The Wanted Detective: Historical Crime Dramas Are on Fire

If you're someone who loves historical detective dramas, this summer's really treating you right.

Just as Coroner's Diary (朝雪录) took off and became a surprise hit, now The Wanted Detective (定风波) has entered the scene—and it's making waves from episode one.

Comments online say it all: "Each one's better than the last. Period detective dramas? Yeah, this track is getting seriously competitive."

I powered through ten episodes in a row—here's why it's hard to stop: constant twists, tight plotting, and suspense that keeps pulling you in. Add in a strong cast and a distinctly Chinese supernatural vibe, and what you get is another top-tier mystery from iQIYI's summer lineup.

Let's talk about it.

The Wanted Detective

Premiered August 1, 2025 · iQIYI

A Case Within a Case – Twists You Don't See Coming

A strong mystery series needs a powerful hook—and this one doesn't waste time.

Three court officials die in quick succession, each one in a more bizarre fashion than the last:

A rider's neck snaps mid-gallop, his head flying off.

A man writing at his desk bursts into flames with no warning.

Another drowns quietly in a washbasin, with no water spilled.

All three deaths are sinister. All three point in the same direction:

Night Demon.

To investigate the truth behind this figure, the young prodigy detective Xiao Beiming and his mentor Zhong Yunchi set out on a mission. Their plan? Use a grand wedding to bait three high-ranking officials they suspect of being involved.

But things don't go as planned.

On the wedding day, all three suspects—and Zhong Yunchi himself—are murdered on the spot, sewn to death with thread and needle. Xiao Beiming is shot and falls into the lake. Branded the Night Demon, he disappears without a trace.

And that's just the first two episodes.

Within that short span, the show lays out the political intrigue, the background of the central case ("the blood-stained statue murders"), and the turning point where Xiao Beiming goes from golden-boy detective to fugitive suspect.

The pacing is fast but steady, the plot clear but layered—and the tension is enough to keep you glued to the screen.

What comes next is where The Wanted Detective really sets itself apart.

The cases that follow aren't just standalone arcs. Each one is like a puzzle piece. Clues are hidden in the details, and only by solving them one by one can you start to see the whole picture—the truth behind Night Demon.

Three years pass. A new case surfaces: the "bride murders."

Four brides, killed on their wedding days, their bodies sewn shut—eerily similar to the "wedding day massacre" from years ago. Once again, the threads point to Night Demon.

This time, Xiao Beiming reappears. He's come back to find the truth, track down the killer—nicknamed "The Tailor"—and clear his name.

Just when it feels like the mystery of Night Demon is about to be solved, the show hits with another twist:

Night Demon isn't one person.

It's a group.

Everyone who survived the Haoya tragedy could be part of it. Every survivor has a reason to take revenge.

And just like that, the story opens into a new chain of events—The Haoya Horror Case.

Most detective dramas work like a road trip: new town, new case, clean slate every time.

Not here.

In The Wanted Detective, every case is connected. Some directly, others through buried hints or shared motives. It builds a web, not a road—and watching it all click together is half the thrill.

Each mystery gets solved. Each one pulls you deeper into the bigger story. And just when you think you've seen it all, another twist sends you rethinking everything.

It's not just about cracking cases—it's about peeling back a massive conspiracy, one clue at a time. And that "aha" moment? When one case unlocks the next, or when a throwaway detail five episodes ago suddenly matters—it's addictive.

The structure rewards close watching. The writing respects your attention span. And the tension? It keeps climbing.

A Brilliant Ensemble Cast of Young Detectives

What grabs your attention first in The Wanted Detective are the twists and turns—the suspense, the reversals, the unraveling puzzles.

But what keeps you watching is the group of characters. A vibrant, multidimensional team of young investigators that feels fresh, grounded, and deeply human.

Unlike many dramas where the story revolves solely around the lead—or where romance takes over everything—this one actually builds a full ensemble. The protagonist's journey is clear, yes, but each supporting character is also given room to grow. What forms is a tightly connected team with contrasting personalities, held together by shared purpose.

The Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic: Xiao Beiming

Let's start with the lead: Xiao Beiming (Wang Xingyue). The textbook "mei qiang can" character—a good-looking, skilled hero with a heartbreaking backstory.

Once a hotshot prodigy in court who boldly claimed he could crack a case in three days, he paid a steep price: his mentor died, his closest companion was devastated, and he himself was branded as the Night Demon and forced to disappear for three years.

When he finally resurfaces, he's quieter, more restrained. There's a heaviness to him—no more arrogance, just calm, quiet focus.

We watch him slowly pull himself out of the shadows: regaining trust, following clues, chasing the truth. His character arc doesn't shout—it builds. It earns your investment.

The Female Lead Zhong Xuemang: No Damsel in Distress

And thankfully, the female lead isn't just there to serve his storyline.

Zhong Xuemang (Xiang Hanzhi), far from being a sidelined love interest, has spent the same three years doing her own digging into the Night Demon case. She didn't retreat into grief or helplessness—she pressed forward, alone.

When Xiao Beiming returns, she questions him. She resents him. But she doesn't jump to conclusions or cling to the past. Instead, she chooses to seek the truth—risking her own safety to hide and help a wanted man, eventually joining forces with him.

This isn't another fluffy romance. The emotional tension serves the mystery—not the other way around. And their partnership, rooted in trust earned through action, feels genuinely satisfying to watch.

As the investigation deepens, so does the ensemble.

Every character in the team has a distinct voice, a job to do, and a reason to be there. They're not just filling space—they click. They argue, they mess up, they save each other. They feel alive.

Coroner Feng Qingzhuo: Deadly Skills, Deadpan Face

Let's talk about Feng Qingzhuo—the team's coroner, who's brilliant in both medicine and poisons, but also wildly awkward and socially clueless.

At first, he seems like comic relief. He even accidentally poisons Xiao Beiming by mixing up a bottle of medicine with actual toxin.

But don't be fooled. As the story progresses, he starts pulling double duty—stealing bodies, performing autopsies under pressure, and delivering crucial evidence in life-or-death situations. One standout moment: when Xiao Beiming's identity is on the verge of being exposed, Feng buys time by pretending to keep working, calmly stating:

"I'm a coroner. Until the autopsy's done, even if you hold a knife to my throat, I won't stop."

Just like that, the goofy sidekick becomes a character with real weight.

Zhuge Kongyun: Loyal to the Point of Comedy

Another fan favorite: Zhuge Kongyun, affectionately nicknamed by viewers as "Xiao Beiming's #1 delusional fan."

He's a young nobleman who could easily have been just another flirtatious rich boy. Instead, his entire brain seems to be occupied with thoughts of Xiao Beiming.

When he hears rumors of Xiao's death, he goes borderline manic—dragging people into dice games just to feel like he's with him again.

And when he catches wind that Zhong Xuemang might be hiding clues about Xiao Beiming, he doesn't confront her—instead, he quietly joins the investigation squad and becomes one of its most useful contributors, offering insight, contacts, and sharp instincts.

Tong Shuang: Sharp Tongue, Sharp Blade

Last but not least, there's Tong Shuang, Xiao Beiming's dead-serious right hand.

He shows up wherever he's needed, weapons at the ready. And every time Zhuge Kongyun gets too dramatic or sentimental, Tong Shuang drops a few cutting remarks that shut him down instantly.

Tong Shuang may look like the cold-faced type who shuts people down with one-liners—but when it comes to his team, he's all heart. Fiercely protective, unshakably loyal. Always the first to jump in, no matter the cost.

That's actually what makes The Wanted Detective stand out. Every character has their own weight, their own presence. The way they interact isn't just filler—it drives the story forward and deepens their relationships. What we end up with is a vibrant, clear-cut ensemble that feels natural and cohesive. Every voice is distinct, but they all belong in the same world.

