The Disguiser (Chinese: 伪装者; pinyin: Wěi Zhuāng Zhě) is a 2015 Chinese spy war television drama based on Zhang Yong's novel, Spy War on Shanghai Bund (諜戰上海灘). It was produced by Hou Hongliang and directed by Li Xue, and stars Hu Ge, Jin Dong, Liu Mintao and Wang Kai as the members of the Ming family. The series tells the story Ming Tai, a rich and naïve young master of the Ming household, who is trained to become a spy for the Kuomintang to fight Wang Jingwei’s leadership of Japan’s puppet regime in China. It originally aired daily on Hunan Television from 31 August to 28 September 2015.

The Disguiser
Promotional poster
Also known asThe Pretender
GenreSpy
Action thriller
War
Created byZhang Yong
Based onThe Spy War on Shanghai Bond
Written byZhang Yong
Directed byLi Xue
StarringHu Ge
Jin Dong
Liu Mintao
Wang Kai
Theme music composerMeng Ke
Opening themeMain 1
by Wang Shu Yi
Ending themeFrom the Heart
by Duo Liang
ComposerWang Shuyi
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes48
Production
Executive producerHou Hongliang
Production locationsShanghai
Hengdian World Studios
Jiaxing
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time45 minutes
Production companiesShandong Film & TV Production Co., Ltd.
Daylight Entertainment Ltd.
Original release
NetworkHunan Broadcasting System
(Hunan TV)
Release31 August (2015-08-31) –
28 September 2015 (2015-09-28)

The series was met with critical acclaim, topping Sohu TV ratings,[citation needed] and was nominated for "Outstanding Drama" at the 30th Flying Apsaras Awards.[1]

Synopsis

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The plot centers around the Ming household during the Japanese occupation era: college student Ming Tai is kidnapped by Nationalist government leader Wang Tianfeng, who gives him spy training and a life-and-death partner Yu Manli to carry out the party's many missions. The oldest brother, Ming Lou is the patriarch of the Ming household, while also holding many important positions and connections in the Nationalist government, Chinese Communist Party, the Reorganized Government, and the Japanese government, although not many know his true intentions and loyalties. Ming Cheng acts as the Ming Lou's trusted assistant, making him the number one target for others to get to Ming Lou. Through the many dangerous predicaments the family face, together, they fight to bring down their enemies and end the occupation.[citation needed]

