Black Out (2024)

Edge of Your Seat Suspense.. Thriller That Keeps You Hooked..

Undeniably the best thriller drama of 2024..

The drama boasts top notch production quality and excellent cinematography.. Though the beginning can be frustrating.. As the ML is gaslighted into a confession and his family suffers manipulation and helplessness.. It effectively sets the stage for a gripping and intense thriller..

It gets even more frustrating.. How they mistreat the ML's mother and how they try to protect the person who tried to Kill her.. How helpless the ML is.. Yeah it gets on your nerves..

The story progresses too slow at the beginning.. But that makes the eventual twists even more impactful and makes it even more interesting.. A proper thriller that slowly unravels and pulls you deeper into its web of suspense with each twist and turn... That's how it is.. I am glad I waited to binge watch it.. Because there’s no way I could have handled waiting a week between episodes.. Watching the ML spend more time in the ER than his house after getting out of prison was a bit much..

Besides the ML and SML and Ha Seol.. The rest of the characters were truly awful.. Most weren’t just bad they were outright evil.. Manipulating and feasting on others pain.. Even the detective who forced the ML’s confession was being gaslighted by the chief.. It’s a story packed with evil people.. I mean nobody felt a hint of remorse of regret for what they did..

Initially, I felt bad for Choi Na Gyeom. She stood by the ML for 10 years, visiting him in prison when even his mother didn’t. That devotion was admirable. That was quite something.. But how he kept pushing her away.. Ignoring her.. That felt bad.. But well.. She turned out to be a psychopath.. A total psychopath.. But Go Bo Gyeol nailed her role..


Around episode six the story starts coming together... Everything starts to make sense and just when you think you’ve figured it out.. Another twist drops and then another.. It keeps you hooked till the very end.

There were a few flaws though.. Like the unrealistically clear footage from a foldable keypad mobile phone.. Seriously.. how was it not grainy??

Anyhow.. Black Out delivered a satisfying conclusion.. Though I would have loved to see the ML’s friends suffer more for their actions.. They lost what they valued most and ended up in jail but they deserved even worse.. They deserved more pain.. More and more and more pain..

For the first time in a long time.. I was fully immersed in a Korean drama.. It was one hell of a rollercoaster ride..

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Multi-layered plot, strong acting & perfectly tailored with minimalist aesthetic, up to the OST

Complete memory gap after too much alcohol - a wonderfully promising step stone for a gripping, solid, emotionally complex (psychological) crime thriller in the high-end segment. "Black Out - Snow White Must Die" is the multi-layered dramaturgical documentation of the protagonist's desperate urge to remember that particular night, that he´s bond to since then.

Life with such a drastic memory gap may be difficult enough, yet even more difficult to digest could become what emerges while looking behind shiny facades. "Black Out" is, so to speak, a study about human chasm that lurk and seduce even behind the cleanest of vestments. And then it is also a solid, multi-layered, gripping crime thriller in KDrama format. Just great.

It is based on the 4th volume of the Bodenstein-Kirchhoff series by the German writer Nele Neuhaus from 2010: “Snow White Must Die”. The setting is not the Taunus, but an inconspicuous town in the wider area around Seoul. The scenario works just as well there.

Strong acting and perfectly tailored with minimalist aesthetic, right up to the OST.

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DEFINETLY ADDED TO MY LIST OF CLASSIC KDRAMA THRILLERS.

"Black Out is a classic K-drama thriller that captivates from start to finish. The story revolves around a man who is falsely accused of murdering two of his friends. Despite his claims of innocence and a lack of memory regarding the events, the evidence leads to his conviction, resulting in a ten-year prison sentence. Upon his release, he faces the harsh negativity and suspicion from the people in his village, which drives him to seek the truth and clear his name.

What stands out about 'Black Out' is its exceptional writing. It skillfully combines intense thrills with emotional depth, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats while also tugging at their heartstrings. The narrative unfolds gradually, revealing critical information piece by piece, which only heightens the excitement as the story progresses. The pacing of the story is decent—not too rushed and not too slow—allowing everything to be revealed without leaving anything out.

