What a find
Never thought I would find a drama like this by browsing through titles. Cast all were outstanding especially ML who played twins. Even though there were a lot of subplots going on it was easy to follow them all. Itkeeps you guessing u til the very end with all the twists and turns. The last three episodes had me in tears. Binged the whole drama in one day.Was this review helpful to you?
1Everyday 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!
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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
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This review may contain spoilers
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!
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