Tag: Crime

Review: Bad Prosecutor

Posted December 22, 2022 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Bad Prosecutor

Starring: Doh Kyung Soo, Lee Se Hee, Ha Joon, Joo Bo Young, Lee Shi Eon, Kim Sang Ho
Year Released: 2022
Number of Episodes: Drama, Action, Crime, Law
Country: South Korea
Director: Kim Sung Ho
Screenwriter: Im Young Bin

Jin Jung is a troublemaking prosecutor of the Central District Office. With a strong sense of justice and craziness, he punishes criminals more than they deserve. A Ra is Jung’s partner, a competent prosecutor who always judges issues objectively and handles them with a clean finish. Also at the Central District Office is the elite prosecutor Do Hwan, who believes money and power are everything. He is a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to go higher up. In a world corrupted with wealth and evil, the story of these prosecutors unfolds.

I really enjoyed seeing Kyung Soo in 100 Days My Prince and so I’ve been meaning to check more of his stuff out and when this came out, I jumped right in without even checking the blurb or a trailer first. This drama came onto my radar very randomly but I’m glad that it came across my radar because this was a pretty decent way to spend a couple of hours each week.

I thought the storytelling here was done well and though it wasn’t my favorite of the bunch of dramas that I was watching at the same time, it’s still plenty enjoyable and I definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for some good guy vs. bad guys action.

This drama centers around our main character, Prosecutor Jin Jung (Doh Kyung Soo) as he strives to take down all the bad guys in South Korea. He takes his job pretty seriously even though he is anything but the buttoned up prosecutor that one would think when thinking of prosecutors. He tackles each of his cases in a very unconventional way and I thought that worked for him. He’s got a driven personality that isn’t easily swayed but it was charming instead of annoying and like I said, it really worked for Prosecutor Jin.

When he lands himself in some trouble, he’s more determined than ever to prove his innocence and to bring the bad guys down. I wasn’t sure how he was going to be able to bring the bad guys down on his own since the bad guys were pretty powerful but I admired the hell out of his dogged determination to bring them down or die trying.

Prosecutor Jin wasn’t popular at the prosecutor’s office because of his chaotic way of working. He rubs everyone the wrong way but he had a loyal team that were just as unconventional as he was and I thought they complimented each other and him very well. They all worked really well together and even when they don’t get along, they never fail to come together when Prosecutor Jin needed them. I thought the team was charming and though they didn’t look like they’d go together, they worked really well together. I even liked the addition of Prosecutor Shin Ah Ra and Park Jae Kyung to the team. One is straitlaced and the other looks like he doesn’t care about anything but they fit into the team dynamics well and I enjoyed them.

The big bad in this show was evil as hell. I’m watching a lot of dramas where there is so much corruption in those that are in positions of power and this guy gave all of those other evils assholes a run for their money. He’s got his evil ass hand in every bad thing going on and the power to keep kicking the good guys down at every turn so it was low key frustrating that each week, the good guys had to keep fighting against so many obstacles that were put there by the rich and the powerful. What made it even more frustrating was how little care the bad guys had for what they were doing and who they hurt in their quest to get to the bigger prize around the next corner. Sure, that’s why they’re the bad guys but it still annoyed me.

The romantic in me wanted more of a romance between Prosecutor Jin and Ah Ra but I took the crumbs that we were given and made me own mind up about their feelings for each other so that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the show, haha.

Overall, this drama was action packed and had a charming cast that delivered a very enjoyable drama that had me excited to come back each week. I wasn’t ever bored and I thought Prosecutor Jin’s determination to do the right thing and how steadfast he was in keeping his hands clean and do right by the people made him a great character that I was happy to root for. The way that this story is told was fun and I’m super glad that I chose to watch it. Definitely recommend.

