Drifting Away (2025)

Zhen Zhen: A Tale of Courage, Survival, and Justice

INTRODUCTION:
Prepare yourself for a breathtaking journey as "Drifting Away" takes you through the transformative growth of a teenage heroine. Witness her evolution from a life of bullying and trauma to a determined force of justice, overcoming her past and catching those who wronged her. Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of Zhen Zhen is nothing short of extraordinary—her "deathly gaze" and powerful presence define the series. This is more than just a show; it’s a testament to resilience, emotional depth, and the raw power of storytelling. Get ready to be captivated by Zhen Zhen’s journey and Zhao Jinmai’s unmatched performance.

PLOT OVERVIEW:
The story follows Zhen Zhen, a young woman who escapes a brutal criminal gang that manipulates and tortures victims to sell human meat. After enduring unimaginable trauma and surviving through sheer resilience, she’s inspired by a police officer to join the force.
Haunted by his past failure to identify the gang’s leader, Detective Peng teams up with Zhen Zhen to bring the criminals to justice. As Zhen Zhen heals and reconciles with her family, she grows into a courageous officer, ultimately helping to capture the gang and ensure their sentencing.
A gripping tale of survival, justice, and redemption.

Characters:
Main Lead:

Peng Zhao Lin:
Peng Zhao Lin’s most endearing trait is the quiet strength of his wife, a woman who consoles him in his darkest moments, simply sitting beside him when the chaos within becomes overwhelming.

As a detective, Peng’s character is defined by his unwavering resolve—if he sees a criminal, he cannot look away, no matter the cost. Deeply caring for those around him, he plays a pivotal role in mentoring Zhen Zhen, offering her the push she needs to grow and ensuring the case is pursued from start to finish.

By the end, Peng reflects on his regrets, particularly the time he lost with his family due to his dedication to his work. This realization pushes him to prioritize his loved ones, and he becomes not only a better husband and but also a father figure to Zhen Zhen.

Zhen Zhen:
Zhen Zhen is a woman who stays true to herself—fearless, smart, and incredibly brave. Her acting is mesmerizing, and her strong character shines through in every scene. She embodies a cool, fire-like aura, effortlessly pulling off any look, proving that her face card is unbeatable.

When she moves to a new school, Zhen Zhen becomes a target for bullies, but she bravely confronts them. Unfortunately, her efforts are met with harsh punishment from her mother, who offers little love or understanding. Feeling increasingly alienated, Zhen Zhen’s frustration grows, especially when her mother slaps her, leading her to run away. She tries to find her old friend but learns she’s no longer living there, so she ends up sharing an apartment with a tenant.

The criminal gang relentlessly targets her, but despite their best efforts to capture and torture her, Zhen Zhen remains resilient. During her torment, as she recalls her parents, her voice trembling, you can feel her heartache. In that moment, I just want to tell her to hold on—she’s strong, and everything will pass, making her a version of herself that won’t be afraid anymore.

Zhen Zhen fights back with determination, escaping multiple times even after being caught again. Though she’s physically and emotionally broken, she crawls away, half-dead, haunted by nightmares. But she doesn’t let the trauma define her. After being rescued, she decides to join the police force to overcome her fears.

As a police officer, she excels, even displaying a deadly gaze during boxing that radiates anger and strength. Over time, her parents come to understand her, respecting her decisions and finally showing her the love she longed for. Zhen Zhen leads a strong, fulfilling life, never giving up. She works tirelessly to ensure the criminals are sentenced, finding support from a mentor and a kind-hearted partner. Her transformation from a victim to a fearless woman is inspiring, and she learns to love herself more every day, with her short hair symbolizing her strength.

Deng Li Gang:
His performance makes you despise him deeply, and he embodies everything sinister about a ruthless criminal. A total red flag, he doesn't hesitate to kill or beat people to hide his tracks. Despite establishing a family to cover his crimes, nothing can protect him from the consequences of his horrific actions. He controls everyone in the gang with fear and manipulation, but ultimately, his bad deeds catch up to him.

