Lie Zui Tu Jian (2022)

─ ‍artistic approach to the crime cases

I had watched many crime thriller dramas that focuses on talented detectives in the police station setting. Yet, Under the Skin is one of the unique ones that deliver a new approach to this genre. Before I started the drama, I had high expectations because I only saw positive reviews about it. After watching it, I definitely agree that it deserves all the compliments.

The story is actually quite captivating even from the premise. Overall, it is an interesting and binge worthy story ─ ‍ not with just cases as some of them might appear familiar but the way they deliver it from the eyes of a genius artist. It also has a smooth pace, doesn't drag the story unnecessarily. In fact, it is one of its charms that they know exactly where to conclude the cases and move to the next one.

Dynamics and acting are absolutely amazing ─ ‍you don't feel awkward or think any character doesn't belong there. They all have their roles and perfectly showcases it.

I also think the ending is satisfying and mysterious enough to set the vibe for the second season. This being said, I'm definitely looking forward to the next season and what they prepared with cases and characters.

link to edits : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxplWeBw3y5jgUu8espv5dPINyq2-V6RY&si=D4q8INvgXiU5lMQK

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Beautiful Tan Jianci and Art, what more do you need?

Another completely biased review from me to you.

This is the show that introduced me to Tan Jianci, and I must say I am hooked!💖 What an incredibly talented entertainer he is! I have watched this show a few times. I'm keeping this on my permanent list of shows to watch over and over again.

The opening credit visuals are really striking and set the mood for the entire series nicely. The series can be rather dark at times but it does keep your interest and your heart rate going. The music and lighting all add to the atmosphere. Probably a not-very-realistic depiction of forensic artists but damn they do such a beautiful job showing the process of creating these portraits. I really wish I knew who was doing the drawing when they show close-ups of the hands. Beautiful! And who did the paintings that are part of the series. Whoever they are, fantastic job! Do they show in the credits? Sorry, I can't read Mandarin.

The friendship that develops between the 2 MLs is good, after a rocky start. A spoilery bit: it's sad to know that the age-progression drawing basically ruined/changed both of their lives forever. I find it hard to believe that Shen Yi forgives the cop for the way he blamed him and treated him and ruined his life. A promising young artist has his creative life forever cut short 😢

The different cases are interesting, strange, and somewhat twisted. The methods used to solve the cases may require you to drop your logical thinking for a bit but I really love how they show the process. Being able to draw someone's portrait from a blurry partial side view of a masked person? Hmm, nice skills?

The ending credit song is just so gorgeous and dark and emotional. It perfectly fits the series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXOsDojKP0k

I cannot wait for Season 2!

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This series is my new obsession?

Okay i will try to be objective in this review but i cant guarantee it because my love for this series can effect the filterlessness(?)
So i was searching for a bl with a fine arts topic (because im an artist myself and we all watch things we can relate right?) and i started this with little to no expectation. But as i was watching the very first episode i understood that art was not a little side topic helping the couples story (like other bls that i searched) but actually the main thing that forms the plot. It made me so happy to see an ACTUAL creation proccess and not just a "taa-daa the drawing is done" thing. I could say that i was hypnotised watching Shen Yi sketch or paint. Like every medium which showed up on the screen was very well used and filmed. It made me want to grab my never used art suplies and just create something out of thin air. But we cant just copy the talent we see on a screen so i had to keep watching the episodes one after another like i was consuming it. I was left speechless more and more as i saw Shen Yi using his brain and hands with %100 productivity. That man only slept like 10 hours total in the series and half of them was in the car im süre. When i think of it i guess i would immediately kneel before him if i saw his talent in real life. The peaces in the end of the last episode especially made me so emotional, they were beautiful. I love both his works before and after becoming a police officer. You know he had a thing with faces before as well. I respect that a lot because having a topic that you are into is as important as having a style. I dont know how and when he learned all the informations and techniques about human face like how the muscles work and deep anatomy stuff but its so cool. I was like "this man really knows what he is doing. He is not just drawing lines out of predictions" (like i do) And he is so confident about his work because of that. And the lectures!!! My goddd they were awsome. I would attend all of his classes and i wouldnt let that man rest. The way he reveals all the hidden details in the paintings was so delightful to watch. It made me pause the scene and search for more information about them. I know i didnt stop talking about the art in this series, i guess you have figured out how much i love it.
Now i can talk about the plot. Some of the comments are saying that they solved all the cases before the officers and i just think it is impossible. Okay some of them was more obvious and just needed more evidence to proove. But also there were cases where we as the watchers had no clue about the murderer like we were learning the details with them and its impossible to guess those. The one about the aesthetic surgery for example. We were informed at the same time with them and we solved the case by looking at the prooves they showed us. I had no problem with the speed of the solving part and i think everything had enough attention from the officers. Another part that i liked was the cases not being started and ended in one episode. They were investigated from all the angles. The cases were unique and i personally enjoyed watching every single one of them.
This was all for this review. I hope we get the season 2 as soon as possible..

