cut back on it too.

Popcorn will whack your brains 🤣

Everyone:

What planet does he come from?

Yao Yao charges at him: I've been eating it since I was a kid and I'm just fine.

Professor Gu: *looks away* That's a retort in itself. 😂

Zheng Bei stops her from killing him, whispering for her to ignore the annoying guy, "he won't be here long." Please don't make this foreshadowing.

Team searches shady places. Zheng Bei takes Gu Yi Ran to a ~~prance~~ dance bar. Gu Yi Ran is as stiff as Wang Zi Qi. Zheng Bei's first lesson, stop being tense, drink and dance like him. Gu Yi Ran grabs his beer, he will do the drinking, Zheng Bei will do the dancing.

Zheng Bei dances like Huang Jing Yu

GYR: What is this poison? 🤢

Lesson 2: Never drink on the job. Zheng Bei horrifies the professor that he had filled up the bottle with tap water from the bathroom. What? Doesn't he know that water need proper filtration from blah, blah, blah? 🙄

Zheng Bei chats with his informant, Mouse, who was the guy from the last Cantonese drug bust. There's a fishy guy selling Red Dragon Pills (ecstasy) around here.

Fishy guy meets the killer to give him money for the small batch he sold. He likes the killer's 24 K gold necklace which killer exchanges for cash. There's another group after him. Killer gets into a taxi driven by Monkey (Song Jia Teng), who was lurking outside the White Building the cops were sealing off the crime scene. Monkey takes him to the taxi company. Killer had fallen asleep. Monkey and his crew attacks Killer but little guy is able to fight them off and run away.

This actor has a very recognizable face

Intro to mob boss. Monkey reports to Erjin about their failure to capture killer and get the drugs back. I will have a picture of Erjin when he's not just wearing a robe. 🫣

Killer buys a gun.

Zheng Bei goes to work. Nice neighborhood scenes add warmth. Favorite 6th team member.

Thunk!

Gu Yi Ran calls him, there's a suspicious out-of-towner reported. Zheng Bei goes to a dilapidated apartment to investigate. Killer is there selling his drugs. He made random druggies fight and leaves. Zheng Bei arrives and chases the druggie, who holds a little girl hostage with a knife. As Zheng Bei races for his gun, an explosion happens when someone kicks a nearby balloon stove thingy to distract the druggie enough for Zheng Bei to cuff him. Jiang Xiao Hao grabs the little girl to safety and she calls him "uncle".

[Ep5] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

Snowy forest. A tall boy drags another boy on a makeshift raft. They finally are out of a forest and by a dumpster in deserted town. The little boy gets up and goes into the dumpster with the taller one hiding him with a blanket. Time passes, the taller boy runs back to the dumpster and sees a little blood hand reaching out from the dumpster. Zheng Bei wakes up from his nightmare.

Zheng Bei: I killed you. I killed you.

Beautiful cinematography

The actor playing young Zheng Bei played "Mr. Firefighter, I swear my homework was burned" kid in Bright Eyes. Lou Ming Ye (WZQ) wasn't impressed. 🤣

Credits. Jiang Xiao Hai holds his scared niece closely and thanks Zheng Bei for saving her. Zheng Bei's hand is bleeding, Jiang Xiao Hai stops it with tobacco from a cigarette. Um, no thanks, I rather apply pressure with a dirty t-shirt.

Halan headquarters. Team looks exhausted, Uncle Tie Gang is all, "This new generation is weak. They probably don't know the definition of "bromance" either". Team whines that criminals are nothing, they can arrest them all day, it's Gu Yi Ran's blackboard that is wearing them out. 🤣

Yao Yao: Uncle, have you ever met a real-life smiling tiger?

After Uncle ignores her, Yao Yao tells Guo Zhu to say something. Isn't he scary?

Guo Zhu: That smile... It's as fake as a store mannequin.

The impressionist, the mannequin, the audience
🤣🤣🤣

Wang Zi Qi and the director designed this smile. After all the trauma he suffered, Gu Yi Ran developed this fake smile as his defense mechanism. After watching WZQ in so many dramas and the marathon of Wonderland, I am amazed that there can still be an expression that is exclusive to Gu Yi Ran.

They finally realize he is here and ready to dole out chemistry and snark.

To headache whining Xiao Guang: Frequent headaches can be a sign of cardiovascular diseases. You better get checked out.

