This was my first venture into Chinese drama after having recently been hooked into Korean drama. I enjoyed this because of the leads' acting and chemistry. The male lead's loving gazes and gestures could be used as an example for actors seeking to learn how to portray a lover. He was superb also in conveying the cohesiveness and camaraderie of an elite police SWAT team. I hope I can see more of his work. The female lead was also very good although not quite in the same league as Jing Bo Ran, who if he could replicate this quality of work, might be an international star. The secondary actors, especially the charming little boy, also gave excellent portrayals with their engaging and interesting characters. In short, good story, strong characters, great performances. Now for what might have been improved, based on the viewpoint of an American viewer. First, much too long, perhaps by as much as 3-5 episodes. This would tighten up the pace as well as eliminate scenes that essentially duplicate others. We don't require quite so many SWAT dangerous scenes, episodes of male camaraderie, or family interactions to get the thrust of these elements. The other element I found distracting or confusing was the use of flashbacks. Several were misplaced in the narrative flow. I consistently wished the background story could have been presented in a time sequence from the beginning of the love story to the end. As it is, the flashbacks often interrupt the tension with information that would have explanatory earlier in the presentation. However, overall I found this to be an engaging introduction to Chinese contemporary drama, and I want to see more. A real plus for me has been learning more about Chinese and Korean culture, customs, beautiful scenery, and delectable looking food. Over and over I am reminded that explorations of different cultures might lead to greater harmony. All humans experience love, misery, danger, evil, and goodness.
