The Punishment already heading towards being a major success on iQIYI
In a surprise release, Chinese crime-themed action thriller The Punishment premiered on December 25th and runs through January 17th and, just two days after its first episodes released, the C-drama has already exceeded 8,500 on iQIYI’s heat index.
And yes, it was a major surprise release considering the official distribution license for the C-drama was not even issued until the day before it premiered.
With iQIYI considering anything that hits 9,000 or higher a major hit, The Punishment only has 500 points left to go before it passes that magic number.
Update, January 3rd, 2026: The Punishment has now passed 9,500 on the heat index (see celebratory visual below). So, yep, according to iQIYI, the Chinese drama is now a certified major success on the platform. Yay!
iQIYI celebrated the success of the Johnny Huang and Eric Wang-led series with a poster and a message saying:
#The Punishment popularity on iQIYI surpasses 9,000# 🎊 Qin Feng (aka Johnny Huang), Liu Tian Ye (Wang Chuan Jun), and Wen Jiang Yan (Liang Jie), and Ai Qin (Sa Ri Na or Sarina) are all caught in a whirlwind of events.
When the bonds of family are torn apart by desire, what will become of this family?
What is The Punishment‘s plot?
The drama itself is the sequel to the 2022 series Chasing the Undercurrent, which currently has a 7.0 out of 10 on Douban – an excellent Douban score for a crime-themed drama.
You will also see the Chinese drama being referred to as The Punishment 2, as its prequel Chasing the Undercurrent is thought of as The Punishment 1 in China.
RELATED: Character visuals are now out for The Punishment
The first 10 episodes of the planned 40-episode crime thriller are now streaming on iQIYI worldwide, with the streaming service describing its plot in this way:
It tells the story of police officer Qin Feng as he engages in a battle of wits and will with criminal forces. Set against the backdrop of Hanzhou’s rapid development, the script draws on a series of serious criminal cases to portray the complex relationships between the police, their families, and powerful interest groups.
The main narrative centers on Qin Feng and Liu Tianye, two sworn brothers with no blood ties, exploring the depths of human nature and moral conflict.
With a fast-paced plot and constant suspense, the story highlights the struggle between good and evil and the enduring power of faith in the rule of law.
Comments from international viewers are currently overwhelmingly positive so give it a go, eh?
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