Warning: Mild spoiler!
Introduction
Psych-Hunter (心宅猎人) is a supernatural mystery and psychological thriller adapted from the novel series Haunted Houses Notes (凶宅笔记) by Er Shi San (贰十三) which was published in 2013. There are 5 volumes in the series, and the adaptation has been modified to include a romance arc, where a female lead is added to the screenplay. Er Shi San is the pen name of Hua Lei, a Chinese web novelist.
The drama is directed by the experienced Li Ze Lu, who has helmed productions such as Tomb of the Sea (of the Lost Tomb franchise), The Hunting Genius and I’m Not a Monster. It is executive produced by the well-known director Feng Xiao Gang and Wang Xiao Hui.
This is a joint production between iQiyi and Yongyi Pictures, Huayi Brothers, and Meira Media.
Story
The story is focused on the 3 main leads – Jiang Shou, Qin Yi Heng, and Yuan Mu Qing, as well as their investigations into mysterious murder cases shrouded in paranormal circumstances in Changshanzhou. The overarching plot revolves around Jiang Shuo’s loss of memory, and the search for missing family, friends and others linked to the mysterious character known as Liu Zhi, which means Six Fingers. In their pursuit of this enigmatic figure, our investigative trio has to solve no less than 15 peculiar and mystifying cases. All this culminates in an utterly thrilling finale that finally exposes the shocking truth about who Liu Zhi really is. An extremely mind-blowing plot twist awaits at the end of this drama!
Cast
Jiang Shou (Hou Ming Hao/侯明昊)
Jiang Shou’s origins are unknown when he makes his first appearance. What we do know is that he is extremely adept at entering into and exploring the human psyche or subconscious. He is lively and witty, filled with street-smarts, charming to a fault with a mischievous and playful disposition. He also looks fantastic with makeup on and wearing a skirt.
Qin Yi Heng (Liu Dong Qin/刘冬沁)
Qin Yi Heng is the youngest son of the Qin household, a family of prominent local merchants. He is also a skilled medical doctor and has some knowledge of psychiatry who had just returned home from England. Possessing a calm demeanor and cool exterior, he is the unofficial leader of the trio who keeps the collective focused when others begin to lose their heads.
Yuan Mu Qing (Zhu Xu Dan/祝绪丹)
Yuan Mu Qing is a policewoman and the daughter of the local warlord. She hasn’t yet completed her college education but decided to join the Changshanzhou Constabulary as its honorary member, by her status. She possesses a feisty character with, on occasion, decent self-defense prowess and marksmanship. She is also extremely loyal to her comrades-in-arms and, although somewhat pampered at times, usually ready to help those in need in the name of justice.
Inspirational Themes
Bromance
One of the most beautiful aspects of the drama is witnessing the powerful bond of brotherhood that develops between Jiang Shou and Qin Yi Heng as the story unfolds. On more than one occasion, they take turns saving each other’s lives, thus strengthening the level of faith and trust between them. This is one of the drama’s finest action duos, with subtle comedic undertones.
Romance
For viewers who are inclined towards some form of romance, this drama has it as well with love blossoming between Jiang Shuo and Yuan Mu Qing. What starts as the pursuit of the male lead being a murder suspect gradually turns into a pursuit of love instead where their relationship is cemented by natural chemistry borne in the face of the many challenges and dangers that they face together.
Friendship and Teamwork
In addition to bromance and romance, this drama gives us a depiction of how friendship and teamwork are cultivated. There are no annoying love triangles and second-lead syndromes here. All three lead characters operate as a single and united entity where every member has a specific role to fulfil and to watch each others’ backs during the investigation of every case that the trio embarks on. They provide much-needed mental and physical support during the tender moments of emotional anguish and trauma that they each have to go through during the story.
Enthralling Cinematography
Top-tier cinematography coupled with excellent camerawork and artistic direction of the highest quality. Many awe-inspiring moments are exquisitely captured in this drama, such as the extraordinary display of Republican-era opulence and the stunning visuals of the intriguingly abstract subconscious world.
Gorgeous Costumes
The costumes are a big part of the show, and no recap would be complete without any mention of them. The various outfits worn during the Republican era in China are presented in the form of the smartly tailored police and military uniforms, the gentleman’s bespoke 3-piece suits, and immaculately designed beautiful traditional cheongsam and glamorous dresses for the ladies that truly reflect the grandeur of the era. In addition, innovative steampunk gear has been created exclusively for Jiang Shuo and Qin Yi Heng during their adventures in the subconscious world.
Music that Sets the Tone
The OST features the following tracks:
The exciting and energetic rock-themed opening song – “Hunting the Heart”, composed by He Hui Hui and Wang Zi Tong, was performed by Xin Qing Qing.
“Game of Happiness and Sadness” by Meng Zi Kun (孟子坤).
The slow-rock duet for the ending theme – “Let Her Be Released”, was composed by He Huihui and Wang Zi, and performed by He Huihui and Wang Ye.
Why You Should Watch It
There are many positives about this drama that are worth sharing with you, and hopefully, you will find them appealing enough to give this drama a watch!
- An intriguing story with a deeply layered premise that combines several genres such as Adventure, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological, Detective Investigation, Action, Friendship, Bromance, and Romance
- A creative approach to solving mysteries via a fusion of investigative procedural with supernatural means known as “entering the psyche or subconscious” to unravel the truth contained in the minds of the subjects, not dissimilar to the concept of “inception”.
- A starting point for learning the more supernatural aspects of Chinese culture especially the folklore, mysticism, superstitions, and even the art of geomancy aka Feng Shui
- Interestingly written colorful characters that are vividly portrayed by a talented cast of fine actors
- Showcasing high production values through outstanding art direction, lavish Republican-era settings with absolutely fantastic cinematography and visual presentations, along the beautiful and captivating costumes of that period.
Conclusion
Psych-Hunter truly is a well-produced and highly entertaining period detective investigation drama that effortlessly blends supernatural themes and traditional Chinese beliefs with cleverly conceived mysteries into a compact and manageable package for your viewing pleasure.
With that, we have arrived at the end of this drama recap. Thank you all so much for your time in reading this humble little article. As we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves watching this show, we hope you will as well should you decide to add this little gem to your watch list.
Acknowledgment: Special thanks to MadiHawkins for providing the images on the drama page.
Credits: We do not own any of the images; credits go to their respective owners. The images are from drama screenshots, official posters, and character stills taken from MyDramaList, and iQiyi.com. Other image sources: GIF.
This is a collaboration article between WandereR and Cho Na. The original article was published on February 4, 2021. Link HERE.