Final Rating

via GIPHY

4 out of 5

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Review: Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area – Part 1

Posted November 10, 2022 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area – Part 1

Starring: Yoo Ji Tae, Park Hae Soo, Jeon Jong Seo, Lee Won Jong, Kim Ji Hoon, Jang yoon Ju
Year Released: 2022
Number of Episodes: 6
Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Where I Watched It: Netflix
Director: Kim Hong Seon
Screenwriters: Ryu Yong Jae, Kim Hwan Chae, Choi Sung Joon
Recommended By: N/A
Who I Watched It For: Park Hae Soo

Thieves overtake the mint of a unified Korea. With hostages trapped inside, the police must stop them — as well as the shadowy mastermind behind it all.

I’m a sucker for a good thriller and anything Korean so once I heard that this was coming out, I placed it at the top of my to-be-watched list.

I have enjoyed Park Hae Soo in most of the shows that I’ve watched him in and I heard a lot of good things about the Spanish version but since I primarily watch Korean shows, I knew that I was going to watch this one. This was a good show though I wish that all episodes had been released together instead of the seasons being split up. Aside from that, there’s much to recommend this drama. It’s filled with loads of action, heaps of drama, and even a surprising romance that kept the show on the up and up. I just wasn’t ready for it to be finished so soon..with loads to still look forward to.

The Story

The premise is reminiscent of Oceans Eleven, where we have a team of con artists trying to pull off the heist of all heists and I’ve got to admit that this money heist had me gripped, at the edge of my seat, and wondering how it was all going to come together. The plan itself was pretty genius, the team had the right amount of good and bad to make things interesting and there were enough gotcha moments that had me all twisted up. My only gripe was that it all happened so fast. I was left wanting more but the overall story being told here was fun and entertaining.

I will say that the genius-ness of the plan was also pretty fucked up. I mean, there was a lot that went into play to make the plan come together and holy shit, all of the balls that were thrown in the air to make the plan come together was a whole lotta, whole lotta. I was here for all of it though. I’m mighty curious about where we go from here in the second sason.

The Cast

I wasn’t too familiar with the cast from other shows. Sure, some of them looked familiar but for the most part, I got to know their acting chops through this show alone. I liked all of their acting. I didn’t think any of them was a weak link and I thought they all brought something unique to each scene. I enjoyed the dynamics between those on the team that wanted to stick as close to the straight and narrow as they can and those that were just there to blow shit up.

There was a lot of badass eye candy, a lot of shady-ass people that I knew were there to cause trouble, and enough innocent victims to round things up and of all of the characters, my favorite has to be Denver. Not only was he fine as hell, but his character was interesting and I loved his relationship with his father and the romance that blossomed between him and his boo thang. He brought a lot of complications but man were those complications a whole lot of fun. I also really enjoyed Rio and Tokyo. Those two were cute, fun, and just an overall good time so I hope to see more from them in the second season.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was a fast, fun, and furious six episodes that packed a serious punch. I thought the writing was strong, the acting was superb, and I thought the way that the writers and the director wove everything together was a nice touch to a pretty fantastic drama. I will definitely be tuning in for the second season, I just need it to hurry up and release. I’m a fan of this show and I definitely recommend it. Especially if you’re in the mood for some fast action, smart drama, and loads of eye candy. This show delivers all on fronts.

Final Rating

via GIPHY

4 out of 5

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Review: Law School

Posted July 13, 2021 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Law School

Starring: Kim Bum, Ryu Hye Young, Kim Myung Min
Year Released: 2021
Number of Episodes: 16
Genre: Contemporary, Crime, Drama
Country: Korea
Where I Watched It: Netflix
Recommended By: Ryu Hye Young, Kim Bum
Who I Watched It For: Ryu Hye Young, Kim Bum

When a grim incident occurs at their prestigious school, justice through law is put to the test by a tough law professor and his ambitious students.

Yang Jong Hoon is a criminal law professor and a former elite prosecutor, whose harsh words make him the professor to steer clear of. At the same time, there’s something compelling about his strict teaching methods and his refusal to accept less than the best from his future juniors in the legal profession.