Message:
the message is clear: no matter how hard you try to escape, the law and justice will always catch up with you. Life is a journey of facing fears, fighting through challenges, and eventually overcoming them. Even when you’re pushed to your limits, like Zhen Zhen, you must hold onto your strength and never give up. You may endure hardship, but through resilience, love, and determination, you can transform into a version of yourself that is no longer afraid. Every struggle has its purpose, and with the right support and inner courage, you can rise above and find justice—both for yourself and the world around you.

Direction: The direction effectively balances emotional depth with intense action, building tension and keeping the audience engaged throughout. It guides the narrative smoothly, particularly through the character-driven moments of Zhen Zhen and Detective Peng.

Cinematography: The cinematography amplifies the story’s tension with dramatic lighting and close-up shots that highlight characters' internal struggles. It enhances the gritty atmosphere, making each scene feel raw and impactful.

Soundtrack & Sound Design: The haunting soundtrack complements the emotional tone, deepening the atmosphere of fear and hope. Sound design intensifies the action and emotional scenes, especially during moments of torture or confrontation.

Special Effects: Special effects are used effectively but sparingly, adding realism to the action and brutal moments. The practical effects during intense scenes make the violence feel grounded and believable.

Costume Design: The costume design mirrors the characters’ growth and roles. Zhen Zhen’s transformation is reflected in her evolving wardrobe, while the villains’ attire highlights their menacing nature, contributing to their characterization.

Writing & Dialogue: The writing is sharp and impactful, with dialogue that resonates long after it’s spoken. It balances character-driven moments with action, highlighting key themes like justice, resilience, and personal growth, adding depth to the narrative.

Overall:
This series was an emotional rollercoaster that had me feeling everything—anger, tears, and immense pride for Zhen Zhen. Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of the character was absolutely stellar, bringing so much depth and realism to the role. Her performance will definitely leave a lasting impact.

"Choice and perseverance are like the cycle of day and night—alternating yet coexisting. In the moment of decision, feel the profound embrace of perseverance, like the meeting of dawn and starry night. Together, they form a radiant yet tranquil painting, quietly awaiting the arrival of each morning’s light and the serenity of each starlit sky."
~Zhen Zhen

Read More

Murder is like potato chips: you can't stop with just one.

This drama is not for the faint hearted. It is a graphic and terrifying account of a gang of serial killers that preyed on drinking girls in Harbin, China from 2002 to 2012. Led by the cruel and depraved Deng Ligeng, they victimized women who were alone and would not be missed. A clogged pipe led to a grisly discovery that put them within a hairsbreadth of being captured. They go on the run across the country but murder is like potato chips: you can't stop with just one. With police chief Peng Zhaolin hot on their heels, this gang of four continues to stake out potential victims. Unfortunately this time they tangle with the wrong victim and barely pull off another audacious escape. They manage to disappear without a trace for a decade until a chance encounter sheds some light on their whereabouts.

This drama has been mired in controversy that unfortunately cast a shadow over what a well crafted police procedural it really is. The cinematography and storytelling approach is vividly gory, full of psychological tension and a menacing and increasing sense of dread and mortal peril. Zhao Jinmai truly impresses in her role as Zhen Zhen, a troubled, defiant teenager who discovers an inner strength she didn't know she possessed in her primal struggle for survival. I haven't felt such a raw combination of sheer terror, helplessness and rage in a very long time. Her desperate bid for freedom is the highlight of the story and where the dramatic tension in the plot peaks. While faithful to actual events, the storytelling deflates into another six episodes that are mundane by comparison. While the idea that serial killers can so easily assimilate back into society and walk among us is unspeakably chilling, it is a point that could have been made more succinctly. Even though I was rooting for Zhen Zhen and Peng Zhaolin to get justice, the way they went on with their lives wasn't interesting. The was also something lacking in Zhao Jinmai's portrayal of Zhen Zhen's nightmares and her PTSD as the dramatic tension in the narrative had abated by then. The final episodes linger too long on characters I didn't care about.

