Justifiable Defense

正当防卫 ‧ Drama ‧ 2025
Justifiable Defense poster
7.6
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.6/10 from 232 users
# of Watchers: 1,544
Reviews: 3 users
Ranked #4904
Popularity #7597
Watchers 232

Senior prosecutor Duan Hong Shan from the city prosecutor's office is handling a case involving a "woman who killed her husband due to domestic violence." Young prosecutor Fang Ling Yuan from the provincial prosecutor's office is assigned to assist in the investigation. During the process of handling the case, they discovered a connection between it and the "excessive self-defense on campus" incident experienced by Li Mu Feng, Mei Zheng, and Jiang Ting, which Duan Hong Shan handled fourteen years ago. Grounded in facts and guided by the law, the two prosecutors, considering "natural justice, human sentiment, and national law," ultimately provide a definitive resolution to the case. (Source: Cpophome) Edit Translation

  • English
  • Русский
  • हिन्दी
  • Français
  • Country: China
  • Type: Drama
  • Episodes: 15
  • Aired: Jul 9, 2025 - Jul 15, 2025
  • Aired On: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
  • Original Network: iQiyi
  • Duration: 40 min.
  • Score: 7.6 (scored by 232 users)
  • Ranked: #4904
  • Popularity: #7597
  • Content Rating: 13+ - Teens 13 or older

Where to Watch Justifiable Defense

iQIYI
Subscription (sub)

Cast & Credits

Photos

Justifiable Defense Chinese Drama photo
Justifiable Defense Chinese Drama photo
Justifiable Defense Chinese Drama photo
Justifiable Defense Chinese Drama photo
Justifiable Defense Chinese Drama photo
Justifiable Defense Chinese Drama photo

Reviews

Completed
Ackery Flower Award1
12 people found this review helpful
15 days ago
15 of 15 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

Law is a social construction

"You're not handling a case, but someone's life"

I thought Justifiable Defense would be another investigation drama, mainly focusing on who is the real culprit and how the crime was committed.

In the end, it seems like it was never about finding the big bad wolf, but about how complicated people can be, how experiences shape their personalities and their actions and how there is truly no black and white when it comes to law and justice.

The series manages to make the audience think about what constitutes justifiable defense and whether the law is almighty.
What this drama hints at is that the final verdicts and conclusions will always be affected by personal beliefs and biases and that in itself is the vulnerability of the law, which, after all, is a human fabrication.

It's a well written series, with good directing, interesting plot and characters. Without it being overly complicated or shocking, it portrays masterfully multi-faceted characters focusing on their psyche.
I do think the music was overused and the acting could be better in some parts, but that is negligible for a series that is undeniably a gem and a must watch for people enjoying character-driven stories.

Lastly, I firmly believe that there would be differences in some parts of the plot, if the drama didn't have to pass the censorship board. Some things felt a bit too idealistic, and forced to follow a specific route. However, it wasn't something that ruined the final result and it wasn't as evident compared to other series of the same genre. Nevertheless, I do think that people having a bit more freedom in these types of series would create not just good dramas like this one, but unforgettable stories that will linger in one's mind for a long time.

"Absolute justice exists only in concept"

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Ongoing 15/15
Sar03
6 people found this review helpful
15 days ago
15 of 15 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

Give this a go!


I very much enjoyed this, was immersed in it, it pulled at my emotions, had me tearful and melancholy.

Gaps in the story telling and logic are there, but I have always been a viewer that can fill up those with my imagination and reasoning, and does not take away from the story in my eyes.
Was this review helpful to you?

Recommendations

There have been no recommendations submitted. Be the first and add one.

Recent Discussions

Title Replies Views Latest Post
Calendar Schedule (Late Post) by XiaoMeiren 0 0 No discussions yet

Details

  • Drama: Justifiable Defense
  • Country: China
  • Episodes: 15
  • Aired: Jul 9, 2025 - Jul 15, 2025
  • Aired On: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
  • Original Network: iQiyi
  • Duration: 40 min.
  • Content Rating: 13+ - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

  • Score: 7.6 (scored by 232 users)
  • Ranked: #4904
  • Popularity: #7597
  • Watchers: 1,544

Top Contributors

46 edits
27 edits
22 edits
18 edits

Popular Lists

Related lists from users
light on series
30 titles 25 loves 1
Light on Series
35 titles 82 loves

Recently Watched By