Chimera

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

35 years ago, several people were killed in mysterious explosions. The murder case became known as “Chimera” and solved a few months later. In the present, new murders by explosion start happening, reminding the Chimera case. Detective Cha Jae Hwan and FBI agent Eugene Hathaway investigate.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

Finally an OCN drama that is worth it! Chimera contains all the ingredients of the perfect thriller: twists, complex characters, an excellent storyline that connects past and present and a mysterious, but brilliant killer on the loose. The acting performance is as good as the overall plot, so I highly recommend you take a look at that drama!

Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

Before jumping into the analysis, I just want to say that I won’t reveal all the twists of the drama, as it would take too much time to explain. The action is breathtaking and the rhythm fast-paced, so I really think it’s better for you to be surprised on time. Therefore, I will only tackle the main and obvious plot twists.

Characters: The main quartet, made up of Cha Jae Hwan (Park Hae Soo), Eugene Hathaway (Claudia Kim), Lee Joon Hyeop (Lee Hee Jun) and Kim Hyo Kyung (Cha Joo Hyung) gives its depth to the story. Not only do all characters share similar backgrounds (there is a certain mystery about their birth and/or respective family), but they also fight to find the truth regarding what happened 35 years ago. Each carries a heavy emotional burden that is well woven in the intrigue and serves it right. Also, I couldn’t help but imagining that they actually could’ve been friends, had this series of incidents not happened.

So let’s start with Detective Cha Jae Hwan. He was raised by his mother Cha Eun Soo (Nam Gi Ae), who lost all her memories of her past after an alleged car accident. She was helped by another detective, Han Joo Seok (Kang Shin Il), who protected and sheltered her and her child.

Jae Hwan is upright and fair, he is kind and empathetic. He only wishes to know the truth, so he refuses to be swayed by the hierarchy of the police force or to blindly obey orders. He is a protector before all, and would do anything in his power to help those who were framed.

Among those who are accused of those new murders stand a doctor: Lee Joon Hyeop. He was adopted by a British family when he was around 7, but definitely hides his actual intentions. Indeed, every time a murder occurs, he is present at the crime scene or has had a conversation with the victim. This naturally leads the police to think he is actually the killer. Moreover, Joon Hyeop is a very discreet and secretive man. He doesn’t show his cards easily nor does he trust people quickly. He seems rather cold and distant at first sight, but becomes vulnerable and touching when he opens up. For example, Eugene turns into his main confident. He trusts the FBI agent and asks for her help in order to solve the Chimera case that has ruined his life.
Later on in the drama, Lee Joon Hyeop’s secrets are revealed: He is the son of Lee Sang Woo, a young man who was arrested by the police and framed as the Chimera killer. If that were not enough, the torture inflicted during the interrogation caused Sang Woo’s death. It was thus turned into a suicide case from a killer, who couldn’t withstand what he had done. Because of that, Lee Joon Hyeop lost everything. His pregnant mother collapsed and he was sent for adoption.

This character actually aroused my empathy. I felt apologetic and sorry for him and everything he had to go through because of a single lie. Worse, he never received a proper apology from the actual murderers and his life became a living Hell. He spent it searching for the truth and answers, sacrificing most of his desires.

Eugene Hathaway is one of the two main female leads of the drama. She was adopted by an American family. That’s why she can relate to Lee Joon Hyeop. Their similar experience enables them to bond somehow. Eugene is a brilliant profiler who trusts reasoning and her instincts. That ability allows her to understand rapidly that Lee Joon Hyeop is yet another victim in that story. She is reasonable to the point that it turned against her in the past. She objectively believed facts, which caused a man to die. Since then, she has tried to see people for who they are and not only proofs. Thanks to that she connects with Lee Joon Hyeop and Cha Jae Hwan and teams up with them to solve the cases.

Last but not least, there is reporter Kim Hyo Kyung. She is the adoptive daughter of Lee Sang Woo’s former attorney. She is determined, fearless and straightforward. When she sets her mind on something, she is never swayed. That is at the same time a great strength but her greater weakness too. Indeed, she discovered that she was in reality Lee Sang Woo’s daughter, whom everyone thought dead in her mother’s womb. Yet, she survived and now wants revenge.

Interestingly, both siblings have chosen quite opposite roads to get to the same destination. One investigates to search for answers and put killers behind bars, putting himself in danger most of the time (Lee Joon Hyeop), while the other uses violence and murder to extract answers from the real criminals and then avenges her family (Kim Hyo Kyung).

All in all, I really loved the chemistry and synergy between the four main characters. They all had the same goal: Find the truth. However, their methods greatly differ from one another. Still, each person was really necessary to the intrigue. Any of these four characters is actually a second lead.

Chimera, the monster: This drama is an excellent way to get familiar with the Greek mythology if you want my opinion. First of all, for those who don’t know what a Chimera is, well the drama does a pretty good job at depicting it: A monster that has the head of a lion, the middle body of a goat and the tail of a snake/dragon. It breathes fire. Even if this creatures appears to be ruthless and scary, there is still an underlying meaning that is totally relevant to the story. Indeed one of the best plot twists of the drama occurs when it is revealed that the Chimera (even in the Greek mythology) is a female monster. While conveying that information, viewers are also discovering that Ryu Sang Hee is the real Chimera killer from 35 years ago.

But, the use of that symbolic creature wouldn’t be complete without the second great twist of the drama. The second Chimera killer is actually Kim Hyo Kyung, who wants revenge for her family’s destruction. Finally, the last Chimera killer putting an end to the story is Hyo Kyung’s adoptive father, as shown in the last scene.

The link between all of these killers is simple: They have been wronged and lost their beloved for that (Ryu Sang Hee’s daughter died in a fire; Kim Hyo Kyung lost most of her family; the attorney lost his daughter Hyo Kyung, who committed suicide).

As if the reference to the Chimera were not enough, the mythology is actually intricately woven into the whole narrative and serves as a red thread throughout the episodes. Indeed, the killer always leaves a lighter that features a Chimera on her crime scene; she kills using fire (like the creature); and she announces the upcoming death of the victim by sending him an extract from the Bible referring to the world bursting into flames. Chimera is a key word, a symbol and the backbone of the drama.

Chemicals and explosives: I have to say that the scenario of Chimera is original and innovative on a lot of points: a main quartet as leads, several people embodying the Chimera killer, a clever and well-knitted use of the mythology in the plot and of course a new method to kill. Indeed, if you want to make people die by fire, you need to know a bit more than just using a lighter to kill and cover your tracks. So, what’s better than introducing chemicals into the equation to re-enact the fiery pit on Earth!?

Lee Joon Hyeop, Eugene, Ryu Sang Hee and Kim Hyo Kyung are chemists who have studied and specialized in that field. Their knowledge allows them to easily get rid of their targets without even needing to be there nor to touch the victim. That’s why it is so difficult for the police to arrest the murderer: They have no proof on the crime scene. Plus, fire destroys quite everything, so it’s even harder to find clues.

In a nutshell, the drama kept me entertained all the time, thanks to its numerous and very well implemented twists, and also bettered my knowledge in chemistry and mythology. What more do you ask for?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxnNXrftjvw