LayarHijau – The short drama The Fight (打), starring Shu Tong and Shi Ruiyi, has delivered a strong performance since its premiere. The series has drawn widespread attention for offering a different approach to action compared to most urban short dramas, emphasizing realistic combat and solid character development.
Among general audiences, Shu Tong is best known for his role as Cheng Guan Yu in the drama Glory. He portrayed the loyal household manager of the Rong family, who harbored unspoken feelings for the female lead, Rong Shanbao (Guli Nazha). This unrequited love often placed his character in opposition to the male lead, Lu Jiang Lai (Hou Minghao), leaving a lasting impression despite not being a main character.
Meanwhile, within the short drama scene and vertical video platforms such as Douyin, Shu Tong had already established himself earlier as a leading actor through several popular titles. The Fight is one of his latest projects to successfully break into the mainstream market, thanks to its distinctive concept and execution.
In this drama, Shu Tong plays Han Chuan, a former professional fighter whose life has fallen apart after a major failure and the loss of his child. Shi Ruiyi portrays Chen Nan, a single mother who, together with her daughter Miao Miao, becomes an emotional turning point in Han Chuan’s life.
Unlike many urban short dramas that rely on flawless protagonists, The Fight presents characters with tangible limitations. Han Chuan can be injured, exhausted, and outnumbered when facing trained opponents, making the conflict feel riskier and more grounded.
This approach has proven commercially effective. The Fight ranked first on the DataEye Red List Popularity Chart on its first day of release and maintained the position for four consecutive days. The drama also reached the top spot on the WETRUE Blue List Popularity Chart for three days. On Tencent Video, The Fight secured first place on the most popular vertical short drama list and second place on the most searched vertical short drama rankings.
Rather than relying on excessive visual effects, the series highlights close-quarters combat scenes designed to match Han Chuan’s background as a former fighter. Each physical confrontation is structured around the character’s emotional state, particularly the trauma of loss that shapes his actions throughout the story.
One key scene shows Han Chuan subduing a thief in a convenience store, intercut with flashbacks of his past in the professional arena. This structure provides context for the character’s abilities without excessive verbal explanation.
Location variety is another strength of the drama. In a billiards hall scene, tables are used to define the boundaries of the fight, creating a confined space that heightens tension. At certain moments, Han Chuan chooses to hold back and wait for his opponent to stand up, underscoring the remnants of professional discipline he still maintains.
Narratively, The Fight combines conflicts against criminal groups with Han Chuan’s emotional recovery as a father. The presence of Chen Nan and Miao Miao forms a non-biological bond that serves as the emotional foundation of the story.
The drama also broadens its perspective by highlighting the role of ordinary citizens. When Miao Miao is kidnapped, Han Chuan does not act alone. Taxi drivers, delivery couriers, and security guards step in to help by utilizing access related to their jobs, reinforcing the theme of social solidarity.
Visually, The Fight makes full use of the vertical screen format through close-up shots and dense composition. In one confrontation scene, gradual frame shifts are used to signal the direction of the conflict without additional dialogue.
The success of The Fight adds to the growing list of Tencent Video short dramas that have broken through the market with a distinctive approach, while also reinforcing Shu Tong and Shi Ruiyi’s position as an effective lead pairing within the vertical-screen action genre.
