365
414
66
11
8
23
3
2
54
38
50
39
13
10
70
12
6
6
20
7
3
2
12
33
31
7
14
75
99
79
28
The never-ending case: Who is Squid?
If you are reading this, just know, you have probably been here before. Or at least, that is a possibility in the world of Mobius. The average person might only have 24 hours in a day, but not Ding Qi. After a near-death experience, he obtains the ability to relive a random day on a loop, with the day resetting five times before time resumes chronologically. This gives Ding Qi an unique advantage, making him exceptionally qualified for his job as a detective. When the executives at the biotechnology company MOMA starts getting murdered one by one, Ding Qi is tasked with protecting the life of Mo Yuanzhi, the founder of the company, and uncovering the identity and motives of the killer, Squid. With the power of time-loops on his side, he expected to be two steps ahead of Squid... until he realizes that there might be another time-loop perceiver manipulating the outcome of this case.
I'm going to be honest — it feels like I have also lived through more than five long and exhausting loops after watching Mobius. One thing I've always appreciated about western crime thrillers is their use of an episodic format that features a main conflict alongside smaller and often related subplots. This familiar formula reliably prevents a show from losing momentum, keeping individual episodes fresh and engaging. I had hoped that Mobius would follow a similar pattern, but unfortunately, it did not. The writers' decision to focus solely on the MOMA case, without sprinkling in any smaller cases, sacrificed the story's momentum. It doesn't help that time-loop stories are also inherently repetitive, making the narrative feel even more drawn-out. While I found the drama watchable, the drastically slowed pacing made it difficult for me to give it my undivided attention.
The sluggish pacing wasn't the only issue; the connection between Ding Qi and An Lan was also surprisingly weak. In my opinion, these two characters function better as friends than as love interests, as they have no romantic chemistry at all. They are attracted to each other, because the writers want us to believe they are, but little else is established. Aside from their looks, why do they like each other? If we were to remove the topics of An Lan's mother and her work, would these two characters even have anything to talk about? Beyond their initial attraction, their relationship lacks any deeper foundation. While I don't expect the romance to be central to a crime drama's plot, Ding Qi and An Lan's love arc feels forced and inorganic. This left me uninvested in their storyline.
In contrast, I actually really liked the dynamics within Ding Qi's team, specifically his relationship with Duan Zheng. They make an endearing duo. Duan Zheng serves as a mix of mentor, friend, and father figure to Ding Qi. His character balances a playful nature with the wisdom of a seasoned detective, and his genuine care for the people he serves makes it easy to understand why Ding Qi looks up to him so fondly. We see this affection in scenes where Duan Zheng teasingly scolds Ding Qi for his reckless actions, but then immediately follows up with a look of genuine concern. Similarly, when Ding Qi is overwhelmed by the high-stakes of the MOMA case, Duan Zheng offers him grounded advice and unwavering support that reminds him of his purpose beyond the confusing time-loops. These small moments established a strong foundation of trust, a welcomed foil to the more superficial relationships in the story, and their scenes were a highlight for me.
Another aspect that pulled me into the world of Mobius was its outstanding cinematography. The director has a keen eye for interesting shots, beautifully capturing the urban cityscape of this fictional world, which is perfectly fitting for an action-packed crime thriller involving advanced technology and time-loops. The camera work is constantly in motion, with frequent long drone shots that glide through the streets, following Ding Qi as he races across the city to investigate the secrets of MOMA and their ties to Squid. These shots create a sense of continuous motion and urgency, even when the plot is moving slowly. The stunning visuals of the cityscape — the striking architecture, intricate streets and freeways, and illuminating lights — set up an almost futuristic atmosphere that offers a nice distraction when the narrative gets repetitive.
Despite its significant flaws — including a prolonged central case and an unconvincing romantic subplot — Mobius provided a passable viewing experience. The draggy pacing is offset by the engaging dynamic of Ding Qi's detective team and the urban cityscape cinematography. These were the very strengths that motivated me to complete the drama even when the repetitive time-loop mechanic wore thin. While it is certainly not a binge-worthy thriller for everyone, the drama’s visual style and likable characters make it potentially worthwhile for dedicated fans of Bai Jingting or time-loops.
I'm going to be honest — it feels like I have also lived through more than five long and exhausting loops after watching Mobius. One thing I've always appreciated about western crime thrillers is their use of an episodic format that features a main conflict alongside smaller and often related subplots. This familiar formula reliably prevents a show from losing momentum, keeping individual episodes fresh and engaging. I had hoped that Mobius would follow a similar pattern, but unfortunately, it did not. The writers' decision to focus solely on the MOMA case, without sprinkling in any smaller cases, sacrificed the story's momentum. It doesn't help that time-loop stories are also inherently repetitive, making the narrative feel even more drawn-out. While I found the drama watchable, the drastically slowed pacing made it difficult for me to give it my undivided attention.
The sluggish pacing wasn't the only issue; the connection between Ding Qi and An Lan was also surprisingly weak. In my opinion, these two characters function better as friends than as love interests, as they have no romantic chemistry at all. They are attracted to each other, because the writers want us to believe they are, but little else is established. Aside from their looks, why do they like each other? If we were to remove the topics of An Lan's mother and her work, would these two characters even have anything to talk about? Beyond their initial attraction, their relationship lacks any deeper foundation. While I don't expect the romance to be central to a crime drama's plot, Ding Qi and An Lan's love arc feels forced and inorganic. This left me uninvested in their storyline.
In contrast, I actually really liked the dynamics within Ding Qi's team, specifically his relationship with Duan Zheng. They make an endearing duo. Duan Zheng serves as a mix of mentor, friend, and father figure to Ding Qi. His character balances a playful nature with the wisdom of a seasoned detective, and his genuine care for the people he serves makes it easy to understand why Ding Qi looks up to him so fondly. We see this affection in scenes where Duan Zheng teasingly scolds Ding Qi for his reckless actions, but then immediately follows up with a look of genuine concern. Similarly, when Ding Qi is overwhelmed by the high-stakes of the MOMA case, Duan Zheng offers him grounded advice and unwavering support that reminds him of his purpose beyond the confusing time-loops. These small moments established a strong foundation of trust, a welcomed foil to the more superficial relationships in the story, and their scenes were a highlight for me.
Another aspect that pulled me into the world of Mobius was its outstanding cinematography. The director has a keen eye for interesting shots, beautifully capturing the urban cityscape of this fictional world, which is perfectly fitting for an action-packed crime thriller involving advanced technology and time-loops. The camera work is constantly in motion, with frequent long drone shots that glide through the streets, following Ding Qi as he races across the city to investigate the secrets of MOMA and their ties to Squid. These shots create a sense of continuous motion and urgency, even when the plot is moving slowly. The stunning visuals of the cityscape — the striking architecture, intricate streets and freeways, and illuminating lights — set up an almost futuristic atmosphere that offers a nice distraction when the narrative gets repetitive.
Despite its significant flaws — including a prolonged central case and an unconvincing romantic subplot — Mobius provided a passable viewing experience. The draggy pacing is offset by the engaging dynamic of Ding Qi's detective team and the urban cityscape cinematography. These were the very strengths that motivated me to complete the drama even when the repetitive time-loop mechanic wore thin. While it is certainly not a binge-worthy thriller for everyone, the drama’s visual style and likable characters make it potentially worthwhile for dedicated fans of Bai Jingting or time-loops.
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