The most damning criticism of this drama is that it glorifies and humanizes serial killers. As someone who watches many similar Western dramas inspired by true crimes, that does not really seem to be a fair assessment. What is true is that the production could have been more sensitive to the feelings of survivors and families of their victims. And it is missing a "fictional events" disclaimer to make it clear that they took dramatic license with true events and characters. There is also an attempt at dark comedy in the beginning that just didn't land well. It is not advisable to eat or drink while watching this drama. All of the actors in villain roles delivered phenomenal performances that brought those fiends and their dark dynamic to life in a horrifying and fascinating way. Wang Qianyuan deserves a special mention as Deng Ligang, the mastermind who terrified the living daylights out of his own gang and Wang Jiajia as the no less perverted killer who dares to stand up to him. But make no mistake, Deng Ligang, Song Hongyu, Shi Bi and Ji Dashun were portrayed as they were; vile, cruel and cunning monsters who coldly and calculatedly lured their victims to a horrible end. Yet they must have had a certain amount of charm in order to persuade their victims to let them into their lives like that. Acknowledging that they were also bold, cunning and charismatic is not the same as glorifying or humanizing them and indeed I didn't feel one iota of sympathy for any one of them from start to finish.

This sinister and gripping story starts strongly and has some outstanding hair-rising moments but loses momentum after peaking too early. My biggest issue with it is at the end, I didn't care about any of the characters, including Zhen Zhen. I found Peng Zhaolin to be an exceptionally banal version of the doggedly persistent cop archetype. I rate the first eight episodes in the 8.0-8.5 range but the final six episodes barely a 7.0 for a 7.5/10.0 overall.

Read More

A controversial drama

When the trailer came out, I had really high expectations for this drama. But after watching it, I was so disappointed. Instead of focusing on how the police caught the criminals, the drama spent most of the time showing the killer's life, even trying to make them seem pitiful and giving excuses for why they killed people. They also use one of the killer's names as the victim's father's name. Since this is based on a real case, it's really disrespectful to the victims.

On top of that, the way they marketed the cast, calling them "F4 meat processing factory" and picturing Esther Wang holding the spatula that was used to abuse victims- was just so disgusting.

This is probably the first drama I've seen that glorifies the killer so much. I’m definitely avoiding anything from this director and screenwriter in the future.

Read More

reepy, Stunning, and Kinda Messy(?)

This drama feels less like a typical C-drama and more like a cinematic experience. From the first frame, the cinematography stands out with stunning color grading, well-thought-out camera angles, and atmospheric composition that elevates the entire production. The music perfectly complements the eerie and unsettling tone, immersing viewers into its world.

The first three episodes might throw some people off due to their unconventional approach—there’s no hand-holding, no slow introduction. Instead, the story plunges right in, demanding full attention. If you’re not fully engaged, it’s easy to miss key details, but this only adds to the show’s brilliance, making every moment feel intentional.

Performance-wise, the cast delivers some of the most gripping portrayals I’ve seen in a drama. Zhao Jin Mai, in particular, gives what might be her strongest performance to date. While some of the actors were new to me, their execution was so flawless that I quickly became invested in their characters. The gang members, in particular, exude a bone-chilling eeriness that genuinely creeped me out—something that few dramas manage to accomplish.

However, This drama isn’t without its flaws. As the show progresses, the initial intensity and creepiness begin to fade. While it remains strong throughout, it loses some of its initial excitement. The biggest issue lies in its pacing—particularly the frequent time skips. At first, they add intrigue, but after a while, they become overwhelming. Days, months, or even longer periods pass abruptly, sometimes making it difficult to stay grounded in the timeline. Had the drama focused more on a single year with only one major time skip, it might have felt more cohesive.

