User reviews

I didn't intend to leave a review, but after seeing the title of a review "Been there, done that", it's hard to not write a review about the show since that's not all about this show. Based on the review and the date the review was published, I can tell the reviewer only have watched the first episode only, or the half of the second episode at most. The show's trailer and the first 2 episodes did come off as a typical double spy escapade. I also didn't expect anything new. However, the plot gets more complicated and fresh from the 3rd episode. The episode 4 and 5 are even better. 2 hours have just gone so fast. This isn't just a tug of war kind of show where a guy tries to hide his identity, and another guy tries to reveal a rat. It's not that simple, and the plot is more 3 dimensionally interwoven with other characters which is the fresh take of the genre indeed. It's probably better to judge the show after watching the whole episodes, but so far so good. It's hard to find the flaws yet. It's also nice to see that the production of the show expressed homage towards late 80s and early 90 hong kong noir during episode 4 and 5. Don't get discouraged by the common theme of this show. Give it a try. I guarantee you'll notice a fresh breath of air.

It has been a wild since i saw K-Drama attracted me like this one!!

Each Episode made me so eager to watch the next one ASAP , even my Mom loved it and watching it with me.

Respect Wook's role and how he nailed it so damn well more than any other role he has ever made.

But we have another equal hero "Wi Ha-joon" his role is unique the bad guy makes you afraid of him and at the same time the good guy with soft side loyal to his friends & family taking responsibility but he is jut got involved in wrong way.

As a recap since I am a K-drama fan for almost 2000 or 2002 his drama is a MUST TO WATCH.

This drama tells the journey of an undercover police officer to infiltrate a major crime syndicate. This syndicate often distributes illegal drugs. Presenting a storyline that is unexpected or even has a surprise effect, even though many Korean detective themed drama have already been recognized, this story is fresh and hard to predict, it is not monotonous, the audience is also shown how persistent a police officer is in eradicating crime, especially in dismantling large organizations or Drug Cartel. Set in the 1990s, this drama series looks more natural with good cinematography. In my opinion, many people like dramas with criminal themes like this because the unique storyline shows each case and how to solve a case and how someone can stand their ground and remain strong until the end.

How the hell do you write a review of this series without making it all about Ji Chang Wook and how he owns this character!? I mean, I have watched all of his dramas and I knew he was good but this was just another lever. You literally can see him transform going through all the experiences he is living, and evolving from human to emotionless monster in seconds from one scene to another. Such powerful performance.

Wi Ha Joon was great too, I knew he was great in action dramas but I thought his role in Bad and Crazy made him shine more.

I also have to make a special mention to BiBi who I already loved as a singer but this is my first time watching as an actress, she is freaking 25 and her presence on screen was outstanding. Her chemistry between the male lead is off the roof.

And you can actually see the moments were the male lead is conflicted and he knows his morals and values are being compromised and he is just surrendering...

I really loved how grey and non predictable the characters are written and the dynamics of the relationships are.

Least cliché ending ever too, and that was just perfect.

The drama overall is just amazing. Pace is just right, not one moment of boredom while you are watching it. Thrilling, with great action scenes to watch too ( if you are like me a fan of bloody fights) and amazing music, really tasteful and unique, made it sound somehow like we were watching movie set in southamerica and their mafias with the Spanish guitars, awesome feeling.

Watch it now, you won't regret it.

I am absolutely loving this series. In it's evolution it has challenged the good versus bad stereotype, and takes the viewer in with each thrilling twist and turn. You are drawn in, and engulfed in the life or death need to outwit the enemy which is revolving. What you may think is a plot that we have seen before, ends up turning down the dark alleys and corridors making us wonder where we are going to wind up. The actors are doing justice to each of their characters, and I am engrossed in the way they bring each character to life as I am on the edge of my seat with the suspense of the chase, or the hunt. The tables keep turning, and I am here for all of it. It is so nice to have a series like this with high caliber acting, story line, and let's not forget ACTION! The fight scenes are visceral and gruesome, yet it seems refreshing to see fight scenes that feel so raw and real. All 10 Stars for me.

An action epic drama

let's start from last to first.

Critical Analysis: While "The Worst of Evil" is an exceptional series, it may not be suitable for those seeking a light-hearted watch. Its unrelenting darkness and morally ambiguous characters can be unsettling. Additionally, the series' brevity leaves audiences craving more, but perhaps this is intentional, leaving room for speculation and discussion.