Han Joon Hwi, a first-year law student, is at the top of his class. He’s a natural leader whose good looks and easy charm make him the perfect man – on paper. However, there’s an unexpected side to him that remains well-hidden.

Kang Sol (A) is another first-year law student who overcame childhood poverty and hardships by gaining special admission to the school. She walks a path of thorns due to her constant sense of deprivation and shame amidst the wealth and talent that surrounds her. Eventually, her passion will enlighten her on what it truly takes to be a good lawyer.

Kim Eun Sook is a civil law professor who was once the head of the law school’s free legal clinic. Her natural air of authority and freewheeling personality earned her the reputation for being a master in court. Known for being a highly relatable professor, she is the sole colleague Yang Jong Hoon dares to confide in.

After watching and loving, Reply 1988, I knew that I was going to keep up with everything that the cast members are in. I haven’t gotten around to watching any of their older stuff but the first show that I watched afterward is Ryu Hye Young’s Law School. It’s funny how she plays similar characters in both Reply 1988 and Law School, but she carries both of these characters very differently. In Reply 1988, she was mean. She was smart and she was strong but she was mean to those around her and it annoyed me until she won me over with how loyal and fiercely protective she was of her loved ones. In Law School, she’s smart and she’s driven but she takes care of her friends and she cares about them all. She’s the kind of friend you want in your corner.

I’m so glad that I watched this show all the way through because the beginning took some getting used to but I kept watching because I enjoyed the overall story being told and I needed to know who the hell killed the professor.

Main Male Lead: Han Joon Hwi

Kim Bum
InstaGram | Twitter | Facebook

Han Joon Hwi was a great character. He’s a smarty pants, know-it-all, who doesn’t live his life for others. He does what he wants, when he wants, and makes no apologies for his choices. He is driven with a snarky personality that will make you question if he’s capable of doing everything that he’s accused of. He’s certainly got the brains to pull it off, but does he really lack the morals of going through with the crimes?

I was Team Joon Hwi from the jump and I never once wanted to jump ship. I loved seeing him crush heavy on Kang Sol A, I loved seeing his friendship with her grow with every single episodes. I loved that he remembered exactly who she was and she didn’t. I loved that he tried to protect the girls in his friends group in a way that made them comfortable. He let the girls decide how to help themselves with his help. There was much to love about him and I really did.

I’ve seen Kim Bum in only a couple of shows and I think of all the shows that I’ve watched him in, his character in Law School is my favorite. I thought he brought Joon Hwi’s character to life beautifully. There were different sides to Joon Hwi and Kim Bum did a great job of showing us all of them. I’ve become a fan of his in this show and I plan on watching and supporting his career more in the future.

Main Female Lead: Kang Sol A

Ryu Hye Young
InstaGram | Twitter | Facebook

Kang Sol A was my kind of character. She was fun, smart, spunky, and such a crackhead. She was so driven to succeed, that she went above and beyond to try to get good grades. She was busy with school but she made time for her family, and for her friends. She didn’t have the perfect life but she didn’t pretend that she was fine when she wasn’t and she didn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She was who she was and you either liked her for that or you didn’t. She didn’t mess around with how other people thought of her. She did what she felt was right at all times and though she wasn’t perfect, she was still a good person who knew her worth.

I hella shipped Kang Sol A with Han Joon Hwi. I thought they were so cute together. Him crushing on her so obviously and her being annoyed that he was bothering her while she was trying to study. I thought they made such a cute couple and though the ending gave hints but no confirm details about their dating life, I’m going to believe that they’re together and living their happily ever after…together.

Ryu Hye Young did such a great job of bringing Kang Sol A to life. I liked her in this show a lot more than I did Reply 1988 but loved her acting in both.

