Psychopath Diary (2019)

Psychopath Diary was a drama I thought wasn't for me. The plot didn't sound like something I would really enjoy; crime-thrillers aren’t often very high on my lists. However, I tried it out for Yoon Shi Yoon and it captivated me and amused me from the very first episode.

This drama surprised me so much. The story is just as crazy as it sounds, memory loss isn't anything new in kdramas and often I shudder when I hear the words amnesia being used to advance the plot, but the story is told in such a amusing, cleaver and sincere sort of way that you can't help but be hooked by it. The show always seemed to be very aware of itself and what it was trying to do and just very comfortable with its absurdity.

The tone of the story is rather slice of life some places, but achieves those more dramatic moments when it needs to, humor is on the black side and takes advantage of how ridiculous everything is around what I appreciated and it always managed to blend it, thrill and more the mundane story of the characters we meet along the way.

I didn’t feel like the drama thread a lot of new ways with some of the tropes it used, or dives too deeply into them. It more so just has a lot of fun with them. There is a very nice balance between the comedy, the absurd and then the more thriller aspect of the show, which makes it stand out. It makes Psychopath Diary become unlike other kdramas I have seen before.

I expected the more serious side of the show to take over at some point, for the comedy to sort of step aside as the story got bleaker. But the story always seems to flow well between those different genres the show has all mixed up in there. It had a rhythm going on. There is always some twist to every aspect of the story, and the comedy interrupts the tension a lot of the time and vice versa. There was such a nice mix going on there, one that I didn’t think would work as well as they did. It never gets too tired.

They never make you guess too much, not even with who the real psychopath is; that makes us just in on the joke. You have a hunch about where this is going, but still the drama is so cleverly absurd that you do have a hard time guessing what will happen next. And the drama makes great use of it.

In Woo also always managed to be one step ahead of the other characters, and while it did feel a bit repetitive (and very annoying towards the end, but in a good way), that I still found myself very enthralled and excited about each new episode. In Woo is a killer I could really enjoy. He's just evil, no trauma or explanation needed, and it’s just great to watch. It worked out well for the story and you somehow never knew what he would do next.

Sometimes he seems a little too cartoonish as the bad guy, smirking and laughing in the background. But it felt so intentional and in the spirit of the humor within the show, that it sorts of works.

Sometimes the comedy goes a bit overboard, and sometimes you can sense when the switch between the tension, the more dramatic points, and the more comedic aspects of the shows (like when the twists are revealed) but it is always so very entertaining and just a very fun ride throughout. I was expecting it loose steam at some point, for the plot to become way to ridiculous, but it just went full steam ahead and just made this crazy plot its own.

There is very little romance here. I was expecting more, but I was very happy with how little we got. There was plenty else to do within the story already and adding romance on top of that would have been too much. We just got more solid character interactions and different relationship development instead. There was definite fondness, possible attraction between Dong Sik and Shim Bo Kyung. But there weren’t much more than a few longing eye-contacts and so on between them

I liked Bo Kyung, our female heroine, as a character. She was always very consistent with herself, rather sensible and smart and always went after what she thought was right. Her character was never set aside as the story went along, people listened to her, she was valued, and she had real impact on the story. So often female cops on these shows are just there running along with the men and just there to get into dangers. Not here.

Dong Sik who goes from being a pushover to someone who learns to stand up for himself, , and over the story does a good job with presenting the characters to us so we can understand them, and get behind their actions and why they did things the way they did them; despite the absurdity that is prevalent all around them. Yoon Shi Yoon plays Dong Sik so well. He is so good in this role and he gets to show all his aspects as an actor here. All the actors here are very good in their roles.

