─ artistic approach to the crime cases
I had watched many crime thriller dramas that focuses on talented detectives in the police station setting. Yet, Under the Skin is one of the unique ones that deliver a new approach to this genre. Before I started the drama, I had high expectations because I only saw positive reviews about it. After watching it, I definitely agree that it deserves all the compliments.The story is actually quite captivating even from the premise. Overall, it is an interesting and binge worthy story ─ not with just cases as some of them might appear familiar but the way they deliver it from the eyes of a genius artist. It also has a smooth pace, doesn't drag the story unnecessarily. In fact, it is one of its charms that they know exactly where to conclude the cases and move to the next one.
Dynamics and acting are absolutely amazing ─ you don't feel awkward or think any character doesn't belong there. They all have their roles and perfectly showcases it.
I also think the ending is satisfying and mysterious enough to set the vibe for the second season. This being said, I'm definitely looking forward to the next season and what they prepared with cases and characters.
link to edits : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxplWeBw3y5jgUu8espv5dPINyq2-V6RY&si=D4q8INvgXiU5lMQK
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Human nature never be hidden
Under the skin drama truly shows human nature, emotion change and desire perfectly. Human nature is too much complicated. Because human can be GOD and devil. So according to the drama Shen Yi character through shows human nature changes . Chinese drama sometimes story line bit fast but this drama every crime scene shows fully explanation. So other supporting character acts very well. I think this is good Mysterious ,crime dramaWas this review helpful to you?
This series is my new obsession?
Okay i will try to be objective in this review but i cant guarantee it because my love for this series can effect the filterlessness(?)So i was searching for a bl with a fine arts topic (because im an artist myself and we all watch things we can relate right?) and i started this with little to no expectation. But as i was watching the very first episode i understood that art was not a little side topic helping the couples story (like other bls that i searched) but actually the main thing that forms the plot. It made me so happy to see an ACTUAL creation proccess and not just a "taa-daa the drawing is done" thing. I could say that i was hypnotised watching Shen Yi sketch or paint. Like every medium which showed up on the screen was very well used and filmed. It made me want to grab my never used art suplies and just create something out of thin air. But we cant just copy the talent we see on a screen so i had to keep watching the episodes one after another like i was consuming it. I was left speechless more and more as i saw Shen Yi using his brain and hands with %100 productivity. That man only slept like 10 hours total in the series and half of them was in the car im süre. When i think of it i guess i would immediately kneel before him if i saw his talent in real life. The peaces in the end of the last episode especially made me so emotional, they were beautiful. I love both his works before and after becoming a police officer. You know he had a thing with faces before as well. I respect that a lot because having a topic that you are into is as important as having a style. I dont know how and when he learned all the informations and techniques about human face like how the muscles work and deep anatomy stuff but its so cool. I was like "this man really knows what he is doing. He is not just drawing lines out of predictions" (like i do) And he is so confident about his work because of that. And the lectures!!! My goddd they were awsome. I would attend all of his classes and i wouldnt let that man rest. The way he reveals all the hidden details in the paintings was so delightful to watch. It made me pause the scene and search for more information about them. I know i didnt stop talking about the art in this series, i guess you have figured out how much i love it.
Now i can talk about the plot. Some of the comments are saying that they solved all the cases before the officers and i just think it is impossible. Okay some of them was more obvious and just needed more evidence to proove. But also there were cases where we as the watchers had no clue about the murderer like we were learning the details with them and its impossible to guess those. The one about the aesthetic surgery for example. We were informed at the same time with them and we solved the case by looking at the prooves they showed us. I had no problem with the speed of the solving part and i think everything had enough attention from the officers. Another part that i liked was the cases not being started and ended in one episode. They were investigated from all the angles. The cases were unique and i personally enjoyed watching every single one of them.
This was all for this review. I hope we get the season 2 as soon as possible..
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Coooll!!!
When this drama was airing , I wanted to watch it but missed the chance and I didn't really get a chance t consider it again but again I saw one of the scene , I really wanted to see it . TRUST ME , If you like Investigating and common surprises then yes this is the drama you might want to see and The Two main actors of the drama are really cool and their chemistry was good , Every character in the drama has it's own specialty . I won't say that stories are really special but the way they execute is unique because the Painting/Drawing is the key . I really suggest you to see this drama .Was this review helpful to you?
