The Long Night

Synopsis

A seemingly simple subway station suitcase bomb case conceals a staggering secret spanning seven years. Prosecutor Jiang Yang, determined to clear the name of an unjustly accused deceased, spares no cost and joins forces with a group of like-minded individuals on a long and tragic journey in search of the truth.

Overview

"The Long Night" is a 2020 Chinese crime suspense drama produced by iQIYI's "Light On" theater, adapted from Zijin Chen's mystery novel "The Long Night". The series was directed by Chen Yifu, written by Liu Guoqing, starring Liao Fan, Bai Yu, and Tan Zhuo in leading roles, with special starring performances by Ning Li, Huang Yao, Zhao Yang, and Tian Xiaojie. The entire series consists of 12 episodes, boasting a Douban rating as high as 9.0, with over 600,000 participants in the rating. It is the highest-rated mainland Chinese drama series of 2020 and a pinnacle of domestic suspense dramas in the past five years.

This series is the most critically acclaimed within iQIYI's "Light On" theater series, often referred to alongside "The Bad Kids" as the twin stars of 2020's domestic suspense dramas. However, "The Long Night" distinguishes itself by using a more somber and restrained narrative to depict a tragic story of immense sacrifice in the pursuit of justice, its emotional impact far exceeding that of typical suspense genre productions.

Plot

The story begins with a bizarre subway case. In a crowded subway station, a shabbily dressed man dragging a heavy suitcase raises the suspicion of security personnel. After a chase, the man claims there is a bomb inside the suitcase, causing panic. When the police arrive and open the suitcase, they find a corpse inside.

The case seems straightforward, and the suspect, Yan Liang (played by Liao Fan), is apprehended on the spot. However, as the investigation deepens, the detectives discover that behind this case lies a massive secret spanning seven years.

Seven years earlier, a young prosecutor, Jiang Yang (played by Bai Yu), at the request of an old classmate, began investigating a seemingly closed case involving the death of a teacher. The victim, Hou Guiping, was a rural teacher who was murdered after discovering that local powerful figures were sexually assaulting female students, but his death was disguised as a drowning. Jiang Yang is determined to clear Hou Guiping's name, but the path to the truth proves far longer and more brutal than imagined.

Over the course of seven years, Jiang Yang, from a spirited young prosecutor, is gradually consumed by the dark forces of reality. He loses his job, his family, his health, and even his freedom. Yet, even while imprisoned, he never gives up his pursuit of the truth. Fighting alongside him are forensic doctor Chen Mingzhang, journalist Zhang Chao, police officer Zhu Wei, and others, each bearing immense pressure and paying a heavy price in their own ways.

The series employs a three-thread parallel narrative structure: the 2003 Hou Guiping case, Jiang Yang's investigation in 2010, and the 2017 subway case. These three timelines interweave and advance, peeling back the layers of truth layer by layer, ultimately converging into a heartbreaking yet profoundly moving conclusion.

Main Cast

Reception and Impact

"The Long Night" debuted on Douban with a rating of 8.8, which subsequently climbed to the 9.0-9.2 range, eventually stabilizing at 9.0. The series is widely regarded as the best domestic suspense drama of 2020, topping Douban's annual ratings chart. Over 600,000 people participated in the rating, and its high praise sustained its position on the Chinese-language weekly drama reputation chart for three consecutive weeks.

The success of the series lies not only in its intricate suspenseful storytelling and outstanding performances but also in its exploration of deep-seated social issues—judicial justice, power corruption, and the courage of ordinary people to confront systemic evil. The character Jiang Yang has become one of the most touching symbols of justice in Chinese film and television, sparking widespread social discussion.

Production

The series is adapted from Zijin Chen's novel "The Long Night" and is the most successful adaptation among the film and television adaptations of Zijin Chen's trilogy. Director Chen Yifu brought the heavy story from the original work to the screen with restrained yet powerful visual language. Screenwriter Liu Guoqing meticulously adapted the original work, preserving the core storyline while enhancing the suspense and viewing experience through the three-thread narrative.

The 12-episode length is恰到好处, neither dragging nor rushed, with each episode advancing the core mystery of the story. The cinematography and soundtrack also received unanimous praise from the audience, creating a heavy and oppressive atmosphere that perfectly complements the story's themes.

Cultural Significance

"The Long Night" is more than just a suspense drama; it is a profound reflection on contemporary Chinese social and judicial issues. The tragic fate of Jiang Yang in the series sparked discussions among viewers about the cost of justice: how high a price must one pay to uphold justice in the face of reality? Do ordinary people have the courage to fight against injustice?

The series is also a benchmark work for iQIYI's "Light On" theater, promoting the genre specialization and quality development of Chinese online suspense dramas. It demonstrated the viability of the high-quality short series model in the Chinese market and has had a profound impact on the production standards of subsequent suspense dramas.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/33447642/
2. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Night_(Chinese_TV_series)
3. MyDramaList: https://mydramalist.com/49485-the-long-night