Such a Close Traitor

Doubt as a series is not a psychological drama, but an unnecessarily stretched-to-the-max attempt to a thriller. The profiler character is a police officer who sometimes paces away with -or utters- a clue (we will never know how he got to his conclusions, but he is a profiler so why question his methods). The daughter (who is a suspect) is someone who refuses to explain her actions to anyone. But is perma-angry that she is a suspect. The series pace is painfully slow, I fear that this is what some confuse with psychological. It completely ruined the story for me. I found myself skipping parts, skipping episodes and still very much able to follow the clue in the last part. So: poorly worked-out characters and motivations, super slow pace, nonsensical attitudes. The best actors to me are officer Gu Dae-Hong (played by Roh Jae-Won) and criminal Choi Young-Min (played by Kim Jung-Jin). I found the rest utterly forgettable.

As of this review, 5 episodes have been released in this 10-epdisode drama. So far, it seems we have a winner. There's much to talk about, but I want to start by saying stylish the show was shot and edited. The dark tone throughout the show and background music adds to the suspense. This psycho drama about a veteran profiler trying to solve a potential serial murder case with his own daughter involved somehow in at least one of the deaths takes you on quite a ride.

This show is not for casual viewing, as you will need to pay attention to keep up with quite a few key characters introduced in the first few episodes. As I've mentioned, the first half of this show has been incredibly good. I certainly hope the second part can deliver what it promises.

The storyline is captivating and the acting is top notch. You'll find yourself immersed in this story from the get go and will find yourself trying to investigate and solve the case along with the characters.

Since the show has more episodes to be delivered and you never know if the show is going to go off a cliff somehow, so I'll reserve further comment. However, so far so good, in fact, very good.

Doubt is a masterclass in crime thriller storytelling, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The drama excels in weaving a complex web of mystery, tension, and unexpected twists that challenge even the most seasoned fans of the genre. It's a deep dive into the messy, heartbreaking complexities of family relationships. As much as the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat, it's the emotional weight behind the characters' struggles that really hits hard.

Cinematography is beautiful. The setting is nothing special, just a normal city and the detective/his daughter's normal house. But the way they depict it to be gloomy and colorless adds to the ambience, and also highlights the relationship between the detective and his daughter.

In conclusion, Doubt is an exceptional drama that offers a refreshing take on crime thrillers. It engages your mind and emotions, leaving a lasting impression. If you're looking for a show that will keep you guessing and challenge your expectations, Doubt is a must-watch.

I've watched the first two episodes of "Doubt" or "Such a Close Traitor" and I'd rate them as 9 out of 10.

It is veeery suspenseful and thrilling.

An unsocial but brilliant police profiler has been living with his 18 year old daughter in his big house but apparently only for a short time.

We don't know what happened to the mother, but she divorced the police profiler some time ago and seems to have died recently.

The daughter is very cold, meticulous and calculating. She does not feel empathy for anyone and when she shows emotions in public they are just made up to fool people to make them do what she wants - or to hide who or what she really is.

The police profiler has to solve one last case before he moves somewhere else with his daughter.

During the investigation of the murder of a young girl the police profiler begins to suspect his daughter of being the killer.

The longer the investigation goes the more evidence leads to her as the culprit.

We also learn that the police profiler has also been suspecting his daughter of having killed her little brother when she was about 12.

Then he discovers that during the current police investigation his daughter has been snooping around his files and then destroyed a piece of evidence (some little fuzzy red cat pendant) which would have linked her directly to the murder.

The police profiler then confronts his daughter and asks her directly if she had killed the young girl a few days ago.

She just stands up and without emotions asks her father instead: "Do you REALLY think my little brother died from an accident - and do you REALLY think mom committed suicide?"

Wooooooooooooo.......

I really can't wait to see the next episode!

Having watched the entire show in one day, I can confidently say the series is worth it. It's not a 10 because the pacing in some episodes is a bit slow.

The cinematography is a standout feature of this show. It avoids the usual K-drama shots and instead delivers cinematography that fits perfectly with the tone and theme of the series.

The OST is another strong point, driving the tension in the scenes, especially the darker ones (like the scene in the hut-you know the one).

The actors do an excellent job throughout, especially the daughter. Truly outstanding work.

In summary, this show isn't for the average TikTok user or typical K-drama fan, unless that viewer primarily watches K-thrillers. It's a great, concise series with a fulfilling ending to the whole story. If I had to compare it to a more mainstream K-drama, it's like a dark, reversed-role Flower of Evil, as the daughter and the main protagonist of Flower of Evil share a lot in common.

Great show-definitely worth the watch.