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This drama just wowed me all the way thru. I laughed EVERY single episode LOL
The premise sets up the whole show in the first episode - it's semi-serious but with some tongue in cheek at first, but then it just dissolves into fun LOL once our hero decides that diary is his!
Yoon Si Yoon just does this duality thing perfectly - his ability to morph into whatever movie psycho he finds useful to 'recall' his past as a 'predator' had me laughing through out. So smoothly done, the time perfect, lovely to watch! And the music fit the action as well.
Our REAL psychopath, again, very well acted indeed. Kudos to Park Sung Hoon for bringing this character to life, with his confused looks and hidden glee LOL The writers created a well-rounded character here, with motivations and weaknesses, rather than a pure evil, flat stock villain. We understood why he behaved the way he did, without sympathizing with him much (although his DADDY, well, enough to drive anyone to some kind of hell)
I loved our two wanna-be detectives - the lead girl did such a great job! That character showed lots of strength and resolve, while her partner was not just a foil for jokes but a fun character on his own merits.
I also loved the soft-hearted gangster LOL
Our little Victon boy Jung Su Bin did quite well in the few parts of the drama where his character had a main part. That made me smile :D
The plot moved along nicely, hit all the major issues & in the end resolved almost all of them, and managed to never change into some makjang mess in the middle - every time I thought it might, the writers turned the tables & amused me :D Someone in a review lamented this - but in fact it's a strong point of this drama - it is a COMEDY after all!!!!
I highly recommend this drama and I may actually put it on my rewatch list :D

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The drama had an amazing idea for a great character, but somehow it has slowly been losing the charm the closer to the end we've got.

CHARACTERS
While the writer had a clear idea for both male lead characters, Dong Sik and In Woo, and both of their stories were quite well developed and concluded, Shim Bo Kyung was left to do what usually side characters do - react the right way to progress the plot.

Dong Sik, the definition of a loser, because of a quite humorous and coincidental string of accidents takes the persona of a serial killer. Having an amnesia and being faced with the reality of either being a pushover or a serial killer, he thinks of the former being more painful and scary and he accepts the possibility of being a psychopath, rationalizing all of his humane and empathetic behaviors for them to fit his new identity.

Seo In Woo, a serial killer who thinks he found his soulmate and killing partner in Dong Sik. His growing obsession over Dong Sik leads him to also credit the main lead with more wits, smarts and planning skills than he is capable of. Never being cared for by people in his environment, he hopes for a place of understanding in Dong Sik.

Shim Bo Kyung, who wished to be a detective until her father's accident. Since that time she kept having hallucinations of her father at the prime time of his career. The hallucinations were nothing more than her repressed hopes and wishes to follow his footsteps in the crime department. Sadly, her character in most cases was just used to forward the plot, the idea of hallucinations was not addressed enough. Not to mention her character was extremely inconsistent in terms of her skills. At times she had amazing intuition and deductive skills, but at the same time she failed to notice and connect many, quite obvious clues.
The combination of these three characters made quite an interesting and entertaining story and the ever changing interactions between them made me question who at the moment has the upper hand.

ENDING (no spoilers)
The fact that the ending was quite predictable from the get go was not a problem, since this drama focuses more on the journey not the destination.

PROS
Good acting of all the main and supporting actors, a variety of different characters that make it easier to find someone we can relate to, extremely good chemistry between Dong Sik and In Woo and the shifts in the dynamics between them.

CONS
Too much comedy took away from the serious aspect of the drama and made the villain less scary and impactful (he is a serial killer after all), unrealistic portrayal of police work to the point of it being ridiculous at times, less entertaining second half of the drama, not a strong first episode.

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Psychopath Diary; Where A Loser Can Mistake Himself For A Psychopath...

It’s fair to say that Psychopath Diary is perhaps one of the few Korean dramas out there which actually dares to tackle a genre not often seen in South-Korea called “ Dark Comedy”. Naturally this isn’t a theme which interests everyone out there, however, Psychopath Diary is outrageously funny and equally morbid within its tackling of our Male lead Yook Dong-Sik ( Yoon Shi Yoon ) believing he is a psychopath over the course of the drama.