Despite this, Drifting Away is a standout drama that represents an exciting shift in Chinese storytelling—one that moves away from the dragged-out, 30+ episode format and instead delivers tight, high-quality narratives. While it’s a challenging show to review because of how much it does well, its visual storytelling, performances, and eerie atmosphere make it a must-watch. If you’re willing to engage fully and embrace the unconventional pacing, *Drifting Away* is an unforgettable experience.

Read More

Excellent crime drama that left me on the edge of my seat. Highly Recommended

Drifting Away is a crime drama and part of iQiYi short series, and they did a great job. I have not seen any crime drama out of China that left me on the edge of my seat. It was brutal and scary about a gang who kidnapped, mutilated, and killed people, especially prostitutes.

I like it a lot. It had good acting, a good script, and good production quality.

Synopsis: In an ordinary residential building, a tragedy of mutilation occurred. Even experienced criminal police captain Peng Zhao Lin couldn't help but feel horrified when he saw this scene. What he couldn't forgive himself was that he once passed the criminal suspect Deng Li Gang in the corridor. Deng Li Gang and others traveled across the country to commit crimes, specializing in kidnapping, extorting, and killing "nightclub girls." The task force traveled to many provinces to hunt down the murderer but failed. The criminal gang suddenly disappeared. They launder their identities illegally and live a peaceful, contented life. However, Peng Zhao Lin often wakes up from nightmares. The girl was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, her miserable cries lingering in his ears. A piece of inconspicuous information pried open a long-standing unsolved case, and Peng Zhao Lin embarked on a thousand-mile journey to find the murderer.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 7.5
2, Script: 8
3, Music/OST: 7
4, Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 8
6. Rewatchable: 8

Overall Rating: 8

Read More

A haunting crime thriller that lingers long after the credits roll

Drifting Away is a slow-burning yet gripping crime thriller that doesn't just focus on the pursuit of justice but also delves into the lingering psychological trauma of those left behind. The story follows seasoned criminal police captain Peng Zhao Lin as he hunts down a sadistic gang of murderers who once evaded capture, their crimes haunting him even years later. The narrative is built on a foundation of tension, regret, and perseverance, making it more than just another procedural drama—it’s a psychological deep-dive into the weight of unsolved cases.

Zhao Jinmai delivers a standout performance, bringing a raw emotional depth to her role. Her portrayal isn't just about fear or victimization; she embodies the human resilience and quiet strength that subtly challenges the bleakness of the narrative. While Drifting Away leans heavily on the cat-and-mouse chase between Peng Zhao Lin and the criminals, Zhao Jinmai’s presence adds a layer of personal stakes, making the case feel even more urgent.

The cinematography and pacing contribute to the suffocating atmosphere, with each frame emphasizing the inescapable weight of the past. The drama doesn't rush its revelations, allowing the audience to sit with the unease and desperation of the chase. While some might find it a bit too drawn-out, the methodical approach pays off in its emotionally charged climax.

Overall, Drifting Away isn’t just a crime drama—it’s a meditation on justice, guilt, and redemption. The slow unraveling of the case mirrors the way trauma festers over time, refusing to be ignored. It’s not an easy watch, but it lingers long after the credits roll.

Read More

Good beginning

Had a good start. Beginning was interesting, and gripping. As the story progressed, story got dull and boring. I fast forwarded a lot of the scenes from ep 5 till last episode.
A lot of things in this drama annoyed me🙄. Like how the bad guys easily got away so many times. They were at the checkpost leaving the city. The police already issued that no cars should be allowed to leave the city before getting checked, yet, the bad guys were easily just let out of the city by the post guard; without getting check!
No character build up. The girl (female lead) didn't amaze me with her acting. Especially when she became a female officer. Not convincing as an officer.
It's a nice quick watch if you have nothing to watch.

Read More