Cast

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Ming household
  • Hu Ge as Ming Tai, a spoiled and naive young man and the youngest brother of the family. His birth mother died saving Ming Lou and Ming Jing from an assassination attempt, leaving him orphaned. The siblings later took him in as an adopted member of the family. Ming Tai is gifted in his skills as a spy but still retains an immature personality. His code name is "Scorpion".
  • Jin Dong as Ming Lou, the oldest brother. On the surface he is an official in the collaborationist government, but his true loyalties are a mystery. Highly skilled in the ways of espionage, his code name is "Viper".
  • Liu Mintao as Ming Jing, the sister who acts as the mother of the whole family unit. She is the chairman of the Ming Corporation and secretly funds the Chinese Communist Party. She tries to keep Ming Tai away from politics for his safety by sending him away for an education.
  • Wang Kai as Ming Cheng (Ah-Cheng), the middle brother who is the assistant of Ming Lou. He was adopted by the Ming housekeeper Auntie Gui. After seeing how abusive she was toward the boy, the Ming siblings decided to take Ah-Cheng into their family.
  • Guo Hong as Auntie Gui, Ming Cheng's adopted mother who was dismissed for her abusive behavior toward him. She later reappeared and became a spy for Wang Man Chun, collecting intelligence from the Ming family.
  • Zhu Mengyao as Ah-Xiang, the family maid.
  • Feng Hui as Ming Tang, Ming's cousin and a wealthy business owner.
Nationalist government
  • Liu Yijun as Wang Tianfeng, the leader of the Nationalist government's military training program who recognized Ming Tai's abilities and kidnapped him. He trained Ming Tai to become a spy and made him the leader of his team. His code name is "Wasp".
  • Song Yi as Yu Manli, Ming Tai's life-and-death partner. She was sold to a brothel by her father but was saved by Boss Yu, who sent her to school. However, he was robbed and killed. She later took revenge by murdering the criminals, and while waiting for her death sentence, was discovered and recruited by Wang Tianfeng.
  • Wang Zheng as Guo Qiyun
  • Wang Hong as Adviser Lin
Chinese Communist Party
  • Wang Lejun as Cheng Jinyun, a medical student who works as a spy for the Communist party. She is a frequent partner during Ming Tai's missions. The two eventually fall in love and marry.
  • Guo Xiaofeng as Uncle Li, Ming Tai's long lost father.
  • Zhang Yanyan as Dr. Su
  • Sun Chen as Dong Yan
  • Gao Xin as Zhang Yueyin
Department 76
  • Wang Ou as Wang Manchun, Ming Lou's lover and director of the intelligence department of Department 76. She is of the Wang family, who are sworn enemies of the Mings, although she still cares for Ming Lou deeply.
  • Yue Yang as Liang Zhongchun, Director of Operations at Department 76. He is often competing with Wang Manchun for the head of Department 76.
  • Sun Mengjia as Zhu Huiyin
  • Liu Lu as Secretary Liu
  • Gao Zheng as Secretary Li
  • Qu Haotian as Secretary Chen
  • Feng Qian as Wang Fuqu, Wang Manchun's uncle who raised her. He was responsible for the death of Ming Tai's mother.
Japanese government
  • Matsumine Lilie as Lieutenant Colonel Yōko Minamida (Japanese: 藤田義正, Hepburn: Rikugun-Chūsa Minamida Yōko), a high-ranking official in the Imperial Japanese Army, a high-ranking member of the Japanese government in Shanghai and one of the main antagonists of The Disguiser.
  • Hirata Yasuyuki as Yoshimasa Fujita (Japanese: 陸軍中佐南田陽子, Hepburn: Fujita Yoshimasa).
  • Matsuura Noriyuki as Takagi
  • Guo Tongtong as Momoko-san

Production

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The Disguiser was adapted from Zhang Yong's novel, The Spy War on Shanghai Bund. The script was inspired by the novel's characters who have multiple identities, with many skills to transform and camouflage in a variety of scenarios; and hence the television series' title.[2] The creative team included author Zhang Yong as the screenwriter, Magnolia award-winning director Li Xue, Hou Hongliang as head producer as well as Meng Ke and Wang Shuyi as the main composer of the soundtrack. Other members of the production team include casting and dubbing directors Bi Yingjie, Jiang Guangyao and Zhang Kai, artistic director Shao Changyong, action stunt director Hao Wanjun, costume designer Ru Meiqi and set designer Su Zhiyong.[3][4][5]

Location filming began on January 4, and ended on April 27, 2015, where it entered post-production.[6][7]

Soundtrack

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The Disguiser
Original Soundtrack (OST)
Soundtrack album by
Meng Ke/Wang Shuyi
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2015
GenreInstrumental
LanguageMandarin
LabelShangdong Television
ProducerMeng Ke

Tracks 1 through 20 were composed by Meng Ke, while tracks 21 through 24 were composed by Wang Shuyi, who also composed the theme song, "From the Heart (诉衷情)".[8][9]

No.TitleLength
1."Brotherhood Theme (兄弟情主题)"2:57
2."Tragedy (悲壮)"2:08
3."Fight (打斗 厮杀)"1:05
4."Humor (幽默 诙谐)"0:54
5."Tense Evacuation (紧张 撤离)"3:04
6."Confrontation (对峙)"3:04
7."Quickness (急促)"2:26
8."Training (训练)"1:22
9."Partner (搭档)"1:54
10."Tragic Execution Grounds (悲惨 刑场)"2:33
11."Father and son (父与子)"2:06
12."Soft Sadness - female voice (柔软悲情 女声)"1:34
13."Solemn Memories (肃穆回忆)"2:37
14."Main Emotions (主题情感)"1:45
15."Emotions 1 (情感 1)"2:09
16."Emotions 2 (情感 2)"2:33
17."Emotions 3 (情感 3)"2:06
18."Emotions 4 (情感 4)"2:50
19."Warm Dialogue (对话 温暖)"2:02
20."Love (爱意)"1:02
21."Sweet Happiness (甜蜜幸福)"2:41
22."Main 1 (主题 1)"1:13
23."Main 2 (主题 2)"1:14
24."Ideas (悠扬)"0:51
25."From the Heart (诉衷情)" (performed by Duo Liang)3:05
26."From the Heart (诉衷情) Interlude ver." (Duo Liang)3:13

