Stranger (2017)

Contemporary Crime Drama

Stranger
K-Drama
Ep 32
Two Seasons
PG-13

I like Contemporary stories and Crime / Murder mystery so when I heard this was a mix of both I was excited!

Sadly it was just okay for me.

This show had great actors and 97% of them played morally grey characters. The only exception were the leads!
Let's do some pros & cons

Pros:
◇The acting
◇How it wasn't as dark and gory as it could be 👌 (Definitely PG-13)
◇The Leads

Cons:
◇It felt like it dragged at times
◇The plot twists were okay
◇The writing at times
◇Wanted more friendship & chemistry

Over all I am happy I watched this show. Would I recommend? If you like slow crime dramas then yes, if you like fast past thriller type then maybe not.

REWATCH? No

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m a s t e r p i e c e

Actually there is a short story behind my watching the stranger series. During the summer break, I forced my mother to watch a TV series and she chose the Stranger. I used to only watch romantic and comedy dramas at the time, so I definitely thought I wouldn't like Stranger, but because it was a Korean drama, I decided to watch it with my mom. We watched the first episode together and I just LOVE it. I continued 7-8 episodes with my mother, then I started to continue myself because she had a lot of work. And it became one of my favorite series.

Let me talk about the drama now. First of all I have to congratulate Jo Seungwoo for playing the hwang simok character which seems so difficult. You can see how much effort is put by watching behind the scenes. I also congratulate bae donna because it must be difficult to play with someone who shows no emotion. I really liked the chemistry of the two main leads, it was really good. Also, shin hye sun is another reason I love this drama because I think she is both a beautiful and a very talented actress. Before I forget, the chemistry of all the characters was very good, I can say that they have the best chemistry among the series I have watched. I think I need to talk about the story now, then let me start. The first episodes of Stranger were a bit boring unlike the other series (of course it was very exciting), but the following episodes were excellent. When I watched the connection between the two murders, I was really surprised because I definitely did not expect it. The good behaviour of the police and prosecutors also made me happy. If you are reading this review, you will understand how bad I wrote because I am not very good at telling the story. But I'm still writing my best.

The only thing I didn't like about Stranger is that some of the characters in the main role died, they really added a different atmosphere to the series. All in all, Stranger is really one of the best series, the actors fit, the story is very good. Certainly, I think everyone should watch it, you should not forget such a magnificent series.

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Corruption, Mystery, Intrigue..."Stranger" Has it All!

There is nothing so beautiful as an intricate plot so deftly woven that it is literally a work of art. And there is nothing that compliments a masterful plot like deep and intelligent characters.

"Stranger" is one of the best series I've ever seen. And I've been watching shows for over 45 years. When I began Season 1, I was instantly hooked, and I found myself binge-watching the series.

The story has so many plot twists and turns that I doubt that even the most savy viewer will be able to figure it all out. It centers around what seems to be, a fairly standard murder. Hwang Shi Mok is, what would be our equivalent of an assistand district attorney, knows the victim, and takes it upon himself to investigate.

Shi Mok is like watching a master detective at work. He's like a Korean Sherlock Holmes. He is not only able to piece together events, but he does so in a way that makes you think of a master jigsaw puzzler who is able to put the 3000 pieces together within a short span of time. Shi Mok is smart, intelligent, and also calm and cool under fire. Why? Because he has a unique characteristic: he lacks empathy. Due to violent outbursts as a child, he had a surgical procedure done that literally prevents him from having such outbursts anymore. Therefore, to most of his colleagues and even strangers, he appears cold and aloof.

Shi Mok's sole partner in his investigation is Lieutenant Han Yeo Jin (Bae Doona). Bae Doona quickly became one of my favorite Korean actresses. She also successfully brings us a very intelligent and driven detective who is as determined to get to the truth as Shi Mok is. Of course, she has trouble figuring out why Shi Mok comes across as such a quirky fellow, but she soon develops tremendous respect for him and his ability to speak his mind (which he always does!).

It isn't often that I bring up the theme music for a show, but this one reminds me of Hans Zimmer's Batman score a bit! It's catchy, and it seems to sum up all of the excitement and intrigue that this series provides!

The plot is expertly crafted and multi-layered. Much like an onion, once one layer is exposed, there is another. This forces Shi mok and Yeo Jin to wonder just how far and how deep the conspiracy goes.

The British series "Line of Duty" is a show about police corruption. This show not only takes it much farther, but this story is far more taut and exciting! I cannot emphasize enough just how much credit the writers should be given. It's not easy to put something like this together. "Stranger" is nothing short of a being an absolute masterpiece! Master mystery writers like Agatha Christie would be proud! Literally from start to finish, "Stranger" keeps up the intrigue and never pauses even for a moment!

**I was so excited when Season 2 came out, and even more excited to find out that there is a Season 3 on its way!**

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Hands down one of my favorite dramas.  Bae Doona first came on my radar  while watching Sense8 (an amazing show, highly, highly recommend). She definitely didn't disappoint in this role either. The cast is amazing, and Cho  Seungwoo and Bae Doona have an amazing chemistry together.  
Multiple  plot twists, most of them completely unexpected. kept me on the edge of  my seat. Probably one of the dramas I've watched quickest, just because  every episode made me want to watch more.  Wasn't my usual cup of tea,  as I'm very much a romantic comedy, happy-go-lucky, cliché drama kinda person. However, wasn't cliché at all, and was very well written, and acted.

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I just started rewatching it for the fourth time(rewatch value right there) and noticed I hadn't written a review.
For me Stranger holds special meaning since it's the first ever kdrama for me(not taking movies into account) and it was such a high quality one from every aspect(story, cast, overall production) that immediately set the highest standard for me. After that it was difficult to find equally good productions, though I have found some.

The story has good twists and keeps you guessing and even when it's not, it still has a good execution that it's still as interesting. The cast is amazing. Solid performances from everyone. It starts off a bit slow but after the 6th episode it's addictive. And as far as I remember, there weren't any of the classic mechanics in writing that make it seem contrived. The characters and their actions have consistency.

I really don't want to say more and rather have you watch it. Even if it's not your favorite I think you'll still find it a very good one.

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i usually enjoy crime dramas, and same goes to stranger, i kinda enjoy it but it doesn't fully satisfy my expectation due to the many good reviews. the first and early episodes definitely hooked me, as it was such a thrill and i was curious on what will happen. but the middle towards the end kinda get bored and slow paced, maybe due to the focus was only for one case throughout the series making it feels a little bit draggy. what i enjoyed the most was the process of solving the case and collecting evidence, it was smart moves rather than coincidence. the acting was okay, hwang si mok suits the role of emotionless very well. well the case wasn't as amazing, it was common and predictable with some twists. i kinda enjoy this season and looking forward to the next season which I'll be watching next.

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I live for suspense/thriller/mystery/crime/law dramas. I felt like the writers brought something new to the table with regards to the lead character and his motivations. Honestly, I liked that there wasn't a lot of romance in this and it helped the show keep its focus. I liked that this wasn't a predictable show and that most of the actors/actresses I hadn't seen in previous dramas, so it kept me glued to the screen. The only disadvantage is that after watching the ending of a mystery, it tends to stick with you, so if you go and rewatch it, it doesn't feel as fresh or novel as it was when you see it the first time. I think the emotions portrayed by the characters has kept me coming back, to the point where I'll be sweating because of the suspense, that's how immersed I get.

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