Two summers ago, Mysterious Lotus Casebook lit up the martial arts scene with its trio of sleuths solving ten classic cold cases. Last year, The Ingenious Detective Lu Lingfeng brought Tang Dynasty aesthetics back in fashion with eight eerie mysteries. Turns out, the so-called "Chinese detective aesthetic" really does something to the audience — maybe it's the sense of order, maybe it's the ancient riddles, maybe it's just that familiar thrill of peeling back layers of lies.
Now it's summer 2025, and the first historical mystery drama out of the gate is Coroner's Diary (朝雪录). And right from episode one, it pulls you in with a headless bride and a corpse buried in a well. No warm-up, just straight into the weird. Within days, the show's trending with over 9,000 heat index (a local metric for popularity), and multiple plot threads climbing the hot search charts.
At the core of Morning Snow is a double-lead mystery arc, set against a backdrop rich with ancient forensic techniques and a distinctive Chinese visual style. But beyond the murder boards and blood trails, the show threads in themes that resonate with today's audience — fighting injustice, rejecting toxic romance tropes, and showcasing women supporting women.
With each case wrapped in 4–5 episodes, the pacing is tight, the tone consistently suspenseful, and the chemistry between the leads—sweet and unforced—makes it dangerously easy to hit "next episode." Honestly, Morning Snow is one of those shows where the best part is always the next part.
This also marks another win for iQIYI in the historical mystery genre. The platform has been steadily building its portfolio with titles like Under the Microscope, the Tang Dynasty Weird Tales series, Mysterious Lotus Casebook, and The Longest Promise. Morning Snow feels like a culmination of that experience — younger, sharper, more in tune with modern taste, and deeply Chinese in both texture and rhythm. No wonder it's shaping up to be this summer's dark horse.
The key appeal of historical detective dramas is simple: it's about the rush. You're tense, on edge, maybe even a little creeped out — and yet you can't stop watching.
Back in the day, shows like Justice Bao, The Great Song Justice, or Young Justice Bao gave us those iconic courtroom beatdowns and chilling crime scenes. They had a clear moral compass — good vs. evil, justice served. Viewers got both the thrill of solving puzzles and the comfort of moral clarity.
But Morning Snow builds on that and pushes it further. It tweaks the usual formulas — from how characters are written, to how motives are unpacked, to the kinds of cases tackled.
For example, the heroine isn't a cop or a court official. She's the daughter of a high-ranking judge whose family was slaughtered. She survives under a false identity and becomes a Wuzuo (仵作, traditional forensic worker) to investigate what happened. This setup breaks out of the usual detective drama mold and sidesteps the genre fatigue we've seen in recent historicals focused on palace intrigue or sweet romance.
So what's working here? Let's break it down.
Two Narrative Tracks: One for Justice, One for Revenge
Two Narrative Tracks: One for Justice, One for RevengeThe show is structured around self-contained mysteries (a.k.a. "case of the week"), but there's also an overarching revenge storyline. That double engine — murder mystery + emotional reckoning — gives the series both bite and staying power.
Our lead, Shen Guan (played by Li Landi), is living under the name of Qin Guan, pretending to be the daughter of the wealthy Qin family while secretly investigating the massacre of her real family. But the Qin household is a mess — full of hidden agendas and half-truths — and soon they're dragged into the notorious "Well Murder" case.
As she teams up with Prince Heir Yan Chi (played by Ao Ruipeng), they begin to unravel not just the mystery at hand, but a web of systemic rot in both the government and elite households. Some of what they uncover is deeply disturbing — the kind of stuff that makes you rethink what justice even means.
So yes, it's got revenge. But it's not just personal vengeance. It's structural. It's about peeling off the surface to expose something rotten underneath — which feels extra relevant right now.
Forensic Precision Meets Folk Horror: A Suspenseful Blend Done Right
Forensic Precision Meets Folk Horror: A Suspenseful Blend Done Right
Morning Snow isn't just good at setting up a mystery—it knows how to get into the weeds with how it's solved. And that's where the show really shines. It leans heavily into ancient Chinese forensic practices, but not in a dry, textbook way. Instead, it uses these forensic elements to deepen both the plot and the heroine's character.