Ratings

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China Hunan TV/ Online premiere ratings[10]
Episodes Broadcast date Hunan TV (CSM50) Online ratings
Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rankings Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rankings
1-2 August 31, 2015 1.306 3.704 1 1.89 5.74 1
3-4 September 1, 2015 1.261 3.696 1 1.96 6.06 1
5-6 September 2, 2015 1.414 4.521 1 1.72 6.27 1
- September 3, 2015 CCTV 70th anniversary of Sino-Japanese War Memorial Gala broadcast
7-8 September 4, 2015 1.912 5.480 1 2.30 7.06 1
9-10 September 5, 2015 2.078 5.932 1 2.35 7.30 1
11 September 6, 2015 0.950 2.799 2 1.22 3.83 1
12-13 September 7, 2015 1.843 5.396 1 2.31 7.21 1
14-15 September 8, 2015 1.723 4.955 1 2.23 6.92 1
16-17 September 9, 2015 2.029 5.95 1 2.56 8.00 1
18-19 September 10, 2015 2.262 6.58 1 2.91 8.89 1
20 September 11, 2015 1.276 3.682 1 1.83 5.28 1
21 September 12, 2015 1.440 4.201 1 1.82 5.40 1
22-23 September 13, 2015 1.936 5.503 1 2.34 7.13 1
24-25 September 14, 2015 2.128 6.231 1 2.39 7.43 1
26-27 September 15, 2015 2.150 6.213 1 2.40 7.46 1
28-29 September 16, 2015 2.137 6.28 1 2.26 7.18 1
30-31 September 17, 2015 2.269 6.72 1 2.34 7.47 1
32-33 September 18, 2015 2.357 6.581 1 2.52 7.46 1
34 September 19, 2015 1.416 4.262 1 1.53 4.57 1
35 September 20, 2015 1.658 4.792 1 1.76 5.13 1
36-37 September 21, 2015 2.098 6.205 1 2.21 6.91 1
38-39 September 22, 2015 2.290 6.309 1 2.46 7.77 1
40-41 September 23, 2015 2.474 7.335 1 2.46 7.93 1
42-43 September 24, 2015 2.356 6.854 1 2.46 7.75 1
44 September 25, 2015 1.297 3.934 1 1.47 4.39 1
45 September 26, 2015 1.955 5.658 1 2.35 6.59 1
46 September 27, 2015 1.789 5.169 1 2.08 5.97 1
47-48 September 28, 2015 2.724 7.801 1 3.02 9.10 1
Average ratings 1.93 5.6 1 2.26 7.01 1
  • Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

International broadcast

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Network Channel Location Broadcast start date Note
Hunan TV Mainland China August 31, 2015[3] Two episodes Sunday to Thursday 20:00,
Friday and Saturday 19:30
Jinan TV November 20, 2015 Daily 19:30
Shanghai TV December 16, 2015 Daily 19:45
Zaozhuang TV December 25, 2015 Daily 19:45
Guizhou TV January 16, 2016 Two episodes Saturday to Thursday 19:30,
Friday 19:30
Fujian TV TBA Daily 20:10
Chinese TV South Korea March 1, 2016 Monday through Friday 23:00-00:00
MCOT Family Number 14 (เอ็มคอตแฟมิลี่ หมาเลข 14) Thailand January 15, 2018 - June 26, 2018 Every Monday 20:15-21.15. and Tuesday 20:00-21.00.
Sony ONE Singapore
Malaysia
Indonesia
Cambodia
Thailand
January 19, 2019 Sat and Sun 19:15(SIN)
18:15(JKT/BKK)

