Light to the Night

I recommend watching it

This is a detective thriller in which Dylan Wang departs from his usual "prince charming" image. He plays a young police officer named Ran Fang Xu. The story spans nearly 20 years and follows the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a father and daughter. My expectations for this project were high. Dylan Wang explores a completely new, realistic, and dark genre. Watching his transformation over 18 years, from a rookie to a seasoned cop, will be incredibly captivating. And the presence of master detective Pang Yueming guarantees that this will be a quality story, not just another project. The beginning of the drama was impressive! A strange story, strange police officers who don't understand each other. Masterfully filmed, the imagery is constantly engaging. A high-quality, interesting detective with a twisting plot. Perhaps one of the best detective series I've ever watched. For detective fans who enjoyed "Above Ashes," "Under the Skin," "Signal," and "Tunnel," this is the place for you! I'm still thrilled with Wang He Di—he's a brilliant, versatile actor who plays his role superbly, especially considering he was originally a model. Compared to many actors, he's truly outstanding. Although I have to give them credit, everyone gave it their all. The plot is very engaging, with several major twists. Honestly, I cried! There's a really heartbreaking moment at the end of episode 9 and the beginning of episode 10, and then there's episode 22. So, I'll tell you right now, the plot isn't easy. Another thing I liked was that the script didn't sag; everything unfolded at a decent pace. You won't get bored, and you won't let it slide into the background, otherwise you might miss something. What I didn't like, and was really irritating at first, was the plot jumps from the past to the future, but overall, everything fell into place later. Another gripping detective story with Pan Yue Ming! And Wang He Di, too! Simply fantastic! An intriguingly twisted plot that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats until the very last minute! I recommend watching it.

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Chasing After Ghosts Down Rabbit Holes

Light to the Night is an ambitious blend of a buddy-cop procedural, a slice-of-life drama, and a murder mystery. Spanning three separate timelines, keeping track of the narrative threads can be difficult if you're not invested. The time jumps can be jarring but they explain the missing pieces. Clocking in at 28 episodes, it feels bloated. I had to keep pushing through all the procedural steps and at times it started to feel like a tedious task to complete rather than an engaging watch.

Plot
This is not an edge of your seat type thriller. In fact, the cops initially label it a prank then upon further investigation jump to conclusions multiple times and when they think it's been solved it really hasn't been! We are led through an exhausting series of multiple red herrings and narrative rabbit holes. For viewers like me who prefer deeply character-driven stories, this procedural-heavy approach is frustrating. For the majority of the run, it feels like we are chasing after ghosts, but I wasn't actually invested in the ghosts! When the drama finally pivots to a truly character-driven point of view in Episode 26, it is a massive turning point but it feels far too late in the game. The narrative would have been more compelling if it had been written entirely from that character perspective rather than through the lens of the police force.

Setting & Atmosphere
The series spends a lot of time in the creepy, unsettling apartment building of Yuanlongli. It acts as far more than just a backdrop—it functions as both a central setting and its own distinct character. It is filled with tales and a mixed bag of people and activities.

Dylan Wang's Performance
The highlight for me is Dylan Wang's portrayal of Ran Fangxu. Seeing him step away from his usual polished "idol" roles to take on a gritty, grounded character like this was refreshing. Fangxu is fiercely justice-minded and unyielding as a police officer, while also softhearted and even takes on a motherly role at times. The major twist surrounding his character was quite a shock, and it leaves a ripple of emotional impact that drives most of this series.

Final Verdict
If you like side quests, red herrings, and frustrating dives down rabbit holes, this is worth a watch. If you prefer more character driven plots, you'll have to wait until the very end for that.

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DA VEDERE ASSOLUTAMENTE

Una fantastica sorpresa!! Un thriller emozionante, avvincente, travolgente, sconvolgente, una meraviglia!!!
Sono diversi i colpi di scena, la regia è superlativa e gli attori davvero fenomenali! L'ho guardato perchè ho un'insana passione per Wang Hedi, ma devo dire che sono rimasta affascinata dalla recitazione di tutti i personaggi principali e non solo, una bella sorpresa Pan Yue Ming, la cui recitazione è stata davvero toccante, profonda. Dylan mi è piaciuto molto e ancora di più mi è piaciuto che non abbiano puntato sulla sua bellezza, ma l'hanno reso "normale" pulito senza chili di trucco che lo rendono lucido e brillante , è riuscito a rendere benissimo il personaggio impacciato, ma tenace nel voler a tutti i costi risolvere il caso. Come già scritto in altre recensioni il dramma si svolge su tre piani temporali 1997, 2002 e 2015, è magistrale il modo in cui si passa da un periodo all'altro in modo quasi naturale un entrare e uscire continuo da un periodo all'altro: pazzesco.
Sono diversi i colpi di scena e le emozioni in questo drama , si ride, si riflette e ci si commuove tantissimo!

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