Mouse (2021)

wasted potential for a larger conversation

This drama really wrecked me, in a good way and bad way. Actually after concluding this show I still haven’t been able to watch a crime drama. I think it’s safe to say this show scarred me in a way that I can’t properly explain. It both enthralled me and exhausted me at the same time. I had to take breaks in between increments of episodes because it was very intense, even for me, a person who likes this genre. As much as this show captivated me, it's not to forget the problems I had with it.

The first episode did an excellent job of explaining the back story of our main characters, but not revealing too much to the point where the twists became obvious. In the first ep we are introduced to a society where psychopaths can be detected at birth. This does indeed cause a stir amongst new mothers because the possibility of your child being born as such creates a real fear. The issue I have with this is jumping to conclusions. Not all psychopaths turn into killers, but once your child gets that label, you're going to deny them the TLC that every child needs? That aspect of the show was a huge and misleading generalization, and perhaps if handled differently, could’ve saved a lot of people from public isolation and demise. On a parenting level I think Ba Reum’s mother failed him miserably. I found it incredibly sad that she chose to distance herself from her son–her blood–instead of giving him the attention that she should’ve given him. That church scene was a cry to God.

Moochi was entertaining at first but his messiness and slowness to piece things together got very repetitive. Looking back I don’t understand how he kept getting cases. His obsession with catching his family’s killer turned into a nasty alcohol addiction and just not being fit for crime work in general. He might’ve been a great detective when he started but his grief and the stress of the job obviously caused him to get lazy and leave loose ends which led to more tragedy.
I liked Sung Yohan’s character but I feel like he could’ve been utilized better. The female characters were forgettable.

Even though the second half of the show was convoluted I really put all my might into trying to follow the story and keep up to date with all the plots. I did think that towards the end it became more about just finding out who the culprit than figuring out every little thing. Yall, my head started to hurt after every episode because I was literally using all of my brain power to work through this enigma of a show. Was the ending worth it to me? For the most part, yes. Ba Reum being the big bad wasn’t as shocking as the writer wanted it to be, but I was so exhausted from the mouse chase that I was ok with just about anything at that point. Him being the real serial made logical sense in my head considering the brain transplant surgery and the weird hallucinations Ba Reum saw which were his actual gruesome crimes. Ngl the visions kinda gave it away but the whole brain surgery thing was CRAZY. The villain subplot to make a military-like army of psychopaths was stupid and I didn’t care about it one bit. There were so many other things you could’ve made a secret organization do. I would’ve been more forgiving of the plot holes if the core of the show was better. The theme of living in a world where psychopaths are detectable from an early stage is an interesting idea, but the drama didn’t flesh out this concept as much as it could've. Your morals will definitely be challenged watching this and you will definitely get mentally involved if not emotionally.

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Another very good series

Well to be honest, I understand the positive and negative reviews, let me explain.

To start, tell yourself that this is a series that begins on murders made 20 years ago, then we discover that a killer is spreading terror in current day as that was the case before.
Except the plot twist, there is a technology to find out if children have the genes of psychopaths.
Two children, who have the genes, will be the main focus of the series, the mysterious events of the past keep us in suspense on the unfolding thoses of the present, but above all, to know who are these two children, have they become killers ? And if so, who are they ? Are they related to the current day murders ?

The series has an incredible cast of actors who played their roles to perfection, especially Lee Seung Gi who delivers an incredible performance in the mind of a psychopathic killer.
They succeeded perfectly in playing on tones and colors, the series was dark and disturbing.

But also, I believe that along with Beyond Evil, this is one of the best Korean drama thriller and psychological series to come out in 2021.
Beyond Evil focused more on the victims, we lived the events through unreliable narrators, always linked to murders or disappearances years earlier, and although the main characters were morally gray and complex, we were fully in the perspective of the victims and how to rebuild or live with that.
Here, Mouse on the contrary has infiltrated the mind of a psychopath by playing on "And if he can feel emotions, regret ?", we also have here unreliable narrators, and the characters are intense.

I think overall, the show has a pretty good way of scripting how to portray the mind and reasoning of a psychopath even though there's a lot of fiction in it, like in any drama.

I was however a little disappointed by the plot, which I must say is not boring at all, from the beginning to the end, we are hypnotized.
What bothers me is the story that could have made an excellent psychological thriller even more intense and complex if they had extended the life of some of the characters, if they had forgotten some storylines, especially on the end which involves an organization in the upper class - a recurring plot in dramas theses days - and a conspiracy.
Also, I find that at times the answers were a little easy - while at other times it was not - and the real "bad guys" are quickly arrested and the evidence appears as if by magic - wrapped up in few episodes -, it was not the best end of a series that was so sensational.

I find, personally, that the plot could very well have focused around our main character and his identity, this struggle between good and evil which was abandoned far too soon in my opinion but which was most memorizing.
I would have liked to see more of Kwon Hwa Woon, his character was very intriguing and not used enough in my opinion.

But, Lee Seung Gi remains the highlight, he is fascinating in this ambiguous role, his acting and his character are perfect throughout his performance. I discover with pleasure this actor, who left me dubious at the beginning but who was exceptional.