When viewers are first introduced to Dong- Sik, he is an unlikely male lead. Although respectfully Shi Yoon has taken on some quite suave roles as the “leading”man in dramas such as Hit The Top and My Cute Guys, his drab outfits and curly perm help him to blend into the role as the “ everyday” and “ meek” office worker by appearing in his role as Yook Dong-Sik.

To put it into simple words, Dong- Sik is the embodiment of a “ scapegoat” and a “ loser” ( at least in the beginning of the series); a “ nuisance” to his colleagues and family ( particularly his austere father), depressed and someone who certainly wouldn’t even say boo to a ghost. Ironically his fate changes when a failed suicide attempt leads to him developing retrograde amnesia in the same sight when a serial killer ( Park Sung hoon) left behind his own diary after a murder around the same time . By being given the diary which is mistakingly believed to “ belong” to Dong- Sik, he is ironically led into believing he is a ruthless psychopath.

As you can imagine, this leads to a series of many misunderstandings and dark humour within scenes from Dong- Sik trying to “ remember” his talents by watching a bunch of serial killer movies ( such as American Psycho) to miserably failing at remembering how to lie out some coverings to cover up blood when he attempts to carry out one of his plans. However, as the series progresses, there’s also an added level of surprising progression around some of our characters in particular with our female lead and Police Officer Shim Bo- Kung ( Jung In- Sun) not as a romantic interest, but an intelligent cop in her own right with quite a heartbreaking revelation about her family life , as well of course , Dong- Sik revealing his intelligence when he begins to pursue a cat and mouse game with our charming killer Seo In- Woo ( Park Sung-Hoo).

Yet there’s no denying that whilst Psychopath Diary was a morbidly enjoyable watch, it isn’t a flawless show. The pacing of episodes in addition to the progression of storyline sometimes felt disjointed and a little dragging in addition to the comedic element ( sometimes pushed a little too far in scenes ). In addition to this the cinematography could have been more progressive and intriguing ( specifically lighting) as well as perhaps some more depth into our brushed antagonist Seo In- Woo and what made him actually tick as well.

On the other hand, Psychopath Diary was an undeniably satirical, witty and a social commentary upon many elements of Korean society ( e.g. work , drama cliches and lifestyle). Although not flawless, it is certainly enjoyable for those who are looking for something with edgy comedy, an intriguing plot and of course characters as well.

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The best parts of this drama are:
1. The plot is so solid. This drama doesn't waste your time with over-crying, over-kissing, etc. It really provides you a pure story. Every episode WON'T let you get bored.
2. Every episode will make you laugh. Yes, although it's crime/thriller/action, but this drama is also a comedy. The director twists so many scenes that—I believe—will make you laugh.
3. NO shitty useless romance scene. Unlike other drama, this drama doesn't have 'romance' things. So, the 16 episodes really give you different feels. It's only between laugh or nerves, no lovey-dovey waiting for the actor & actress to kiss.
4. The acting of the actors and actresses are so damn good! The main actor really acts like a stupid guy, and he acts like a psychopath seamlessly. You know, it's so hard to play two roles in one character. The main actress shows her emotions very well. She doesn't need to over-cry to express her sadness. Instead, she shows her meaningful expression through her beautiful face.
5. Haven't come to my mind, I'll add them to here once I remember.

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Inappropriately Comical

Finally finished this korean drama. Though I'm not into comedy, I decided to give this one a try because I enjoy these kind of themes (murder/mystery/crime), and it suprisingly has a higher average rating in mydramalist. But wow, what a letdown.

Obviously created as a satire, this 16-episode kdrama is comedy gold. It's crazy hilarious. Even if the tone is sometimes dark, the humor and comedic timing are still integrated seamlessly. Which is, in my opinion, the only thing good about it. Its humor.

Everything else is just bad, to be honest. It's over the top and ridiculous. This is probably the drama's main goal - to be over the top- but its ridiculousness just overwhelms all the good stuff it has. It surely has heart and it has good intentions, but trying to portray a convincing dark murder/mystery plot with all that outrageous acting and storyline is impossible. People actually die and suffer here but because of the inappropriately comical mood, I honestly don't know if I have to take it seriously or not.