The acting in 'Black Out' is nothing short of amazing. Byun Yohan, in particular, delivers a powerful performance, showcasing a wide range of emotions that truly resonate with the audience. The female lead also won me over with her acting; the character she portrayed suited her perfectly. The supporting characters, including the detective and various villagers, contribute significantly to the story, even if some are intentionally irritable and may make your blood boil. Each did well in their roles as they were written.

The ending felt like therapy after the roller coaster of emotions this drama put me through..I had tears in my eyes the entire time...it was all worthwhile!

Overall, 'Black Out' was an interesting thriller and mystery drama that kept me at the edge of my seat as I waited for the story to unfold. Prepare some stress-free pills on the side because the characters, minus the male lead and the detective, are sure to test your patience. Do I recommend 'Black Out'? Definitely! It's a classic, and I would add it to the corner of my favorite K-drama thrillers right next to 'Mouse,' 'King of Pigs,' 'Big Mouth,' 'Beyond Evil,' 'Flower of Evil,' 'Signal,' and more."

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A decent story that suffers in pacing, could've been better if told in 8 eps

There are a few things I like about Black Out; it nails the creepy and bleak vibes well, decent performance from protagonists and most characters constantly evokes my anger & sinister sides (Although imo these angry scenes are overdone and not always useful to the plot, it makes a good entertainment to laugh at ;P). Whenever we get new clues and revelations after long frustrations of waiting in the dark, it gets intriguing. The cliffhangers keep me coming back.

However, Black Out suffers with its’ pacing, not enough momentum to keep my anticipation high throughout the looong 14-episodes. Without momentum, I often forget what happened, who did what in previous episodes, etc... Some might find the slow-burn investigation to be appealing, but to me it felt sluggish. At some point, the case is not a mystery anymore in viewers pov, but the protagonists keep getting into too many hurdles to reach the truth. In my opinion, the reveals are also a bit dumb, they don’t give the WOW mind-blowing feeling. I still think this is a decent thriller, but would be more thrilling if told in 8 episodes.

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Taking out the trash

This is a great mystery but almost every character made my blood boil.

The beginning is genuinely so sad. We see Joung Woo getting arrested, mentally tortured and blamed for two murders he very obviously didn't do. He suffers in prison, he suffers when he gets out of prison. Everyone hates him, everyone blames him. No one is on his side.

He gets almost murdered every episode and he is reckless and naive but I like that about his character. In the shitty town where everyone betrayed him and his family, he was holding onto hope that they are his friends. But with friends like that, who needs enemies?

The shitty characters ranked:

1. Fake detective friend - super shitty bastard. I can't explain how much he annoyed me. THE ENTITLEMENT, THE AUDACITY. WOW. He thinks he is the victim. He hasn't apologized even once to Joung Woo. I'm glad he is suffering and his life is falling apart but I wish we saw more. For example, his life in prison should be hell.

2. Chief's minion/lab rat - everytime he opened his mouth I wanted to slap him across face. He should be a fantasy novel writer, not a detective. He acted all righteous and mighty ignoring he put an innocent man behind bars. Also a coward.

3. Chief - this man never stopped and tried to reflect on his actions. He never apologized, he never admitted his mistakes. He just manipulated people and tried to save his own skin. He might say it's for his son's but it was never for them, only for himself. Absolute human garbage. He tried to die but he doesn't deserve that, he should suffer living with all the things he did.

4. Actress stalker - she is insane. Just because she couldn't have Jeong Woo in a romantic way, she decided to destroy his life. If he said he doesn't like her, he doesn't like her. That's it and she needed to accept it.

4. Father duo - they were the ones that killed the first girl but they tortured Jeong Woo and his family and pretended like they are the most righteous people in the world. The most important people. The best. Their son's are precious while someone else's son and daughter can die and go to prison. THE ENTITLEMENT with every word they say. The fact one father asked Jeong Woo to write the appeal letter. I couldn't believe what he was saying. Absolute trash.

5. Min Su/nurse - coward trash.

6. Doctor - a creep sleeping with minors. He can't yell at his rich, successful wife so he yells at every other woman that he thinks is below him.

7. Congresswoman/Doctor's wife - she is super fake.

8. BY mother - hypocrite. They are all hypocrites. When it's about them, it's one thing. When it's about someone else, it's another.

