By Yuli Atta
Watcher is a 2019 South Korean drama directed by Ahn Gil Ho. It follows the lives of Do Chi Kwang, Kim Young Koon, and Han Tae Joo after their lives were destroyed by a tragedy.
Watcher’s introduction| Screenshot
Watcher is a suspense drama which explores corruption in the police. It also has psychological thriller elements and makes you question all of the characters’ actions and morale.
Do Chi Kwang, played by Han Seok Kyu, is an elite detective who after arresting his senior colleague Kim Jae Myung for corruption and murder becomes the head of the Corruption investigation team. Kim Young Koon, played by Kang Seo Joon, is a police officer who meets Do Chi Kwang by accident and starts working with him on catching corrupted policemen as a way of proving that he isn’t like his father Kim Jae Myung. The two of them work with the prosecutor turned lawyer Han Tae Joo, portrayed by Kim Hyun Joo, whose questionable loyalties and actions always put their trust and cases at risk.
Their questionable teamwork helps them as much as it hinders their progress on their cases. Each of them has their own goals and motives and most often than not they keep secrets from each other, resulting in major misunderstandings and compromises.
The drama is about the three main characters trying to find a serial killer who has been killing policemen for more than a decade. The only clues they have that it’s somebody from the police are the victims’ cut off thumbs and a type of gun used by the local police departments.
What makes this drama exceptional is the superb storyline followed by the amazing acting. You slowly get to know the characters, their motives and inner struggles, their personalities, problems and virtues. It makes you question them every time they do something morally grey in order to help the investigation, from betrayal to fabricating evidence to convict a known criminal.
The story itself is very well-written, giving and taking clues away as it goes. It makes you believe that you've all but figured out the whodunit until a new clue is found that points in a completely different direction. It may seem like the culprit is obvious but the storyline would take many twists and turns until you start suspecting the main characters themselves.
Han Tae Joo talking to Do Chi Kwang | Screenshot
Han Tae Joo’s actions were always unclear. Being personally involved in the case, she would constantly help Do Chi Kwang and Kim Young Koon while at the same time stabbing them in the back if she’d benefit from it. While Do Chi Kwang doesn’t betray anybody and is alway loyal and reliable to his teammates, his behaviour becomes highly suspicious on multiple occasions, making Kim Young Koon act rashly towards him.
All of the characters are deeply flawed, from the main characters to the antagonists, which is what makes them believable and realistic. Even when the culprit is finally revealed, it makes sense, his actions are logical, he has a legitimate reason for acting the way he does. What I liked about it was that while he wasn’t redeemed, it was clearly shown that he had something to lose and therefore, something to fight for.
Watcher is an exceptional drama, exploring the popular for K-dramas theme of corruption in a unique and captivating way which is enhanced by the masterful job of the actors.
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