STORY: The first four episodes are actually great. It sets the tone and introduces all the characters well. All of the main leads - the amnesiac Yook Dong Shik, the psychopath murderer Seo In Woo, and police officer Shim Bo Kyung- have interesting backgrounds and motivations. After those 4 episodes though, the story drags on with all kinds of unnecessary shenanigans. By ep 6, I already know where this is going, and unsurprisingly the ending is super predictable and anticlimactic.

For anyone watching this because of the "supposed bromance" between the sadistic Seo In Woo and the doormat Yook Dong Shik, don't hold your breath. After ep 5 or so, the magic is gone. It's just pure cat-and-mouse game here. The psychopath will finally find out the truth and lose interest towards the MC (Yook Dong Shik), and it's just pure repulsion from thereon; with the sadistic cat mostly trying to kill the mouse, if you know what I mean. (Shame, really. They look cute together.)

CHARACTERS : What really let me down was the main character himself. Yook Dong Shik has been a doormat all his life. This guy has been bullied by everyone for being too nice and naive. There is nothing wrong with being nice, but not to the point where it's already abuse. And the problem is, Yook Dong Shik knows this. He knows that he is being taken advantage of, but did he change anything in the end? No.

In his speech in the final episode, this guy still referred to himself as "the chump and an absolute sucker" and that he would rather "suffer than let anyone else suffer" which sounds really altruistic but in reality, this is abuse too. Letting people take advantage of you does not only hurt yourself; it also damage other people. You make them irresponsible and terrible human beings, which in the long run, will make the world worse. You ain't helping anybody at this point.

The female lead, Officer Shim Bo Kyung is also almost too good to be true. Very conscientious and idealistic. Sounds like a great character, right? She really is. Except for when she accidentally ran over Yook Dong Shik (YDS) with her car and lied about it (ep 1). This was the reason why the main character YDS had an amnesia and became the root of all their problems.

Also, she lets YDS- an untrained and powerless civilian- to accompany her to very dangerous investigations which is not only gravely irresponsible for a cop, but also illegal. (Yikes). But at least, she's the most capable officer in the show. Everyone else in the police department is just laughably incompetent. It's just played for laughs, but when you think about it, it's just really sad because this is the sole reason why the psychopath wins every single time.

Speaking of the psychopath- the sadistic Director Seo In Woo has all the trademark characteristics of an intellectual serial killer, and I was relieved that his character is actually portrayed seriously. He has a solid and consistent character all throughout. Evil, but meticulous. Cold but highly intuitive and rational. He's one of the most believable character of the show. But in the end, there's still no character development and he just remained wicked all throughout.

FINAL EPISODE : I mostly judge dramas by their finale, because I think the ability to tie things altogether and have a satisfying ending is what makes a drama memorable. And this is where the drama falls short as well. Honestly, it could have all ended at ep 10, but they managed to drag it to 16 eps so they could add more unnecessary filler scenes in it. So by the final episode, there's no suspense anymore and I was just tired of it all.

The ending fight between the two male leads are just the same ridiculous, repetitive antics. There's no earth shattering moment of genius or coolness from the main character. It's just terrible, really. Not worth the 16 eps I painstakingly watched to get to this. I honestly hoped that YDS could have at least be cooler in the end and gained the psychopath's respect, but no. All his coolness already fizzled by ep 5, and he could not even outsmart the villain. It's just brute force and luck in the end, which is really disappointing.

There are heartwarming moments here and there that made the drama bearable to watch at least. I especially like YDS's close relationship with his family and his bromantic moments with Chil Sung are really precious.

TLDR: I'm probably not going to watch it again. Way too predictable and no character development. Though humorous and heartwarming, this drama lacks a whole lot of logic and purpose.

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Suspenseful black comedy that will both make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat!