Decent characters:

1. Joung Woo - they set him up because he was loved, rich and successful. They were jealous.
It was super satisfying to see him get a not guilty verdict at the end.
A cutie pie.

2. The detective - awesome character. Very smart and cool.

3. Med intern/girl - nosy but cute.

4. Why did the wife beater turn out to be the only one to feel guilty, apologize and reflect on his actions?

5. Geon Oh - he was a coward, he came too late but he tried his best and he was the only person to show some remorse, guilt and to apologize sincerely.

6. Jeong Woo's parents - the fact they hid his car and believed in him till the end.

Best line: Why does everyone keep dying without saying anything?

The best scene in this drama is the ending of ep 3 where Jeong Woo finds the first girls corpse. It's so sad.

Overall, very interesting, very stressful, everyone sucks.

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Best Thriller of 2024 - Every Second of Every Episode is Exciting!

“Black Out” is one of the most captivating thrillers I’ve ever seen, in any language. With just 14 episodes, it kept me on the edge with its clever, suspenseful narrative, brilliant acting, and haunting background music. It’s definitely one of my top dramas for 2024! I always say "Life’s too short for bad, draggy dramas" but believe me this one will keep you hooked every second. This is definitely going in my Hall of Fame, and going to be my Top 10 Drama recommendations henceforth!

⦿ Story & Pace:
Clever writing and direction - making you watch every second of every episode with bated breath for the mystery to unfold. The pacing is just right - not too fast or slow, and we see every character, every situation analyzed well, so when all the pieces fall in together - the end result is logical, sad but satisfying. The narrative is of the present, with flashbacks from the past. This could be obvious from the drama title and summary - given this about a man who has no memories of the crime he may have committed, and therefore trying to put the pieces together.

⦿ Acting:
Sheer brilliance - from every character: the good characters will make you root for them and hope that they triumph, the bad ones will you want to slap them from the screen and the grey ones will make you pull your hair, be shocked at the revelation and sometimes sympathize with them & their situation (as you might have guessed some lines are blurred with those good/bad characters, and therefore is one of the reasons this is such a brilliant drama)

⦿ Special Mention:
(1) Byun Yo Han (ML) playing Go Jeong U: I had seen him only in Misaeng: Incomplete Life, a drama which is iconic in itself. There too he had owned the character even though it was a support role. In this drama, he depicts a man who has lost a lot in life, but is still not able to come in terms with what he has been accused of. The frustration he shows is with all around him as well as himself, because he cannot remember whether he is guilty or not. When you watch the drama - as an audience even we are perplexed, half the time making us think he is innocent, and sometimes giving us a doubt - which is something beautifully portrayed by this talented actor.

(2) Go Jun playing Detective Noh: Oh where do I even begin with this man? I think this actor has been rightfully nicknamed "Dirty Sexy" cause he literally embodies it. He is your typical brawny cop who lives by the books, but when he meets the ML and he observes, doubts creep in his mind - on whether justice was really handed, or are there more secrets that need to be uncovered. From acting as a tough cop, to be sarcastic to his seniors, to getting his way cleverly in order to get to the bottom of the mystery - he shows a diverse range, and along with the ML, their subtle bromance/camaraderie is really great. This is my first drama technically in a main role and I can't wait to binge his other works - for the looks and acting both! (I saw him in Misty last but that was a support role, but totally sexy ;)

⦿ Overall:
If you like such genres - I'd highly recommend this show. I never waste my time in a drama if it doesn't grab my attention in first 10 minutes, and drop it no matter what if it wastes even a single second. Since Life is Too Short to Waste on Bad/Draggy Dramas. Therefore, take my word - every second of this drama is worth your time - and be warned, you'll not be able to keep it down until you complete it.

⦿ P.S.: Why 9.5/10 for some aspects in MDL Rating?
In my ratings break-up - the music and rewatch value are not 10/10 only cause - honestly I was not focused on the music as the story was enticing. So after completing the drama I just know that it supported it well, landing it during the suspense/thrills and twists as needed from a background score for such a show.

The other aspect of rewatch - this is a personal opinion, I usually never go back to watch crime/mystery/thriller/suspense shows - cause I know how it all unfolds. And since I know the ending I will never rewatch it completely. But otherwise, I would definitely watch some of the best scenes from in between.

