Synopsis
Twin brothers swap between day and night to solve a family massacre while one is the prime suspect. Pan Yueming plays both roles in this groundbreaking Chinese mystery drama. Douban 8.9. One of the first Chinese web dramas picked up by Netflix.
Overview
Day and Night (Chinese: 白夜追凶) is a 2017 Chinese crime mystery web drama directed by Wang Wei, starring Pan Yueming and Wang Longzheng. This 32-episode series aired exclusively on Youku beginning August 30, 2017.
With a Douban rating of 8.9, it was the highest-rated Chinese web drama of 2017 and is widely regarded as the pioneer of Chinese online mystery dramas. Pan Yueming's dual performance as twin brothers Guan Hongfeng and Guan Hongyu — seamlessly switching between the stoic detective and the carefree fugitive — earned widespread acclaim.
Netflix acquired the international distribution rights, making it one of the first Chinese web dramas to be picked up by the streaming giant.
Plot Summary
A family massacre makes carefree Guan Hongyu the prime suspect. His identical twin brother Guan Hongfeng, a police captain, is determined to uncover the truth. But department rules prohibit him from investigating a case involving a family member.
Guan Hongfeng resigns in protest but is soon brought back as a consultant by new captain Zhou Xun (Wang Longzheng). There is a catch: Guan Hongfeng suffers from a crippling fear of the dark and cannot go out at night. So his twin brother Hongyu hides during the day and impersonates Hongfeng at night.
The brothers alternate between day and night, solving case after case while secretly investigating the massacre. But as they dig deeper, they discover the truth is far more complicated than they ever imagined.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pan Yueming | Guan Hongfeng / Guan Hongyu | Twin brothers, dual role |
| Wang Longzheng | Zhou Xun | Police captain |
| Liang Yuan | Zhao Qian | Forensic examiner |
| Wu Wenjing | Han Bin | Police tech specialist |
| Lv Xiaolin | Gao Yanan | Female officer |
Cultural Significance
Day and Night proved that Chinese web dramas could achieve high production values and sophisticated storytelling in the mystery genre. Its success domestically and its Netflix acquisition made it a landmark in Chinese content going global.
The series revitalized Pan Yueming's career, establishing him as one of China's most respected character actors. His ability to distinguish between two identical-looking characters through subtle differences in expression, tone, and body language remains one of the most impressive performances in Chinese television.
References
- Douban: https://movie.douban.com/subject/26883064/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/白夜追凶/20808255
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/白夜追凶
Stills & Gallery
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