A lot of the murders take place in unusual or hard-to-reach places, which raises the difficulty level. In ancient times, a Wuzuo was basically the coroner-slash-crime-scene tech. How quickly and accurately a case could be cracked often depended on their skills. And our lead, Qin Guan, happens to be exceptionally good at it.
In the very first case, she shows just how sharp she is—removing corpse stench with atractylodes water (a traditional herb), burning spikenard to cleanse the air, deducing time of death and cause based on livor mortis and wound pattern, even inferring the victim's former profession and emotional history. All this, from just the body.
She even stuns the ex-Wuzuo and the local magistrate when she correctly deduces a woman's childbirth history from her pelvis structure, or when she uses scallion stalks to soften the skin for examining surface injuries—methods rarely shown in period dramas before. These "hardcore forensic" details give the character real weight, and more importantly, make the whole idea of a female coroner feel believable and badass.
Visually, the show does a great job too. The costumes, props, and set design dial up the uncanny vibe of each case. Folk customs like ghost marriages, headless brides, and skeletons found in ancient wells all get a richly atmospheric treatment. The lighting and sound design amplify the creepiness without overdoing it.
There's one unforgettable image in the "Well Bones" case—thirteen human skulls lined up at the bottom of a well. It's not bloody, but it sends a chill straight down your spine.
The "Double Strong" Duo: Chemistry Without the Cheese
The "Double Strong" Duo: Chemistry Without the Cheese
This drama also wins big on its lead couple—but not in the usual syrupy way. What we get here is a "double-strong CP" (both leads are capable and well-matched), which amps up the satisfaction and makes it easier to emotionally invest.
Qin Guan has her medical skills and forensics. Yan Chi, the male lead, is a prince with both power and fighting ability. Together, they represent two sides of the ideal: brains and brawn, reason and action, mission and emotion. It's not about one saving the other—it's about them pulling each other forward.
At one point, Qin Guan even says: "Medicine and forensic work are both about saving people—one heals the body, the other heals the heart. A Wuzuo can bring justice, punish the wicked, and wake the ignorant." That line alone shows how seriously she takes her role, not just as a job, but as a calling.
What's fun is that she's all about the work—head down, case-focused, emotionally guarded. He, on the other hand, is a total "career stan"—supportive, curious, and always ready to hand her the tools she needs. It flips the usual gender dynamics in a way that feels fresh.
But even though their chemistry is strong, the show never derails into pure romance. There's no "pause the plot for a kissing scene" kind of moment. Instead, their connection grows naturally through the process of solving cases together.
There's one scene where she's doing a corpse exam, and he casually hands her a sweat towel, passes her the right surgical tool, and gives her a pair of custom-made waterproof gloves. No big gestures. Just quiet, constant presence. That's what makes it land.
The Classical and the Contemporary in Coroner's Diary
The Classical and the Contemporary in Coroner's DiarySince the drama aired, the on-screen chemistry between the two leads has become a major driver of buzz across social media, especially through short clips and edits. But this popularity isn't accidental—it stems from how the characters balance classical ideals with modern sensibilities.
On one hand, both leads share a clear, uncompromising belief in justice. Qin Wan, the female lead, follows the path of medicine with a healer's compassion. She doesn't shy away from bloody or foul-smelling corpses—if that's what it takes to give the dead a voice and restore fairness, she's willing to get her hands dirty.
Yan Chi, heir to the Prince of Rui, has all the authority and decisiveness of a seasoned general. He can act with deadly precision when needed, but when facing Qin Wan—someone of far lower status—he shows nothing but admiration and genuine respect.
On the other hand, both characters carry their own personal quests for truth. That creates a dynamic where neither is subordinate to the other. Yan Chi is determined to clear the name of Prince Jin; Qin Wan seeks to uncover the truth behind her father's wrongful execution. Despite the vast gap in their social status, they work as equals—two forces helping each other forward, which reflects a relationship dynamic much more aligned with modern ideals.
Their emotional connection deepens through shared hardship—"shoulder to shoulder through wind and snow" might be the best way to describe it. The director leans into this subtle, slow-burn romance style—no over-the-top confessions, just glances and gestures that say everything without saying a word.
In this sense, Coroner's Diary offers a refreshing relationship model for future historical dramas. Instead of the overused "domineering CEO who spoils me" trope, this couple respects each other's personhood, sees each other clearly, and connects through shared values and emotional integrity. It's what you'd call a double-intellect romance.
