Beyond Evil

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

Lee Dong Shik is a police officer in a small city called Munju. When he was young, he was accused of his sister’s murder, as well as several others that took place in the region. Though, he was released 21 years ago, he still hasn’t found the real murderer. One day, brilliant detective Han Ju Won comes to Munju. He wants to arrest Munju’s serial killer.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

This drama is literally a gem! It is dark, mysterious and full of suspense. Even though I feared that it would be too slow for me, it is so well-written that it managed to keep me hooked until the very last episode. There are so many twists and so many secrets, I even wondered if there was an actual end to the mystery.

Moreover, I really think that it is Yeo Jin Goo’s best acting performance ever, and Shin Ha Kyun’s is not to be left aside either!

If you like thrillers, I can only recommend you start this one asap!

Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

Characters:

Lee Dong Shik (Shin Ha Kyun) is, from the very beginning of the drama, a mysterious character. When he was younger, that is to say 21 years ago, he was accused of his sister’s murder, and right after of other murders occurring in the region. The entire town turned against him, treating him like the real murderer, when the accusation was feeble and proof almost non-existent (they only found his guitar pick next to a victim). The only reason he was released is because his friend Park Jung Je (Choi Dae Hoon) stated that they were together the night of the murder.

Though he was released, suspicion followed him in the city. Years later, he became a detective, working out of his hometown. But an incident, causing his partner’s death, made him leave his job and go back to Munju, hoping he would finally find his sister’s murderer and body.

Lee Dong Shik is thus quite resolved and determined. He is fearless, sometimes reckless, and he doesn’t care what other people think about him. When he went back to his hometown, he reunited with his old friends, creating around him a “trustworthy” circle of acquaintances. Despite that, doubts regarding his implication in the past murders (and the more recent ones) still exist among them. Moreover, Dong Shik resorts most of the time to doubtful methods in order to prove his point. The best example that I can give is the use he mades of Kang Min Jung‘s (Kang Min Ah) fingers, after he finds them Kang Jin Mook‘s (Lee Gyu Heo) house. A very bold and strategic move, but not the best one to claim your innocence after.

Finally, Dong Shik is very discreet about himself, his thoughts, his feelings and his past. I believe that the trauma he’s lived in the past (his sister’s death and the witch hunt against him) left him scarred. That’s why, he always keeps everything to himself and withholds information. This behavior turns him into the ideal suspect, as he never defends himself or shares his plans to others. Of course, the more Dong Shik uncovers about the past, the more allies he finds himself surrounded with. Therefore, at the end, it is quite satisfying to see him open up with his “partner in crime” (or rather in solving crimes): Han Ju Won (Yeo Jin Goo).

Han Ju Won is actually very similar to Lee Dong Shik. Despite their age difference and their distinct upbringing, they both have trust issues, are loners, never share their strategy to anybody and are very strong-headed, especially if it means uncovering the truth.

Contrary to Dong Shik, Ju Won comes from a wealthy and respected family. His father Han Ki Hwan (Choi Jin Ho) used to lead Munju’s police force and is now in talks to become the next Police General Commissioner. He is considered by others as an excellent, fair, competent police leader, whose reputation is unscathed. Yet, just like everyone else in the drama, he also has his dark secrets and is implicated in (very) dirty deeds.

As for Ju Won’s mother, we discover later in the drama, that she suffered from mental health issues. For that reason, Ju Won’s father decided to institutionalize her in a psychiatric hospital. Ju Won has not seen her since that day.

Even though Ju Won seems to have led the best childhood a kid could dream of, his mother’s departure and his father’s coldness forced him to erect walls around him. He became suspicious of everyone, even of his own father. Moreover, he is almost the only person, who has seen his father’s real face. That’s why, he constantly stands up to him, antagonizes him and refuses to bend. Father and son have indeed two opposite visions of life: Ju Won has a set of principles he meticulously follows, he only seeks justice, while his father is self-centered and wants to create the perfect life for himself, no matter the consequences.

These two philosophies turn little by little the two men against each other, while it creates an undeniable bond between Dong Shik and Ju Won, who abide by the same rules: justice and truth. Once again here, Ju Won’s methods are sometimes doubtful as well, but this doesn’t mean that he doesn’t regret some decisions he has made in the past.

I actually loved to see how Dong Shik and Ju Won, who seem to have nothing in common at first glance, actually end up aligning and work together instead of against each other. Their relationship was indeed very bumpy, but so worth it at the end.

Ambiance:

Though the plot may seem at first like another thriller in Dramaland, I have to say that the ambiance really managed to turn the drama into a must-see on my list. It succeeded in providing viewers with mystery, unexpected twists, excellent cliffhangers and a complex plot. All of these elements contributed, I think, to its well-deserved popularity and I can’t help myself, but praise it!