Therefore overall the drama is 10/10, but these are some minor aspects which can be overlooked, but I thought to add cause MDL ratings ask for it. And in case anyone wonders why some factors are less than 10 but overall the drama is a 10/10 score from me.

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Will you kill for your kid?

I was watching an insta post about that question, and people were shocked someone would say no
but it's all about the context right?

would you kill for your kid,

as the drama starts, a boy is accused of killing two of his friends, he goes to prison for 10 years and comes out hoping to find the truth and try to live happily with his mom

Sim Bo Yeong's dad, seeing that, got angry, and tried to kill Go Jeong U's mom.. is that revenge? no
as the drama goes by in a spiral of continuous draggyness, Sim Bo Yeong's dad does find out the truth and in a fit of anger goes to shoot that person, is that revenge? yes


Sim Bo Yeong's murderers, in a raging revelation, it turns out she was raped by two of her friends, she falls after the third friend tries to help her cuz he's another guy and she feared more
Choi Na Gyeom walks in, and instead of being scared it’ll happen to her or be fully sick beyond words, she says.
“Hide the body or your future will be ruined”??
The f is that? It’s not even about girl supporting girls but it’s a plain a human protecting humanity?

And they all listen to her? to call their dads, so 3 adults walk in
and protecting their sons’ future is more important than protecting the truth?
Honestly they could’ve been proven innocent anyways cuz yeah humanity sucks and would’ve said it’s consensual and she slipped and died anyways
Cuz a boys future is worth more than a girls

but, she didn't die, so one of the dads kill her cuz they're in too deep now...................
and gang rape and they’re like “she was bound to marry one of them”




Park Da Eun, the snowwhite. she's cheating on Go Jeong U with an older guy, Choi Na Gyeom who's obsessed with Go Jeong U, after witnessing the rape and murder of another girl, stays silent and films the murder of Park Da Eun
becasue once the two girls are out of the picture, Go Jeong U would be hers...............

honestly revealing that Park Da Eun was a cheater was enough.. so yeah all are crazy but Choi Na Gyeom was worse.....

anyway, she stays quiet for 10 years because she didn't think he'll be convicted, but I'm sure she just enjoyed him being so outcasted and out of loop thinking he'll run to her once she shows kindness
she literally also used the second murder to blackmail the murderer's wife to gain a chance at fame....




anyways, if that isn't enough melodrama, Hyun Su O and Hyun Guno are, twins, and each one is involved in 1 of the murders..
guno, in 10 years didn't tell his dad "you crazy old dude covering up for 4 psychos, cuz you thought i was involved for standing there, but i wasn't", he didn't say he wasn't involved, but he had time to go and collect evidence, the evidence that would've proved his innocence and made his dad stand with him....................... agh...........


suo, had a disability, and once he saw the beautiful "snowwhite", Park Da Eun, die. he carries her to his "hideout" and preps her grave...
now literally, no one knew about that hideout? that was on their property.. where he'd go to draw, and the dad never knew about it? but the snowwhite murderer knew







so yeah, even now, writing all of that out, it's so basic, so simple, and that's to say, Go Jeong U and No Sang Cheol, trying so hard to detective, they were so slow and so dumb
they didn't find any clues without guno's confession, they didn't know where to look without someone spoon feeding them
and, it goes to the point, "nobody knows" the whole truth, but the first case had 7 people involved, and the second had 5, so eventho a couple were involved in both cases, it took a whole village to hide the truth, but that was one too many people in on the secret that they had to go spilling it out
it's a surprise it lasted 10 years
if that wasn't enough suo/gunho's dad was cheating with Sim Bo Yeong's mom.................. like "yeah I hid your daughter's 7 murderers. but like you"
and Go Jeong U's dad just happen to die, when the 4 fathers of the real murderers were happy knowing what they did




would you kill for your kid?
even if your kid is the rapist and murderer?

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Best Thriller of 2024!

First of All, Thriller is not my favourite genre of shows.Unless something is too outstanding like Mouse (2021), i don't often praise thrillers in kdrama industry... i started watching 'black out 'with much expectations as everyone around me did good reviews but it was FAR better than how i expected it to be.

