Au-delà du mal

Beyond Evil is not a typical crime or detective drama. It focuses not only who the culprit is but also how the incidents influence and change suspects' and victims' lives. Watching BE is like doing a difficult jigsaw puzzle. Patience is needed, but it's worth it. No plot holes, and all cast did a brilliant job. The music also goes well with the scenes. In addition, the cinematography is awesome. BE is a drama that makes you think a lot and gives you profound feelings especially during your second watch.

'Beyond Evil' is a 16-episode long Korean drama, starring Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo in pivotal roles. The story is about two police officers who are determined to solve the case of a 20-year old murder case. Their desire to uncover the truth is strong enough to lead them to bend laws and reach a stage where they question everyone around them, including themselves. The main reason behind me starting this drama was the amount of appreciation it got in the recent Baeksang Arts Awards. The drama was easily able to sweep away the 'Best Actor', 'Best Drama' and 'Best Screenplay' among many other titles, which perked up my curiosity and led me into giving it a watch.

Talking about the acting, one man that stands over all others will be Shin Ha Kyun. He is the brightest star in the big galaxy of actors in the show (haha, poetic much--:P). He has done a very good job and deserves all the appreciation that he has been getting after this show. The finesse with which he is able to convey each and every emotion to the viewer is highly commendable. On the other hand, Yeo Jin Goo also has done a stupendous job of maintaining a steady love-hate relationship towards Shin Ha Kyun's character. Both the actors' chemistry is very well maintained throughout the drama, and makes it a delightful watch.

While the first half of the drama was very intriguing, scary and full of suspense, the second half doesn't seem to match up to the already maintained thrill. Things get a tad bit slow and predictable but the show is still watchable and holds adequate amount of suspense to keep you hooked. Overall, 'Beyond Evil' is a very compelling drama to watch. It talks about the actual power that a cop holds and throws light on the evil face of people in power, which is hidden by their mask of good deeds. For people who enjoy watching thriller and suspense-filled dramas, this show is a very good pick and is worth a try.

Acting, directing, script, music, camera movement are all top-notched. It is not an everyday detective story that just focus on catching the killer - the messages the drama brings out are very meaningful and are the major focus. Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo have a pretty big age gap there but that was exactly why the chemistry was so well - the contrast in terms of age, personality, approach to issues brings out so much sparks and chemistry between them. The acting is natural yet impactful. The supporting actors/actresses all deliver very well. Music gives me goosebumps. Heavy use of metaphors, hidden meanings and subtexts. Clues and leads are set out in a subtle manner throughout - there is no meaningless or useless scenes if you understand the story correctly. It is one of a kind indeed. Highly recommended.

Watching any film or series from South Korea does take a bit of time to settle in but once it gets going and you are use to the characters, their inflections and the storyline...it's all good.

If Shin Ha-kyun doesn't have the best smile...I don't know what actor does.

It's basically a 10 rating, but a few parts did drag and were implausible, yet it's a blockbuster!

Too bad that 99% of the American public that are on Netflix will pass by a lot of foreign films and series because they can't seem to read subtitles.

Really?

It takes nano-second to do, yet to read a subtitle for most is like a huge undertaking.

Too bad for them...they are missing some amazing films and series.

Confounded. The story seems unique. The development of the characters is good. Confusing to say the least. The lead is manic. It keeps you guessing.