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Excelente serie policíaca

Under the skin me atrapó desde el primer episodio, excelente historia, excelente actuaciones, excelentes escenas. Nos encontramos con la trama de un pintor dotado que decide entrar a la policía para sentir que su don pueda servir de algo después de haber sido una razón indirecta de un homicidio. Shen Yi es un personaje lejos de ser perfecto, pero podemos ver dentro de su perfección la humanidad que posee. Simplemente Tan Jianci hizo un gran papel en esta serie. Esperare con ansias la siguiente temporada.

Pd: ame que los casos se centraran en mujeres, le dio por alguna razon un toque único.

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Coooll!!!

When this drama was airing , I wanted to watch it but missed the chance and I didn't really get a chance t consider it again but again I saw one of the scene , I really wanted to see it . TRUST ME , If you like Investigating and common surprises then yes this is the drama you might want to see and The Two main actors of the drama are really cool and their chemistry was good , Every character in the drama has it's own specialty . I won't say that stories are really special but the way they execute is unique because the Painting/Drawing is the key . I really suggest you to see this drama .

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A different concept

Usually,we see technology playing a very major role nowadays,in catching the culprits,but this drama is focuses on a new technique of identifying the culprits or criminals based on their paintings.
The concept of this drama is unique.
Shen Yi,played by Tan Jianci,joins the investigation bureau and solves the cases through his paintings and in turn wins many accolades for his work.
Jin Shijia as Du Cheng,is a dedicated,sincere, enthusiastic officer,who lost his best friend due to a painting painted by Shen Yi.
He does not get along with Shen Yi in the beginning,but later on is impressed by the latter's work and hence become partners in investigation and thereafter, good friends.
Both the actors were really good in their roles.
All the actors,the stories they investigated,the plot were really good.
I particularly liked the concept of how we can use painting and an artist in finding out the culprits, especially if they intentionally or unexpectedly or coincidentally covered their faces and those cases,where there is really no way left out to find the mastermind.I liked how the director could actually blend the difficult cases with no clue and painting as a solution to them into a story.
A unique concept which definitely needs to be watched.

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One of the best c-dramas I've watched in my life

The main leads are extremely smart. They use both facts and intuitions to do things. What I like the most is the plot and the leads' chemistry. Highly highly highly recommended.

I know, some people may think of the main leads are too overpowered like they're invincible. The plots may feel boring for some pople, not to mention that it is a completely crime and mystery drama, so there's no any romantic scenes.

The interaction between the 2 leads are refreshing and heartwarming, how they turned from being hostile toward each other to the kind of swore buddies who will never leave the other behind. Their bond is even stronger than my balance these days.

