I am a criminal police officer. We Are Criminal Police

Synopsis

A documentary-style portrayal of the evolution of criminal investigation in China from the 1990s to the present, through 15 typical cases. Yu Hewei plays grassroots police officer Qin Chuan, who upholds justice and defends the law after the sacrifice of his mentor and close friend.

Overview

"We Are Criminal Police" (Chinese: 我是刑警), also known as "Chinese Criminal Police," is a 2024 Chinese mainland crime investigation TV series directed by Hui Kaidong and written by Xu Meng. The series stars Yu Hewei, Fu Dalong, and Ding Yongdai as lead actors, with Bai Fan, Ma Su, Huang Man, Liu Kai, Zhao Yang, Li Xirui, Hu Ming, and others in supporting roles. It premiered on November 27, 2024, on CCTV-8 Drama Channel and simultaneously on iQiyi, with a total of 38 episodes, each 45 minutes long.

The series is co-produced by CCTV, Huace Croton Group, Kuanhou Culture, the Ministry of Public Security News Media Center, and iQiyi. It presents the growth and legacy of Chinese criminal police over more than three decades in a documentary-style format.

Plot

The story takes place in Hechang City, Zhongchang Province, in the 1990s. Qin Chuan (played by Yu Hewei), a grassroots police officer, works hard to pursue further education and finally fulfills his dream of becoming a criminal police officer.

After the heroic sacrifices of his mentor Gao Jianshe and his close friend Ye Maosheng, Qin Chuan becomes even more determined to uphold justice and punish criminals. The series connects 15 typical cases spanning from the early 1990s to modern times, showcasing the evolution of criminal investigation methods across different periods.

The cases include bombings, serial murders, human trafficking, and other types, all based on real-life prototypes, restoring the hardships and dangers of criminal investigation work.

Cast

Production & Reception

Director Hui Kaidong previously directed works such as "Story of Yanxi Palace," "Winter Begonia," and "Drug Enforcement Elite," excelling in suspense and period themes. Screenwriter Xu Meng has created realistic works like "The Heart of Healing."

The series adopts a "documentary style," narrating cases in a straightforward manner, showcasing the evolution from traditional criminal investigation methods in the 1990s to modern DNA identification technology. All 15 cases in the series are based on real cases, giving it a strong sense of realism.

The series initially scored as high as 9.0 on Douban, later dropping to 7.7 due to some pacing controversies (with over 170,000 ratings). According to Yunhe data, the series' effective viewership market share peaked at 31.8%, remaining at the top during its broadcast period.

Cultural Impact

"We Are Criminal Police" is one of the rare TV series in recent years to focus on the Chinese criminal police as a group. Its depiction of advancements in criminal investigation technology—from traditional door-to-door inquiries to modern DNA identification—showcases the significant technological progress of China's public security system.

Yu Hewei's performance is widely regarded as the series' biggest highlight, vividly portraying Qin Chuan's journey from a young, inexperienced officer to a seasoned criminal police professional capable of handling cases independently.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35370845/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/我是刑警/54275286
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/我是刑警
4. Yangcheng Evening News: https://news.ycwb.com/2024-12/15/content_53121803.htm