Drama Digest
This is the Chinese prequel to the hit series Talking Bones. The series is about a Forensic doctor Xia Ying and police captain Shang Jie that solve bizarre forensic cases along with their friends in the major crimes’ special division in order to bring justice to victims of certain crimes.
The Feel-Good Part
The show is quite simple in terms of narrative structure; it follows a set pattern of storytelling throughout the show with minimal changes in set and costume. It is easy to follow the happenings of the show because of this. While the structure is simple, there is a lot of depth to the forensic aspect the show tries to tackle, which is quite fascinating as it’s not something that is common to watch on screen. Additionally, the show delves into the psychological aspect of the criminals as they move forward with their investigation. There is a slight romance between the protagonists that adds a new element to the show, which a lot of people might enjoy.
The Disappointing Factor
The story is pretty cliché and doesn’t stray away from the common plot-points of this genre, which makes it predictable and may make it boring to watch. The show is made on a low budget and it shows which can get distracting. The editing is choppy and it takes some time to get used to that. The lack of changing in setting can make the show feel quite dry and exhausting to watch as the audience may get tired of seeing the same thing repeated on screen. The structure is almost too simple as it gets predictable quickly, which is why some viewers may drop the show midway. There is a lack of tension in the show because of its predictability. When the show is not entering cliché territory, it isn’t giving enough of a build up for big reveals to land well. There is almost no element of thrill for a show that belongs in the thriller genre. The show feels more like a slice of life drama than a thriller as it focuses on the routine and process of investigation rather than the bizarre crimes that are committed.
In-Depth Analysis
While the drama is severely lacking in execution, it is still quite entertaining as some cases are dealt with in a thorough manner and the forensic aspect of the show really shines through the simplicity of the show’s structure. The show could’ve have done wonders with a shorter run period and a slightly bigger budget as it would prevent the show from feeling too repetitive.
Star Power
All the performances were decent enough to tell the story adequately. There were certain performances that were lack lustre but none of them were distracting enough to take away from the plot. The acting wasn’t the highlight of the show by any means.
Overall Opinion
For people who are looking for something interesting to watch that isn’t too challenging to follow, this might keep you entertained but for those who are expecting a thriller, this is not the show for you.