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a gem worth discovering

I rarely watch contemporary dramas, but after Go East and Lost You Forever, I now like Tan Jian Ci enough to start his works blindly (plus, I've only ever heard rather good things about this show) and... it did not disappoint. Actually, it exceeded all of my expectations.
Granted, it's not perfect and, albeit they are not exactly issues that will ruin and hinder ones vision of the drama, there ARE certain things I wished were done better or showed more.
But let's go step by step.
What stands out most in this show, and I think it's universally agreed upon, is the role of art and how much room they gave to it. Art IS the protagonist of Under The Skin, a character of its own, even. I loved how they represented it, how gorgeous those drawings and paintings are (some impressed me so much that I still remember them clearly) and the minute attention to each and every detail, stroke and colour they put into it.
Nothing was left to chance and if something did feel rather weird or absurd (ex. the name of the tower perfectly reflecting in the pupil of a woman taking a selfie), it was later on explained and touched upon and actually became evidence to solve a case.
I love when dramas actually have good and solid writing and don't ask the audience to turn off their intelligence to let things slide.
This show, while not being the most aesthetic and with the highest cinematography, still has some rather memorable scenes, especially when it comes to showing us viewers how Shen Yi sees the world through his artist eyes. Those shots were so well done and really stuck with me.
Always speaking of the role of art in this drama, I just loved loved loved how they drew a connection between certain cases and the paintings Shen Yi was discussing with his class. It just gave Under The Skin that touch of something and showed once more the work and attention to detail the writers put into it.
And when it comes to the characters, it's no less well written. Although I did find some lacking with the supporting roles and I wish they weren't just treated as workers in the police bureau (we still don't know much about them, besides their names and roles in the workplace), the two male leads are perfectly fleshed out (albeit little is still known of their private lives too) and so is each protagonist of the case of the day. Some more than others, they are all written as individuals with flaws and motivations, substance and humanity (and all that being human means).
I really appreciated the work they did on Shen Yi and Du Cheng and how they managed to keep a balance with their most "extreme and strong" traits. It would have been all too easy to write them as caricatures instead of individuals, but the writers really did a good job in walking that fine line, making them as real and human as two fictional characters can get.
So Du Cheng isn't just a big man with a strong will that could have so easily turned into an arrogant captain and a bully, but he is dutiful, with a strong sense of justice, he is sensible and kind and deeply cares for the people close to him. Losing his mentor that way killed a part of him and it took him a long time to heal and forgive.
The same way, Shen Yi isn't aloof and inhuman, indifferent and blunt à la Sherlock Holmes or Sheldon Cooper, although he is as sharp and clever as both of them and could have all too easily become another caricature of a person with extremely high IQ, artistic talent and a dark past. He can be weird and a little awkward at times, but he remains approachable and gentle, reasonable and friendly.
To wrap this up, and as already mentioned in the title, Under The Skin is an underrated drama and a gem worth discovering that touches upon humanity and our society and doesn't shy away from depicting and denouncing its ugliest sides.
Highly recommend watching it.

- Mei

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Thrills, Chills, and Forensic Genius: 'Under the Skin'

I really enjoyed this drama! And I think it's definetly a gem amound Chinese crime dramas and also the start of my mini obsession with Tan JianCi lol. The aspect that makes this stand out the most is the way they solve the cases, using forsenic science. The focus on forensic portrait drawing is so well done, and really exciting. In a way to see how ShenYi will solve the next case is always so fun and exhilarating. The drama consists of multiple cases with no filler episodes all leading to the overaching case which involes both leads ShenYi and DuCheng. The other side character are also pretty memorable within the drama. At times, ShenYi seems like an absolute god that can solve anything lol and the music fits really well with converying and influencing emotions. I also think that ShenYi is kinda hawt lol. This drama does contain various triggering topics so be warmed before watching this, I think it's funny how this kind of thing scared me but I still wait it. I rate this a solid 9/10.

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Premettiamo che si tratta di un 6 politico: il drama è anche ben fatto, ma decisamente non il mio genere. Non disdegno il thriller e l'investigazione sui casi di omicidio, ma solitamente associata anche ad altro genere. Qui invece tutto si concentra su indagini e indizi, a volte così sottili e complessi da essere degni di Sherlock Holmes. L'attore che interpreta il protagonista (ritrattista) l'ho trovato un po' inquietante, l'altro non è riuscito proprio a coinvolgermi.
Ripeto, per un appassionato del genere è anche una serie sicuramente attenta e ben studiata - del resto è stata rinnovata anche per una seconda stagione - ma io già al terzo episodio ero tentata di alzare la bandierina bianca.
Una visione che non consiglio a chi non è davvero appassionato del tema investigativo (perchè tolto quello c'è poco altro).