To snickering Yao Yao: Even drug dealers know how to keep up with the times. If police only relies on force and lacks knowledge, isn't easy to be lead around by others?

To confused Guo Zhu: Study hard when you're young, or you'll regret it when you're old.

Zheng Bei mutters to Uncle Tie Gang: Never cross someone who's educated, even their insults come with a lesson.

These guys know not to mess with Professor Gu

The kids are still challenging the professor when he teaches about the signs of drug intake. Zheng Bei encourages them to learn. "The sooner you learn, the sooner Professor Gu will go back and you will be free." Stop it. I don't want him to go back. Zheng Bei is saved, Jiang Xiao Hai came to invite him to his sister's house to thank him. The others are VERY jealous. 😂

Zheng Nan's hair salon. She doesn't understand why Xiao Guang is always here to get a hair cut. She keeps mentioning Professor Gu to his annoyance. Xiao Guang's parents are living in Shenzen (South China) for work. Power outage leaves them in the dark. Xiao Guang fixes the fuse box. He struck by Zheng Nan's beauty. Spud was wrong, French BGM isn't just for Gu Yi Ran, it plays here too.

Xiao Guang: No wonder people like candlelit dinners. You look so pretty in candle light.

Zheng Nan: Like your long-lost ancestor? 🤣

Zheng Nan is gorgeous

She isn't into romance. He's too slow at fixing things. He grabs the candle from her to prevent the wax from dripping on her hand but it hurts him instead. He puts on a brave face. They are cute. Posing by stroking his hair, he asks her if he looks like prince in candle light. She blows out the candle in response. 😁

He looks like a prince to me

Jiang Ying Zi's house. Jiang Xiao Hai watches Zheng Bei as Zheng Bei looks around.

Complex expression

It's a warm family environment with the sister, little girl (Mao Mao), and husband coming home. Wang Yu Min (Guan Ya Jun) and Jiang Ying Zi (Lian Lian) are a sweet, loving couple. Nonchalantly, Zheng Bei investigates by asking Jiang Ying Zi about the tobacco stopping bleeding trick. She confirms that it is an old folk remedy from their father. This allayed his suspicions because it isn't just a street smart trick.

It's late at night, Zheng Bei returns to the station. Gu Yi Ran is still there, revising lesson plans to make them more engaging. He asks Professor Gu why his personality is... "really something"

Zheng Bei: On one hand, you can be pretty sharp with your words. On the other, you take teasing from everyone with a smile. They said you are torturing them with class, but here you are making teaching plans after work. This is fun.

Gu Yi Ran: I came to Halan to assist you guys. This is my duty.

Zheng Bei: Professor Gu, have you ever been upset like normal guys?

Gu Yi Ran stares back at him and just nods and smiles. He simply states that the team will accept him. Zheng Bei gives up, he can't get to know him at all.

Zheng Bei can't understand this friendly cold guy

The team got a tip from Mouse. A drug dealer is at a pool hall but they don't know what he looks like. Team doesn't understand why Professor Gu, who can't fight, is with them. Gu Yi Ran shows them why. When the drug dealer passes by him, Professor Gu identified him immediately by smell. Gu Yi Ran approaches the dealer and pretends to be an addict to buy drugs.

Got drugs?

Professor even sniffs like an addict

They go to the back alley. Dealer sees Guo Zhu approach and tries to run. He isn't impressed by Yao Yao blocking him.

Dealer is impressed now

Team is amazed that Gu Yu Ran was able to smell out the drug dealer. Are you a police dog?

Professor Gu: Every drug has a unique smell. If you didn't skip class you would know.

Hahahaha. He's so annoying and useful. Zheng Bei tells him to sit at the desk across from them, stop being in the lab alone. Guo Zhu tells Gu Yi Ran about Yao Yao's "Mad Dog Yao" nickname and how she accidentally knocked out an innocent witness. Well, he's going to be knocked out for that despite Zheng Bei saying she never hits teammates.

Zheng Bei: Nothing to worry about back there 🤣

During the interrogation, Gu Yi Ran identified the gold necklace as something only sold in the Hong Kong, linking the dealer with White Building Murderer. Zheng Bei scares him with an accomplice to murder charge and he tells them all he knows about the killer. His name is Liang.

Aww, Yao Yao changes her mind about Professor Gu. A necklace gave them all this info.

Yao Yao: I don't want you to leave.

Gu Yi Ran: Professor Gu won't go.

Yao Yao & Spud: Promise you won't go?

