A Slow-burn Masterpiece

Beyond Evil captivated me from start to finish. It was as close to perfection as a drama could get and deserves all the Baeksang awards it got and was nominated for.

If you are thinking of watching this, please note this is a psychological thriller. It's not a fast-paced, crazy chase to catch a killer or high stakes to save lives. It explores the minds of those left behind in missing cases and the motives that drive people to do evil or morally questionable things. It respects its viewers by not laying out every answer plainly for us to see, rather challenging us to make the connections ourselves. Beyond Evil places the spotlight on its characters, and you learn to appreciate the moments where they focus on each one - it is not a drop in pacing, it is a purposeful insight into the reasons behind their behaviour and how that contributes to the plot.

The directing, cinematography, writing and music all combine to foreshadow events, parallel scenes in previous episodes, and beautifully set the tone. The OST is a real winner here, it's a bit unusual at first (compared to most dramas) but it is really fitting and similar to a film OST where specific soundtracks are written for specific scenes. What are plot holes? You won't find them here, and if you didn't understand something, you weren't paying enough attention (me for real, had to rewind and piece things together a few times which is half of the fun tbh!). Even now after just finishing, I can't wait to rewatch and pick up on all the little hints that I missed on my first watch.

And the acting, oh the acting... The entire cast was amazing, there was no weakness. But Shin Ha Kyun won that Best Actor Baeksang for a reason. I've never seen someone use their face to convey emotions like he does, his eyes were truly a window to Dong Sik's inner turmoil and I was mesmerised by his performance. Even if this drama isn't for you, watch a few of his scenes and you'll understand why he beat out his heavy competition to win.

Now excuse me while I try to get over my post-Beyond Evil sadness. It was truly a masterpiece.

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