Klementine
She may lose her heart but not her goal
In Stealth Walker, the focus is on the young aspiring police officer Lin Qiang, who unfortunately experiences one misfortune after another. First, she fails the exams at the police academy, and then her foster uncle (a police officer who raised her) is murdered during a mission related to a drug cartel. From that point on, Lin Qiang takes the investigation into her own hands. She is determined to find the murderer and is soon officially placed undercover by the police to bring down the drug dealers.
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The Characters:
FL - Lin Qiang (played by Lin Peng)
She is strong, fearless, and ready to fight. There were moments when I felt she acted impulsively and without much thought, and then there were moments where she was very deliberate, clever, and cautious before taking action. This made the drama exciting and fresh. The story is mostly told from her perspective. Although, surprisingly, she didn’t captivate me emotionally as much as I expected, I was rooting for her and hoping she would achieve the goal she was striving for.
Overall, I feel rather neutral about her. Something was missing, but I can't quite put my finger on what it was. Additionally, I found it unfortunate that her voice was dubbed. There were many moments when I felt the new voice didn’t really fit her. Over time, you get used to it, and I can imagine others might not find it as bothersome.
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ML - Zhang Xianhe (played by Zheng Yecheng)
For me, he was the highlight of the drama and definitely a scene-stealer.
Xianhe is the adopted son of a major drug lord and, as a result, is involved in the drug business in various ways. He also has a adopted daughter—I estimate she's of elementary school age, between 6 and 8 years old. The fact that he has a child made his story all the more intriguing for me. He’s a fascinating character that I kept questioning. What is he really like? What secrets does he hold? Early on, I realized that this man definitely has a soft heart, and it was a joy to get to know him little by little and see him as a father. He’s definitely caught in a complicated situation.
I can imagine that if the drama had been told primarily from his perspective, with the FL playing a secondary role, it would have been just as captivating—perhaps even more so for me. I see great potential there. On a side note, the truly stylish look and the fact that the actor kept his own voice made my enjoyment of this character even greater.
It’s sad that we won’t be getting a second season. I would have really liked more content, just to learn more about Xianhe's life.
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2nd ML - Cheng Jinsong (played by Li Zifeng)
A very lovable, caring, and selfless man. Initially, he's a member of a S.W.A.T. unit, but since he and the FL have been close friends since childhood and the murder at the beginning of the series also affects him (the victim is his biological uncle), he joins the undercover operation. He's a very likeable character who grows on you. He often provides great support and is crucial to FL's mission and being there for her after difficult situations.
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The Romance:
First and foremost, this drama is not a love story. It’s a crime thriller with action and mystery. The romance is merely a subplot—but a lovely one, in my opinion. It's the little cherry on top that makes the series even more exciting. The push-and-pull dynamic between Lin Qiang and Zhang Xianhe is entertaining, fiery, emotional and often quite amusing.
I also appreciate that Lin Qiang always prioritizes her mission. Let's be honest... just because you suddenly develop feelings for someone while working undercover, especially someone on the opposing side, it’s definitely not a good idea to act on those feelings and jeopardize the investigation—or your own life. This is a major plus for the drama, as it feels quite realistic.
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The Undercover Mission:
The drama has 24 episodes, and the fact that I watched them all in just 3 days says a lot. The plot isn’t episodic; each episode flows smoothly into the next. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and action-packed. The beginning is a bit slow, but once the undercover work kicks into gear, there's no stopping it. For me, there wasn’t a single boring episode.
Of course, there are unrealistic situations, but that doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of this thriller. And the fact that the FL has a bit too much plot armor and should have died several times by now doesn’t bother me too much. I just go with it and find amusement in her negotiation skills.
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My Conclusion:
I believe that if the ML hadn’t been such an endearing and complex character, and if the actor hadn’t fit the role so well, the drama would have only gotten an 8.5/10 from me. However, since Xianhe was such a major highlight for me and the plot kept me hooked until the very end, I’m giving it a rating of 9/10.
