Into The Heat

Core Plot: Case Files from Rookie to Captain

The story begins with passionate young Liu Ziming (Oho Ou) joining the Yan City Criminal Investigation Unit, full of ambition but stuck in tedious surveillance and stakeout tasks, nearly ruining an anti-drug operation due to impulsiveness. Under the stern guidance of mentor Chen Guofeng (He Bing), who reminds him that “solving cases isn’t acting in a movie; only those who endure loneliness can uphold justice,” Liu gradually matures. Together with trace evidence expert Lin Yue (Zhang Jianing) and tech whiz Xiao Ke (Cao Bingkun), they form a solid trio, unraveling clues from “hair analysis in a bathroom dismemberment case,” “ash sampling in serial arson,” to “data tracking of a cross-border telecom fraud gang,” navigating a maze of physical evidence.

The climax centers on the “Orphanage Kidnapping Case”: when Liu discovers the mastermind is an old comrade, he faces a final dilemma between “law versus loyalty.” The director uses montage editing to intercut youthful memories with confrontation scenes, culminating in the line, “Wearing the police uniform, you are first and foremost the blade of the law,” which elevates the protagonist’s growth arc.

Character Depth: Flesh and Soul Beneath the Uniform

Liu Ziming (Ou Hao): From reckless rookie to steady captain, Oho Ou distinguishes his performance in three stages — trembling hands when holding a gun early on, adjusting his glasses nervously while analyzing evidence mid-series, to the hawk-like gaze during interrogations later — with clear layered details. His scenes with his wife (Wang Jiajia), including tearing and reattaching a divorce agreement, symbolize the tug-of-war between career and family.

Chen Guofeng (He Bing): The limping veteran detective appears as the “godfather of forensic evidence,” carrying a keychain from his first case in 1987. In a poignant finale, he sacrifices himself to protect his disciple, delivering the tearjerking line: “The case solved means my lame leg wasn’t in vain.”

Lin Yue (Zhang Jianing): Breaking the stereotype of female cops, she combines professional forensic reconstruction of crime scenes with empathetic support for sexual assault victims, embodying a new generation of detectives who are both rational and compassionate.

Production Highlights: Forensic Accuracy and Narrative Innovation

The production received guidance from the Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, meticulously recreating the trace evidence laboratory and interrogation rooms at a 1:1 scale. It is the first TV drama to visually present cutting-edge techniques such as “voiceprint comparison” and “data profiling.” The writing team conducted in-depth interviews with 37 active detectives, bringing real investigative details like “scamming techniques in romance fraud” and “dark web Bitcoin tracking” to the screen.

The director employs a nested structure of “episodic cases + overarching main plot,” solving a public-interest crime every three episodes while seeding clues about a multinational organ trafficking syndicate, culminating in an epic case that shapes Liu Ziming’s career. The cinematography is stark and realistic; for example, a long take following the search for a corpse in a garbage dump immerses viewers in a fly-infested, foul-smelling environment, pushing the boundaries of crime drama realism.

Social Impact: Real-Case Adaptations Evoke Empathy

Several story arcs are inspired by social hotspots:

The “live broadcast scam case” alludes to the “Cambodia blood slave incident,” exposing the violent control behind “high-paying jobs.”

The “elderly health supplement murder case” is adapted from Shanghai’s “widower poisoning gang,” exploring the dark side of the loneliness economy.

On Douyin, the hashtag #MyDetectiveDiary sparked a challenge where users share stories of police in their families; on Zhihu, heated debates about whether Chen Guofeng should have died extend into generational discussions on whether “old-school detective spirit is outdated.”

Viewing Guide and Deep Insights

Broadcast Info: Airs nightly at 7:30 PM on CCTV-8; on Tencent Video, members get 2 episodes daily (3 on the premiere), SVIP can watch one episode in advance.

Professional Highlights: Watch for “investigative experiments” such as simulating wound angles with silicone molds; “interrogation mind games” recreate psychological pressure techniques inspired by the Milgram obedience experiment.

Hidden Details: The calendar in Liu Ziming’s office shows “1998.4.12,” hinting at mentor Chen Guofeng’s first case date; the finale pans over a roster of new officers, planting Easter eggs for the sequel Glory of the Detectives.

Into The Heat uses “physical evidence as bones, humanity as soul,” setting a new standard for crime dramas and paying tribute to the unsung heroes guarding justice silently. As director Gao Qunshu puts it:
“This drama isn’t about creating heroes, but about showing viewers those ordinary people behind the badge who have fallen and bled but still choose to move forward.”