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Inspector Koo korean drama review
Completed
Inspector Koo
7 people found this review helpful
by L Nanon
Dec 18, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Great in many ways

First off, this was enjoyable to watch and is most certainly closer to dark comedy than thriller. The basic plot is an off-beat ex-cop anti-hero chasing a serial killer. In the beginning, Koo, our titular anti-hero is doing odd jobs for an insurance company fraud team led by a barely competent manager. Some guy is on the team...he's pretty much devoid of character and story line.

The first few episodes kind of jump around with flash backs and other expository elements, don't worry about it most of it isn't necessary to enjoy the popcorn goodness so to speak. Koo soon figures out that a serious of random deaths for various accidents and natural causes are the work of a serial killer who's victims of course are connected in some way. The deaths are elaborately planned and executed with the killer (who also has a side kick devoid of character) operating through intermediaries...intriguing stuff.

As we roll on it's clear that the barely competent manager is a treacherous weasel and laughably gets ousted from her job but already has a job lined up as a campaign consultant...how?? Doesn't matter the candidate and his family are corrupt scum bags that figure prominently into the machinations. Insert standard story lines for covers ups/murder here...it's not bad but it's not fresh either.

So ends phase I - despite the choppy beginning it's good. Oh yeah, Santa is now on the team. He doesn't talk - who knows what his deal is?

Phase II is brief but interesting...as Koo closes in, the serial killer (by the way played fantastically) is on the run and cut off from her normal ability to plan meticulous murders and begins to fray. And she seems to be turning into a random serial killer...it's actually kind of dark at this point. These are some of the best episodes.

Phase III is where the glaring weaknesses come in full throttle. The weaselly and traitorous manager is exposed...yet strangely still able to work with both sides. Weird. Serial killer girl is back on top, but suddenly switches from the meticulous unseen harbinger of death into a Bond villain style mad-bomber intent on elaborate and contrived plots. She also outsmarts and generally gets the drop on so many of her adversaries that her general baddassery is what keeps the wheels from falling off.

And the ending...well suddenly Koo pulls off her own insanely convoluted plan to bring us to an extended final confrontation...and like every Bond villain...serial killer girl either spends too much time talking or during a 2 on 1 fight where she consistently beating her opponents down (Koo and Santa) annoying and blatantly turns her back for extended crucial moments to allow our hero to pull out the win.

Still overall this is a good watch and worthy of some high marks.
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