Conclusion: In a landscape filled with crime dramas, "The Worst of Evil" Season 1 stands out as a gripping and thought-provoking masterpiece. Its exploration of moral decay, outstanding performances, and impeccable direction make it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Brace yourself for a visceral experience that will challenge your perceptions of good and evil

Emotional Resonance: What truly resonates with "The Worst of Evil" is its unapologetic exploration of morality. It doesn't shy away from depicting the darkness that resides within its characters. As the lines between good and evil blur, it prompts viewers to question their own moral compass. The series leaves a lingering sense of unease, forcing introspection long after the credits roll.

Themes and Tone: "The Worst of Evil" grapples with themes of power, loyalty, and the blurred lines between good and evil. It's an unflinching look at the criminal underbelly and the corrupting influence of power. The tone is dark, gritty, and unforgiving, perfectly complementing the story's exploration of moral ambiguity.

Acting and Characters: The cast delivers stellar performances across the board. Ji Chang-wook's portrayal of Park Joon-mo is nothing short of captivating. His transformation from a dedicated cop to a cunning infiltrator is a testament to his acting prowess. Wi Ha-joon as Jung Gi-cheol brings an eerie charisma to the leader of the criminal organization, making him both menacing and oddly charismatic. Im Se-mi's Yoo Eui-jung adds depth and emotional complexity to the series.

Direction and Cinematography: Han Dong-wook's direction shines in "The Worst of Evil." His ability to build tension and maintain suspense is commendable. The series is visually striking, with a noir aesthetic that enhances the ominous atmosphere. The cinematography captures the neon-lit streets of Gangnam and the shadowy underpasses, creating an immersive experience.

Score and Production Design: The haunting score elevates the series, enhancing the sense of foreboding. It's a perfect companion to the dark and moody production design. From seedy nightclubs to dimly lit alleys, the attention to detail in the set design is exceptional.

Special Effects and Editing: While "The Worst of Evil" doesn't rely heavily on special effects, when they are used, they're seamlessly integrated. The editing is crisp, allowing the story to flow smoothly across its three episodes. There are no wasted moments, every scene serves a purpose.

Honestly speaking, even if I am an ardent JCW fan, I didn't expect brilliance the drama has showcased!! JCW as 'Park Jun Mo' simply ate and digested the character- once again proving how great he is when it comes to acting! He blended with the character so perfectly that I am not finding proper adjective to explain it. A refreshing, well-crafted, edge-of-the-seat drama! Awaited long for this..The lull of hits JCW had since 2019, has finally come to end. Though he played 3-4 charaters since then, according to me, he was splendid in 'Love-struck-in-the-city', partially good in 'Sound of Magic' but it's sad that it didn't catch the attention of the audience. I am awestruck while comparing characters like Park Jae Won and Park Jun Mo! How diverse and perfect this actor could be!! Even a pessimistic drama like 'The Worst of Evil' is extremely likable because of his presence. Everyone in this is good but Chang Wook surpassed all my expectations! May his success journey continues like this!!!!!

Definitely one of the best kdramas of 2023! The cinematography is insane and the character dynamics are so interesting!! I'm so excited to see where this goes as I've been seeing many exciting theories with interesting possible plot twists so far.. also the acting is INSANEE the lead actors definitely portray all of the emotions perfectly and I actually cried during the 4th episode. This drama definitely changes my Wednesday I LOVE ITT Note: don't watch it if you easily ship characters or else you'll end up shipping EVERYONE with each other because they all have insane chemistry.

Also I have a feeling that "the worst of evil" is going to be someone very unexpected.

With the release of the first 3 episodes, we can already see the tangled situation the characters are in, and it makes one excited to see how the characters will navigate this twist and turns and how they will come out in the end. It is actually hard to guess the ending, so many speculations are already abound. I like how they decided to make the action scenes raw and not totally choreographed, it makes the action scenes more believable, and JCW nailed it. I do not think any other actor could have played Junmu other than JCW ... as always, his acting was superb. Bravo to all the cast & crew for it obvious that the making of this drama was not easy and we can see that everybody worked hard to bring this drama to life. Well done. 10 thumbs up.

The show has impressed me so far. The action is raw and real. Somehow the fancy choreographed action scenes that JCW did brilliantly in The K2 would not have fit here. JCW is my favourite but the show did not immediately get me hooked. As I went through each episode, I got invested in the story and characters without realizing and look forward to what happens next. It's a bummer they didn't release all episodes together. I would have seen them in one go. I like that. JCW's character is driven to the undercover operation for the selfish motive of rising up the ranks. It makes his character more believable.

This show just has everything. Usually I feel like the strict teacher who almost never gives out the full 10 stars because there is always something that could be better and more deserving of a perfect score. This k-drama is the "something better". All my theories of what will happen next were either not right at all or lacking at best. The production, acting, writing, everything - it's A+. The show captivated me, and I recommended it to many people already. To me, this felt like something new. I can't really compare it to a similar series because no good match comes to mind. I really enjoyed this show plenty. Thanks for creating this masterpiece.

