Beloved (2025)

Everyday lives are worlds of scars and stories that collide in unexpected ways, to create-

A case in "Beloved" unfolds simply enough in episode 1, where Captain Zhou must investigate and solve a mystery involving Qu Tong and her husband.

This drama is a crime thriller with strong psychological underpinnings. The life of each character is revealed organically through their interactions and memories. Director Mao Kunyu wants you to figure it out for yourself with deft camerawork and clever cinematography showcasing rawness and grit, and experience what he feels for each of his characters in a story comprising stories which lives and breathes through past and present interactions.

The main cast and supporting cast turn in compelling strong performances, including the cast in guest roles. Solid performances by Luo Jin and Yin Zhusheng makes one think of still waters running deep, and the actresses are just as compelling in their roles. Chen Jin and Ai Liya touched many emotions as two very different mothers of two characters conveying how love influences and compels these mothers to choose what they do, where elicited emotions were positive and negative as intended.

Yu Nan as Captain Zhou is stoic, sympathetic, tough and carries her own issues. Is Qu Tong misunderstood? Is Qu Tong responsible? What happened? The tops are spinning. Which tops will go awry, and which remain upright?

The OST of four songs is perfectly matched to the drama. The music for《陀螺》Spinning Top by folk singer 万晓利 makes you feel as if you want to relive halcyon days of past and bring them into the present with you, but listening to the lyrics will give you something more. The ending song《达摩流浪者》by the same artist is a soulful song from the 2006 album 《这一切没有想象的那么糟》, encouraging you not to lose hope on the path that you walk, and not to stop. A live performance of《 达摩流浪者》by Wan Xiaoli in 2018 captures the essence of what it means to live, and to keep reaching for the sun which will come out one day after the storms and dark clouds have had their say. Excellent choice for the start and end of this drama unveiling the creations and processes of trudging through a riveting landscape of darkness, suspense and scars, from the eyes of different people more fortunate or unfortunate than the viewer. Two more instrumental songs for this drama are also by Wan Xiaoli.

If you want to indulge your investigative abilities, pay attention to episode 1 with the eyes and emotions of a detective.

In short, WATCH THIS and you won't regret it. The case has many twists and bends more intricate than any spinning top. This gigantic topper of a case contains many spinning tops, and is so much more than an investigation. The angles of the human psyche revealed in every episode will make you think and ponder what it means, to be human and how to deal with suffering and wounds. The human condition is simultaneously resilient and fragile, and you will come out with a different sense of what it means to look at a stranger walking past you, as a fellow human. We each compose our own stories and although we cannot control everything including unfairness or horrible things unexpectedly happening, we can steer our ships to better shores as much as humanely possible. Without jumping too hastily to conclusions. A new day will come. And you'll want to get there with those who care for you. True love triumphs, in all the ways that is quiet, heartfelt and teary.

Ps. Never underestimate the power of a hug or wanting to be hugged. Go make someone's day!

Read More

An ending so satisfying it left me in tears

This drama aired without the fanfare of idol dramas and it ended just as quietly. I would have never found out about it if I wasn’t on the lookout for Luo Jin dramas I want to actually watch.

Luo Jin as the male lead was excellent. He managed to pull off a dual role with incredible depth and contrast. His portrayal of Su Mu Fan’s savagery and Su Mu Xin’s gentleness was a delight to see. He really brought to life and convincingly portrayed two completely different characters.

Wang Zi Wen as Qu Tong was great as well. She captured the essence of a woman who thought she had lost everything and felt she had nothing left to hold onto. Her portrayal was so raw that you could feel her grief and the pain of what her life had become was almost tangible. As Dustyhymn said, “She is dead inside”. Both Mu Xin and Qu Tong had been dealt an unfair hand by life. Their destinies were not as much chosen by them but by the decisions of those around them.

But while Luo Jin and Wang Zi Wen shined in their roles, the supporting cast cannot go unmentioned. In Beloved, we had three mothers who made decisions which affected their children for life. One was too involved and permissive, another was involved and too strict, and then there is the boys’ mother who we didn’t see much of but whose decisions deeply impacted both boys from early childhood and left scars so deep that even a life swap and adulthood couldn’t undo. So to say that this drama is a portrayal of how resentment, pain, grief, and abuse has lasting effects on the human mind is not completely off base.

The pacing of the drama was good, the acting was excellent, and the music was just okay. However, I am willing to overlook that because the drama gave me so many great moments, threw a few unexpected twists my way, and the ending was so satisfying that it left me in tears.

Read More

A psychologically thrilling hidden gem

‒Spoiler Free Review‒

This was a terrific crime drama with a tight plot, unexpected twists and turns, intriguing characters, and a satisfying ending. While I have not seen many crime dramas, this one stood out for the tight writing and attention to detail. The production quality is great. And while there weren't many songs, I really liked the few that were selected‒including the ending‒that waltzed around the high-strung tension of the show. For those that require romance, this one's got a love story to boot.

