The Burning River (2020)

The most underrated crime/investigation drama out there.

This must have been the most underrated investigation drama I've ever watched and I can't figure out why this fantastic drama passed undetected by the fans of the genre.

This drama has two distinctive 12 episodes parts and each part covers the investigation of a different case. I have the notion that the producers intended to release this drama in two different seasons but they ended up merge it into one.

The investigations of these two crime cases, that look quite unremarkable at the beginning, literally unfold in each and every episode with countless twists and revelations that drive the plot into some very dark pathways. Don't get fooled by the lukewarm start of each case. Keep on watching because each of these cases starts to become very interesting after its first two episodes.

The cast is very good as well, with the actor Dong Chang giving the performance of his life on the second part of the series. This guy is a fantastic actor, and obviously underrated too as I had not heard of him up until now. In this particular drama he is literally living into his role, giving a heartbreaking performance as a person forced by the social circumstances to become a criminal, deep into depression, self-pity and self destruction. He plays a very intelligent and very self aware criminal into the second part/second case of the series.
But the rest of the cast is great too, doing their best to depict the very realistic and solid characters that look real because they are not strictly either very "good" or very "bad". All characters have a background that is shown by their actions and not with countless irritating and garrulous flashbacks. ( that drive me mad most of the times! lol)

Don't expect way too much action, as this is an investigation drama after all, but get ready to see some very realistic action scenes that are not over the top. No acrobatics, martial arts or exaggerations and such things at the action scenes.

Overall this is a surprisingly good drama that I definitely recommend you to watch, and rewatch, as it has high rewatching value as a case study of how a well written and well directed plot ought to be. Do watch it and don't skip any scenes as it worths your time and your attention.

10 out of 10 from me.

Edit to Add: It is available at YoYo English Channel on Youtube subbed in English.

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