The plot is raw & fresh Jichangwook as usual top notch performance He moulded himself into joon mo Also actions scenes are choreographed perfectly no techniques everything was real & raw Cinematography & Aesthetics are chef kiss We can't find one bit of Jichangwook in joon mo It is as if park joon mo really exists, so real Every ckt is given importance The urge to protect joon mo is so real Wihajun is very good as jung cheol We are yet to witness Imsemi's ckt she got very less scenes as of now Jichangwook & wihajun chemistry is absolutely marvellous.

Looking forward to further episodes can't wait.

I didn't know what to expect walking into this series. I knew both lead male actors were sold. The story was so well written. Acting was top notch. The twists and turns were not expect. Because they did such a good job at building the characters stories it means you feel deeply for all of them they all just wanted a life that was peaceful and plentiful this isn't just your average mobster series this one has substance it has depth it has heart and I highly recommend it to anybody that wants to watch something that is absolutely damn great. I hope my view on this series helps people watch this l.

A stunning series, one of the absolute best of the year, that offers epic storytelling, masterful performances and superb production. As a TV series, it just not take a wrong step as it tells the story of a an undercover operation to break a 1990's International drug cartel, set in Korea. Think The Departed, Infernal Affairs, Prince of the City...and delivers in its 12 episodes in a gritty and quite emotionally involving execution. The tension is high throughout; the characters have compelling backstories that advance the storyline; it's full of action right through to the very end. Remarkable in many ways, but perhaps the nuance of the 'good guys vs bad guys' stock narrative is constantly turned on its head, in realistic and understandable ways, is truly remarkable.

This drama get me hooked. The first episode maybe a bit slow in explaining all the background and developing characters, but once you get into it, you cannot stop. I finished each episode once they came out at once, it makes you cannot breathe and so nervous of what's going to happen. There are several moments you wonder when Junmo is going to be discovered and if him himself is turning into the evil.

Interestingly, I found both Ji Chang Wook and Wi Ha Joon to be pretty boys that neither of them look too evil. Especially Gi Cheol supposed to be really evil and rash, but he was portrayed with a soft heart, willing to change and live a normal life and want to pursue his first love whom he met in a church. Ji Chang Wook is just too handsome with a pretty face, even his face is full of positive vibes. Apart from him smoking and beating up the guys so bloody hard, he has such a non evil face.

The scene where him and Bibi kissed reluctantly was acted so well. He delivered all the emotions of confusion, didn't want to, but have to, guilty towards his wife, but also knew he couldn't go back. That was not an easy scene to act. As well as the scene where Ji Chang Wook (Junmo) mother in law funeral. That breaks our hearts. He is so good at expressing complex feelings and his face of crying but not crying, anger and bitterness. Honestly, this whole show is worth watching even just with Ji Chang Wook's acting. He is the star.

The storyline with Eu jeong (Im Se Mi) is also interesting. You would feel everything is wrong with her and why she is even there in the relationship with Gi Cheol. One can criticize she is making things worst for Junmo just her presence, and she technically used her real emotions towards her old love, looking at her reaction when he finally died.. but that's also a realistic situation when a wife doesn't know how to help, she is trying everything she can do know where Junmo is about or feeling she can somehow control Gi Cheol. She definitely has her own agenda than Junmo, seeing how she wants to persuade him from doing drugs further while Junmo wanted to make sure he still close the deal and catch him. It was ironic at the end that Junmo even let him go, after all the efforts he took. That was because he started to feel the blurred line in his loyalty to Gi Cheol verses being a cop.

Love all the driving scenes, all the car crashes and action. Of course some are not realistic of how fast they all can recover from a bleeding scene to being normal again.

Having watched k2 and all of Ji Chang Wook's drama, I would say, this is another masterpiece. For this genre, it's not as romantic or sweet like K2 but it would invite more male viewers for the noir genre. To conclude, Ji Chang Wook is the Bruce Lee of Korea, the action king.

I have never written reviews on Imdb but this just made me come here and write it. Not a single boring episode. So brilliant. The storyline, the games, the acting, the twists! Best best best, could not have been better. Ji chang wook has done such an amazing job but my heart goes out to Wi Haa Joon. Goosebumps literally, some of the scenes were nail biting, edge of the seat good. Whoever came up with the story has a brilliant mind. I wasn't planning on watching it but I just thought I'll see the first episode . Ended up completing the whole series. So many emotions. A rollercoaster ride. Highly recommended.