Village atmosphere: The first aspect of the drama that really grasped my attention, was the eerie atmosphere in Munju. I know that all towns in general have their own mysteries, but this one has definitely more! Despite the apparent strong community, especially among police officers, there is a constant tension within Munju. An unsettling feeling which gives the impression that, behind the smiles, dark truths are hidden. This is true by the way! Every inhabitant (from the mayor to the simple gamblers of the town) wears a mask and conceals his true identity. Park Jung Je for instance is haunted by the vision of a deer, that he constantly draws; Nam Sang Bae (Cheon Ho Jin) seems to know more about the murders than it seems; Jo Gil Goo (Song Sang Gyu) reveals that he is implicated in the conspiracy that took place years ago; the mayor Do Hae Won (Gil Hae Yeon) would do anything for her son, even if it means committing offenses.

Yet, the award for best actor goes to Kang Jin Mook! Behind his handicap and pathetic person hides in fact a dangerous, violent and blood-thirsty serial killer. His creepy attitudes even scared away Min Jung, his daughter (or so we are led to think), whom he killed because she dared to look down on him. A real psychopath, yes!

More than the atypical and rather unusual characters, the drama managed to turn each and every one of them into the potential killer. When that was not the case, it emphasizes their strange behavior and their disturbed reactions. This wonderful process cast doubt on all of them. Thus, not only did the characters suspect each, but we, as viewers, also had to do so.

Indeed, the drama doesn’t give a single minute of rest. Episode after episode, buried lies progressively come to light. The title, which introduced each episode, served as main clue, giving away a small part of the final answer, a little piece of the big puzzle.

All in all, it became hard for me to get attached to characters. Even the main leads were on the fringe, using law to their advantage. None of them was actually clean of sin. This created a certain distance and discomfort towards characters. It is as if, I myself, was part of this weird team, distrusting everyone. It was also interesting to see that even confident characters, like Ju Won, questioned their own motives.

Fortunately, all of them united at the end and formed a solid front in order to stop the murders, punish the culprits and reveal the whole truth. The fact that they all agreed to putting aside their differences to protect the city brought them closer. That’s why at the end, I was very pleased to see that they had almost become a family. The heart-warming community replaced this eerie village atmosphere of the beginning.

Direction and acting: If the plot was not enough to make you fall in love with the dram, the direction and acting certainly will! Some scenes of the drama deserve a round of applause, perfectly combining lights and shots to highlight actors’ amazing acting.

Shin Ha Kyun is simply amazing as the mysterious, violent and sometimes lunatic police officer. As for Yeo Jin Goo, this is by far, his best performance ever. He embodies with accuracy and subtlety a tormented Ju Won, pushing his own boundaries away as well as his family to remain true to his principles.

The confrontation between the two leads under the rain, in episode 15, is definitely worth watching! The dialogue is genuine, simple and straight to the point. The balance between rain and darkness is impeccable, immersing us in Ju Won’s desperate attempt to stay afloat and to prevent Dong Shik from falling into the fiery pit.

Ending: This drama never stopped surprising me. By the end, it actually managed to reverse the usual dynamic between characters. Generally, it all starts with confident characters trusting each other, until one of them suddenly reveals his Machiavellian plan. However, Beyond Evil started otherwise: going from two leads who distrust each other, to a real partnership. The ending is the epitome of a new start, Dong Shik speaks casually to Ju Won, as if they were brothers, culprits have been arrested and the city can go back to its normal life. After 21 years of darkness (that is the color that prevails in the drama), truth comes to light and the sun shines on a brand new day. The direction also emphasized this transition from darkness to light, which accentuated the idea that Ju Won and Dong Shik had been freed from their own burdens. (By the way, this is only possible because each of them has also paid for his crime(s).)

Even the final meal at Yoo Jae Yi (Choi Sung Eun) is joyful and light-hearted!

What are the themes tackled?

What are you willing to do to know the truth?: Like I said before, the entire drama focuses on the unveiling of the past. For 21 years, a serial killer has been active in the region, but he always managed to slip through the cracks. Now that Han Ju Won has come to town, he intends to stop the killer and put an end to that nightmare. Just like Lee Dong Shik. Both men are brilliant, which enables them to put clever strategies in place. As if the death of innocent people was not sufficient, it seems like culprits are also very difficult to arrest, even if you know their identity. This, of course, makes the drama even more unpredictable and interesting!

Briefly explained: 21 years ago, Lee Dong Shik’s sister went to see her boyfriend Park Jung Je at a deer farm, after she had received a text from him. However, he was drunk and they ended up fighting. In the middle of the night, she went back home. On the road, she crossed path with Jin Mook, who was killing someone else. Jin Mook caught her, put her in his van, cut her fingers and left her a moment unconscious. While he was busy with the other woman he had just killed, Dong Shin’s sister woke up and ran away.

