The Long Night

Synopsis

"The Long Night" is a 2020 suspense drama with a 9.0 rating on Douban, directed by Chen Yifu and starring Liao Fan, Bai Yu, and Tan Zhuo. Adapted from Zijin Chen's novel "The Long Night," it tells the touching story of prosecutor Jiang Yang, who sacrifices his youth, career, reputation, and even his life in pursuit of the truth. The narrative weaves together three timelines, serving as the finale of iQiyi's "Light On" theater and earning the highest rating among domestic suspense dramas in 2020.

Overview

"The Long Night" is a suspense drama that premiered in September 2020 on iQiyi's "Light On" theater. Directed by Chen Yifu and written by Liu Guoqing, it stars Liao Fan as Yan Liang, Bai Yu as Jiang Yang, Tan Zhuo as Li Jing, Ning Li as Zhang Chao, Huang Yao as Zhang Xiaoqian, and Zhao Yang as Zhu Wei. The series consists of 12 episodes and holds a Douban rating of 9.0 (based on approximately 1.04 million reviews), making it the highest-rated domestic suspense drama of 2020.

Adapted from Zijin Chen's mystery novel "The Long Night," the series interweaves three different timelines to collectively reveal the heavy burden of truth. A young prosecutor pays the price of his youth, career, reputation, and even his life in pursuit of justice and truth. It is not merely a suspense drama but a tragic epic about faith, perseverance, and sacrifice.

Plot

In 2010, a bombing incident occurs in a subway—a man named Zhang Chao (played by Ning Li) enters the subway with a suitcase, claiming there is a bomb inside. After the police evacuate the crowd and open the suitcase, they find a corpse instead. Zhang Chao confesses to the murder after his arrest, making the case seem straightforward.

However, the detective in charge, Yan Liang (played by Liao Fan), gradually realizes the case is not as simple as it appears. As the investigation deepens, three timelines slowly unfold—stories from 2000, 2003, and 2010 are presented alternately.

In 2000, a volunteer teacher named Hou Guiping discovers a case of local officials and businessmen colluding to sexually assault underage girls in a rural village. He attempts to report it but is framed and killed. In 2003, a talented young prosecutor, Jiang Yang (played by Bai Yu), is entrusted by Hou Guiping's ex-girlfriend, Li Jing (played by Tan Zhuo), to investigate the truth behind Hou Guiping's case. Jiang Yang pursues the truth relentlessly but faces continuous suppression and obstruction from those in power. He loses his job, marriage, and freedom, and is even wrongfully imprisoned. After his release, Jiang Yang is terminally ill, but he never gives up his pursuit of the truth.

In 2010, Jiang Yang's old friends decide to use an extreme method—staging a subway corpse case—to bring the truth, buried for a decade, back into the public eye. They meticulously plan this seemingly simple murder case to lure out the real culprit and the mastermind behind the scenes.

Cast

Bai Yu's portrayal of Jiang Yang is the most heartbreaking role in the series. He transforms from a spirited young prosecutor to a middle-aged man who has been suppressed, marginalized, and lost everything. This dramatic change is portrayed by Bai Yu with nuanced layers and profound emotion. Particularly memorable is the scene where Jiang Yang, after being released from prison, discovers his wallet is lost—he doesn't cry over the lost money but finally breaks down under the cruelty of fate. Bai Yu's performance in this scene is widely regarded as one of the most moving screen moments of 2020.

Ning Li's portrayal of Zhang Chao is equally impressive. As Jiang Yang's lawyer friend, he risks breaking the law to help Jiang Yang expose the truth by orchestrating the subway corpse case. Ning Li masterfully depicts the character's calm exterior and immense internal pressure.

Narrative Structure

The most outstanding aspect of "The Long Night" is its ingenious three-line narrative structure. The timelines of 2000, 2003, and 2010 alternate and progress, requiring viewers to piece together the complete story themselves. This narrative approach not only enhances the suspense but also allows the audience to deeply feel the cost paid by those involved each year the truth remains hidden. The three timelines converge around the tenth episode, and the moment the truth is revealed delivers a powerful emotional impact.

Cultural Impact

After its release, "The Long Night" received a high rating of 9.0 on Douban, surpassing the popular series "The Bad Kids" and becoming the highest-rated domestic suspense drama of 2020. The series sparked profound reflections among viewers on justice, law, and social fairness. Many viewers expressed that they were left unsettled long after watching it, with Jiang Yang's character representing the ordinary heroes in real life who sacrifice everything for justice.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/33447642/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/沉默的真相
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/沉默的真相_(电视剧)