Psychopath Diary is a crime/thriller black comedy and it's its own unique blend of genres which I haven't yet met in Korean dramas.
Some of the themes are serious and sometimes even bleak, but it's the humour and surrealism that take center stage. It's the sort of show where you know you shouldn't laugh, but you end up snickering anyway!
That being said, it's definitely not for everyone.
If you think this drama sounds interesting I suggest you give it at least two episodes since the first is mostly set-up and many found it a bit boring...I didn't, but I can see why some people did.

STORY / WRITING
The premise is a fun and unique twist on the amnesia plot. The story blocks aren't new, but they were used in a fun and quite refreshing way. It actually felt like one of the most unpredictable shows I ever watched, even if I can't really figure out why...I think they just managed to set the tone perfectly and make me completely invested with the drama.
The plot keeps going till the final episode, which is quite important since sometimes Korean dramas derail towards the end. There were a few episodes in the middle which I felt were a bit slower, but for me they were preceded/followed by more eventful ones, so I never felt the plot dragging. The ending was a tiny bit underwhelming, but satisfying enough and in any case it didn't depreciate the drama's value for me.
I personally found that pretty much all the decisions made by the characters made sense, if one takes into consideration the weird logic of the drama. There were no baffling moments were I couldn't understand why a character did something, in the context of his/her characterization.
A warning, though: you'll be disappointed if you go into this expecting a serious and realistic drama...the plot does indeed have quite a few contrivancies, I just didn't mind because...well, it's just so **** fun, okay!?

CAST
The casting for me was spot on!
I honestly can't think of a better actor than Yoon Shi Yoon to portray Dong Shik who can be both adorable yet downright scary at the same time. I personally think he really has a comedic talent and his style of acting perfectly suits the tone of this drama.
The other two leads deserve praise as well.
Park Sung Hoon managed to be extremely charismatic even when portraying a quite deranged serial killer. His character became more interesting as more details about his background came up in the story, but it was pretty fascinating even in the beginning.
Jung In Sun is likeable as always; even that sadly doesn't save her character from being the least compelling of the 3 leads. I liked Bo Kyung well enough, but she never really felt as important as either Dong Shik or In Woo.
In any case, I think all three leads played well with one another and had overall a good chemistry.
The supporting cast was also great and I honestly couldn't find a single weak link.
Special kudos to Heo Sung Tae whom I'm used to see in villain roles, but here is so cute and funny. I'm converted to a fan!

MUSIC
The main song "Wanna Be Bad" is catchy, but beside that I didn't notice any particular noteworthy song.
Sound design though was really well done!

PRODUCTION
The production value is quite high and the settings well made.
I am no expert, but I found certain scenes and shots to be particularly visually appealing and the camera work and editing were quite impressive.

REWATCHABILITY
Some of the suspense will certainly be lost upon a second viewing, but I'll definitely rewatch this drama anyway.
I think there are several visual details which I have missed and that will for sure prove to be funny or interesting to discover a second time around.
Yoon Shi Yoon's acting alone might simply provide enough entertainment to make it worth the time for me.

OVERALL
Basically...I've really loved this show. It's the first Korean drama I've watched during airing and I definitely do not regret it!
I recognise there are a few issues and that is a drama that probably won't appeal to the greater audience, but right now I don't feel like giving it anything less than 9.
I've actually rated it 9.5 on my watching list, because I really had so much fun.