I did see Wi Ha -joon in multiple project. But i think this is his one of his best work. Feel bad for Jung ki in this storyline. He played that character with sensibility. The storyline justified the title of the series . What a intense acting by Ji Chang and Im she. Even supporting cast Yoon Kyung and Bibi were awesome. If some one really interested in the crime story including love, thriller, action and betrayal ,this tv show is 10/10 for me. There is not a single dull moment in the show episodes,Most important thing , no unnecessary stretching of the story and all storyline of the show wrapped up in 12 episodes. A must watch show.

Gone through the full episodes, find it the most outstanding and masterpiece of Korea drama I watched this year. Without doubt the ultimate performance of JiChangWook is the soul of the drama while WiHaJun, Lim Semi, BIBI surprised me especially BIBI though a young actress but well protray drug distributor role. Other supporters, Lee Shin-Ki, Lim Seongjae, Keum Kwang-san, Im Seong-Jae are highly appreciated, their chemistry further intensify the relationship tension of JoonMo & GiCheol. Lastly, too impress JiChangWook's performance, without action and word, his eyes already deliver the essence of message, unbeatable !!! Lastly, hope we see the award recognition for this drama.

Definitely one of the best tv shows I have watched. It is well written and the actors are just amazing, especially Wi Ha-joon with his outstanding performance. The show does not get boring from start to finish. With all the twists happening this show will keep you hooked and want you to watch more. Something i really like is that there is no political agenda or any other propaganda that we know modern tv series and movies like to push. Very refreshing. For those who like this show and want to watch something similar i recommend watching the kdrama "My name". Other than that enjoy this masterpiece!

This by far is now my favorite Korean Show of all time. I have done a lot of searching beforehand and I stumbled onto this show out of luck and it's one of a kind.

There were some powerful moments in this show. The Acting was top notch in every aspect. The lead was absolutely cast perfect for his role. The tension he brought, the weight he beared. Who has the greatest sins? There were many grey areas of compromise that the lead had to trudge through. How one can get through that whole ordeal and be the same after is impossible. The action was absolutely mindblowing as well. The lead was an absolute badass.

This is by far the best series of the year. It blows everything else out of the water. The writing was incredible, and the acting was superb. Throughout the entire series you feel connected to the characters, you understand them, you feel their tension, and as a viewer you feel your own. Never a dull moment in this entire show. If you're a fan of crime thrillers and action, put this on the top of your list.

The quality of this was a step above many other series I've seen. It was on the same level as Signal in the sense. I've seen the male lead other shows, and my favorite was Healer. You can see here just how much he has grown as an actor I felt like I watched a 12 hour long A-list movie. At this point I think Korea has taken the lead on producing some of the television series in the world.

The show sets the bar so high that I feel we won't see another one like this for a long time.

Worst of evil is a massive deviation from the cliches that are usually k-dramas.

Ji Chang-wook shows us a different dimension of his uncanny ability to embody a character. He is scary, daring and cra....zy!!! My heart was literally in my mouth throughout the entire series.

The makers of this movie changed the narrative of k-dramas entirely.

Have I praised the action scenes yet???

Man!!! I was shocked at how real every damn thing was, you're definitely not gonna sigh or roll your eyes at this. It is bloody and dirty at its best.

This is JCW's best character representation yet and we hope to see more.

Wi Ha-joon, I'm She-mi and Bibi are also well deserving of accolades, they didn't fail to deliver superb personification of their various roles.

The Worst of evil is a jaw-dropping, heart-thumping drama that will leave you feeling satisfied and in love with every moment of it.

I am a fan of Ji Chang Wook's acting and this drama did nothing to lessen my admiration. I first saw him in Healer, which was awesome, and have watched most of what he has done since. He is great, and in this series he really brings it. It is funny to think of him appearing in this and Welcome to Samdal Ri in the same year as the roles are widely different. I am glad he is working hard though, as that's two more opportunities to enjoy his performances.

I also like Wi Ha-joon and think he does a good job of playing Jung Gi-Cheoul as a sympathetic character, despite his ruthlessness.

I am not at all familiar with Bibi but she is a scene-stealer, as is her near silent bodyguard.

As usual, the side characters are immensely talented and do not detract from the overall production. Choi Jeong-bea, Yoo Eui-jung's mother, the Japanese bodyguard, and the guy on the bike (Yankees?) caught my attention, but they're all very good.

There are some rather unbelievable bits (JCW has superhuman healing abilities) but overall it is forgiveable because the pace is somewhat relentless and you've already moved on to enjoying the next scene.

I'm giving this 10 out of 10 for the acting and the pure entertainment value.