Did you guess it right? The First Shot features a hidden villain that wasn’t too hard to figure out. Hardcore detective-crime fans may not find the case-solving as intricate, but the show’s stylized approach has helped it carve out a niche. Its success isn’t just on television; it also surpassed 10,000 on the Youku heat index as it ended its run.
The First Shot Drama Review
With shows like The Long Season, suspense dramas set in Northeast China have already earned a strong reputation among audiences. Although The First Shot feels a little less about the logical crime solving but more about its people, the series being renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s first drama production, has the look and feel of a movie. It also delivers an immesrive Dongbei experience that even has viewers craving the region’s mouthwatering dishes, just because of the amount of times we see the characters eating.
Plot, Cast, and the CP
Set in the 1990s, The First Shot follows an elite makeshift team assembled to face a drug crisis. It’s classic good vs. evil, but there’s realism in the portrayal of a police force struggling with limited resources. They’re ordinary people taking down dangerous criminals, which makes the stakes feel even higher.
And then there’s the cast—you can’t help but love them. Though the show tackles the serious anti-drug theme common in C-dramas, fans can’t help but ship the budding friendship that grew between Huang Jingyu’s cop character, Zheng Bei, and Wang Ziqi’s scientist, Gu Yiran. The duo’s chemistry earned them the “Beiran Couple” nickname on social media (derived from their character names, Bei and Ran). Then there’s Zhang Yu who’s award-winning acting clearly shines in this. Did you know he’s 10 years older than Johnny Huang despite playing a younger character. The rest of the gang made up of Chloe Xie, Liu Runnan, Zhao Yutong plus Lin Boyang as the sister complete the story.
Not to spoil too much, but the appearance of actor Qin Junjie is a pleasant surprise to anyone who didn’t now he was in the cast, and the ultimate spoiler, which I won’t reveal, leads to a brutal final showdown between Zheng Bei and the villain. Their conflicting ideals are brought to a head in a rare, satisfying ending. The show’s setting, before China had a dedicated narcotics bureau, leaves you wanting to see this team’s journey continue.
Zhang Yu Chloe Xie, Liu Runnan Zhao Yutong
Source: 1