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‘Psychopath Diary’ ????? When I first heard the title of this drama, I thought it would be very stressful and scary, like a thriller in general. But it turns out that the genre is comedy + thriller, to be honest, at first when I found out there was a comedy, I felt the same as those who ended up not watching this drama, they thought it was weird, the title and story didn't match and said the drama was boring.
I have a reason why I should watch this drama, but for my review I will be neutral as a normal audience. So, in an article writer-nim said that initially the drama will be a heavy thriller with amnesia and serial killer characters, then why did the writers finally change it ????? I've found the answer.
This drama will be a fun drama (not just a thriller), refreshing (comedy + thriller) is something new, and I think this drama succeeded in doing it, this drama is different and unique.
All players perform their best acting. Heo Sung Tae for the first time did not act as a bad person and impressed the audience. Park Sung Hoon was not wrong to take this drama even though 2 times in a row as a psychopath, this paid off. Jung In Sun, she has had a career since he was a child, I hope he will be more successful and my Yoon Shi Yoon, there is no proper actor who wants to portray Yook Dong Shik besides him, heeeee Siyoon says dong shik is more stupid than he thought, but dong shik is not stupid, he is just a human who is too good, yaaaaaa ,,,,,,,,, excessive is also not good. The main role of this drama is Yook Dong Shik, he is pushovers, amnesia, then turns into a serial killer because of the psychopathic diaries he has and the facts about him who likes watching thriller movies ,,,,,, oh gosh ,,,,,,, writer-nim, you are amazing …… Sim Bo Kyung is the most common role we have met, life as it is and with her imagined father, and Seo In Woo, I really don't feel sorry for he at all, and this psychopath has a diary, he is different but this is her choice .
I watched this drama with the intention of having fun, I got it, overall this drama is better than a good drama at the beginning but ends up hanging, I really hate it, it is not clear, wasting my time watching it. The point is ,,,,,,, those who watch this drama hopefully all of you are satisfied, entertained and who do not watch this drama you will regret it.

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When I first reviewed this title, I gave it a 9. I stick by that number in the case of the first 4 episodes, however as a whole there were bound to be a few issues. Overall I loved this drama and will gladly rewatch episodes, plan on making fanart, and will probably be raving about it to all of my friends for the next few months until the finale hype wears off. Now to get onto the review.

WHO THIS IS NOT FOR:
Those expecting a deep, serious crime drama which makes them reflect on their morality. (strangers from hell)
Those who dislike exaggeration as a character trait or secondhand embarrassment.

~STORY~
If you're reading this review you've probably already heard the premise. I went into this series without it. No synopsis, no trailer, no cast list, nothing but the name of the show. The first five minutes do a really good job of grabbing your attention. And for someone who didn't know anything before the first ep it did a really good job of introducing the main characters, the premise of the show, and the overall tone.
The pacing of events needed some work and the story dragged around midway.
However, that said, it didn't neglect the build up and portrayal of certain psychological issues and injuries.
I wish I could say I was completely satisfied with the execution of this story, however there were logical issues regarding the arcs of a few characters that detracted from the narrative.

~ACTING/CAST~
Yoon Shi Yoon/Yook Dong Shik: I will never be able to say enough about Yoon Shi Yoon. This was the first thing I really saw him in and I was utterly blown away. He is very expressive which seems to be why he was cast for this role. Due to Yook Dong Shik's amnesia and flare for the dramatics Yoon Shi Yoon had to regularly go from nervously giddy, to calm and cold. If you ever get bored just look at how he moves the corners of his lips and eyes. He also has good chemistry with the entire cast.

Jung In Sun/Shim Bo Kyung: At first I thought it was just cause she was the only sane person of the main 3, but as I watched I realized her character is really not for me. The actress does a very good job of portraying officer Shim, but she can't fix the writing for the character. Out of all the things the series prepped well for, it didn't prep for an officer well. There are so many things, especially in the later half, which just don't make sense for her character. She also falls into the trap of damsel in distress. Overall, one of the weakest characters.

Park Sung Hoon/Seo In Woo: Another actor I had never heard of before this. His performance in the first half left quite a bit to be desired and he felt like he knew where he needed to be, what he needed to say, and do, but not how to make it seem quite natural. It was almost uncanny valley of acting. However as the show progressed he slipped into character better and became a real treat to watch. As for the character, he was the most consistent and easy character to understand. A bit flat in the beginning but as they revealed more about him he showed to be much more complex than hatchet swinging serial killer.