Second Lead: Yang Jong Hoon

Kim Myung Min

I never thought Yang Jong Hoon was guilty of anything but being an extremely hard professor to please but even knowing that, I still liked him. He seemed to be a man of integrity and he was always there for his students when they needed him, even if he was grumpy while doing so. You could tell that he cared about each student and that he wanted them to be prepared for their future as lawyers. He also wanted to raise and turn his students into lawyers that always did what was best for their clients. He taught them to be lawyers who were on the up and up and I just really liked his characters. There were plenty of shady lawyers both on and off-campus but I never thought he was one of them.

I’ve never seen Kim Myung Min in anything so this was my first and I thought he was a great actor. He played this part exceptionally well and I’m glad to add him to the list of actors that I’d like to support and watch all of his shows/movies.

The Cast

There were some familiar faces in this show and I was glad to see them. I thought the cast of characters, all of the law students especially, were a fun bunch. They were all going through their individual struggles but seeing them study together, grow up together, and cheer each other on made me enjoy this show that much more. I loved that their relationships with each other felt real. There were some that were closer than others, some didn’t even like each other, but at the end of the day, they were a team and they came together to get shit done when it was needed. I loved the way that they all rallied behind Ye-Seul to help her out, even when she didn’t want it. I loved how Joon Hwi made sure that Ji Ho didn’t fight his battle against the prosecutor on his own. I loved getting to know each of them and they definitely made watching this show, week in and week out, an enjoyable experience for me.

The Story

So this show follows a bunch of ambitious law students and their professor, Yang Joon Hoon, who is on trial for the murder of another of their professors, Seo Byeong Ju. While Yang Joon hoon is on trial, loads of stuff pop off and the students band together to figure each case out. Each episode packed in some interesting cases and introduced compelling characters. I tuned in each week, excited to learn more.

The show deals with a lot of real life topics and each case brought a little something different to each character and to the show as a whole. I loved working through each case, developing my own thoughts on each case, on each character, and had a lot of fun getting to know everyone. From plagiarism to murder, to domestic abuse, there’s a lot to unpack but these characters did a great job of carrying each story from beginning to end. The ending left some to be desired but I did like that everyone grew up to be the kind of lawyers that I was proud of. I came to love each law student and professor and even the bad guys were great bad guys because I hated them with a passion.

Overall, this was a good way to spend a couple of hours every week catching up with my law school friends and I’m super happy that I watched it through. The beginning took some getting to used to and was a little slow but if you stick it out, I have no doubt that you’ll come to love everyone the same way that I did. I definitely recommend it.

Final Rating

4.25 out of 5

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Review: Taxi Driver

Posted July 8, 2021 by Rowena in Reviews | 4 Comments

Taxi Driver (2021)

Starring: Lee Je Hoon, Pyo Ye Jin, Esom
Year Released: 2021
Number of Episodes: 16
Genre: , Action, Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Country: Korea
Where I Watched It: Viki
Recommended By: Lee Je Hoon
Who I Watched It For: Lee Je Hoon

Do Ki has lived more honestly than anyone else as an officer in the Special Forces. Yet, when a serial killer murders his mother, he spends his days in agony. While feeling wronged and broken, Do Ki meets Jang Sung Chul, who recruits Do Ki to work for his company, Rainbow Taxi.

Far from an ordinary taxi service, Rainbow Taxi is a secret organization that avenges victims whom the law didn’t protect. Here, Do Ki becomes a star driver who delivers satisfying revenge. Meanwhile, Ha Na is a prosecutor who investigates Rainbow Taxi. She is furious with their lawless behavior, but at the same time, she feels confused to see them solve cases that the law cannot.

Between those who believe that revenge embodies true justice and those who pursue the outlaws, Do Ki seeks what justice truly means.

I came across this drama when I was searching for something new to watch. This show hadn’t come out yet so I had a little bit of a wait but I enjoyed the heck out of this one. Every single week, I was glued to my seat the minute that subtitles were released in English. I watched a couple of things that Lee Je Hoon was in but I never paid super close attention to him…I’m paying hella attention now.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty stuff, shall we?

