The Hunt Season 1 (2025) is a gripping Chinese suspense thriller that unravels a labyrinth of betrayal, identity theft, and long-buried secrets in a tale of one man's desperate fight for survival. Ni Xiangdong (Huang Xuan), a down-on-his-luck hairdresser, agrees to deliver a mysterious wooden box for his old friend Cao Xiaojun, only to discover the man's mutilated corpse inside upon arrival. Framed for the murder by Cao's vengeful widow Wu Ximei (Jiang Peiyao), who accuses him of a decade-old affair and assault, Xiangdong becomes the prime suspect in a web of deception spanning arranged marriages, stolen lives, and serial killings. Teaming with the empathetic yet conflicted prosecutor Lin Lan (Li Gengxi)—torn between duty and her growing suspicions of Xiangdong's innocence—the duo delves into nonlinear flashbacks revealing a love triangle, hidden traumas, and a shadowy culprit pulling strings from the past. Adapted from Lu Chunwu's web novel Yi Sheng Xuan Ming, co-directed by Sun Molong and Shi Chengye with taut pacing and atmospheric cinematography, the 16-episode series masterfully blends procedural investigation, emotional intimacy, and shocking twists, serving as a cautionary exploration of injustice, redemption, and the fragile thread of truth in a world where innocence hangs by a single lie.

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