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.
⦿ 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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