Why you should watch the hit Chinese crime drama 'The Knockout' filled with power play, fist fights and more

Dubai: Who needs capes and costumes when you have compelling Chinese crime saga The Knockout?

This 39-episode hit series doesn’t just pack a punch—it throws you into a 20-year brawl between a relentless cop and a fish-selling mob boss who slithered his way into politics, construction, and prime-time philanthropy.

Directed by Xu Jizhou, this drama was a knockout hit for a reason: razor-sharp writing, morally murky characters, and a slow-burn power struggle that simmers till it explodes.

Set in the fictional city of Jinghai, the series is led by the ever-determined cop An Xin (Zhang Yi) and the master manipulator Gao Qiqiang (Zhang Songwen), who makes Tony Montana look like a small-time hustler.

From gutting fish to gutting democracy

Let’s talk about Gao Qiqiang—a man who started out getting roughed up by petty thugs at his seafood stall and ended up running Jinghai’s criminal underworld with the finesse of a seasoned politician. He’s ruthless, calculating, and terrifyingly well-dressed. With every promotion, marriage, or shady deal, Gao tightens his grip on the city, leaving a trail of bribes, blood, and bought loyalties in his wake. But don’t let the charitable businessman act fool you—he’ll shake your hand and have you silenced before dessert.

Meanwhile, our man An Xin is playing the long game. Quiet, principled, and maddeningly incorruptible, he spends two decades trying to expose Gao’s criminal empire, enduring demotions, political resistance, and personal heartbreak. It’s less "good cop, bad cop" and more "one man against an entire rot-infested system."

Then there’s Meng Yu (Li Yitong)—journalist, truth-seeker, and An Xin’s long-suffering unrequited love. Smart and resourceful, she moves through academia, media, and motherhood while watching the two men she’s entangled with self-destruct in opposite directions. She’s the emotional center no one listens to enough, and maybe that’s the tragedy of her arc.

Corruption, cover-ups, and cold fish

The Knockout is more than just a crime drama—it’s a gritty dissection of power, privilege, and how corruption festers over decades. It’s also a masterclass in storytelling, where every promotion, phone call, and dinner party is layered with menace. And if you’re wondering whether justice ever really wins, let’s just say: the fish may rot from the head, but sometimes, even the biggest shark gets hooked.

So if you like your dramas brooding, brutal, and built on long-term vengeance, The Knockout will leave you bruised, breathless, and begging for a second round.