Peaky

So she passes on her husband and stress induced cancer to her fake best friend. But imo the husband deserves to die more. He's abused FL more than the fake best friend. He took her money, he was violent with her, he used her as his maid, his mother bullied her, he was the one who planned to get life insurance on her and prevented her from going to the doctor, etc.

Yes! The CEO has a crush on her. Just search "maestra" on youtube and you should see edits of the CEO and Lee Young Ae.

If you liked the mental games and social aspect of The Devil's Plan, I highly recommend The Time Hotel (2023) and Bloody Game 2 (2023). They are both survival shows heavily inspired by The Genius but with their own unique twists. I've watched all three seasons of The Genius and The Devil's Plan, and The Time Hotel and Bloody Game 2 are just as good, thrilling and satisfying with great casts.

I've just watched Time Hotel, and it's just as good as Bloody Game 2 and The Devil's Plan. Highly recommend.

I've watched The Genius, The Devil's Plan and Bloody Game 2, and Time Hotel is just as good as those shows. There were great alliances, betrayals, reversals, displays of brain power, and a satisfying ending. My favorite shows of 2023 are Time Hotel and Bloody Game 2! (The Devil's Plan was good, but slightly disappointing.)

I think the druggie turned on the sprinklers and I think he will try to create a scandal that Se-eum and the CEO are having an affair.

The ending of episode 5 is a banger! Such a roller coaster of strong emotions. I'm still fuming.

Weak Hero Class 1 - dark high school drama based on a webtoon about loners fighting back against bullies

Hellbound - dark and creepy drama about being sentenced to hell, with mystery, violence and thrilling aspects.

Concrete Utopia - apocalyptic movie w/ Park Boyoung and Park Seojoon, but it's kinda depressing

Liar Game - It's similar to Squid Game, but the games are psychological and social.

Battle Royale - an older Japanese movie where everyone on an island has to kill each other.

I agree w/ bel12 about Kingdom, Sweet Home, Strangers from Hell. The movie version of King of Pigs has good reviews. And I'm assuming you've already watched Squid Game and Train to Busan.

Incredible drama for such a low budget and a young, unknown cast. I look forward to seeing these actors again.

Same! It's good but generic. I wish it were darker or creepier or more anything. Both the plot and directing is average. It's a shame bc the premise is STELLAR.

I'm impressed with the actor that plays Kyung-jun (the leader of the bullies). Good acting and good looks. Seems like he'll be a rising star.

High Cookie is another dark, violent mystery with a high school setting!

The ML is like Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. That's why he's associated with the flower heath.

This is one of my favorite dramas of all time, but it's complex. The characters are morally gray; no one is good or bad. The characters are unlikable, flawed, but sympathetic. This is an adult drama. It's serious, tragic, dark, and layered. So why watch it? The incredible acting, in particular, Shin Hyun-bin (I'm a Go Hyun Jung fan but Shin Hyun-bin steals the limelight), the beautiful cinematography and imagery, the detailed, confident directing that creates a realistic world, and of course, the passionate affair. This is based on a short novel and the director is an art major, and those influences make this drama feel like an artistic film.

The CEO dude appears to be toxic, but I'm rooting for him! Loving the chemistry. I hope there are reveals or developments that redeem him.

The ending is really strong and epic, which saves the drama and why it has good reviews. I agree the middle is draggy.

Yes, there's subtle romance! The hot cop has a hidden crush on the female lead.

Imo, they do. They're the end game. The ending is a time skip where they reunite. They're the reason I watched this show. Jung Ilwoo's one-sided love was really sweet and sad. His character was so compelling and popular it burst him into stardom.

Out of the power trilogy (The Chaser, Empire of Gold, Punch) by writer Park Kyung Soo, The Chaser is the best. It has the best acting, most cohesive structure, and most satisfying catharsis. This drama isn't just an action show, it has philosophy and depth. It's about how justice gets miscarried bc of people's ambition, greed, or weakness.

People are the fundamentally the same, both "bad" guys and "good" guys; what separates us is the decisions we make at crucial moments. Most of us will make the wrong decisions because of the heavy price that comes with having morals, and that's why the world is broken and corrupt. But a few people make the right decisions despite the cost, and that's how the world slowly becomes a better place.

Drama still holds up strong 10+ years later. In fact, it gets better as you get older because you will understand the message more.

A new drama by one of the best scriptwriters in Korea, Park Kyung Soo! I can't wait. I highly recommend his previous dramas, The Chaser and Punch, which had high ratings, critical acclaim, and excellent casts.