Popular espionage drama returns to satellite TV

Boosted by its popularity in portraying an ordinary man-turned-hero, the espionage drama Xing Lai (Awakening) has returned to television screens, airing on Beijing Satellite TV and Jiangsu Satellite TV, following its well-received debut run on CCTV-8 and iQIYI since late August.

Adapted from Hai Fei's novel of the same name, the series is directed by Zhao Baogang and Liu Xingang, with Ou Hao and Gulnezer Bextiyar in leading roles. Set around 1941 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and Shanghai, it follows Chen Kailai, a photographer unexpectedly drawn into a covert struggle. As he navigates a web of rival forces alongside Jinbao, a popular dance hall hostess, he gradually uncovers the truth and finds his place amid a turbulent era.

The series previously drew word-of-mouth attention for its production quality. During its premiere run, its average prime-time rating reached 1.667 percent, peaking at 2.139 percent, according to China Audiovisual Big Data.

With its return to satellite television, the series is once again attracting viewers. Director Zhao said the story explores multiple layers of meaning buried in the title's reference to "awakening".

At its most personal level, the drama traces Chen's journey from an inexperienced photographer to a committed member of the Communist Party of China, as he gradually develops a stronger sense of purpose through hardship.

It also depicts the awakening of an underground organization. Zhao said that the drama uses three famous tourist attractions at Hangzhou's West Lake — Su Causeway, the Broken Bridge and Leifeng Pagoda — as coded references to an underground network in Shanghai, whose members work together to complete their missions.

Most importantly, the series speaks to a collective awakening of national consciousness. Although the young characters make different choices, their stories ultimately raise a common question: how can a country and a nation emerge from darkness? By extending its focus beyond covert missions to the choices and growth of ordinary people, the drama seeks to give the spy-drama genre a broader perspective, connecting individual destinies with the larger changes of its time, the director added.