The plot for the The Long Season centers on the fictional industrial city of Hualin in northeastern China, where the Hualin Steel Plant used to be the pride of the city and its main industry. Wang Xiang, the leading character, was a train driver at the company, before he retired and became a taxi driver.

In 2016, Wang helped his brother-in-law Gong Biao resolve a case of car registration fraud, but unexpectedly discovered clues related to his own son Wang Yang's "accidental death" 18 years ago. Wang Xiang, Gong and retired police officer Ma Desheng reunite to uncover the truth of the past.

The story follows the three seniors as they track down the culprit, during which they also reflect on their own lives and the changing times around them.

At the start of the series, the authentic northeastern accents of the main characters, along with various playful jokes, created a great deal of humor.

The Long Season is the second TV series directed by Xin Shuang. Three years ago, his debut series The Bad Kids received a score of 8.8 out of 10 on Douban, and has since become a classic work among domestic suspense dramas.

Xin said the use of warm colors to present The Long Season is designed to portray a positive feeling, adding, "The people in the northeast I know are usually cheerful and optimistic, and this type of character is unique in crime films."

The story of The Long Season is set in 1997, 1998 and 2016, and Xin uses visual language to convey time transitions, rather than relying on explicit timelines.

He feels that one of the project's charms is its timelines, and if the show had been presented in chronological order, it would not have resulted in the same viewing experience.