Exemplary Detective

Simply stated, this is one of the best police dramas I have ever seen - regardless of its language. I am a 54 year old high school language teacher. I have plenty of experience with daytime soaps and prime time programming here in the United States. We don't leave the house. However, I still feel as if I've traveled to Korea. This was an incredible way of spending our Covid lockdown and I state sincerely that I have enjoyed each and every single one of the 16 episodes - compare it to Hill Street Blues - Korean Style.

"The Good Detective" was very well directed, very well scripted and very well-acted. There was an incredible tension between the protagonists and the villains!!! I cared about the people and I would scream out loud so often that my family forced me to watch in my bedroom.

So many of the episodes ran me through an emotional gamut - the acting/direction was top notch. The plot twists and engaging characters drew me in and kept me watching. I would say that I liked this even more than "El gran hotel" - which, if you have seen it, is very high praise. (I've watched "Gran Hotel" more times that I will admit - I teach languages :) )

I hope for a second season. Nevertheless, this season was perfect. You never want to say good-bye to friends. And, if this is all we get from these characters, I understand. At least I can watch it over and over again on Netflix when I need to see them again.

I like that the story is so human, compelling, and interesting. I find character depth good, in a sense that each one has a very distinctive way of thinking and doing things. The storyline portrays a rich puzzle of perspectives in relation to the same situation, and feelings about what happened, and what each one can/should do. Detective story is interesting, and makes me want to continue watching to see what would happen next. Lots of trascendental questions shown in simple terms. I like very much that the whole story is about one case, and not a different case in each episode. Really good!

Everything is wonderful whodunit drama. There's great character development, the plot is Engaging. It's true korean style corrupt police prosecution story, quite similar in tone to Forest of Secrets. But the female lead just blows apart any logical human affection and rationale. How can she have split mind 99% of times as a reporter. You need to watch it to see how her character goes down to depths of complete humiliation of human behavior. Having emotions for killers is something unexplicable. Especially cold blooded murder and an innocent being executed If her character was kept more believable, I would have given it a 9. There's tonnes of comedy. But for me the female lead wrecks it apart by her completely unbelievable affection for the revealed killer

A satisfying plot with plenty to keep you guessing, but that is what I have come to expect from Korean dramas. My inability to remember the names did make it hard to follow at times, but it kept me watching.

What made the series stand out, though, was the wonderfully drawn relationships, for example between the detective and his sister and between the reporter and her editor. Perhaps the most compelling was between the convicted murderer and his daughter. Jo Jae-yoon played the father to perfection.

...the character of the reporter is just not the best, no depth. The actress needs more practice in drama, it often felt like there was no real acting in there. The expressions and the emotions are not believable. Let's see in season 2.

HOWEVER, Do-Chang's sister! What a class act!! A-mazing actress! And Do-Chang's character himself is a whole world of emotions, brilliant acting as well. He takes you on the journey along with Ji-Hyeok who is perfect as the tortured and smart detective. All the actors are excellent. The plot is very well woven. Highly recommend it.

Enjoyed every minute of it.