K-lover61
UK
Exactly what it says in the title
.... well, there's more than 1 to be honest.
Staple backbone of bribery, corruption and law enforcement breaking their own laws to convict someone of murder.
A decent drama with a team of detectives that bond as they take on the higher ups, establishment and a wealthy businessman, to find the real killer, after Kang Do-chang has to face the fact he ended up party to convicting an innocent man.
The consequences weigh heavy and spur him and his team on to revealing the truth.
They are joined by Oh Ji-hyuk, something of a loner who does things his own way and has a close link to a real perpetrator (proper psychopathic character) involved in their investigations.
Joining the fight for justice is a principled reporter, Jin Seo-kyung, who also ends up having to choose between those principles and loyalty.
The story has some interesting twists and a few lighter moments, which kept me engaged.
There are some very uncomfortable scenes with weaker, powerless victims and younger criminals.
There are several sub plots that I didn't really think added anything to the story; Ji-hyuk's tragic childhood trauma being one ~ this lingered within the series, yet never got fully explored, or satisfactorily concluded, given the seriousness of the incident that the plot eluded to. Then there's Do-chang's very irritating and mostly very unpleasant sister, with her personal problems, which lent nothing to the storyline at all.
If the script had ditched the latter in favour of focussing on Ji-hyuk's side story, that would have been far more engaging and fulfilling.
Most disappointing for me, was the chemistry between Seo-kyung and Ji-hyuk, which grew as the series unfolded, but again, was never expanded on, with a subtle romance only ever flirtingly dangled before being whipped away.
Convicted murderer Lee Dae-chuk's daughter, Lee Eun-hye, well played by Lee Ha-eun, I really felt for. Her maturity and ability to rise up from such mistreatment and pain, made for a strong young female character not often found in dramas.
Overall a good watch, but it could have been even better. With a series 2 seemingly in the pipeline, it will be interesting to see whether Ji-hyuk's past is revisited, or what new story awaits.
Staple backbone of bribery, corruption and law enforcement breaking their own laws to convict someone of murder.
A decent drama with a team of detectives that bond as they take on the higher ups, establishment and a wealthy businessman, to find the real killer, after Kang Do-chang has to face the fact he ended up party to convicting an innocent man.
The consequences weigh heavy and spur him and his team on to revealing the truth.
They are joined by Oh Ji-hyuk, something of a loner who does things his own way and has a close link to a real perpetrator (proper psychopathic character) involved in their investigations.
Joining the fight for justice is a principled reporter, Jin Seo-kyung, who also ends up having to choose between those principles and loyalty.
The story has some interesting twists and a few lighter moments, which kept me engaged.
There are some very uncomfortable scenes with weaker, powerless victims and younger criminals.
There are several sub plots that I didn't really think added anything to the story; Ji-hyuk's tragic childhood trauma being one ~ this lingered within the series, yet never got fully explored, or satisfactorily concluded, given the seriousness of the incident that the plot eluded to. Then there's Do-chang's very irritating and mostly very unpleasant sister, with her personal problems, which lent nothing to the storyline at all.
If the script had ditched the latter in favour of focussing on Ji-hyuk's side story, that would have been far more engaging and fulfilling.
Most disappointing for me, was the chemistry between Seo-kyung and Ji-hyuk, which grew as the series unfolded, but again, was never expanded on, with a subtle romance only ever flirtingly dangled before being whipped away.
Convicted murderer Lee Dae-chuk's daughter, Lee Eun-hye, well played by Lee Ha-eun, I really felt for. Her maturity and ability to rise up from such mistreatment and pain, made for a strong young female character not often found in dramas.
Overall a good watch, but it could have been even better. With a series 2 seemingly in the pipeline, it will be interesting to see whether Ji-hyuk's past is revisited, or what new story awaits.
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