The team doesn't stay static, either. As the plot unfolds, new faces join in.

Take Huo Dairong, for example. She shows up looking gentle and refined—but you quickly realize she's sharp, calculating, and anything but soft. There's a kind of danger hiding under that composed surface. The moment she steps in, you feel the tension shift.

You can tell she's going to stir things up. Her presence alone adds more layers to the team dynamic and raises the emotional stakes.

Dripping with Atmospheric Suspense—East Asian Style

One of the biggest highlights of The Wanted Detective is how it looks and feels.

Visually, the show leans hard into a stylized "Chinese occult" aesthetic. Muted cool tones, moody ink-brush textures—it's like someone brought ancient scroll paintings to life, then wrapped them in mystery.

The sets are intricate, classically designed. Ornate woodwork, carved pillars. Lighting? Candle shadows flicker across windows. Silhouettes flicker against green drapes. It's all about contrast—layers of light and dark that leave space for imagination.

And when the tension spikes? The visuals follow suit.

Tea boils in silence. Smoke coils. Sheer white curtains flutter like ghosts. It's not just pretty—it's tense. That feeling of something about to break, but everything's still.

I'm telling you: they nailed it. As someone who lives for suspense, these details are exactly where my eyes go.

Horror, but Make It Ritual

And the show doesn't stop at visual mood. The second case—the Bride Stitching Murders—takes things even darker.

Three years after the first major case (the Beixiang Blood and Tears Incident), the signature Night Demon killing technique makes a chilling comeback.

Victims are brides in full red wedding gowns. But instead of walking into a new life, the gown becomes their shroud. Their bodies are stitched shut, twisted like cursed puppets. The needlework is grotesque, methodical—half crime, half ritual. It's terrifying.

The scene: a lonely wedding room. Midnight. A bride waits in silence under a red veil. The music turns eerie, the cuts slow and deliberate. What should be a moment of joy is instead full-on dread. The show flips a classic symbol—wedding night bliss—into something cold and ghostly.

It's pure atmosphere. And it works.

Later, the crew follows the trail to Nanren Alley during the Double Moon Festival. There's a fireworks ritual. And then comes the figure of "Sada," a so-called "messenger from the heavens," dancing under pale moonlight.

Drummers dressed in white, their heads wrapped in white silk. Sada wears a white mask, long black hair, red silk streaming from the arms. The whole thing looks like Black and White Impermanence (黑白无常) dancing in ritual.

Sound-wise? There's the sharp, piercing call of the Suona. Instant goosebumps.

You can tell the showrunners did their homework. These aren't random horror aesthetics—they're pulled from deep within East Asian folklore, but reworked into something cinematically sharp.

Not Just Ghosts—There's Always a Hidden Hand

What's also great is that The Wanted Detective doesn't just throw ghost stories at you for shock value.

Every strange, supernatural case? There's always something behind it. Some logic. Some cold, hidden hand.

The show is constantly dancing on that line between the mystical and the real. Behind every "curse" or "evil spirit," there's actually science, superstition, or just old-school sleight of hand—camouflaged as folklore.

That's the genius of it: it's spooky, but it's smart.

And the color palette ties it all together—those deliberate combinations of red, black, and white echoing throughout the sets and costumes. It's symbolic without being pretentious. It's creepy without being overdone. And most importantly, it gives us something we rarely see: Eastern noir, done right.

Let's just say it—The Wanted Detective is doing things no other period mystery drama has managed in a while.

It's not just the clever, layered storytelling. Not just the gothic elegance. It's that they've genuinely found a way to make the genre feel new again.

And that's a huge deal.

The cases keep escalating. The team keeps evolving. Every character has a purpose. Every reveal clicks into place. And the pacing? Surprisingly tight for a Chinese period drama.

For anyone who loves mystery, tension, and ensemble-led stories—this one's not just worth watching. It's addictive.

At this point, I'm 100% hooked. This is the summer escape I didn't know I needed.

Seriously—go watch it.