Ensemble:
The rest of the cast were pretty fun and had their own agency to them that I haven't seen from many dramas. Even though we didn't know characters well we still could get a general idea of their wants and personalities outside of the main character's life. That is other than the dishonorable mention

Dishonorable Mention:
There is one character, not gonna name names, who has almost no agency and volition of their own. They exist only to aid a single character and don't show any sign of being more than a hollow husk of a person.
I removed a whole star cause this character exists.

~MUSIC~
I JUST WANNA BE BAD!!!
Honestly I love this soundtrack and it's going on a playlist. Besides 'wanna be bad' by the rose, this series sports a few instrumentals. I was actually upset that I couldn't found the sound director in the credits (I'mma have to look for it again). The music fits the energetic dark (ish) comedy tone of the show and really adds to scenes that are already really fun. The opening is very reminiscent of a mix between bond and scooby doo mysteries inc.

~REWATCH VALUE~
The sets are a bit plain but very easy on the eyes, the script episode to episode is decent enough to make a second (or even third) viewing comfortable, and the acting is superb, you may just catch things about characters you didn't realize the first time through. And did I mention the soundtrack yet?

~TL:DR~
Psychopath diary was a pretty well written, well acted, enjoyable dark (ish) comedy. It's really enjoyable the first time through, and easy enough to rewatch. The sound design is fantastic and sets the tone really well.

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Can one gimmick sustain an entire kdrama? Almost

The progression of Psychopath Diary seems simple, characters clear the misunderstanding until the big finale, and the drama results from which characters figure out the truth and when. The back half of the drama leaves the misunderstanding uncleared for a bit too long (to be expected of Korean dramas) with a hurried conclusion. The drama relies on comedy to get through its plot shortcomings, and the comedy never lets the viewers down.

Psychopath Diary brings in two successful main leads, Yoon Shi-Yoon (The Nokdu Flower) and Jung In-Sun (Terius Behind Me) and focuses on their interactions with third lead, Park Sung-Hoon. Their delivery really brings Psychopath Diary together and makes it a solid kdrama in 2019.

Story:
Nothing about the premise screams “new” in kdramaland: murder mystery, amnesia, nice guy taken advantage of, etc. Instead, it throws these concepts into a blender to create the nice guy who believes he is the psychopath killer with amnesia. The opening scene shows a male lead with conviction but that facade is ripped off for the viewers quickly, and the viewers are omniscient of the entire plot from the get-go.

From there, you would think the show revolves around how to resolve the misunderstanding, but Psychopath Diary dwells on all the hilarious scenarios of mistaken identity. The main male lead, Yook Dong Shik, tries to live up to his “killer” identity and to turn his pushover life around. Even with all the creative snafus, the gimmick starts to tire, and the comedic genius behind Psychopath Diary does not translate to the mystery/thriller aspect of the show. All-in-all, Psychopath Diary is a comedic gem under the guise of a mystery/thriller.

Acting:
The casting of the main leads is exceptional. Psychopath Diary showcases a group of actors with comic chops. Jung In-Sun is equally fun and funny in her previous role in Terius Behind Me. I remember Yoon Shi-Yoon from King of Baking in the 2010s. There are countless scenes where YSY’s character hilariously behaves more psychotic than our psychopath killer.

The supporting cast also has a strong resume in comedic dramas. Shout out to Kim Ki-Doo, who continues to score rolls as the comic relief (even in a comedy). The entire cast can be depended on to bring laughter to even the most dire scenes.

Music:
Music is an area that cable dramas struggle to keep up versus their major network counterparts. tvN is able to pull together an awesome ensemble, as evidenced by Hotel Del Luna, but that is more an exception than a rule. Still, the music does not take away from Psychopath Diary in any way. The overall viewing/listening experience remains pleasant throughout all the episodes.

Rewatch Value:
I cannot help but compare Psychopath Diary to Terius Behind Me again. So many of the things said in this review can also apply to Terius, and Terius is just a hair better in my eyes. Both casts are stellar, but Terius Behind Me does not trip up as much with the mystery/thriller plotline. On the other hand, Psychopath Diary never let down on the laughs, and that is what will be remembered about Psychopath Diary above all else.