Awards and nominations

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Award Category Nominee Result ref.
2nd Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China Best Screenplay The Disguiser Won [11]
Best Actor Hu Ge Won
2016 iQiyi All-Star Carnival TV Actor of the Year Hu Ge (also for Nirvana in Fire and Good Times) Won [12]
Most Powerful Actor Jin Dong Won
TV Drama Producer of the Year Hou Hongliang (also for Nirvana in Fire) Won
30th Flying Apsaras Awards Outstanding Actor Hu Ge Nominated [13]
Outstanding Drama The Disguiser Nominated [14]
7th China TV Drama Awards Top Ten Television Series Won [1]
Industry Contribution Award Hou Hongliang (also for Nirvana in Fire) Won
1st China Quality Television Drama Ceremony Quality Award The Disguiser Won [15]
Quality Performance Grand Award Hu Ge (also for Nirvana in Fire and Good Times) Won
Best Director Li Xue (also for Nirvana in Fire) Won
Best Producer Hou Hongliang (also for Nirvana in Fire) Won
Most Powerful Actor Jin Dong Won
Most Marketable Actor Hu Ge (also for Nirvana in Fire and Good Times) Won
Most Popular Actor Wang Kai (also for Nirvana in Fire) Won
19th Huading Awards Best Director Li Xue Nominated [16]
Best Screenwriter Zhang Yong Nominated
Best Actor Wang Kai Nominated
Best Actor (Revolution-Era) Jin Dong Won
Best Actress (Revolution-Era) Liu Mintao Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Angel Wang Won
Best Producer Hou Hongliang Nominated
Top 10 Dramas The Disguiser Won
3rd Asia Rainbow TV Awards Best Action Drama Won [17]
Best Leading Actress (Modern) Liu Mintao Won
11th National Top-Notch Television Production Award Ceremony Outstanding Television Series The Disguiser Won [18]

References

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  1. ^ a b "2015国剧盛典获奖名单 范冰冰胡歌获最佳". Sina. January 1, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  2. ^ "《伪装者》转战横店嘉兴 胡歌上演热血军校 _娱乐_腾讯网". Tencent. March 13, 2015. Archived from the original on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  3. ^ a b "《伪装者》定档8月31日 胡歌弹雨逃生". Sina. August 17, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-24. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
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  7. ^ "《伪装者》正式杀青 主演解读海报曝光耐人寻味_娱乐_腾讯网". Tencent. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  8. ^ "《伪装者》片尾曲MV曝光 多亮深情演绎乱世情谜_娱乐_腾讯网". Tencent. August 5, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  9. ^ "伪装者 电视剧原声带 - QQ音乐-千万正版音乐海量无损曲库新歌热歌天天畅听的高品质音乐平台!". y.qq.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  10. ^ "TV rating archives for television". tvtv.hk. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  11. ^ "第二届"文荣奖"揭晓 胡歌周迅分获最佳男女主角". NetEase. October 31, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-12-10. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  12. ^ ""尖叫2016爱奇艺之夜"年度榜单重磅出炉". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  13. ^ "第30届飞天奖公布提名名单 胡歌陈宝国争视帝_网易娱乐". NetEase. December 23, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  14. ^ "第三十届电视剧飞天奖入围名单公布". Sina. December 23, 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  15. ^ L_104350 (March 10, 2016). "中国电视剧品质盛典 胡歌霍建华"交杯"庆获奖--河北频道--人民网". People's Daily. Archived from the original on 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2016-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "第19届华鼎奖黄渤封帝马伊琍梅开二度". Sina. May 21, 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  17. ^ "第三届亚洲彩虹奖2016获奖名单". ctvcc.tv. Archived from the original on 2017-12-21. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  18. ^ "第十一届电视制片业颁奖落幕 秦海璐蒋欣等获十佳". ifeng. February 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
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