"The dead can't speak for themselves. The police is the only bridge between them and justice."
It was a truly compelling crime drama. It was very satisfying to watch all 19 episodes without ever feeling like the story was losing me or that I just wanted to get it over with. The pacing was very balanced, not a dull moment.
Beneath the Undertow is about calm and methodical police investigations without flashy action or exaggerated villains. It's grounded and feels more realistic.
The focus is on two contrasting police officers. One is Lian Haiping, a middle-aged, experienced detective. He is very introverted and socially awkward, and displays some autistic traits. He is calm and collected, has a good memory for details, and thinks carefully before acting.
The other is Shi Qiangfeng, a young rookie cop. He has a difficult past, but he confidently stands up for good and justice. However, he is also very hot-headed. His impulsiveness often gets him into trouble. He still has a lot to learn from Lian Haiping. It's satisfying to see how the trust and teamwork between them grow stronger over the course of the case.
In addition to the police investigations and the personal story of the detectives, the drama also shows scenes about the family of the main victim, their neighbors, and other important communities. That includes interesting and diverse characters and their feelings. For example, people with disabilities and other health limitations, and how different people deal with grief.
The last episode in particular made me very emotional. I had tears of joy in my eyes. It's an extremely solid and well-written crime plot from start to finish. If you love captivating and even kind of soothing crime dramas, don't miss out on this gem!
On a side note: The ending theme Undercurrent (暗潮涌动) by Elvis Wang fits the whole vibe of this show perfectly. Before I even started the first episode, I looked for the OST and listened to this song. After that, I was convinced that I need to watch it and that I would enjoy it.
[finished watching on 26 December 2025]
Beneath the Undertow is about calm and methodical police investigations without flashy action or exaggerated villains. It's grounded and feels more realistic.
The focus is on two contrasting police officers. One is Lian Haiping, a middle-aged, experienced detective. He is very introverted and socially awkward, and displays some autistic traits. He is calm and collected, has a good memory for details, and thinks carefully before acting.
The other is Shi Qiangfeng, a young rookie cop. He has a difficult past, but he confidently stands up for good and justice. However, he is also very hot-headed. His impulsiveness often gets him into trouble. He still has a lot to learn from Lian Haiping. It's satisfying to see how the trust and teamwork between them grow stronger over the course of the case.
In addition to the police investigations and the personal story of the detectives, the drama also shows scenes about the family of the main victim, their neighbors, and other important communities. That includes interesting and diverse characters and their feelings. For example, people with disabilities and other health limitations, and how different people deal with grief.
The last episode in particular made me very emotional. I had tears of joy in my eyes. It's an extremely solid and well-written crime plot from start to finish. If you love captivating and even kind of soothing crime dramas, don't miss out on this gem!
On a side note: The ending theme Undercurrent (暗潮涌动) by Elvis Wang fits the whole vibe of this show perfectly. Before I even started the first episode, I looked for the OST and listened to this song. After that, I was convinced that I need to watch it and that I would enjoy it.
[finished watching on 26 December 2025]
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