Guo Zhu being cute about his discovery

Big Bear comes with more info on Chen Liang. He is Yuedong drug boss's (Hao) henchman. They will use Mouse to meet him at the market. Zheng Bei assigns roles for everyone. Who wants to play a couple with Yao Yao? Xiao Guang and Guo Zhu run away quickly. Zheng Bei tells her to ignore them, she can pick anyone one she wants. She smiles mischievously. Zheng Bei looks at Gu Yi Ran for his answer.

Zheng Bei's eyebrows: Dude, you're up.
Gu Yi Ran's back: Professor Gu isn't here

Market. Everyone is in position. Monkey is also here. Liang approaches Mouse and realizes this is a bust. He shoots at him and rides away on motorbike. Gu Yi Ran chases after him. Our professor is speedy. He updates Zheng Bei on Liang's position who then drives after him. Passerbys throw stools at Liang to try to stop him. Liang runs into a van and is now trying to escape on foot. Zheng Bei chases, but is stopped by a train. As Liang appears to have escaped, he is suddenly stabbed by Monkey's partner.

This scene happened exactly like this cartoon

[Ep6] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

Uncle Tie Gang carries a heavy pot. Gu Yi Ran, who is wearing his running outfit, offers to help. Uncle Tie Gang declines but falls from a step. In the hospital, Zheng Bei and Gu Yi Ran talk to the doctors. Uncle Tie Gang's old leg injury from a gun shot wound makes this fall worse.

Flashback 3 years ago. Uncle Tie Gang, Zheng Bei and another officer are on patrol. A motorcyclist rams into him. The motorcyclist acts suspiciously, he just wants to flee the scene even though he was hit hard. When he sees that they are cops, he runs and shoots the other officer dead. Uncle Tie Gang was also shot in the leg. Zheng Bei was able to chase down the motorcyclist and his partner.

Liu Wei is a powerhouse actor

Present day. Monkey and Erjin destroys the motorcycle used to kill Liang. Erjin reports to his boss, owner of the taxi company, Qin Yi (Cheng Yong). They will lay low a bit since cops are investing them.

Finally with clothes on

Halan team reviews the case. Zheng Bei calls Professor Gu "Ran Ge". Xiao Guang is confused, "Ran ge"? When did he get promoted. Yao Yao confirms. Ran Ge ran like their were motors on his skinny legs. Guo Zhu also refills Ran Ge's coffee cup and asks if he can represent their team for the sports competition in the spring. Zheng Bei puts a damper on that. It's months away, case would be closed, Ran ge would probably be back South.

Sly smile

Ran ge: Some cases can last a year or 2. Guo Zhu, if I'm still here next spring, I'll participate, okay?

Spud gets nervous with this future talk. I can picture the heartbreaking montage already. Ignore this doomsdayer.

Look how happy they are that food is coming. Wow, the detail. Uncle holds the hot containers with his apron. When Gu Yi Ran grabbed the food, he rubbed his hand on his earlobe to dissipate the heat. He does it again when he's blurry in the background. Yao Yao paused at the table to set down the hot boxes and picks them up again with her sleeves

A funny little discussion about Guo Zhu's coffee caffeine high triggers Zheng Bei's memory of the train attendants rotten teeth. I won't add a screencap. Hey! His appearance fits Professor Gu's talks about drug abusers. They go find him for a 2nd chat. Some nifty camera work flashbacks informs us that Liang frequently travels this train route with the train attendant transferring his drug supply off the train. Someone (Song brothers) had stolen a shipment.

Zheng Bei when there's no leads

Huazhou'ss drug lord (Hao) sends monthly shipments to Halan with Chen Liang as a carrier and train attendant to bypass the security checks. Song brothers pick up shipments for Halan Boss. Song bros got greedy, stole 1. Chen Liang kills them. Halan boss kills Chen Liang to silence him.

Erjin drowns some lackey for being the one to work with Song bros. Qin Yi calls Huazhou's boss, Hao, to smooth over killing his man. He sent a gold statue will increase payment by 1% to keep the supply coming. There are recurring camera shots of fish tanks in this drama. Qin Yi and earlier at Jiang Ying Zi's house. I haven't figured out a connection yet.

