Netflix’s latest Taiwanese series, GG Precinct, delivers a quirky mix of comedy and crime drama, led by Greg Hsu Kuang-han and Gingle Wang Ching. Written and directed by Cheng Wei-hao and Yin Chen-hao, the series follows a team of eccentric cops as they investigate a series of elaborate murders that harken back to an infamous case from decades ago. The show draws inspiration from classic thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, balancing dark mysteries with light-hearted humor.
At the center of the chaos is the newly promoted Chief Chang (Ma Nien-hsien), whose awkwardness and lack of confidence have hindered his rise through the ranks. His promotion leaves a vacancy for Lin Tzu-ching (Wang) to step in as the new squad captain, much to the dismay of her arrogant teammate Wu Ming-han (Hsu), who was convinced the position was his. This tension sets the stage for much of the show’s humor, as the team’s mismatched personalities clash and collide.
The GG Precinct squad is a motley crew. Shao-nien (Ng Ki-pin) is a former undercover officer with a comically unhinged demeanor, the result of a ketamine addiction. Flower Chen Yen-tso plays the loyal yet overweight Chubby, while Lulu Huang Lu Zi-yin portrays Shu-fen, a criminal profiler obsessed with Myers-Briggs personality types. The show’s humor largely stems from the interactions between these unlikely law enforcers as they grapple with solving a series of shocking and bizarre murders.
The investigation begins with the discovery of a security guard’s body, stripped and covered in feathers in an underground car park. The second victim is found in a kowtowing position, his teeth forcibly removed. The team soon realizes that these crime scenes are modeled after Chinese idioms, reminiscent of how the murders in Seven dramatized the seven deadly sins.
As the plot thickens, the detectives seek help from the imprisoned Chinese Idiom Killer (Tai Chih-yuan), whose crimes are being mimicked. A peculiar bond forms between the killer and Lin, echoing the dynamic seen in The Silence of the Lambs.
While GG Precinct offers plenty of laughs and clever pop culture references, it falls short in developing the relationships within the team. The transition from dysfunction to harmony among the characters lacks a clear narrative arc, making their sudden cohesion feel abrupt and unearned. Despite these shortcomings, directors Wen and Yin keep the pace lively, ensuring that the show remains entertaining throughout.
Should GG Precinct return for a second season, it will need to delve deeper into character development and tighten its comedic elements to fully realize its potential.
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