Suspense drama, an evergreen in this domestic drama, has always won the love of countless audiences with its gripping plot and unexpected reversal.
Whether it is the case tracking of the Rainy Night Terror or the foggy mystery of his life experience, each work is like a carefully woven labyrinth, leading the audience to go deeper into it step by step and explore the truth.
Think about last year, the "Long Season" made Fan Wei and Qin Hao become popular kings, and the audience received rave reviews, and the popularity was so high that they could fry eggs.
Similarly, Chen Xiao's "Thirteen Years in the Dust" and Zhang Yi's "Who Is He" are also emerging and have become unexpected dark horses.
However, the market for suspense dramas this year is a little declining, as if falling into a deep sleep, the number of new dramas has not only decreased sharply, but even those works that have high hopes, such as Sun Qianwei Zheming's "19th Floor", have failed to make too many waves in the hearts of the audience.
The wind and grass in the market can always make people scratch their heads, no, the audience's eyes are like star chasers chasing idols, and they are eyeing a new drama in a blink of an eye, as if the previous drama has become an outdated Internet celebrity, new love and old love, and it has all changed overnight.
Among the many highly anticipated works, "Above the Clouds" starring Sun Li and Luo Jin has attracted widespread attention.
The storyline of this work is centered on a case of a police disappearance, and as the investigation deepens, it gradually reveals the vast criminal organization hidden behind it.
Although "Above the Clouds" has not yet met the audience, CCTV's "Faint Fire" has been broadcast first.
After only two episodes, the show achieved a peak rating of 1.98, which is a good indication of its popularity with viewers.
Mystery is everywhere: When suspense becomes the norm
"Faint Fire" belongs to the kind of TV series that does not say hello, does not foreshadow, and gives you a "surprise, no surprise" at the beginning.
On Chinese New Year's Eve in 1999, the town's square was full of people, fireworks and music heralded the arrival of a new century.
And on the edge of all this revelry, in a dimly lit alley, a teenager led a child forward quickly, his face revealing unconcealed fear.
When the light refocuses, we find ourselves in a dimly lit and cramped room.
The candlelight on the walls danced, casting flickering shadows.
In this glimmer of light, a woman stands, her hands stained with blood, which stands out.
Her breath was short, and her eyes were full of horror and unease.
Right next to her, a man lay quietly on his shabby bed, his face calm, as if he were just asleep.
However, his blade-pierced chest told another story.
The tension quickly alternates between the bright squares and the dimly lit alleys, a contrast that is almost suffocating.
Nanya (Tong Yao) insisted that she fought back against her husband in self-defense after suffering from domestic violence, which unfortunately led to the death.
She had tried to end her marriage, but because of the shadow of domestic violence, she was unable to do so.
When she inadvertently turned to her husband's threatening record, her world seemed to open a new "hard mode".
But in the following days, she became a "frequent visitor" of domestic violence, and every time she argued, it was like participating in a "who is the strongest" competition.
Until this day, the fruit knife in her hand was no longer just a tool for peeling apples, but became an unexpected prop in this tragedy, leaving an unforgettable "souvenir" for her husband.
This process was witnessed by Zhou Luo, played by Zhang Xincheng, who originally just came to see off the child, but accidentally witnessed all this.
The accounts of the two witnesses are the same, but police officer Lao Chen and new police officer Lin Fanglu still have doubts about the truth of the case.
For example, her husband's car was set on fire on Chinese New Year's Eve, an incident that is itself full of suspicions.
In addition, it is also puzzling that Zhou Luo and several other repeaters appeared to have hidden certain items in the vehicle before it was burned.
In particular, Zhou Luo did not immediately call the police after witnessing the whole process of Nanya's atrocities, but did not take action until the next day.
This move may be interpreted as an instinctive reaction in panic.
There is also Nanya's home, which can be called a "family version of the boxing club", where "wonderful" scenes of domestic violence are staged every day.
And the townspeople, who seem to treat it as a free theatrical performance, not only do not help, but also talk about it happily.
The most curious thing is that at the moment of the case, Zhou Luo had a vague alibi for half an hour.
Everything seems reasonable, but it seems too reasonable.
When actors meet their soul characters
In the foggy suspense theater, the actors' acting skills need to be like a sharp sword to pierce the fog of doubt in the hearts of the audience.
They are not only performing, but also performing a mental game, every subtle change in expression, every emotional fluctuation.
are silently telling the secrets behind them.
The audience is hungry for answers, and the actors are the directors who have masterfully laid out the puzzle.
