This is a drama where the director knows what he's doing and why, the scriptwriters know how to write good scripts, the scenography department knows how to design the set, the CGI team knows how to avoid making it cringy and fake-looking, and the actors can actually act. It should be obvious, but this is really rare nowadays. This is the second season of SToTD, which is even better than the first one. I stronglly recommend it for ones who like well written detective story with good acting and great visuals.

PLOT
After the first case ends with Lu Lingfeng unintentionally admitting to a certain familial connection, Su Wuming saves him in a way that, at first glance, seems somewhat controversial. LLF is exiled to the distant West. Su Wuming also has to leave the capital. After some time, the entire team, whether by chance or not, reunites to continue their journey to the West, solving more criminal cases along the way. The cases are unique, intresting and not obvious. One of the most surprising cases is when, due to a fortuitous set of circumstances, our team is forced to conceal a murder that took place in a mysterious guesthouse from the other guests. Hiding their true identities, the team, trapped in the guesthouse during a snowstorm, must find the murderer, who is one of the guests. What I particularly appreciate is that the subsequent cases are not merely used to advance the main characters' storyline or showcase their extraordinary abilities. In this series, the victims and perpetrators are as important as the main characters. They have clearly defined, memorable personalities and motives. The perpetrators are not cartoonish, one-dimensional embodiments of evil; on the contrary, they are often complex, and in some cases, the lines between who is actually the perpetrator and who is the victim become blurred. This deserves special mention and appreciation. The plot is intriguing from start to finish, and the pace is consistently maintained.
There are some complaints about lack of romance - both SWM and LLF have women who are the objects of their romantic interest, but the romance is not the most important theme of this series. The series primarily focuses on solving cases, as well as the growth and development of the characters during their journey, and their interpersonal relationships - co-operation, friendship, trust. This bit of romance adds depth to the portrayal of the main characters, makes them flesh-and-blood people. For me it is just perfect as it is and I am glad that this series isn’t trying to be everything and nothing at once by cramming in every film genre.

ACTING/CAST
Not just the main cast, but all supporting and guest roles are well performed. The performances of protagonists or antagonists in a few cases are truly remarkable and leave a lasting impression (for example, the Coroner's mother). The main team has great chemistry, and they truly make us believe in their bonds. The fight scenes are excellent, and I especially appreciate the male lead's scenes and his commanding general’s aura. He’s also a perfect choice for this type of character. In many dramas, the male lead is supposed to be a well-trained general, officer, or martial artist, but their physique tells a different story—often too skinny or lacking muscle. However, this ML is well-built and trained, making his role as Lu Lingfeng much more believable.

MUSIC
I focus on the visual aspects of films; they are more important to me then music, unless it is unique or annoying. Here all is good. As well as the quality of recorded sound .

VISUALS
Visually, it is a feast for the eyes. Some scenes are stunning and memorable. The costumes are beautiful and diverse. What I particularly appreciate is the choice of wigs—the hairlines that can make or break even the most attractive faces of the actors. What I particularly appreciate is the depiction of cultural richness, similar or even better to what was shown in the first season.