Main Male Lead: Kim Dogi

Lee Je Hoon
InstaGram | Facebook

Kim Dogi was played by Lee Je Hoon and I was a big fan of this casting. He’s my latest k-drama actor crush so Park Seo Joon better come out with something soon or he’ll be de-throned as my top k-drama crush.

Anyway, Lee Je Hoon has been killing it in everything that he’s starred in and this role was no different. I really enjoyed seeing him bring Kim Dogi’s character to life. I enjoyed his portrayal so much that I went searching for the webtoon so that I can read it at the same time that I was watching the show but I could only find it in Korean so I ended up just watching the show.

Kim Dogi was my favorite part of this show. He transitioned from one person to another person every episode and sold each performance, doing whatever was necessary to avenge his clients. You could tell that he cared about each client and their stories and I seriously loved that. He came off as a very reserved and cold person but he put his life on the line for every case and he was just so stinkin’ good at what he did that he made tuning in every week worth the wait. I don’t care what anyone says, he loved him some Ahn Goeun. The lengths he went to protect and avenge her??? Yeah, you can’t tell anything else. If this show had a romance, it was between Dogi and Goeun. Sorry, prosecutor.

Main Female Lead: Ahn Goeun

Pyo Ye Jin
InstaGram


My girl Ahn Goeun was my second favorite person in this entire show. She was a fully fleshed-out character that hit me with so many different emotions. She had a strong sense of purpose and of doing right by those that can’t fight the system themselves. Her story hit me hard and I cried hella while watching her struggle with feelings of letting her sister down. I also adored her obvious crush on Kim Dogi and totally think he reciprocated her feelings back. He went above and beyond for her, and the way that she clung to his present to her when she needed someone but was too prideful to reach out a hand had me ugly crying in my room.

Pyo Ye Jin really owned this role and she won me over right from the beginning, in episode 1. I loved how everyone on the team was scared of her and I loved when she would jump into action when the case called for her involvement and I love how smart, charming and just overall great her character was. She was the perfect partner for Kim Dogi and his ass knew it. They were definitely meant to be together.

Second Lead: Kang Hana

Esom
InstaGram | Twitter


Esom played the character of Kang Hana, the prosecutor who was all about the work and getting the bad guys by the letter of the law and anyone who did otherwise were no better than the criminals she put behind bars. She had a know-it-all attitude that rubbed me the wrong way for most of the show and even in the end, I wasn’t completely invested in her character. She spent the first part of the show, thinking the worst of Dogi and she had this superior attitude that her way was the best way and she looked down on everything that the Rainbow Taxi crew were trying to do and she does all of this until she’s affected by the system falling down on her case and then….all of a sudden, what the Rainbow Taxi crew was doing was okay. Because she needed them, they were okay. She really could have missed me with all of that BS. I wasn’t a big fan of the way that Dogi came around with her character.

I really wish that there was someone else on the police force or prosecutor’s office that could have worked with our favorite deluxe taxi service instead of her. Esom’s acting is great because I want to see her in other dramas where her character doesn’t piss me off so much. I liked her, just not in this show, and for damn sure not with Dogi. LOL.

The Cast

I really enjoyed getting to know everyone else on the Rainbow Taxi team. I loved how everyone had a role and everyone played their roles exceptionally well. The engineers, the CEO, the muscle, and the hacker all played critical roles in bringing the bad guys down and though I didn’t like every single thing they did, the driving force behind the idea of what they do really stuck with me and I loved the reasons that they did all that they did and I really loved the people they were.

I’ve taken note of all of them and will start looking for more of their work to watch because I liked seeing them every week on my little screen. Lots of great actors and actresses in this bunch.

The Story

This show is about a deluxe taxi service that seeks revenge for those that can’t avenge themselves. People who have been failed by the system that is supposed to protect and serve. I’m a bloodthirsty bitch so when I read the summary of this show, I was all the way in. The show starts off strong and I was heavily invested in what was going down. I enjoyed the darker tone of the show and seeing the Rainbow Taxi team seek their own justice for the wrongs done to their clients. Every case made me cry and the lengths that the Rainbow Taxi team went to, to make sure that their clients got the justice that they deserved made me happy.

