Watch Your Back | Review

A cat and mouse game between sharp-witted offices and OCD-driven thieves.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Guo Jing Fei: Guo Peng Fei

Qin Lan: Li Xiao Lian

Chinese Title

黃雀

Eurasian Siskin

(Chinese bird species)

Genres: Contemporary, No Romance, Suspense, 

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2025
Episodes: 24

Jump to Remarks & Review | Recs | Comments

Cast

The Mains

Guo Jing Fei: Guo Peng Fei	Qin Lan: Li Xiao Lian

The Police

Chen Jing Ke: Li Tang	Guo Ke Yu: Hua jie
Zhao Bin: Li Hong Qi	Liu Qi: Mao Zhi Chao

The "Trios" and Related

Zu Feng: Master Fo	Ma Yin Yin: A Lan
Zhang Hao Ran: Cai Shen ("God of Money")	Zhou Zheng Jie: Si Yan ("Four Eyes")
Wang Zheng: He Xiao Zhu	Lu Hong: Da Chun
Guo Cheng: Xiao Chun	He Lan Dou: Ma Min Zhu / Xiao Pi Zi

The Others

Vincent Wong: Jiang Ji Feng (Ophthalmologist)	Lu Xiao Lin: Fang Hui (Lost Fiancé)
David Chiang: Uncle Guang	You Yong Zhi: Fang Zhao (Fang Hui's father)

Remarks

[Drama Info]

From the crew behind Enemy, a highly praised drama in 2021. Directed by Lu Lun Chang and written by Wang Xiao Qiang, known for his espionage flair (e.g. In the Name of the Brother). 

The pick-pocketing drama mostly takes place in 2004. This matters because in 2005, in effort of stopping pickpocketing, China began developing a nationwide surveillance, Skynet, which was fully operational by 2015. (Source: Google)

Beware! There's a "Season 1" tag. Season 2 has not been filmed yet. [ETA: Main story in S1 is complete. It seems S2 will explore more of ML's backstory with the 1994 trio.]

Wrapped on January 20, 2024.

[Ending] Happy with casualties.

Drama Overview & Review

The show: Guo Peng Fei is a cop navigating a world where pickpockets operate with surgical precision – a network so massive and meticulous that it feels untouchable. Although Chen Jing Ke is technically Guo Jing Fei's partner, the "CP" spotlight is stolen by Zhao Bin’s Li Hong Qi and his broken back xD.

Guo Peng Fei and Li Hong Qi had each other at their first wink <3

HAHAHAHA:

Guo Peng Fei warned you not to run...

These are Guo Peng Fei:

You might grow fond of the "petty" thieves.

↑ 1994 "Trio"

↓ 2004 "Trio"

36D LOL

Happy Birthday

You might grow really fond of the petty thieves. They're not just "colleagues", they're families who only have each other.

You will be disgusted at the victims. 🖕

Try not to be spoiled so you can fully enjoy the jaw-dropping twists.

[Review & Rating] By cynlynn.

This premise is enticing – a pickpocketing network so massive and meticulous that petty crime starts to feel like art. And in many ways, it delivers: the realism, the unexpected humour, the OCD, and the nuanced character work make even minor roles feel fully realized. I love the pickpocketing choreography. The strategies are intricate, and the cat-and-mouse game between the cunning thieves and sharp-witted cops is thrilling to watch.

That said, the plot can feel overwhelming at times. It drowns in excess, actually. Too many unnecessary subplots, too many character arcs that, while detailed, pile on without real purpose. Take Hua jie, we don’t just get her story, but also her daughter’s, her daughter’s boyfriend’s, and her daughter’s boyfriend’s gang members – omg. And the male lead, Guo Peng Fei, has even more, of course: his lost fiancée, her sister, the 1994 trio, his failing liver, his hallucinations – it’s endless. Any of it could have been compelling if it actually led somewhere by the end of the season. As much as I admire the craftsmanship, I would have much preferred a tighter narrative.

I don't know if the happy ending was worth it...! If I’m going to spend episodes getting attached to these characters, I want something in return, you know? Still, the emotional impact is undeniable. Some characters surprised me with how much I cared about them. The show doesn’t shy away from consequences, delivering gut-punch moments that make its message clear: good people, bad choices – petty crimes will ruin you.

Despite my personal grievances, this drama is a gripping experience. For those who appreciate intricate storytelling and deeply human characters, it’s worth diving into. Just be warned: the deeper you go, the darker it gets.

Rating: 4/5

Recommendations

Genre List:

Investigative / Procedurals / Comedy

ML	Teams	Espionage
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