Ji Chang-wook returns to the world of K-drama action and stars alongside Wi Ha-joon in this criminal drama set in 1990s Gangnam. Now that the Worst of Evil is over, you might want to venture into other K-dramas and K-movies with the same themes and stars.
The Plot
Ji Chang-wook (The Sound of Magic, Suspicious Partner) plays Park Jun-mo, a low-level cop, who in a bid to get a quick promotion, agrees to go undercover and infiltrate a gang run by Jung Gi-cheul (Squid Game) played by Wi Ha-joon. As Park gets deeper and deeper into the Jung’s world, he must make morally grave decisions that endanger the lives of the people he has sworn to serve and protect.
The Short Review
Oh, what a tangled and dark web this K-drama weaves as it takes us deep into the underbelly of drugs, murder, gangs, dirty cops, and international crime rings. Wi Ha-joon holds his own against Ji Chang-wook in a story that dangles loyalty, friendship, humanity, and redemption against the worst circumstances. But it is Ji who gives a stellar performance as a man whose conscience hounds him at every turn as he grapples with earning the trust of his new gang and betraying his principles with each choice he makes. Ji has mastered the art of speaking volumes with his eyes and has turned his characteristic soul-piercing smoldering stare into a world-weary tortured look to send different kinds of shivers up our spines.
This drama is not for the faint of heart. Those looking to find a blooming bromance between two of Hallyu’s heartthrobs will quickly be put in their place in the first ten violent minutes of the pilot episode which is promptly followed by cuss words in every other sentence for the remaining 11 episodes. Intense and disturbing, the drama’s suspense doesn’t let up until the show’s last poignant scene, serenaded by its haunting score, fades away. This definitely won’t be every K-drama fan’s cup of tea, but for those who enjoy the genre, it is a must-watch.
If you want more action...
Insider (2022)
Pessimistic, dark, and often shocking in its brutality, JTBC’s Insider, featuring Kang Ha-neul and a powerhouse ensemble cast, stands out in a genre that usually prefers the unrealistic and the fantastical. Powered by a layered plot that's compelling enough to keep you engrossed for 16 episodes, Insider is a solid show from start to finish and may well be one of the better-written dramas of 2022. Read our full review here.
Moving (2023)
Something lies beneath the surface of a nondescript high school where we meet seniors—cheerful and polite Kim Bong-seok (Lee Jeon-ha, Nevertheless), transfer student Jang Hui-soo (Ko Yoon-jung, Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow), and class president Lee Gang-hoon (Kim Do-hoon, Today's Webtoon). We discover early on that each has a set of superpowers that they keep hidden from everyone else as they try to live ordinary lives. Read the full review here. 20 episodes available on Disney+ and Hulu
Ultimate Weapon Alice (2022)
Boy meets girl. Boy finds out that girl is a trained killer. Ahhh, yes. Love is in the air. So are teargas and blood splatter. But beyond the bloodshed and the dark humor of Ultimate Weapon Alice lies an unexpectedly sweet tale of friendship, first love, and getting through the worst of high school. Read our full review here.
King of Pigs (2022)
Based on the 2011 adult animated film by Yeon Sang-ho (the screenwriter and director behind Train to Busan and Hellbound), King of Pigs is an extremely graphic and remarkably violent 12-part series that explores the tortuous repercussions of high school bullying and violence. While it is remarkably faithful to the themes of the animated film, the 12-part format also gives TVING the vast liberty to explore the deep pain and disturbing motivations of every bully and every victim in the show, making this one of the more harrowing and more difficult k-drama series to watch in 2022. Be warned that the violence in this show is pretty graphic and intense, and the tragedy quotient is very, very high. Definitely not for anyone looking for a feel-good revenge series, as this show just goes from dark to darker.
Bloodhounds (2023)
As a thrilling action and revenge K-drama, Bloodhounds already understood the assignment. There are more than enough expertly choreographed fight scenes to satisfy action fanatics, and the fast-paced narrative that ends in a cliffhanger each episode makes it a struggle not to binge the entire series in one sitting. But beyond these, Bloodhounds touches on the real-life problem of predatory loan sharks, adding a layer of depth and realism to the series that will resonate with viewers.
Undoubtedly, though, the best part of the show is its two leads — Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi — who manage to be both adorable as good-natured and loyal friends, and fierce and feared as intense boxers. That they're both incredibly hot once they take their shirts off is just icing on the cake.
In the movies...
The Childe (2023)
The Childe is proof that there is still some creative room to be made in the tired noir category. It's a fresh variation on a bloody classic, and despite the obligatory gun-fu and gallons of blood and splatter, is actually marvelously good fun for the weekend.
Spiritwalker (2022)
There's been a lull in Korean action films for some time now, so when the noir-ish Sleepwalker hit the domestic box office, it immediately claimed the top spot. The riveting, albeit flawed, body-swap puzzle is bound to keep everyone enthralled from the first baffling switch to the next, and once you chuck out your demand for hard logic out the door, you'd probably be quite pleased that you joined the bloody ride. Our review of this criminally-underrated flick here.
Deliver Us from Evil (2021)
Nominated for Best Film in 2021's Baeksang Arts Awards, this flick takes the classic Korean gunfight from the dregs of Seoul to the labyrinthine alleys of Bangkok and entertains in the way most sweaty and blood-soaked hunting flicks can in under two hours. It also stars Squid Game lead Lee Jung-jae and blockbuster mainstay Hwang Jun-min. Read more here.
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