DramaAjumma

Oh it's based on a Higashino novel. That would explain it.

Looks good. Nice and short too. ;)
Thanks for the tip. A couple of familiar faces

For me this is easily one of the better dramas this year because it does such a deft job with the storytelling. The crafting of the show is confident and somewhat inventive. It takes care of all the little details remarkably well considering all the moving parts that are involved. Yes, it seems to have taken a leaf or two out of the Signal playbook (Signal wasn't the first to use this particular type of temporal mechanism by the way) but this show is far more ambitious in its use of multiple timelines. It's actually not just two timelines but several and the show does a much better job exemplifying the concept of parallel universes than either TKEM or Alice... without even needing to use the terminology. Parallel universes or alternate timelines (take your pick) are largely an exploration of "what if" through pivotal moments. But of course, there's always an element of unpredictability because there are variables that are impossible to factor in and don't come to light until later.

The show reminds me more of A Christmas Carol or It's a Wonderful Life than Signal in which a man is given a second chance to do change the course of his life's trajectory. He is given an opportunity to recalibrate -- will he be a better husband, father and human being if he's given the right push in the right direction. Yes, there's the usual corporate corruption but that's more a backdrop than the focal point. He's not the only one. This second chance is offered to a number of people throughout this ensemble as the leads intervene in various ways.

I liked how the show demonstrated the ins and outs of the temporal device in the first half as the leads were groping around in the dark looking for answers to pressing questions. Now we're into the second half and final phase, it's heartening to see that those in the know are using the temporal device in far more complex ways to get the outcome they're looking for. The show is building a community around the leads as they get to the core issue... not just to save lives but to deal with the problem at its roots.

It's true that I wasn't a fan of histrionics in the first episode but they've since toned it down. Seo-jin continues to play it smart and Ae-ri is gradually learning to play it smart. But it isn't just about SJ or AR. I am very appreciative of how the show uses the ensemble cast. This was one of my beefs with Alice and why it went nowhere. Yes, we know who the leads are but there are other people in the show too who have something to contribute to the story. Here, the show does a superb job (in my view) of positioning supporting characters in this chess game.

It seems to me that Kairos is doing all this so well that they make it look easy. It isn't easy to do what they've done. Especially considering other so-called sci-fi messes that's littered the stage this year. But from a writing point of view it is a laudable work of craftsmanship.

Either we have very different definitions of what "light" and "dark" means :D or what you really mean is that you just don't like being caught unawares about what the show is going for. If you mean the latter, than that is entirely different thing to a show being light or dark because I would never think of the very best of OCN dramas as being "light". Certainly not TEN, Bad Guys, Voice, God's Quiz etc.

I honestly don't remember a C drama that combined romance and crime this well. When a Snail did a decent job but this one is on another level. This is such a wonderful drama. It seldom feels fillery. And frankly, I've never been more nervous about the integrity of a male lead. ;)

Yeah, I don't think the character's very well written personally. All over the map for me.

Really? How many have you seen? Most OCN dramas are pretty dark.

Can't be her. She's too young.

My feeling is that the children of White Night village were experimental subjects who lived together which is why they feel some connection to each other. It could be that they have enhanced abilities as a result.

Although I find the subject matter genuinely fascinating, I think the show isn't quite as cohesive in its juggling act which might be an issue of the script because it is also the case that the dialogue feels awkward and stilted. I've watched plenty of crime thrillers this year (and in general) and this frankly isn't really one of the better executed ones. I don't need perfect but I like some cohesion in the storytelling and frankly, I don't think the intimations of future romance helps a great deal in that regard and that could just be again... a flaw in its execution. In fact, I find that it takes away from the flow of the drama. Thus far it seems to be played largely for laughs as well. It also probably doesn't help that the lass who is playing Hye-won appears to be underperforming against more experienced actors.

However, I will keep watching for now partly because Namgoong Min is good in it and I like where I think his character is going especially in relation to the White Night village arc. His relationship with Jamie is intriguing purely from a plot point of view and potentially they feel much more like investigative partners than his relationship with his "special" team which often come across more of an appendage .

Even though it's been labelled "mystery" and "thriller", my head is going in the direction of science fiction as well.

My theory... under spoiler tag...

I want to give The Uncanny Counter a plug as well. It is so good.

For me a hidden gem would be more something along the lines of Mystic Pop-up Bar, Train, Missing: The Other Side or even 365: Repeat the Year. Shows that very few people heard about or saw during the time of airing but are actually really good.

But your marriage isn't on display in a drama where there's an audience. :D Just think about how you would answer that question if someone else was asking it. In a drama, the audience has as much of a relationship with the characters as the characters do. Audiences are consumers too. They want to be convinced in order to buy into the dynamics. Some people need more and others need less. But a good writer understands that a spectrum exists and will satisfy the greatest number of people watching.

Also I'm uncomfortable about making an equivalence between a couple who has had a long happy marriage and a young short somewhat tumultuous romance whose foundations were formed on deception. That is a question that has to be answered by the drama regardless of how forgiving the audience member is about how the couple gets together.

I really wanted to enjoy this for Chen Zheyuan but the female lead was all over the map. After a while it got a bit too much. There was definitely potential in this.

Episode 3 shows some improvement over the previous two. I still think that Namgoong Min is doing all of the heavy lifting but at least the White Night village side of things looks potentially interesting enough to overcome the show's shortcomings.

Getting strong Dark Angel vibes from this.

If we have to have a romance, yes it's better to have one between Jung-woo and Jamie.

Thank you for your eloquent reply and kind words.
I just thought at the time that I was just a cynical ajumma that's watched far too many dramas. :D

This is actually one of the reasons why I dropped this show after one episode.
I really didn't like Adult DM at all as presented in this first episode. She wanted to claim the moral high ground with no leg to stand on, without any courage of her convictions. She wanted to stay to support her dad... good for her... say so. But instead we have this ridiculous oneupmanship that backfires on her. And then she reaches idiotically for DS as a reference point. At least with In-jae... the so-called bad girl... she had some self-awareness. I respected her for that. In that scene alone, it's clear who's the more nuanced performer as well.

I came to conclusion immediately after this episode that this isn't a show I can waste hours of my life over. Seems like I dodge a bullet.

Just started watching this. Oh my word. I love it.
A superhero drama I didn't know I needed.
The set-up, the world-building and introduction to the characters... all good stuff.

Have you watched Mystic Pop-up Bar? That's an underrated gem. And it's on Netflix.
If you like sci-fi thrillers there was Train, 365: Repeat the Year and now Kairos.
I don't know what your choice of genres are but loads of good crime shows this year.