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Good but meh

I both love and hate this drama. The plot is unique and acting is amazing. I loved the fact that everytime Donk Sik would quote a movie there would be a vhs tape next to him . But I think that this drama could’ve gone another route. Although he had amnesia, why was he so keen in embracing his psycopathic tendencies. In my opinion it would’ve been great if he actually turned out to be a psycopath. Secondly, too many plot holes with Seo In Woo. Those random clips of him as a child, and then Donk Sik’s mention of his mother right before the big fight left me wondering. I wanna know what happened to Seo In Woo’s mother, rather than focusing on the superficial side of this serial killer the drama should’ve explained more his background. Again it would’ve been amazing if Seo In woo and Donk Sik teamed up and became killers together. Like Strangers from Hell , dramas don’t need happy save the day endings. It would’ve so awesome.

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A Diary that Changed the Lives of Three People (and more)

A pushover employee. A police officer. A psychopath. Their lives become intertwined by a little diary. As dark as it may sound, the idea of turning their story into a something the viewers can laugh at was quite unexpected and somehow brave.

I have came across promotional media for this drama prior to its premiere and while it captured my interest because of Jung In-sun (I really liked her in Terius Behind Me) it wasn't enough to actually make me watch... That is until I ran out of dramas to watch (LOL). I think watching it was a good choice.

STORY
Like I mentioned above, the premise of this drama is quite unconventional (at least for a K-drama newbie like me) and though I wasn't curious enough to watch it from the time it premiered, when I did begin to, I wasn't able to let go. The pacing was just right in most of its episodes. However, at the beginning, I did have some thoughts about it being better off a movie than a drama (just so I could see the end of it in two hours time, haha), but later on I was able to appreciate its story line precisely because it is a drama. It was not as predictable as I expected it to be, which is a good thing. But myself being a fan of CSI and Sherlock, I found their investigation procedures a bit lacking in sophistication. And also, what I found a bit disappointing was how the female character, which started off projecting a strong and independent image, ended up being rescued at some point in the drama.

Generally though, it was a happy drama trying to convey hope and strength for those who seem to think they are useless and weak.

ACTING
Yoon Shi Yoon - It was may first time to see him and it wasn't hard to appreciate him as a comedic actor in this drama since he already gave off a Ryan Bang impression on me. He was really good at shifting from a weakling to a predator in his 'psychopathic' moments but I feel a bit awkward when he starts to cry really hard or shout really loud, not sure why. But basically I find his charm and comedic skills a plus.

Jung In Sun - I began to admire this actress in Terius Behind Me and this drama made me admire her even more because I never saw a hint of her previous character in Shim Bo Kyung. The teasers gave me an impression that her character would be clumsy and awkward, but it turned out differently and I appreciate that.

Park Sung Hoon - He carried out his role very excellently and I hope he gets more challenging roles in the future. It's my first time to see him as well, and what marked for me in this role of his is his creepy yet funny laughter. And yet even though at times his character's situation may be funny, he was very consistent in projecting his role as a coldhearted psychopath.

Support Roles - Among the support roles, Kim Myung Soo and Heo Sung Tae were the most unforgettable.

MUSIC
I like how the intro music reminds me of Kill Bill, since that helps set the mood for the murders that could happen in the drama. Aside from that, The Rose's "Wanna Be Bad" was the most catchy among the OST. If I'm not mistaken, "Stay The Same" was the song that plays during Bo Kyung and Dong Shik shipping moments; it sounded too romantic for me.

REWATCH VALUE
I personally would watch this again for basically two reasons: I want better understand the scenes and catch some significant details I may have missed, or I want to have a good laugh.

OVERALL
It may not be as grand and sophisticated as other related dramas, but I could say that watching this won't be a waste of time, especially if you are into crime and comedy.

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