The Knockout (TV series)
The Knockout is a 2023 Chinese criminal drama directed by, starring Zhang Yi, Zhang Songwen, Li Yitong,, and Wu Gang. It tells the story of a police officer's fight against organized crime over a period of 20 years, showing the rise and fall of underworld figures and corrupt officials. It premiered in China via CCTV-8 and iQIYI starting January 14, 2023. The show takes place in the fictional city of Jinghai, chronicling the 21-year feud between incorruptible policeman An Xin and fishmonger-turned-mobster Gao Qiqiang.
Cast
Supporting
;Characters around Gao Qiqiang| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Gao Qisheng | University student → Partner of Qiangsheng Xiaolingtong Store Brother of Gao Qiqiang and Gao Qilan. He became a wanted criminal for drug trafficking, and finally died with police captain Li Xiang. | |
| Gao Qilan | University student → Surgeon after university Sister of Gao Qiqiang and Gao Qisheng. She has an unrequited love with An Xin for 20 years. Finally, she joined the African Medical Team. | |
| Chen Shuting | Bai Jiangbo's wife → Bai Jiangbo's widow → Gao Qiqiang's wife Adopted daughter of Uncle Tai and mother of Bai Xiaochen/ Gao Xiaochen. She was killed in a car crash caused by Guo Shanfeng on the orders of Jiang Tian in 2015. | |
| Ni Dahong | Chen Tai or Uncle Tai | Chairman of Jinghai Construction Engineering Group Godfather of Chen Shuting and Gao Qiqiang |
| Tang Xiaolong | Local ruffian → Hatchet man of Gao Qiqiang Elder brother of Tang Xiaohu. He was eventually arrested and sentenced to death in 2021 for usury. | |
| Sun Yan | Tang Xiaohu | Local ruffian → Hatchet man of Gao Qiqiang → Second leader of Qiangsheng Group Younger brother of Tang Xiaolong. He was eventually killed by Jiang Tian for protecting Gao Qilan and Gao Xiaochen. |
| Feng Bing | Chen Jinmo or Old Mo | Prisoner → Owner of a fish stall → Profession killer of Gao Qiqiang Lover of Huang Cuicui. They have a daughter named Huang Yao. In 2006, he was ordered by his boss Gao Qiqiang to kill Li Hongwei and was killed in the hospital after a confrontation with police. |
| Yue Yang | Bai/ Gao Xiaochen | Bai Xiaochen → Gao Xiaochen Son of Chen Shuting and Bai Jiangbo and the stepson of Gao Qiqiang. Main suspect in the 228 Gun Case in 2014. Later served five years in prison for his crime. |
| Huang Yao | Student → Intern of Qiangsheng Group Daughter of Chen Jinmo and Huang Cuicui, and the stepdaughter of Gao Qiqiang. |
;Characters in Jinghai Public Security Bureau
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Li Jian | Li Xiang | Police officer of Shuangqiao Police Station → Police officer of Criminal Investigation Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau → Leader of Criminal Investigation Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau A native of Mang Village, Li Qing's childhood playmate. |
| Cao Chuang | Leader of Criminal Investigation Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau Teacher of An Xin, Li Xiang and Zhang Biao. He was seduced by Zhao Lidong, being offered deputy director and became both corrupt and an informant, and was later killed by Chen Mo in the gunfight in 2000. | |
| Zhao Zichong | Zhang Biao | Leader of the Second Team of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau → Leader of Criminal Investigation Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau He eventually became an informant of Qiangsheng Group. |
| Ling Zhuo | Lu Han | Police officer of Criminal Investigation Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau An Xin's apprentice. He was killed by Guo Shanfeng when investigating the 228 Gun Case in 2014. |
| Yang Jian | Traffic Police of Jinghai Transportation Bureau → Leader of the Anti-Drug Detachment of Jinghai Public Security Bureau → Deputy director of Jinghai Power Supply Bureau Husband of Meng Yu. They have a daughter. In 2014, he became deputy director of Jinghai Power Supply Bureau under the support of Gao Qiqiang. In 2021, he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. | |
| An Changlin | Executive deputy director of Jinghai Municipal Public Security Bureau → Director of Bobei Public Security Bureau → Member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Jinghai Municipal Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Foster father of An Xin. | |
| Ning Xiaozhi | Guo Wenjian | Executive deputy director of Jinghai Municipal Public Security Bureau |
;Characters in Jinghai Municipal Party and Government Organs
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Zhao Lidong | Member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Jinghai Municipal Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission → Executive vice mayor of Jinghai → Deputy party secretary of the CCP Jinghai Municipal Committee and mayor of Jinghai Senior corrupt official in Jinghai, and was sentenced to death in 2021. | |
| Cui Zhigang | Gong Kaijiang | Deputy general manager of Jinghai Telecom Company → Deputy chief of Qinghua District → Vice chairman of the Jinghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference |
| Ye Qishan | Tan Siyan | Staff member of the Research Office of Jinghai Municipal Government |
| Qin Yan | He Liming | Executive deputy secretary of Linjiang Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission |
| Zheng Jiabin | Secretary Wang | Secretary for Zhao Lidong |
| Ji Ze | Second-level inspector of Linjiang Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission and Linjiang Provincial Supervision Commission and deputy leader of the Guidance Group of the Linjiang Provincial Education Rectification Station | |
| Fang Ning | Cadre of the First Office of the Linjiang Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission and Linjiang Provincial Supervision Commission |
;Other characters
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
| Xu Jiang | Owner of "Baijinhan Nightclub" and head of a gang. Bai Jiangbo's opponent. He was killed by Chen Jinmo. | |
| Luo Eryang | Bai Jiangbo | Husband of Chen Shuting and father of Bai Xiaochen. Head of a gang. He was killed by Xu Jiang in 2000. |
| Wang Peilu | Feng Dazhuang | Nicknamed "Crazy Donkey" A hatchet man of Xu Jiang. |
| Song Jiateng | Mazi | He has a pockmarked face, so he nicknamed "Mazi". An undercover of An Xin. |
| Li Youtian | Secretary of the Party Branch of CCP Mang Village Committee and director of Mang Village. He was killed by Chen Jinmo. | |
| A Runa | Li Hongwei | Son of Li Youtian He died in the hospital after being severely beaten by Gao Qisheng. |
| Wang Hong | Li Qing | A young man with autism. His father was killed by Chen Jinmo. Li Youtian and Li Hongwei took advantage of his disability and persuaded him to take revenge. He was killed by military police when he kidnapped Gao Xiaochen. |
| Cheng Cheng | Assistant to the Chairman of Jinghai Construction Engineering Group She was killed by Chen Jinmo. | |
| Aunt Cui | Meng Dehai's wife and Meng Yu's mother. | |
| Huang Yanjun/ Old Huang | Uncle of Meng Dehai Retired cadre of the Organization Department of the CCP Linjiang Provincial Committee. | |
| Zhou Zhihe | Member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Linjiang Provincial Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Commission. | |
| Guo Shanfeng | A fellow villager of Jiang Tian. He is a killer of Zhao Lidong and Jiang Tian. | |
| Zhao Longhao | Jiang Tian | Leader of Shahai Group. A native of Hunan. Gao Qiqiang's sworn enemy. |
| Bian Yuan | Wang Li | Deputy chief engineer of Jinghai Power Supply Bureau. He was killed by Guo Shanfeng in 2021. |