The acting is pretty top-notch and every actor really brought a different aspect to the show that made the show that much better in my eyes. There was a writer switch-up about halfway through the show and I noticed it. I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second half but the second half didn’t turn me off the show completely or anything like this. The ending was a little disappointing but that was because it ended with an addition that I didn’t care about for the entire season and didn’t want in the end but it is what it is.

Overall, this one is probably my favorite drama of the year so far. I highly recommend this show if you’re looking for a good vs. evil drama with lots of action, a team of do gooders with a dark side. This was a definite treat and I’ve already watched it all the way through twice.

Final Rating

4.5 out of 5

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Review: Signal

Posted March 30, 2021 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments

Signal

Starring: Lee Je Hoon, Kim Hye Soo, Jo Jin Woong
Year Released: 2016
Number of Episodes: 16
Genre: Contemporary, Crime, Drama, Suspense, Time Travel
Country: Korea
Where I Watched It: Netflix
Recommended By: Mood Browse

Fifteen years ago, a young girl was kidnapped on the way from school, and Park Hae Yeong, who was an elementary school student at that time, witnessed the crime. A few days later, the girl was found dead, and the police were not able to find the culprit. As time went by, Hae Yeong started distrusting the police.

Fifteen years later, Hae Yeong is now a police officer and criminal profiler. One day, he finds a walkie-talkie that allows him to get in contact with Detective Lee Jae Han who is in the past. Police officers Hae Yeong, Jae Han, and Cha So Hyun then set out on a journey to solve cold cases.

I found this drama while I was browsing through Netflix. I’ve seen the woman actress in this show around so I stopped to check the summary out. I was sold after reading the summary but I didn’t immediately start it. I’m a little annoyed with myself that I waited for a while to get to it but I’m glad that I watched it because from beginning to end, I was invested in all of it.

There were parts that were pretty slow in terms of engaging me (the viewer) but overall, this was a really interesting drama that did a good job of telling Park Hae Yeong’s life story.

Let’s break this show down, shall we?

Main Lead: Park Hae Yeong

Actor: Lee Je Hoon
Social Media: Website | Instagram

Park Hae Yeong is the victim of a wrongful arrest though he wasn’t the actual person that was arrested. His older brother was accused of rape and was let down by the entire local police department because of course, his older brother was innocent but because their family wasn’t as rich as the real culprit, Park Hae Yeong’s older brother paid for a crime that wasn’t his. Park Sun Woo (Hae Yeong’s older brother) was one of the good guys. He was a great older brother to Hae Yeong and he cared about his family, his friends, and his future. He was helping Hae Yeong bring his grades up and in the process of helping a girl study as well.

What happens to Sun Woo makes a huge impression on Hae Yeong and as Hae Yeong pieces his own investigation into his brother’s case when he’s older and a cold case profiler, things really heat up. He discovers a walkie-talkie that communicates with an officer from the past. A detective that could possibly help him find out what really happened to his brother. Maybe if they worked together, they can right some wrongs and get some things right. Hae Yeong’s story is a huge part of the show and I thought Lee Je Hoon’s portrayal of Park Hae Yeong was probably my favorite part of this show. Lee Je Hoon has some serious acting chops and I felt everything he felt throughout this entire show. Hae Yeong’s story is an emotional one and though I didn’t get the ending that I wanted for him, I was still satisfied and would LOVE a second season.

I really enjoyed the character growth from child to man for Park Hae Yeong. He had every reason to turn to gangs and a life of crime with his experience with cops and yet he grew into a man of the law with a clear conscience of what was right and wrong. Did he always get things right? Not at all. But he learned from every experience and used the experiences to be a better person.