Unfortunately for her, she was hit by Ju Won’s father’s car. He had just come out of a meeting with Do Hae Won (Jung Je’s mother) and a gangster Lee Chang Jin (Heo Sung Tae). He was driving under influence, so he called Chang Jin to take care of the mess. Yet, a while later, Jung Je (still drunk) also drove on Dong Shik’s sister’s body. Thinking that he had killed her (when she was already dead in fact), he called his mother, who herself called Chang Jin to take care of the mess. But, there comes the twist: Jin Mook witnessed everything and stole Dong Shik’s sister’s body, before Chang Jin could get rid of it. Jin Mook buried the body inside Dong Shik’s house and went on with his killings.

Later on, Dong Shik was accused of the other murders because his guitar pick was found next to one of the victims. Yet, it was Jeong Je who had taken it and lost it at the deer farm, that is to say the place where Jin Mook used to dump the dead bodies. Knowing that her son’s fingerprints were on the pick, Do Hae Won falsified the DNA results, which led to Dong Shik’s arrest. Jung Je was so shocked by the accident and so overwhelmed by guilt that he forgot everything. Her mother then sent him in a mental institute for 4 years.

Blaming everybody else, Ju Won’s father managed to keep on with his life. That is until Ju Won brutally discovered the truth and decided to punish him.

I know right, crazy story! And this is just one narrative among others. Each episode was like a new Russian doll with its own secrets. That’s why, Dong Shik and Ju Won had to go very far in order to prove that Han Ki Hwan was responsible. They were incredibly resilient, stubborn and unbending. They could’ve just stopped their investigation with Kang Jin Mook. Yet, they knew that there was something fishy. Pieces of the story didn’t add up. They dug and dug and dug, until finally the truth popped up. Even at the end, Ju Won proved that truth and justice were his leitmotiv, as he was willing to shoot his own father, if it meant putting him behind bars.

I was actually so amazed to see that they succeeded to go that far. Plus, they were always oscillating between doing justice themselves and following laws, so I was more than glad to see that they didn’t fall into the trap of avenging themselves. That was only possible because each of the main lead compensated for the other. When Dong Shik was infuriated and ready to destroy everyone, Ju Won served as a regulator and tranquilizer. The reverse is also true. In the last scenes, Ju Won confronts his father. He sees how unwilling he is to admit his wrongdoings. The only person who prevents him from shooting him is actually Dong Shik, who arrived right on time.

Twisted ties: All of this wouldn’t have occurred if Han Ki Hwan hadn’t been so obsessed with perfection. He is a control freak, who doesn’t accept a single stain on his career or his personal life. That is the reason why he always forces Ju Won to follow his path. Yet, Ju Won has a strong personality and makes decisions on his own. He would rather sacrifice himself and his career, if it meant making justice. An action that he does several times in the drama.

Despite that, I can’t overlook the fact that their relationship is rotten. Han Ki Hwan is not able to control and tame in own son, so he uses another, prosecutor Kwon Hyeok (Park Ji Hoon), to serve as a puppet. Despite the fact that Kwon Hyeok is the perfect son, according to Ki Hwan’s standards, he is not his blood like Ju Won. Therefore, he is not worth anything. This disturbing influence that Ki Hwan has, is responsible for a competition and distrust between both young men. Their friendship doesn’t rely on mutual feelings, but rather on weaknesses, transactions and the sharing of advantageous information.

Nevertheless, I still think that the most twisted family tie in the drama remains the one between Jung Je and his mother. He is a simple puppet in his mother’s hands. She decides and controls absolutely every aspect of his life, pretending to protect him. Yet, we rapidly understand that Jung Je is her weakness and that by protecting him, she actually protects herself. She manipulates her son without remorse, uses his emotions and trauma, shapes him the way she wants to. What a great mother, hum!?

Who is the monster?: All of these elements actually come down to the one and only theme of the drama: Who is the real monster? Is it the psychopathic serial killer? Yes, but after all, he is a psychopath with no feelings, who kills and that’s it. He doesn’t cover anything, police officers are just incapable to arrest him.

Is it the criminal that covers up his track, then? Like Han Ki Hwan or Lee Chang Jin? Or is it rather the person who manipulates everyone to get what she wants, like Do Hae Won? Can it be the police officer who betrays his principles and vows?

Or maybe the real monster is not just one person but a group? Can it be the village for accusing Dong Shik without proof? Or worse, is it us, viewers, for pointing our fingers at every suspect?

What makes the monster? What is the actual face of a monster? Does he wear the mask of greed? Ambition? Murder? In a world rotten to the core, full of corrupted and evil people, can you still be considered a monster?

So many question marks that the drama actually raises without necessarily giving a clear answer. It is up to the viewer to decide for him/herself what he believes in. However, what is certain is that the title, either in Korean (“Monster”) or in English (“Beyond Evil”), already initiates the debate.

And you, what do you think? Who is the real monster of the drama?