However, "Faint Fire" is more than just a play, it becomes a feast of acting, inviting a group of talented and experienced actors.
Take Tian Xiaojie as an example, in this drama, he plays the role of a criminal policeman named Lao Chen, an experienced investigator with eyes like a torch.
Lao Chen's image is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, he is not only a master of solving cases in the bureau, but also has his own unique philosophy of life.
While munching on melon seeds, he let his eyes wander around casually, muttering incessantly, analyzing the case in front of him.
That appearance can be called a typical representative of a sophisticated detective.
His appearance, with a convincing and powerful aura, accompanied by this invisible majesty, naturally won the trust and respect of everyone.
Let's talk about Tong Yao, she plays Nanya in the play, and her sense of existence is so strong that it is by no means comparable to ordinary people.
When she became the talk of the community aunts after dinner again, she knew it was time to show her "tricks".
Not only do she have hard ears, but her mouth is even more unforgiving.
A witty counterattack made those gossip-loving aunts seem to have suffered a dumb loss, and their faces were more burnt than freshly baked sweet potatoes.
The scene was full of jokes, and even the kittens and dogs watching couldn't help but wag their tails.
Although she was outwardly unmoved and seemed to be out of step with the noise around her, her slightly raised head and eyes full of contempt.
inadvertently exposed the pride in her heart.
She stood there, as if she were the master of this world, her eyes flashing with infinite anticipation for the future.
As if she was playing a quirky game, she gently rubbed her wet hair on Zhou Luo's arm, and then pretended to apologize.
This kind of seemingly innocent coquettishness makes people can't help but wonder if this girl has some "ulterior" plans.
Or just practicing the latest "wet hair seduction".
Although Tong Yao was just a shadow passing by in a hurry at first, her appearance in the first two episodes was not surprising, as if she was a small character who ran the show.
However, as the story unfolds, her underestimated potential is revealed.
In addition, Zhang Xincheng's performance in this drama is also eye-catching, his acting skills should not be underestimated, and he has created a vibrant image of a teenager.
Just like in the warm campus drama "Hello, Old Times", the unforgettable Lin Yang, his interpretation is as warm as the warm sun in spring.
But in "Faint Fire", he completely changed his image and played the thoughtful Zhou Luo, whose feelings for Nanya were complex and subtle.
His concern for Nanya is hidden in the bottom of his heart, like the faintest starlight in the night sky, vague and deep.
However, that delicate emotion would always slip silently from the depths of his eyes when he gazed at her, as pure as morning dew, revealing endless pity.
This acting skills, this role adaptability, it can only be said that Zhang Xincheng bet right again this time.
and Lin Fanglu played by Ye Zuxin, a new guardian who has just been "exiled" to a small town, trying for a new hope and order.
In the interrogation room, the lights were dimly projected on Zhou Luo's face, and his eyes were like an abyss, exuding a suffocating sense of persecution.
The corners of his mouth unconsciously hooked up a smile but not a smile.
It seems to be using silent language to inquire about the other party's bottom line, and the threat that pervades the surroundings is like a cheetah swimming in the dark night, quiet and dangerous.
He succeeded in portraying the character of Officer Lin, without overexaggerating his bad side and showing his deterrent power.
This portrayal allows the character to reveal the truth of the facts step by step and penetrate into the hearts of the people.
Of course, in addition to the previously mentioned actors, Wang Qing, Wang Zixuan and Huang Lu also won the applause of the audience with their outstanding performances.
Their characters have distinct personalities, like highlights in the play, adding a lot of color to the whole story.
"Faint Fire" not only conquered the audience with the high standard of its overall performance, but also revealed the production team's persistent pursuit of quality in every detail.
At present, although "Faint Fire" has only aired two episodes, it has already proven its excellent suspense storytelling skills.
Imagine you're watching a drama with a plot that's more layered than an onion, but don't worry, there's still a layer of fun peeling back the layer!
This drama is like a brain teaser that knows you best.
Not only will the audience not be dizzy, but they will also feel that they have become super detectives and follow the plot into the case.
This is not just watching a drama, but more like a brainstorming feast, which makes people want to stop.
In terms of narrative technique, the audio-visual effect of this work is also commendable.
Delicate set design, clever camera movement and superb shooting skills have not only succeeded in shaping a town full of life.
It also invisibly adjusts the rhythm of the story, so that the audience feels a touch of warmth and tranquility in addition to the exciting adventure.
So, for this year's monotonous suspense drama, I don't know what you think of this new drama in front of the screen?