Comparisons between Signal and Tunnel are to be expected. Not only do they share a similar sounding name, they also deal with individual crimes, relationship drama and characters from the past and future interacting through supernatural means.

I don't mind the similarities. I enjoy watching murder mysteries and crime dramas as well as romance and sci-fi/fantasy. Also, a lot of American shows (like Elementary) follow a similar format where individual cases are framed by an overall story arc. The fact that Tunnel had similarities to Signal this way just meant that there was more of the same type of drama I liked.

I also love it when characters from the past get to visit the future and be all amazed at how times have changed. Watching the male lead Gwang Ho get confused with all the technology available to him was a highlight of Tunnel. That, and the sweet relationship he had with his wife Yun Seuk, the bromance with character-opposite Seon Jae and the hilarious antics he had with the rest of the detective team...these unique facets are what distinguish one crime drama from another. And it is in these things that Tunnel excels. The lightness of these moments made a great contrast to the grim realities of the crimes taking place. All the characters were likable and had you wanting for them to come out okay- if not, alive.

What prevented me from giving this a higher score (which I really* wanted for it) was that a lot of the individual cases were boring. They were so boring that I almost gave up on this midway. Since most of the drama is composed of these individual cases, it made the watch less exciting. But the overall arc was decent. Serial killer reveal. Good performances and heartwarming relationships (not to mention, relationships that came as a pleasant surprise along the way) made it a worthwhile watch. I'm just not sure if they were enough to make up for where it lacked, but I am glad that I chose to stay and made it to the end, as I really like how all the relationships developed and how things were tied up. If only the crime stories were better.

Creating this drama was a step in the right direction and I hope to see more of these but as of now, I'll have to continue to look for something that gives Signal a run for its money.