GG Precinct (2024)

An Audacious Pivot into the Realm of Nonsense with an A-List Cast Leaves Viewers Dumbfounded

The creative minds behind “Marry My Dead Body” take a bold swing at mixing gruesome serial killings with an absurdist workplace comedy. Taking place immediately after the events of “Marry My Dead Body.” Chang Yung Kang has been promoted to Police Chief with the successful resolution of the Lin Hsiao Yuan cartel case. His previous position as Captain is now open for one deserving detective. Wu Ming Han, now fully recovered from his gunshot wound, naturally assumes it’s his rightful time to take the lead. In a shocking turn of events Chang Yung Kang promotes Lin Tzu Ching, last seen in the film on the run after absconding with Hsiao Yuan’s reserves of cash, to the position of Captain. Her return to duty is explained away in a single sentence and the crew is back. Rounding out the team is Chubby, Wu Ming Han’s loyal deputy, Shu Fen, a newly minted detective who is obsessed with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Shao Nian, a detective returning to normal duties after years of being deep undercover in the Lin Hsiao Yuan cartel but struggles to shake the thug persona and crippling drug addiction, and their trusty forensic medical examiner.

The first case to put this rag tag team to the test is a doozy, someone is imitating the modus operandi of the famed “Idiom Killer” of 2001. 20 years ago, Chang Yung Kang who was pivotal in the apprehension of the original killer, Shui Yuan, suggests the team consult with Shui Yuan on the current murders to see there is any information that can be gleaned from the original perpetrator.

A spin-off miniseries from a successful movie will inevitably draw intense scrutiny from audience and critics alike. The film harnessed the subversion of stereotypes as an agent of change and character growth. Wu Ming Han as a chauvinistic straight male that can have ultimately have compassion for others; or Lin Tzu Ching as a docile, pretty face, but is able to carve her own path and single handedly take down an entire drug cartel from the inside. It’s clear that the creative team attempted to continue to play with the idea of stereotype subversion for the miniseries, but this time for big laughs instead of quiet retrospection. Unfortunately, this resulted in the thorough character assassination of the four returning squad members: Wu Ming Han, Lin Tzu Ching, Chang Yung Kang, and Chubby. The complete reduction of all members of the Gia Gun Precinct to one-dimensional stereotypes for the sake of comedy is a damn shame. This dissonance between the two representations of what is essentially the same universe, results in an immediate knee jerk negative reaction.

Keeping misconceptions at bay, “GG Precinct” is not a cash grab with an attempt to ride on the coat tails of the success of “Marry My Dead Body.” While shooting the scenes at the police station for ”Marry My Dead Body”, director Cheng Wei Hao would entertain himself by imagining these characters in a “KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops” or “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” -like world. When “Marry My Dead Body” was in postproduction, the whole creative team were chatting about how enjoyable “Marry My Dead Body” was to film and giddily discussed ways on how they can explore new stories with these characters. It was at that time when Cheng Wei Hao shared his desire to revisit this world as an absurdist workplace comedy. In fact, filming of “GG Precinct” was already well underway as “Marry My Dead Body” was rolling out into theaters in February 2023.

The one bright spot in this sea of disillusionment is the cast. The miniseries pulled a veritable coup in filling the roster with nothing but outstanding actors. The fresh faces at the Gia Gun Precinct and stellar supporting characters help to immerse the audience into a world of sinister teachers and overzealous idol fans. One performance worth mentioning is Ng Ki Pin’s pinpoint accurate representation of the quintessential Taiwanese punk. With his raspy, haggard voice like he has been smoking since birth, inability to wear any garment with sleeves, and Taiwanese Hokkien speech. The only thing missing to complete the transformation would be perpetually stained red teeth from compulsive betel nut consumption. Every time we see officer Shao Nian on screen performing his normal police duties with the aggressive energy of a thug shaking someone down for protection money is pure comedy gold.

And what about the case at hand? The “Idiom Murders” are quite clever and grisly. Though the nuances of the crimes will be completely lost on viewers with little to no knowledge of the Chinese language. At its core, the motive behind the crimes are based on real issues heatedly discussed in Taiwan about the Chinese language. What is the value of preserving Traditional Chinese characters in today’s modern society? Is language just a means for communication and good enough is good enough, or is language an integral part of your identity as a human being or a nation? All very heady and philosophical questions that aren’t given the proper space to breathe and resonate with audience members before being hastily sidelined by the silly antics of the Gia Gun Precinct’s detectives.

In the end, the case kind of resolves itself without any actual police work and the entire team fumbles their way to the real culprit. Lastly, in a bizarrely meta moment, Shui Yuan’s final monologue in which he bitingly tears down how the copy cat’s murders were inferior to his original creations; simultaneously is a perfect take down of how “GG Precinct” failed to live up to its predecessors. Whether you’re comparing it to “Marry My Dead Body” or “KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops.”

Ultimately, “GG Precinct” asked too much of its audience to suspend their disbelief and wholeheartedly accept that the characters from “Marry My Dead Body” can also live in this kooky reality. In a way, “GG Precinct” was a victim of “Marry My Dead Body” runaway success. With a bar set so impossibly high, was “GG Precinct” fated to be dead on arrival before it even had a chance?

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