Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Hana Lee
Recent news of violent crime cases is very worrisome. We feel sorry for the innocent victims while feeling a surge of anger against the perpetrators, who often receive ridiculously low sentences. Although private revenge is absolutely illegal, we hope for someone who can bring justice to society by punishing them strongly.
In 2021, Taxi Driver 1 aired and reflected the pent-up rage simmering inside us. The drama tells a satisfying pirate revenge story about victims of violent crimes or their families who team up to restore justice in society. Although the drama ended somewhat disappointingly due to disagreements between the production team in the second half, it still successfully provided catharsis for viewers. Now, in 2023, the employees of Rainbow Transportation have taken the wheel once again to punish the wicked who are still exploiting regulatory loopholes with a bigger scale and more elaborate schemes than before.
Taxi Driver 2 is just as thrilling as Season 1, with its interesting depiction of how the Rainbow Transportation team plots their revenge with Kim Do Gi (played by Lee Je Hoon) at its center as the main character and problem solver. The second season promises to be just as entertaining as all the cast members from Season 1 are returning, including team leader and moral support Jang Sung Chul (Kim Eui Sung), hilarious engineering duo Choi Kyung Goo (Jang Hyuk Jin) and Park Jin Eon (Bae Yoo Ram), and hacker Ahn Go Eun (Pyo Ye Jin), who develops a romantic relationship with Do Gi.
The new season has gotten off to a pretty good start. Some of the true-events-based crime cases involving cybersex trafficking, murder and elderly fraud have been resolved by individuals making the evildoers finally pay for their acts, just like in the previous season that vicariously satisfied viewers. Plus, the team’s extraordinary plans make the show all the more immersive and entertaining, along with Lee Je Hoon’s eye-opening stunt works. Things certainly get more exciting as phishing scammer Rim Bok Ja returns for Season 2.
As the series continues, its scale and worldview grow larger. The first two episodes are set in Vietnam and provide spectacular car chase scenes. The latter half of the second episode leaves viewers wondering who shot corrupt police officer Hyung Seop, who used fake overseas job opportunities to swindle engineering students. This is how the show further raises curiosity by hinting at the fierce confrontation between good and evil.
But perhaps we expected too much from Season 2? Despite having a smooth ride, there are a few letdowns in the second season of the series. First of all, the story lacks narrative fidelity more than it did in the first season. In the first two episodes, it’s necessary to the plot for Kim Do Gi and the duo of Kyung Goo and Jin Eon to coincidentally meet in vast Vietnam, but the plot relies too much on chance or coincidence. Moreover, the sudden appearance of Hyung Seop as a villain in a particular episode feels very abrupt, and the way he was revealed as the boss who runs a Vietnamese illegal gambling ring felt too out of the blue. Ultimately, the major events in the show don’t evoke as much emotion as they did in the first season, where school violence and power abuse destroyed the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. The anger and empathy that were felt in those cases are still lacking in this season.
However, there is still time for improvement as the show has more episodes to go. Incorporating more crimes that previously shook the nation or adding more cliffhangers could enhance the show’s entertainment value. Unlike the first two episodes, the third and fourth episodes showcased the fantastic chemistry between the Rainbow Transportation team, providing viewers with a catharsis that defines the caper genre. Furthermore, the introduction of On Ha Joon (Shin Jae Ha), a new character in the new season, will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as he discovers the hideout of the team. The show is just getting started, and expectations are high for how the protagonists will bring more excitement to the ongoing series. There are still many wicked people who need to be brought to justice. (7/10)
>> Lee Je Hoon Says There Was No Question in Reprising His Role in ‘Taxi Driver 2’
Editor Hwang Hong Sun: A Korean movie buff who wishes that the warm messages in good works will warm up this world at least by one degree Fahrenheit.
