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Signal korean drama review
Completed
Signal
1 people found this review helpful
by bobandmochi
Dec 6, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
Despite the rave reviews, I wasn't really sure whether this would be my cup of tea, as I tend to gravitate towards lighter Asian dramas, but once you hit the middle of episode one, you find yourself completely immersed in the world of Signal. This was so much more than your typical police/crime drama - despite the episodic formula, there was a bigger story to tell, and there was so much heart within it that it no longer felt you were just watching cold cases get solved. Speaking of which - how much do I love that Signal used real cold cases and presented them to the viewer in a new light? So many cases go unsolved and you tend to forget the victims and their stories - despite the fact that it was heartbreaking at times seeing some of the cases unfold, it was a great reminder that we will never forget. The social commentary made in several of the cases was bold and refreshing - and I liked that even though it's not like the writers could solve the real cold cases, they could at least give the victims their turn at justice in a fictional world. Story: The writing in this was absolutely brilliant - it's so hard for police procedural dramas (especially one with a bit of a supernatural twist) to pull it off without significant flaws in logic, but I think Signal handled it very well. Not to say it was perfect - but all the cases were both compelling and still relevant to the main story. The director also played a huge role in telling the story - he emphasized the story telling side versus the crime solving, and because it added a very real, human element, it was beautiful to watch. Despite the lack of romance, the platonic relationships within the show were developed so well. Though the overall tone is heavy, there are still some great, warm moments that help to fuel you through the more depressing ones. Characters/Acting/Cast: Three cheers for the cast, who were absolutely phenomenal. The main three actors were given great characters as well, which is always the first step to success, but the performances were top notch. Yes, Lee Je Hoon did tend to overact in the beginning (and a little towards the end), but I still think he was fully able to show the conflicts within Park Hae Young. Jo Jin Woong was the star, and his bumbling but determined Jae Han was such a wonderful hero to have in a show where you weren't sure if justice could prevail. Kim Hye Soo deserves all the love in the world for essentially playing two characters, but still showing that they were the same person, just changed by time and circumstance. Music. There was never a moment where the music overwhelmed the scene - it was always a perfect match. And yes, a lot of the soundtrack was a little haunting, but it fit. Signal is probably the most well done Asian police procedural show that I have seen, and I absolutely love that it has elevated the expectation of quality in this genre. I will say, though, that I rated it lower on rewatch value if only because I don't know if I can live through all the emotions again. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to!
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