I highly recommend this drama to anyone out there who enjoys crime thrillers. Stealth Walker is a hidden gem.
[finished watching on 17 September 2024]
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The Characters:
FL - Lin Qiang (played by Lin Peng)
She is strong, fearless, and ready to fight. There were moments when I felt she acted impulsively and without much thought, and then there were moments where she was very deliberate, clever, and cautious before taking action. This made the drama exciting and fresh. The story is mostly told from her perspective. Although, surprisingly, she didn’t captivate me emotionally as much as I expected, I was rooting for her and hoping she would achieve the goal she was striving for.
Overall, I feel rather neutral about her. Something was missing, but I can't quite put my finger on what it was. Additionally, I found it unfortunate that her voice was dubbed. There were many moments when I felt the new voice didn’t really fit her. Over time, you get used to it, and I can imagine others might not find it as bothersome.
---
ML - Zhang Xianhe (played by Zheng Yecheng)
For me, he was the highlight of the drama and definitely a scene-stealer.
Xianhe is the adopted son of a major drug lord and, as a result, is involved in the drug business in various ways. He also has a adopted daughter—I estimate she's of elementary school age, between 6 and 8 years old. The fact that he has a child made his story all the more intriguing for me. He’s a fascinating character that I kept questioning. What is he really like? What secrets does he hold? Early on, I realized that this man definitely has a soft heart, and it was a joy to get to know him little by little and see him as a father. He’s definitely caught in a complicated situation.
I can imagine that if the drama had been told primarily from his perspective, with the FL playing a secondary role, it would have been just as captivating—perhaps even more so for me. I see great potential there. On a side note, the truly stylish look and the fact that the actor kept his own voice made my enjoyment of this character even greater.
It’s sad that we won’t be getting a second season. I would have really liked more content, just to learn more about Xianhe's life.
---
2nd ML - Cheng Jinsong (played by Li Zifeng)
A very lovable, caring, and selfless man. Initially, he's a member of a S.W.A.T. unit, but since he and the FL have been close friends since childhood and the murder at the beginning of the series also affects him (the victim is his biological uncle), he joins the undercover operation. He's a very likeable character who grows on you. He often provides great support and is crucial to FL's mission and being there for her after difficult situations.
---
The Romance:
First and foremost, this drama is not a love story. It’s a crime thriller with action and mystery. The romance is merely a subplot—but a lovely one, in my opinion. It's the little cherry on top that makes the series even more exciting. The push-and-pull dynamic between Lin Qiang and Zhang Xianhe is entertaining, fiery, emotional and often quite amusing.
I also appreciate that Lin Qiang always prioritizes her mission. Let's be honest... just because you suddenly develop feelings for someone while working undercover, especially someone on the opposing side, it’s definitely not a good idea to act on those feelings and jeopardize the investigation—or your own life. This is a major plus for the drama, as it feels quite realistic.
---
The Undercover Mission:
The drama has 24 episodes, and the fact that I watched them all in just 3 days says a lot. The plot isn’t episodic; each episode flows smoothly into the next. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and action-packed. The beginning is a bit slow, but once the undercover work kicks into gear, there's no stopping it. For me, there wasn’t a single boring episode.
Of course, there are unrealistic situations, but that doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of this thriller. And the fact that the FL has a bit too much plot armor and should have died several times by now doesn’t bother me too much. I just go with it and find amusement in her negotiation skills.
---
My Conclusion:
I believe that if the ML hadn’t been such an endearing and complex character, and if the actor hadn’t fit the role so well, the drama would have only gotten an 8.5/10 from me. However, since Xianhe was such a major highlight for me and the plot kept me hooked until the very end, I’m giving it a rating of 9/10.
I highly recommend this drama to anyone out there who enjoys crime thrillers. Stealth Walker is a hidden gem.
[finished watching on 17 September 2024]
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