‘Danger Zone’ (逆局) is the latest original drama from iQiyi. Starring the charismatic Vic Chou, the cast includes Zhang Rong Rong, Berant Zhu and also Singapore’s Christopher Lee.
Danger Zone is a crime drama involving a series of murder cases that have stumped the police force. Led by Tang Chong Hui (Christopher Lee) and Yang Lu Lu (Zhang Rong Rong/Sandrine Pinna), the police are forced to work together with Liang Yan Dong (Vic Chou), an ex police officer specializing in criminal profiling turned lawyer that has been imprisoned for murder.
At the zoom APAC press conference, a 12 minutes long preview filled with car chase, fighting and grisly murder scenes was broadcast . It was also mostly dark, as a good part of the drama was set in the prison. Liang Yan Dong was serving his sentence for a murder that he claimed he was framed. Vic Chou mentioned at the press conference that Christopher Lee’s team in the police filming set was the livelier and fun place whereas his team, set in the prison, was gloomy and dead, so he was quite envious.
I watched episode 1 was off to a fast pace with murders piling up and Berant Zhu jumping into the icy cold river within the first 10 minutes to find a body bag. While, I enjoy action (when necessary) I hope the drama will be more investigative and about human character than just action.
Christopher Lee portrays the gruff, loud, experienced, weary police team leader, whose bark is worse than his bite, to a T. His long, messy hair definitely fits the character well (I still remember him as Yang Guo in Singapore’s version of ‘Return of the Condor Heroes’!)
Sandrine Pinna or Zhang Rong Rong looked absolutely stunning at the press conference. Apparently, she had her hair cut really short for this drama. I last watched her in the drama, ‘Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain’ (从前有座灵剑山) and thoroughly enjoyed her comedic performance in it, so I’m looking forward see what she will bring to the drama this time. #FunFact- she disclosed that she and Vic Chou last met/ acted together in ‘Poor Prince Taro’ (贫穷贵公子).
Vic Chou as Liang Yan Dong is of of course the focus in this drama. His character is cold, calm, collected and calculated. While he claims to be have been framed for a murder/ assault, you can sense that his character is totally capable of killing. So is it a grey character? Vic Chou seems to hint at it during the press conference. He has come a long way since the ‘Meteor Days’ and has acted in many diverse roles. This is his second time in a police theme drama since Black and White. While I missed seeing his clean, shaven handsome face, it is also refreshing to see him gaunt and drab as a prisoner. Watch out for the accident scene where his car was spinning. He indicated that it was one of the hardest and most memorable scene for him.
‘Danger Zone’ has a total of 24 episodes and aired on 3 September 2021 is available exclusively on iQiyi. It is free for basic non-paying members (you will have to endure the advertisements and watch it later than paying members) . Two episodes will be screened every Friday.
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