A different concept
Usually,we see technology playing a very major role nowadays,in catching the culprits,but this drama is focuses on a new technique of identifying the culprits or criminals based on their paintings.The concept of this drama is unique.
Shen Yi,played by Tan Jianci,joins the investigation bureau and solves the cases through his paintings and in turn wins many accolades for his work.
Jin Shijia as Du Cheng,is a dedicated,sincere, enthusiastic officer,who lost his best friend due to a painting painted by Shen Yi.
He does not get along with Shen Yi in the beginning,but later on is impressed by the latter's work and hence become partners in investigation and thereafter, good friends.
Both the actors were really good in their roles.
All the actors,the stories they investigated,the plot were really good.
I particularly liked the concept of how we can use painting and an artist in finding out the culprits, especially if they intentionally or unexpectedly or coincidentally covered their faces and those cases,where there is really no way left out to find the mastermind.I liked how the director could actually blend the difficult cases with no clue and painting as a solution to them into a story.
A unique concept which definitely needs to be watched.
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One of the best c-dramas I've watched in my life
The main leads are extremely smart. They use both facts and intuitions to do things. What I like the most is the plot and the leads' chemistry. Highly highly highly recommended.I know, some people may think of the main leads are too overpowered like they're invincible. The plots may feel boring for some pople, not to mention that it is a completely crime and mystery drama, so there's no any romantic scenes.
The interaction between the 2 leads are refreshing and heartwarming, how they turned from being hostile toward each other to the kind of swore buddies who will never leave the other behind. Their bond is even stronger than my balance these days.
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Recommended Detective Bromance Series!!!
From misunderstanding & hate in past years became great soulmate detective pairing ... Du Cheng x Shen YiThis series must watch!!! And you will be keep addicted to want to know next episodes and next season!!! Tan Jianci ... you really so great to play role as Shen Yi!!! And Du Cheng from hate feeling grows to more and more pay attentions to Shen Yi. Du Cheng x Shen Yi ... My ships start sailing XD. Du Cheng's team always trust his leadership & when no one can save Du Cheng, Shen Yi the only one his savior. Ending really made me so happy. Recommended Detective Bromance Series!!!
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When profiling meets pencil‑precision
This drama works because it anchors its narrative on two performances that feel lived‑in and emotionally precise. Tan Jian Ci’s Shen Yi carries a quiet, wounded stillness that never tips into melodrama; trauma is written into the way he moves, observes, and withdraws. In contrast, Jin Shi Jia’s cop is open, reactive, and unfiltered—wearing every frustration and flicker of empathy on his sleeve. Watching these two energies collide is half the appeal, especially as their early prejudices gradually give way to a reluctant, then genuine, understanding. Their differences aren’t just personality quirks—they drive the story forward and make the partnership’s eventual cohesion feel earned.The procedural side of the drama is equally compelling. Each case is crafted with enough detail to keep the tension sharp, and Shen Yi’s active involvement adds a unique spin to the usual crime‑drama formula. I’ll admit, sometimes I questioned the feasibility of an illustrator being so hands‑on at crime scenes; most portrayals have them in offices, working from witness statements. But the show leans into this premise convincingly enough that it never pulled me out of the story, and it adds a layer of forensic intrigue that became my main draw—bromance, if any, is just icing on the cake.
I also love how the drama handles its ensemble. The leads are magnetic, yes, but they don’t overshadow the supporting cast. Each secondary character has a purpose, a moment, or a small emotional beat that adds depth and texture to the world. That balance keeps the series grounded and prevents it from turning into a one‑man or one‑woman show, which can be rare in procedural dramas.
Overall, Under the Skin is a grounded, engaging crime drama that succeeds both as a character study and as a forensic thriller. The slow‑burn partnership between Shen Yi and his cop counterpart, the intricate casework, and the careful attention to ensemble dynamics make it a standout. I’m genuinely excited for the second season to see how the characters—and their dynamic—evolve from here.
