The Knockout

Synopsis

"The Knockout" is a 2023 anti-crime investigative drama with a Douban rating of 8.5, directed by Xu Jizhou and starring Zhang Yi and Zhang Songwen. It tells the story of the 20-year battle between police detective An Xin and underworld leader Gao Qiqiang. Zhang Songwen’s portrayal of Gao Qiqiang, whose character arc transforms from a fish seller to a mafia boss, has deeply impressed audiences. The series became the first major hit of 2023, achieving both critical acclaim and high viewership ratings.

Overview

"The Knockout" is an anti-crime investigative drama that premiered simultaneously on CCTV-8 and iQiyi in January 2023, directed by Xu Jizhou. Zhang Yi plays police detective An Xin, while Zhang Songwen portrays the leader of a criminal syndicate, Gao Qiqiang. The series consists of 39 episodes and holds a Douban rating of 8.5 (based on over 450,000 reviews), making it the most explosive and phenomenal series at the beginning of 2023.

What sets "The Knockout" apart is that it is not merely a crime drama about the clash between good and evil, but also a profound exploration of human nature and fate. The most striking aspect of the series is not the satisfying narrative of how justice triumphs over evil, but rather the detailed portrayal of Gao Qiqiang—a fishmonger struggling at the bottom of society—and his gradual descent into the abyss, ultimately becoming a crime lord. Zhang Songwen masterfully captures the tragedy of this character, making the audience both despise his crimes and lament the cruelty of fate and the complexity of human nature.

Plot

The story begins in 2021, following the launch of a nationwide campaign to rectify and educate the political and legal workforce. A guidance team is dispatched to Jinghai City in Linjiang Province to investigate the long-entrenched criminal forces there. The team seeks out An Xin (played by Zhang Yi), the only police detective in Jinghai who has never compromised with the criminal underworld, and asks for his cooperation in the investigation.

An Xin's story starts in 2000. At the time, he was an ambitious young detective who met the honest and simple fishmonger Gao Qiqiang (played by Zhang Songwen) at a local market in Jinghai. Gao Qiqiang was being bullied by local thugs, and An Xin stepped in to help, sparking a connection between the two. However, over the next 20 years, their fates diverged drastically—An Xin remained steadfast in his pursuit of justice, enduring repeated setbacks in his fight against crime, transforming from a spirited young man into a middle-aged figure with graying hair. Meanwhile, Gao Qiqiang evolved from a bullied fishmonger into a powerful crime lord, climbing the social ladder by currying favor with the influential, bribing officials, and expanding his influence until he dominated Jinghai's underworld.

Cast

Zhang Songwen's portrayal of "Brother Qiang" is one of the most unforgettable characters on Chinese screens in 2023. Gao Qiqiang is not a stereotypical villain—he initially starts as a kind older brother trying to protect his younger siblings but gradually loses himself under the pressures and temptations of life. Zhang Songwen vividly depicts Gao Qiqiang's transformation from humility to arrogance, from kindness to cruelty. Particularly in the early stages, Gao Qiqiang's忍耐 and helplessness when bullied at the market evoke deep sympathy from the audience. This sympathy clashes powerfully with the anger felt later as Gao Qiqiang commits crimes, which is one of the series' greatest successes.

Zhang Yi's performance is equally outstanding. The challenge of playing An Xin lies in his consistently upright character, lacking the dramatic transformation seen in Gao Qiqiang. However, Zhang Yi's nuanced acting makes An Xin's steadfastness both believable and moving. Especially in the latter part of the series, when An Xin appears on screen with graying hair and in solitude, the沧桑 and执着 shaped by time are heart-wrenching.

Cultural Impact

"The Knockout" sparked a nationwide viewing frenzy in early 2023. Gao Qiqiang's iconic line, "Lao Mo, I want to eat fish," quickly became a viral internet meme, and the nickname "Fish-Selling Brother Qiang" gained widespread popularity. The series' success propelled Zhang Songwen from a relatively unknown but talented actor to a household name, proving that great performances are never overlooked.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35465232/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/狂飙
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/狂飙_(电视剧)