It’s a race against time! Two heroes will cooperate to crack a case and save lives in The Longest Day in Chang’An 长安十二时辰. The 48-episode action thriller drama is adapted from a novel of the same name written by Ma Bo Yong.
TFBoys member Jackson Yi Yang Qian Xi (Boyhood) plays the role of Li Bi, the chief of the Peacekeeper Corps. Lei Jia Yin (Brotherhood of Blades II) acts as Zhang Xiao Jing, a death row convict who helps Li Bi in a case.
Employing a format that’s rarely (perhaps never) been seen in Chinese dramas, The Longest Day in Chang’an follows two protagonists as they try to stop an imminent terrorist attack during the Lantern Festival in the span of 24 hours. Li Bi (Jackson Yi) is a young genius who commissions the help of death row convict Zhang Xiao Jing (Lei Jia Yin) to save the city. Zhang Xiao Jing is a former war veteran with the connections, the skills and the wealth of experience. The two join hands in a political landscape that is about to usher in a new era of change.
Zhou Yiwei (Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy) plays the role of Long Bo, a follower of a foreign religion who seems to be have ulterior motives. Other stars include Lu Fangsheng, Reyizha, Wang Herun, Djimon Hounsou, Han Tongsheng, Li Yuan and Yu Ailei.
I am expecting a lot of adrenaline-driven action in the series. Lei Jiayin especially, made time to practice his action scenes. For the pacing, it seems like it’s a stretch to make a 24-hour timeline into 60 episodes. I assume that scenes will change from different character perspectives and include a lot of important flashbacks.
