Leading streaming service Disney Plus has just dropped a must-see Korean crime thriller series that left viewers wanting more just after episode one. With unexpected plot twists that make this series stand out compared to other dramas, fans will undoubtedly be glued to the screen within minutes of seeing how this medical thriller progresses.
Starring Namkoong Min as the elite neurosurgeon Taeju, the series follows the story of both his work life and his personal relationships, which are slowly declining. His admirable marriage crumbling little by little, he finds himself seeking a divorce from his wife Seyun (played by Lee Sul), but is thrown into chaos after she is kidnapped.
The plot twist comes when Namkoong Min’s character Taeju is revealed to be the one who initiated the kidnapping in the first episode after drunkenly stating how much he would pay someone to kill his wife. The show doesn’t paint the perfect marriage K-drama portrait for these two. The drama opened up with them rock-climbing side by side, being metaphoric anchors of deep trust in their relationship. This is then contrasted with bitter reactions in the workplace and distance, despite living under the same roof.
A wife being kidnapped may be a cliché, but it is beautifully remastered through plot points and great acting. Usually, men are the ones with a more violent side or a disregard for repairing relationships, but Lee Sul’s character takes on that role. She excellently conveys dissatisfaction with her husband and showcases the distress of her character quite well.
A great addition to the story that we learn in episode one is that Seyun is not only the wife of neurosurgeon Taeju but also his boss, acting as the head director to the chairman of Together Hospital, who is also her father and Taeju’s father-in-law. She despises Taeju’s inability to prioritize the hospital first, and her traumatic past experiences in an accident make her flashbacks intense and hint at her reasons for being morally cold and putting business first.
Taeju is more amicable and reserved but suddenly lashes out at Dr. Kang, his father-in-law, during emergency surgery, which emphasizes the strain on both his work and family ties. As things unfold, his character loses more of that calm and collected demeanor and starts showing raw emotions that will leave viewers deeply invested. He never truly disdained his wife, and now that she is at risk, he is willing to do anything to save her. More importantly, clearing his name has also become a priority as the mysterious driver who kidnapped his wife has video files proving he ordered the hit on her.
The scoring of the drama effortlessly alludes to what bad things are coming next and heightens various scenes, such as Taeju racing to the meeting location to find his wife or when he feels forced to play a part in the killer’s mind games. The music, alongside Namkoong Min’s acting, is very immersive, and you can feel each character’s emotions without exaggeration. Taeju continuously finds himself falling into deeper consequences after being framed as the prime suspect in Seyun’s disappearance. Desperate and on the run from the authorities in order to prove his innocence, Taeju desperately seeks to uncover the truth despite the dangers of this scenario.
The story overall sounds atypical, but it is far from it. Little moments from episode one alone were quite thrilling and engaging. Viewers can easily find themselves feeling tense and involved in the escalating storyline while easily losing track of time. The drama seems to have had few promotions and could easily go under the radar, but is one that is worth watching till the very end. Will the kidnapping evolve into something bigger than we imagined, or will the series follow a more predictable route within the hospital and their marriage? (8.5/10)
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Ready to dive into Namkoong Min and Lee Sul’s newest medical thriller? Check out the first two episodes on Disney+ and watch more of your favorite K-Dramas for FREE on Amasian TV.
