Operation Moscow (2018)

The series is set in the early 90's in Moscow after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. With the opening up of Russia to capitalism, Moscow sees an influx of Chinese entrepeneurs looking for business opportunities. Unfortunately, along with the flourishing business landscape comes a Chinese criminal element that preys on Chinese business people with the assumption that the Russian police would not interfere and that crimes committed outside China are beyond the jurisdiction of the Chinese government to prosecute. However, matters come to a head when an Old West style train robbery takes place on the Beijing-Ulan Bator-Moscow Express. A team of five Chinese police officers arrives in Moscow with the intention of investigating the crimes and bringing the culprits to justice. The show stands as a fascinating contrast to typical Western/American fare that relies on action, sex, violence, gore, guns and slick production values. This Chinese Russian production stands out as it manages to tell its story with humor and compassion while showing its cop protagonists depending on their wits to achieve results instead of just plain brute force or technological wizardry. Their dilemma is compounded by the fact that they are operating in Russia unofficially with no electronic equipment, weapons, badges or actual authority.