Even though the series is only halfway aired at the time of this review, I can tell this is going to be one of my all time favourites. I am not someone who usually watches kdramas (this is the second one I've ever watched), as I find some of the clichés that are often used in kdramas not that interesting (like for example the girl falling for a guy that is rude and demanding and by modern standards not boyfriend material). This series however does not feel at all clichéd, but rather, it's on par with some of the best international series I've seen so far.
Each episode keeps you on your toes and guessing. It sets the protagonist (Baek Hee Sung/Do Hyun Soo) up as an unfeeling serial killer, but the audience is kept guessing after the truth. Despite Hee Sung's cold appearance, they make us care about him by showing his (faked or not? I still don't know) caring and loving side. Is he a serial killer who happens to be good at faking emotion, or is he a misunderstood man with antisocial personality disorder who doesn't realise he loves his own family? If he isn't the killer, who is? The serie deals with the prejudice someone can receive simply for having a mental disorder. It also deals wonderfully with the dilemma of the protagonist's wife Cha Ji Won: should I keep feigning ignorance to keep my family intact and protect my daughter, or should I pursue the truth and risk losing everything if it turns out my husband is a murderer? Even if he isn't a murderer, he lied to me for 15 years, should I ignore that? Can I keep loving someone who is physically incapable to love me back, even though for all intents and purposes he has been the perfect loving husband and father?
The actors play their respective parts incredibly well. Especially Lee Joon Gi (as Baek Hee Sung/Do Hyun Soo) deserves an applause for perfectly playing a man who is incapable of feeling most human emotion, but who is desperately playing a part to protect the life he lives. Especially his control over his facial muscles jumped out to me in one episode (I think it was episode 5?), I didn't even know it was possible to do that! He makes me feel sympathy for him - I am definitely rooting for him to get what he wants most! Also, the child actor who plays Baek Eun Ha, the couple's daughter, is surprisingly good at acting and immediately melts your heart - especially seeing her interactions with her father.
In short: if you like suspense series with a little bit of romance, if you like being surprised with a twist every episode, if you enjoy stellar acting and good writing - this is the next series you definitely should put on your watchlist.
Each episode keeps you on your toes and guessing. It sets the protagonist (Baek Hee Sung/Do Hyun Soo) up as an unfeeling serial killer, but the audience is kept guessing after the truth. Despite Hee Sung's cold appearance, they make us care about him by showing his (faked or not? I still don't know) caring and loving side. Is he a serial killer who happens to be good at faking emotion, or is he a misunderstood man with antisocial personality disorder who doesn't realise he loves his own family? If he isn't the killer, who is? The serie deals with the prejudice someone can receive simply for having a mental disorder. It also deals wonderfully with the dilemma of the protagonist's wife Cha Ji Won: should I keep feigning ignorance to keep my family intact and protect my daughter, or should I pursue the truth and risk losing everything if it turns out my husband is a murderer? Even if he isn't a murderer, he lied to me for 15 years, should I ignore that? Can I keep loving someone who is physically incapable to love me back, even though for all intents and purposes he has been the perfect loving husband and father?
The actors play their respective parts incredibly well. Especially Lee Joon Gi (as Baek Hee Sung/Do Hyun Soo) deserves an applause for perfectly playing a man who is incapable of feeling most human emotion, but who is desperately playing a part to protect the life he lives. Especially his control over his facial muscles jumped out to me in one episode (I think it was episode 5?), I didn't even know it was possible to do that! He makes me feel sympathy for him - I am definitely rooting for him to get what he wants most! Also, the child actor who plays Baek Eun Ha, the couple's daughter, is surprisingly good at acting and immediately melts your heart - especially seeing her interactions with her father.
In short: if you like suspense series with a little bit of romance, if you like being surprised with a twist every episode, if you enjoy stellar acting and good writing - this is the next series you definitely should put on your watchlist.