At first, what i want to point out is the acting.I rarely find shows Where EVERYONE gives their 100% but here,all of the actors,yes,just whoever appeared for just 10 minutes did ABSOLUTELY AMAZING in his/her role.The actors could open an acting Academy for K industry tbh.

Secondly, The story... it wasn’t too much complicated or hard to understand, but the presentation was great.Director and writer did an amazing job creating and maintaining the suspense...The ending was perfect, just perfect for a mystery thriller. (btw,don't expect any romance bcz there's almost nothing at all ) The bromance was so-so... Comedy was also very little (but i loved seeing Detective Noh seong chol,he was fun,it was enjoyable how he made fun of the serious situations.. )

i love dramas where strangers become someone's hope and his help at the crucial moments of life when people whom he knew and treated like a family for a lifetime betray...This is why this drama was kind of like a soul food to me.This is maybe not a reality to all,but this story is kinda a reality to some people and they will totally relate to this drama to some extent.

Finally, my heart hurt for Geon Ho..jeong woo & his family...No sang cheol...And The Happy ending made me happy and sad at the same time...Goodbye black out:snow white must die...!it was an absolute delight to watch all 14 episodes❤️❤️

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Intense and thrilling

I’ve been hooked on Black Out ever since it started airing, and it has quickly become one of my favorite K-dramas of 2024. The storyline is absolutely gripping. The show revolves around Go Jung-Woo, a high school student accused of a double murder, and the way the narrative unfolds keeps me on the edge of my seat. What I love most is how the drama mixes psychological tension with emotional depth, making each episode an intense experience.

Byun Yo-Han, who plays Jung-Woo, is phenomenal. He brings so much to the role, perfectly capturing the desperation and inner turmoil of someone who’s been wrongfully accused. The other cast members, especially Kim Bo-Ra, add so much emotional weight to the series. Every character feels real and layered, which makes the drama even more compelling.

The suspense is perfectly paced. Each episode has its share of shocking twists, which makes it impossible to stop watching. The show also does a great job of tackling serious themes like justice and societal judgment, which gives it a depth beyond the typical thriller.

Overall, Black Out is a must-watch. It’s thrilling, emotional, and full of surprises. If you're into psychological dramas with a lot of tension and character development, I highly recommend giving it a try!

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It has recognizable strengths and noticeable weaknesses, a show you can’t ignore nonetheless.

1. Is forgiveness possible for a collective betrayal of the people closest to you?
2. How far can you go in protecting your child and your reputation amidst the fact of his wrongdoing?
3. Do you have the right to mourn for your deceased daughter who barely received affection and practically experienced parental physical and emotional abuse from you?
4. Will you be completely happy from the liberation you get after learning the truths behind your sufferings?

The preceding questions generally connote my thoughts upon completing this drama. Not so much applause but fairly succeeded in giving the audience a justified mystery. It was a snail-paced screen narration of a familiar main plot with a fresh twist antagonizing the main character. I liked how the story went through the tension build-up and cracking down plausible liars around ML’s life. There was predictable on the side like for instance, the characters of a renowned male psychiatrist and his domineering politician wife, which obviously pointing an involvement in the murder case. This murder case that in the course of the investigation used a gas lighting tactic to a 19 – year old boy who endured physical assaults inside the prison, condemnation from his whole village, lack of support from everyone, and the devastation he caused his parents, until he met the right people that would eventually assist him shed the light of what he felt was unresolved in the case.

In the story, you may conclude that the two murdered young female students caused their own death. Their unethical rude eloquences provoked the inner demon of their perpetrators on the time of the crime. Jealousy and self-interest were two evoking forces here that solidified those conspirators’ reasoning to a pact of non-disclosure. And so I, who already invested so much sympathy for the ML was fuming as unraveling progress. Not so long, a sigh of relief came in when the ML’s deceased father left a “Gift” unknown to everyone that insinuated an early triumph in their pursuit of justice. But mind you, I find Byun Yo Han and Kim Bo Ra here sparked an unexpected affirming chemistry even without the flare of romance. I hope working together in this drama can influence future project reunion, a Rom-com probably focusing on their story.

Last off, I think showing of the recollections of past events were too many for me and along spoiled my viewing mood. Those could have been replaced by other sets of scenes that could properly consume the given air time and lose nothing in the story. Overall, it was a good watch per se.

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