Qin Yi

Huazhou Hao
Ep 6: All the basic drug bosses

Mission time at a night club. Zheng Bei warns them to only gather evidence and not scare off the drug dealers. Zheng Bei and Professor Gu orders some Red Dragon pills and pretend to take them. Zheng Bei holds up his bag with the hidden camera to record the scene. A guard notices them. Zheng Bei asks the Professor why the junkies wear sunglasses. The drugs dilate pupils, so they are photosensitive. Our nerd is always prepared and gives Zheng Bei a pair to wear.

You knew this would be included

A guard comes over and opens up their camera bag. He's shocked to see it full of large bills. Zheng Bei goes big generous gangsta on him, yelling first then giving him a $100 as tip. After the guy leaves, he tells Gu Yi Ran that only the top 2 bills are large ones, the others are small bills. Zheng Bei is about to propose for him to help split the expenditure...

Gu Yi Ran: I have no money.

Love Zheng Bei's nod after

LOL. Zheng Bei didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Zheng Bei teaches the professor how to dance. I think this is revenge.

This isn't acting

Xiao Guang and Yao Yao pretend to be drunk to stumble into the private rooms to see what's happening in them. Yao Yao sees a waitress being molested by a slimy patron. She can't hold back and rescues her. Xiao Guang joins Yao Yao. Big fight ensues. Our girl is awesome, but there are way too many people. Fortunately, Big Bear's team comes to break up the fight. Yao Yao and Xiao Guang are exhausted. Their cover isn't blown because she tells them they are here because of a prostitution tip.

Zheng Bei is upset at Yao Yao for almost blowing their operation. She feels awful and is apologetic. Zheng Bei tells her that if she can't control her temper she isn't fit to be a cop. Gu Yi Ran lowers his voice and tells Zheng Bei that he went too far. Yao Yao leaves tearfully.

Leaving work, Zheng Bei asks the gate guard if Yao Yao has come back yet. Gu Yi Ran says that she purposely chose the farthest places to go investigate and probably won't be back till after midnight. If he's worried, he should page her. Zheng Bei pretends not to care. Detail, our polite professor waves bye to the guard.

Night time, sleeping Gu Yi Ran is startled by Zheng Bei's door closing. Our professor laughs because he knows exactly where Zheng Bei is going.

How is he so adorable?

At the station, Yao Yao is asleep at the desk. Zheng Bei brought her a snack. They have a lovely talk. He picked her, there's no use in being angry. She understands that she can't be rash anymore. He drives her home and they brainstorm that next time she can pull the fire alarm or something. Lin Lu Xiao would not approve!

[Ep7] [Jump to: Top | Comments]

New gangster, Shen Li, is released from prison. His minion picks him up and they take a taxi.

Wanhuang Hotel. A fleet of taxis are waiting outside for customers. The hotel people come out and fight with the taxi drivers.

Li's minion gives him a drug sample. Taxi driver laughs at their outdated junk. If they want something good, call this number on the business card for Red Dragon.

Li's face: I haven't been locked up that long. Didn't taxi drivers used to only give gossip and bad love advice?

Dinosaur gangster

Li's taxi driver gets a call about the fight from Monkey and swings around to help, flinging Li ge and minion against the window. XD A slimy POS drives his fancy car and rams it into the taxi. Slimy POS is the hotel owner's son, Lin Jiang (Sun Bo Hao). As Shen Li was about to leave, he sees Zheng Bei and his chicken van pull up to break up the fight. He wants to attack Zheng Bei but minion points out the chicken van with his family restaurant's address. Lao 6 is bad at being undercover. Zheng Bei slams POS against the car and arrests him for the fight.

Uncle is studying a chess end game. Zheng Bei comes up and impulsively plays. There's probably a metaphor here. Professor Gu conducts "smell this drug" lesson. He has improved his curriculum engagement. I didn't learn this in school.

ZB: Director Gao, the guy you told me to bring back is making the team high

Take-aways:

Marijuana = oily smell. *Zhang Han* (Guo Zhu's family's meat stall)

Meth = metal smell (like Yao Yao's grandpa's steel factory)

Ecstasy = like milk or White Rabbit candy (Zheng Bei, teacher's pet, got that one)

My professor also didn't look like this

Gu Yi Ran: When dealing with stubborn criminals, sometimes you have to give them a... love education.

Yao Yao: A good beating with love

Spud = Team Yao Yao

Ick. Director, I don't need this "on-the-nose" transition to gangster rubbing his stuffy nose. Gangsters playing mahjong with Qin Yi while he's not so subtlely threatening them. Erjin and the taxi crew interrupt complaining that they were attacked.