After just 12 episodes, the series has already earned praise for its worldview and values.
Viewers are resonating not just with the themes of justice and redemption, but also with how the drama treats the profession of Wuzuo and its deeper reflections on life and death.
There are powerful moments—Qin Wan carefully cleaning the bones of the headless bride, restoring her appearance with dignity, crying for a murdered girl in the pouring rain. All of this reflects her core belief that "the dignity of the dead must never be violated" .
In the "Corpse in the Well" arc, 13 teenage girls were murdered and buried at the bottom of a dry well—all to cover up the greed and cruelty of Qin An. The fact that Qin's mother knowingly protected him, choosing silence over justice, is even more chilling. Then there's Cai He, the maid who sets fire to everything—literally and metaphorically—in her desperate, explosive quest for revenge. It tears open the rot within the feudal family system, exposing how it devours women from the inside out.
These storylines tap into the darkest corners of elite society, provoking real outrage. It's the kind of drama that makes viewers want to crawl into the screen and deliver justice themselves.
The feminist angle is also one of the show's key strengths.
This isn't the kind of story where women passively wait to be saved. Instead, the drama emphasizes female agency, mutual support, and emotional growth between women—no more background-maid stereotypes, no more damsel-in-distress setups.
In the beginning, Qin Wan is cornered by the Qin family, stripped of power and surrounded by hostility. But it's thanks to Princess Dowager Chang and the young Princess's kindness and trust that she's able to regain her footing and start working toward the truth.
The "Headless Bride" case critiques arranged marriages and pushes back against romance-brained female characters, while also affirming the role of women within the justice system.
Meanwhile, the "Corpse in the Well" case tackles issues like human trafficking and elite scandals. It's the darkest arc so far, digging into real systemic evil—and audiences have responded. As new episodes air, its scenes are consistently trending, sparking heated discussion across platforms.
Other 5 Outstanding iQIYI Detective Dramas
Other 5 Outstanding iQIYI Detective DramasDetective dramas, as a genre with broad appeal, offer endless possibilities for themes, formats, and spin-offs.
In recent years, iQIYI's strength in the historical detective genre has become increasingly clear. Their "costume detective+" series not only churn out hit shows year after year, but also continuously push boundaries in terms of genre innovation, narrative pacing, audiovisual style, and thematic depth. This steady upgrading has helped the platform expand its audience and set new benchmarks for historical detective dramas.
For example:
Wind From Luoyang (风起洛阳) blends rich historical culture with small-scale personal stories, delivering an authentic "Luoyang flavor" .
The Ming Silk Case Under the Microscope (显微镜下的大明之丝绢案) broke ground as a high-quality short series focusing on a "mathematical genius solving mysteries," painting a vivid picture of everyday life in the Ming dynasty.
Mysterious Lotus Casebook (莲花楼) mixes suspense with martial arts, weaving together tales of loyalty and vendetta alongside detective work, breaking traditional wuxia drama formulas and becoming a widely popular "fan-favorite hit."
Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty (唐朝诡事录) takes the form of a "suspense plus supernatural anthology," breaking free from conventional mystery drama frameworks. Its second season continued the trend, proving the IP's strong serial development potential.
The Demon Hunter's Romance (无忧渡) perfectly captures the weird and fantastical essence of traditional supernatural novels within a localized cultural context, delivering a fresh visual experience.
Now, Coroner's Diary is gaining positive response with its dual-lead detective storyline as the clear plotline, and a revenge arc as the hidden thread—offering a mind-bending mystery series. This two-layered storytelling brings excitement through standalone cases while pulling viewers deeper into the long-term revenge mystery. It effectively balances fast pacing, logical coherence, and overall content integrity.
Content-wise, the show uses each case to seek truth and give voice to the dead, striving to uphold justice. At the same time, it shapes an independent and professional female lead, challenging gender stereotypes.
It's clear that iQIYI has established high standards in the historical detective genre by leveraging its hit shows' critical acclaim and viewership, solid production capabilities, ongoing genre innovation, and strategic IP series management.
One hit after another, these surprise successes prove iQIYI's strong production power and foresight in this field. The current popularity of Coroner's Diary promises yet another fresh chapter in the creation of this genre.