Main Lead: Cha Soo Hyun

Actor: Kim Hye Soo

Cha Soo Hyun was the first female police officer in her department and though she seems aloof and completely reserved, she is fair and a good senior to Park Hae Yeong. Professionally, she tried to do what was right even when it was hard. Personally, there were times when I wanted to smack this woman upside her head. Did I understand where she was coming from when she would pop off in the middle of a case because Park Hae Yeong seemed to know an awful lot about the only man she’s ever loved that disappeared years ago? Of course! Did I want her to put her feelings away and get the bad guys before grilling Hae Yeong? YES!

Even with all of that madness, I still really liked her character and I thought Kim Hye Soo really did Cha Soo Hyun’s character justice. She acted her tail off and it’s really hard to do that when you’re playing an aloof and cold character that isn’t really any of that. I liked how smart she was and how loyal she was. She was good at a lot of things and seeing her as both a fresh rookie cop who was unsure of herself, her worth as a police officer, and then a strong and fiercely determined detective was fantastic. She played both parts well and I was rooting for her to find her man throughout the entire show.

Main Lead: Lee Jae Han

Actor: Jo Jin Woong

Holy cow did I like this guy. Lee Jae Han was such a compelling character that fought the good fight even when he had every cause not to believe the weirdo on the other line of the walkie-talkie. Seeing him fight against his very own bosses to bring justice to those wronged by the police force, the exact police force that is supposed to protect the victims made me love him to pieces.

His story was another emotional one because his personal life took a back seat to his professional one and it was hard on everyone around him. From his father to the woman he was starting to like and his friends, he missed out on a lot trying to right the wrongs that just kept right on coming to his front door. I wanted so much to see this guy in the end and we were left with a big ol’ question mark with everything but even without a solid ending with a solid wrap-up of all the things, I still really enjoyed learning about Lee Jae Han. My heart for him when he tried to get to Sun Woo before it was too late, freaking body falling apart but getting to Sun Woo was more important than his stab wound and that was just one of the many reasons that I loved this guy. He didn’t know how to give up and when he didn’t get things right, he was so remorseful that it hurt my heart and made me cheer for him and Hae Yeong even more. Gah, so good.

The Cast

There are a lot of familiar faces that make up the rest of the cast of Signal and I enjoyed seeing them all again. These two guys are probably my favorite familiar faces and the most memorable of the bunch, outside of the villains. I also really liked the guy that played Park Sung Woo. As I said, there are a lot of familiar faces and that’s probably my favorite thing about k-dramas. There are side characters that pop up in every single k-drama and it’s always a treat to see a cast with great chemistry. This wasn’t the kind of show that showcases strong friendships but we got a strong team that really comes together as the show progresses and I was here for Hae Yeong and Soo Hyun’s team.

The Story

So Signal is about a detective from 1989 and a cold case profiler in 2015 working together through a magical walkie-talkie to solve and prevent crimes from happening. Solving them in 2015 helps prevent them in 1989 and through trial and error, Lee Jae Han, the detective from 1989, and Park Hae Yeong, the cold case profiler from 2015 figure out what went wrong and how to fix them in their own times. The concept behind the show is was initially drew me to watching it and I’m glad that I did because the actors really brought this story to life. It totally made sense to me that there was a magical walkie-talkie helping a man from the 80’s help a man from 2015 solve crime and beat the bad guys.

I also thought that the cases that they worked on together were interesting. From the kidnapping case to the rape case, to every other case, each story really stood out and had me thinking about them long after I turned the final episode off. These characters really go through it personally and professionally and they had to overcome so much to get to that end. There were times where I had to walk away from the TV because what was happening was too much for me and my blood pressure but I will say that the villains played their roles really well in this one because I hated their asses so much.

Overall, there were moments when certain characters and cases made my blood boil but I’m glad that I stuck with this show because it was a solid suspense drama and the time through walkie-talkie business was one of the highlights of the show for me. I love the friendship that blossomed between Lee Jae Han and Park Hae Yeong. I thought the way that their friendship grew and grew with each case that they worked on was just so stinkin’ great.

The OST

Final Rating

4 out of 5

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