Our team is stumped by how the drugs are being distributed. Looking at the pictures, Zheng Bei deduces that a fleet of taxis would be good drug runners.

At Qin Yi's taxi headquarters office, Jiang Xiao Hai pulls up in one and easily walks in. "Godfather" he calls Qin Yi and pours him water. Erjin had told Jiang Xiao Hai to keep an eye on the Song bros, so he's disappointed by his work performance. Jiang Xiao Hai says he will deal with the hotel taxi issue but he is staying away from drugs. He's never been a part of that business branch.

Our Halan team is taking all the taxis and sniffing them for drugs. No dogs back then, only cops.

No Xiao Guang picture because his allergies make him a poor dog

Jiang Xiao Hai goes to the Wanhuang hotel, "negotiates" with POS. Scrappy guy puts on his metal knuckles and beats a dozen guys. Ends with a hung argument.

Drop him! Drop him!
(You'll agree with me later)

Police come and takes both into custody. When he arrives, Jiang Xiao Hai sees Zheng Bei and calls out "Da ge! Are you still at work? They started it!" like he saw him across school campus instead of being in handcuffs.

Later, Big Bear says Jiang Xiao Hai was quite cooperative with questioning. In the bathroom, Jiang Xiao Hai is washing his hands when lights turn off and he's attacked. It's Zheng Bei testing his fighting skills and is impressed.

Zheng Bei leads the interrogation now. Jiang Xiao Hai logically explains he needed to learn how to fight because he was in prison. He also is forthcoming that Qin Yi is his godfather. Zheng Bei tells him that he's done his time, he has a good family, he should think about how he wants to live the rest of his life.

Gangster Shen Li and 2 minions arrive at Zheng's chicken restaurant. He has a long gun hidden under his coat. Gu Yi Ran and Zheng Nan also come to eat. Gu Yi Ran notices the suspicious gangster and sees the gun peeping out. Phone rings, Gu Yi Ran picks up, it's Zheng Bei telling him he's coming back now, save him food. ZB's thoughts: Director Gao made me bring home this foodie and he's eating me out of house and home....

Gu Yi Ran, crossed voice: How can you say our chicken ribs taste like White Rabbit candy?!? Are you drunk?

He tells a confused Zheng Nan that he will clean the tables, she can go back to the kitchen. While cleaning the table next to the gangsters, he slowly puts 2 unopened beers into the hot pot.

So slick, chemistry experiment?

He tells Zheng Nan to take her parents out back and call the police. Gangster gets up, Gu Yi Ran slams the door and tells them to run, gangster fires his gun at our Professor!

Remarks

by Potato Chip

[First Impression (Ep1-)]

A drama of contrasts: Gritty morbidity, every day humor, icy environment, heart-warming team, turbulent nostalgic '90s era, and the cusp of modern drug busting science bringing safety. Some parts of the drug stuff are a bit dull, especially the dispensable stereotypical baddies, and the fight scenes suspend people and disbelief, but the characters are the highlights. The 3 main guys are smart and are approachable on the surface, but each are opaque and carry trauma. Their interactions, discovering each other and their pasts, while unraveling the drug crisis are entertaining. The rest of Halan team, the family members, and Uncle Xie Tie Gang are very likeable and bring the laughter.

The director integrated clever clues and callbacks. The time jumps can be confusing, but overall, it is interesting storytelling. The realistic sets are immersive. The homes are cluttered and tiny, the clubs are gaudy and smoky, the cars are squeaky and falling apart... The city feels decrepit yet inviting with neighbors gifting hometown delicacies and throwing stools at bad guys.

[Cast&Crew]

Huang Jing Yu and Wang Zi Qi, my CP is back! And even more bromantic. In Bright Eyes, they were a 2nd chance couple, here it is an arranged contract marriage. 🤣 Because of their close real life friendship, each time Zheng Bei looks at Gu Yi Ran, he seems amused and doting. When Gu Yi Ran isn't being a "Smiling Tiger" he is a squishy, cute little bro.

Zhang Yu is a well known movie actor. Drama is produced by Zhang Yi Mou. It's his 1st foray into web dramas.

[Behind the Scenes]

[Ending]

[A Highlight]

[Review & Rating]

Rating: /5

Recommendations

Preliminary recs are random / a peek at the list. These may be updated if drama is completed

Genre List:

Investigative / Procedurals

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September 3, 2024

The First Shot | Recap and Review

Cast

Mini Recaps

Remarks

Recommendations

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