Into the Heat

Plot Synopsis

If you're into those gritty, character-drivenpoliceprocedurals, then youneedto know about the Chinese dramaInto the Heat, which originally went by the nameXingjing de Rizi(刑警的日子).

So, what's the scoop? We follow the journey ofLiu Ziming, a young guy bursting with enthusiasm, ready to dive headfirst into the world of criminal investigation and make hispolicing dreams a reality. He joins a citypolice department's criminal investigation team, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, eager to fight crime.

But here’s the kicker – the daily grind isn't exactly what hepictured. Instead of non-stopaction, he finds himself bogged down in what feels like endless, mind-numbing routine investigations. Yeah, the kind of tedious work that can make even the mostpassionate rookie question their life choices and feelpretty bored.

Thankfully, he’s not going it alone. He’s got a mentor, hisShifu, who takes him under his wing. With some solid guidance, Liu Ziming starts to shake off that early disillusionment, adjusts his attitude, gets his head in the game, and really digs into solving cases alongside his squad.

And this is where it gets good,people! We get a front-row seat as Liu Ziming evolves from a somewhat restless newbie into a remarkably composed, experienced, and responsible criminal investigation captain. It’s a classic coming-of-age story, but with badges and bad guys. He even gets to thepoint where he’s leading his own apprentices,passing on the wisdom as they tackle all sorts of cases.

Speaking of cases, the ones they tackle? Oh, they run the gamut – from high-stakes major incidents and critical investigations to some truly bizarre and downright strange mysteries that will keepyou guessing. Through each twist and turn, through all this hammering and tempering, Liu Ziming gets aprofound look into the humanpsyche, grappling with the shades of good and evil he encounters daily and gaining a much deeper understanding.

But it's not just the cases that forge him into an outstanding captain. It’s the wholepackage: the invaluable, unreserved lessons from his Shifu; the incredible trust and camaraderie built with his teammates (his "comrades-in-arms," really) who've faced life-and-death situations with him; and even thepersonal upheavals and changes in his family and marriage. All these experiences teach him the true weight of the responsibility a criminal investigator carries on their shoulders. He ultimately finds immensepride and honor in his work, knowing he’splaying a crucial role in ensuring social stability.

For those of you who love to know the backstory,Into the Heatis adapted from the novelYi Ge Xingjing de Rizi(which translates to 'A Criminal Investigator's Days') by the authorLan Yi.

Ou Hao
Liu Ziming

Zhang Jianing
Fang Tingting

He Bing
Wei Jie

Wang Jiajia
Liu Ziqing