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Gripping
Uh, this was gripping and had me at the edge of my seat, especially in the early and late episodes. I found this consistently pretty cool and intriguing—minus episode 15… this one I didn’t like to be honest. But I really enjoyed the dynamics between Shen Yi and Du Cheng and how they slowly started trusting and understanding each other! Overall, really good and I’ll have to watch season 2 in the future!🏃🏻♀️➡️Was this review helpful to you?
Thrills, Chills, and Forensic Genius: 'Under the Skin'
I really enjoyed this drama! And I think it's definetly a gem amound Chinese crime dramas and also the start of my mini obsession with Tan JianCi lol. The aspect that makes this stand out the most is the way they solve the cases, using forsenic science. The focus on forensic portrait drawing is so well done, and really exciting. In a way to see how ShenYi will solve the next case is always so fun and exhilarating. The drama consists of multiple cases with no filler episodes all leading to the overaching case which involes both leads ShenYi and DuCheng. The other side character are also pretty memorable within the drama. At times, ShenYi seems like an absolute god that can solve anything lol and the music fits really well with converying and influencing emotions. I also think that ShenYi is kinda hawt lol. This drama does contain various triggering topics so be warmed before watching this, I think it's funny how this kind of thing scared me but I still wait it. I rate this a solid 9/10.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An Engaging Detective Mystery Drama
Under the Skin is a thriller mystery detective drama starring Tan Jianci as a gifted portraitist working for the police bureau. It's only 20 episodes long, which is relatively short for C-dramas. But the fewer episodes allow the drama to make full use of every scene; not a moment is wasted and everything serves a purpose. Hence, it is one of the most well-paced C-dramas I've ever watched to date. In fact, it is more similar to American crime dramas from the 2000's like CSI, Profiler, Lie To Me, Criminal Minds, Bones, and the like than any C-drama I've seen.The story centers around Shen Yi, a troubled art prodigy who finds himself involved in the murder of a highly decorated police officer. Overcome with guilt and remorse, he starts working for the police as a sketch artist in hopes to make a difference and ultimately find redemption. Shen Yi partners with a rough-around-the-edges hotshot detective who despises and blames him for the murder of his senior officer. Their uneasy alliance soon turns into a deep friendship that's founded on trust, and this partnership is the core of the story. So basically it's a buddy cop drama.
It reminds me somewhat of the Chinese animated series, Link Click, but so much better in terms of writing and charactertization. Unlike Link Click, Under the Skin makes an effort to build up its main characters, making them more relatable and sympathetic, so you know exactly who they are whether you like them or not. The cases they work on are even more intriguing and compelling. I found the story about the teenage girl who developed a crush on a tomboy thinking she was a real boy especially interesting. Considering that China has stringent censorship policies and homosexuality is taboo, I thought the writers did a good job writing about lesbianism without being too overt about it. I also rather liked the case regarding two women who plotted the murder of their abusive lover. The supporting characters are also well-written because I learned to care about what happens to them.
Generally speaking, the writing is pretty good. The dialogues, most especially, are written quite well. But there is stuff that defies logic no matter how they try to justify it. Some are too farfetched for me to even consider them plausible. I wish they had used more believable scenarios instead. The production value could've been better as well. But I'm willing to forgive those flaws because the good outweighs the bad.
All in all, this is a solid drama with great plot progression, acting, characterization, and screenplay. I give it a 9 out of 10. Season two is in the works so you can bet your bottom dollar that I will watch it the moment it hits streaming.
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Thoroughly engaging investigation mystery drama
My attention was completely caught by this drama as I started watching, it reminded me of Reset in that way how I just couldn't stop watching and wanted to know more about was was happening.I loved each case in this show, every episode always featured a new way to showcase Shen Yi's skills as a portraitist, and although some of his skills seemed a bit far fetched to me, I didn't really care or focus on that and was just looking forward to see the cases be solved. Also really liked the relationships between the members of the Police team, they all worked well together.
Some plot points were closed a bit too quickly and abruptly for me, specifically Hong Ge's case but overall it's a well written and very engaging series. Till the end, my attention did not wane; from Eps 18-20 more so, I was even more hyped because of the change of pace as we were heading towards the climax, truly nail biting stuff towards the end that made me feel tense and kept me on my toes.
Great series, and I'm excited to check out S2!
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