The cast is excellent, all the way down to the support and child actors. Quite a few performances were good enough to savor. From the main cast, Luo Jin, Wang Ziwen, and Chen Jin had plenty of highlights. Wang Ziwen continues to impress. I've seen her in three shows‒Three Body, Bureau of Transformers, and this‒playing radically different characters, and just going so hard at it each time. Luo Jin was also excellent, though I don't want to spoil the reason.

While this may be a short review, this is an excellent show that everyone should check out. And having just watched Twelve Letters before this, Beloved feels somewhat like an adult cousin to the show‒darker, more psychologically intriguing, with a different flavor of love and trauma.

--Category Ratings--

- Overall - 8.4 (--> 9 MDL)
- Plot - 8.5
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8.5
- Acting - 9
- Visuals - 8.5
- Audio / Music - 8.5
- Rewatch - 8
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 8
- Subtitle quality - 8

Read More

What An Insanely Plot

This drama is basically going to be underrated, and that’s a crime because let’s talk about the plot—it’s confusing in the best way possible. Not the kind of confusing that makes you drop it, but the kind that blows your mind. At first flashback, I honestly didn’t know who to support because it felt like everyone had a motive. The only one I trusted the whole time was the police (seriously though, I NEED to know who wrote that letter about Hao Mei Li and Qu Tong).

Then things got wild—when they revealed SMX has an identical twin, my jaw actually dropped. I’m not exaggerating or being cringe, that twist really did shock me.

And let’s not skip the acting—it was top tier. Plus, every time I see a drama with that low-saturation coloring, I just know it’s going to be good. Pair that with this cast and the way they handled the CGI, and it’s an easy win for me.

So yeah, highly recommend this one. Don’t sleep on it!

Read More

A Hidden Gem Packed With Twists, Layers, and Zero Predictability

This drama had me second-guessing every single character from the moment it started. Just when I thought I finally understood someone, the story would flip everything upside down with another twist, not the cheap, forced kind, but the kind that makes you sit up and rethink every assumption you’ve made. It’s rare to find a drama that keeps you genuinely unsure who to trust, who to pity, and who to fear, but this one pulls it off effortlessly.

What really makes the show stand out is how deeply layered the characters are. No one is straightforward. No one is predictable. Every character feels like a fully fleshed-out human being flawed, guarded, traumatized, and shaped by choices they made long before the present timeline. The writing never hands you information on a silver platter. Instead, it reveals truths slowly, through actions, memories, and shifting perspectives, making you piece together each character like a psychological puzzle.

The pacing is tight from episode one. There’s no filler, no detours ,just a gripping atmosphere full of tension and ambiguity. You can feel the emotional weight behind every interaction. The story constantly walks the line between suspicion and sympathy, and half the time you don’t know whether to root for someone or be afraid of them.

And the performances? Excellent across the board. Every actor , main cast, supporting characters, even guest roles brings a sense of realism that makes the unfolding mystery feel even more unsettling. The characters’ emotional scars, trauma, and inner conflicts aren’t just hinted at; they’re felt.

For a drama this well-written, it’s honestly wild how underrated it is. It deserves far more attention for its storytelling, psychological depth, and ability to keep viewers engaged without resorting to clichés or cheap shock value. It’s the kind of show that rewards you for paying attention and keeps your brain working the entire time.

If you love crime thrillers with morally grey characters, carefully built tension, and twists that actually make sense, this drama is absolutely worth watching and then discussing, because you’ll definitely have thoughts once it’s over.

Read More

Another good iQiYi short series about crime drama. Lou Jin and Wang Zi Wen were awesome

Beloved is a crime drama starring Luo Jin, Wang Zi Wen, and Yu Nan. There were a few twists in the crime drama that I didn't expect, as Luo Jin portrayed double characters, playing twin brothers. One was blind due to jealousy that his old classmate tried to kill him, was kind and gentle, whereas his twin brother is more ambitious and conniving.

The acting ensemble was good, especially Lou Jin and Wang Zi Wen. iQiyi short series always do well.

Synopsis: At the turn of the century, due to the water storage requirements of water conservancy projects, a small riverside town was about to be submerged. People were in full swing in the construction of a new city and population migration. In the summer of 2002, Dongjiang City experienced heavy rainfall. A bizarre murder case came to the police's attention. A dead lover and a disappeared and resurrected husband were both the "murderer" and the "dead." Finally, under the unremitting investigation of the police, a past that had been long forgotten was brought to light. The complexity of human nature has often blinded many people, but the truth remains unshaken. Everything you can see is sunshine.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8.5
2. Script: 8
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 7.5
5. Cinematography: 7
6. Rewatchable: 7
7. On-screen Chemistry: 7

Overall Rating: 7.5

Read More