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An Engaging Detective Mystery Drama

Under the Skin is a thriller mystery detective drama starring Tan Jianci as a gifted portraitist working for the police bureau. It's only 20 episodes long, which is relatively short for C-dramas. But the fewer episodes allow the drama to make full use of every scene; not a moment is wasted and everything serves a purpose. Hence, it is one of the most well-paced C-dramas I've ever watched to date. In fact, it is more similar to American crime dramas from the 2000's like CSI, Profiler, Lie To Me, Criminal Minds, Bones, and the like than any C-drama I've seen.

The story centers around Shen Yi, a troubled art prodigy who finds himself involved in the murder of a highly decorated police officer. Overcome with guilt and remorse, he starts working for the police as a sketch artist in hopes to make a difference and ultimately find redemption. Shen Yi partners with a rough-around-the-edges hotshot detective who despises and blames him for the murder of his senior officer. Their uneasy alliance soon turns into a deep friendship that's founded on trust, and this partnership is the core of the story. So basically it's a buddy cop drama.

It reminds me somewhat of the Chinese animated series, Link Click, but so much better in terms of writing and charactertization. Unlike Link Click, Under the Skin makes an effort to build up its main characters, making them more relatable and sympathetic, so you know exactly who they are whether you like them or not. The cases they work on are even more intriguing and compelling. I found the story about the teenage girl who developed a crush on a tomboy thinking she was a real boy especially interesting. Considering that China has stringent censorship policies and homosexuality is taboo, I thought the writers did a good job writing about lesbianism without being too overt about it. I also rather liked the case regarding two women who plotted the murder of their abusive lover. The supporting characters are also well-written because I learned to care about what happens to them.

Generally speaking, the writing is pretty good. The dialogues, most especially, are written quite well. But there is stuff that defies logic no matter how they try to justify it. Some are too farfetched for me to even consider them plausible. I wish they had used more believable scenarios instead. The production value could've been better as well. But I'm willing to forgive those flaws because the good outweighs the bad.

All in all, this is a solid drama with great plot progression, acting, characterization, and screenplay. I give it a 9 out of 10. Season two is in the works so you can bet your bottom dollar that I will watch it the moment it hits streaming.

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An artist solves crimes by drawing plus good friendship between the Leads

This drama has unique way of solving crimes never seen before in any other detective drama ,, the male lead is a brilliant artist also a very smart person who uses his creativity in his drawings to expose criminals and solve difficult crimes but he has mysterious past that wasn't ever revealed in the drama also he's some what lonely , polite and very calm not arogenate genius
that's what I love about the male lead ,,he's not just a genius artist no he also a genius detective ,, psychological profiler and very polite towards people around him , he wasn't ever arogenate nor condescending as the other male lead
There are a lot of un answered questions in this drama about the male lead
like
was he an orphan ?? what is his background ?? they didn't mention but the incident that turned him in a detective artist and his teacher's case that's it
also the friendship was lacking alot and the director wasted so many good scenes to show proper friendship or Bromance
they are two detectives who are in danger most of the time and they save each other rather quickly then move on with no much of friendship talk scenes or caring scenes as if they were wrong to happen between them
but there were good friendship scenes towards the end nothing big just some jokes and ordinary friendship
also
The cases were really smart for the first half of the drama and really intriguing very fast paced ,, they didn't drag any case but they used too much time to confuse us in every case
this drama is one of the best detective chinese dramas and it's light with absolutely no romance to ruin it
I hope there is a second season for it
this drama will get you hooked from the start to finish but it has so many holes and rushed scenes unfortunately
but I recommend it to anyone likes friendship and unique detective drama

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