Summary :
The characters were on top, nothing to complain about, the sets and the tone of the series too, on the other hand some points of the plot were weak - particularly at the end.
I recommend this series to fans of series with tension, action, suspense, psychology.
The overall rhythm is very addictive, I binge-watched the series.
I don't recommend to those who want a series in light tones and messages - it's quite heavy and mature - and romance, because there are little bits of it - and still it's not really romance.

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Top notch storyline

This crime drama exceeded my expectation. The twist and flow of the story was superb, not too hasty nor slow... its almost perfect to make you sit on your chair for the entire season.

what I realize from this series is that... Giving or granting psychopath - serial killer emotion and conscience is like both gift and curse... its worse than death and life imprisonment...

The dilemma and feelings toward the ends was so strong... his repentance and salvation... the ending was just right... but I was also wondering, death was too easy for his father and that secretary... those are the thing I'm not satisfied.

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MASTERPIECE

Sumpah drama ini keren banget, Lee Seung Gi berhasil buat peranin karakter kompleks Jung Ba-Reum yg punya dualitas. Alur nya apik, backsound, warna, dsb keren banget. Bahkan untuk perannya sbg Jung Ba-reum, Lee Seung Gi memenangkan Daesang (grand award) Actor of the year di AAA2021.

Hal yang menarik adalah, setelah episode 14 kita harus menonton Mouse: The Predator (2 episode) untuk dapat menikmati alur cerita yang lebih jelas dari POV-nya Jung Ba-reum. Sebagai penutup pun ada seri Mouse: The Last yang berisikan interview casting, behind the scene, dan juga beberapa scene yang tidak ditayangkan.

Kemudian buat yang ingin nonton secara singkat, ada versi Mouse: Theatrical Cut (140 menit) yang merangkum keseluruhan cerita.

Yuk tonton~

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A Gripping Descent into the Darkest Corners of Humanity

Mouse isn't your typical Korean drama. It's a dark and thought-provoking thriller that dives headfirst into the question of nature vs. nurture, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about psychopaths. Buckle up, because this mind-bending ride is equal parts thrilling and disturbing, but undeniably captivating.

A Gruesome Premise with High Stakes: The story centers around Jung Ba-reum, a kind-hearted police officer whose world is shattered when he encounters a sadistic psychopath. This encounter sets off a chain of events that forces Ba-reum to confront a chilling reality: a new technology can identify psychopathic tendencies in children. As the ethical and moral implications of this technology unfold, the lines between good and evil begin to blur.

Not for the Faint of Heart: Mouse doesn't shy away from violence and disturbing subject matter. The portrayal of psychopathy is unflinching, and the show tackles sensitive topics that may be uncomfortable for some viewers. However, this unflinching portrayal is precisely what makes the drama so gripping. It forces you to confront the darkest corners of human nature, raising questions about the very essence of humanity.

Stellar Performances Fuel the Suspense: Lee Seung-gi delivers a phenomenal performance as Ba-reum, showcasing his character's transformation from a wide-eyed optimist to a man grappling with a horrifying truth. The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly Park Ju-hyun and Seo In-guk, whose portrayals add layers of complexity and intrigue to the narrative.

A Twisty Narrative with Uneven Pacing: The plot of Mouse is full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the very end. However, the pacing can be uneven at times, with some episodes feeling slow and others crammed with information. This might leave some viewers frustrated, but for those who persevere, the payoff is a truly satisfying conclusion.

A Must-Watch for Fans of Dark Thrillers: If you're looking for a K-drama that will challenge your perceptions and keep you on the edge of your seat, Mouse is a must-watch. However, be prepared for a dark and intense experience that's not for the faint of heart. It's a show that will stay with you long after the credits roll, prompting you to question the very nature of humanity and the potential for good or evil within us all.

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WHAT A CRAZY DRAMA

WHAT A CRAZY DRAMA??

The first 4 or 5 episodes was very fast rythem l couldn't stop watching the five episodes in one shot ??

First episode was very confused the second l was feeling like who is who?but with the third episode we start know things but there was a lot of mystery things but the events keep me watching and every 2 episode there was a plot twists actually there's a lot of plot twists and l love series like that??

This drama is very different from any serial killer TV series l ever watch l don't know how to say why but when l start watching l feel that it's different l was in every episode like "WHAT JUST HAPPENED "? my mind was just like that .
After episode 6 the events start slow down and after 2 episodes the thriller come back and we come back to the main subject of the drama ,the last episodes was very good we know the answers and all the answers were reasonable, the end was very satisfied for me.

There is a big problem in this drama it's very long drama with 20 episodes if they cut 3 or 4 episodes the drama will be perfect , l am a patient person if l saw a promise series l will give it a chance but if anyone who love fast events will feel boring because the slow in some episodes but l reallly enjoy this drama the plot twist the arranging in the events make a great story and of course the cast have a big role too

Lee Hee Joon was very good he give me goosebumps in alot of scenes especially episode 5 l reallly cried ??

Lee Seung Gi l feel he really like serial killer and psychopath?? sometimes when he cry l didn't feel with him but the final episode my tears feel down with his ?? the other cast did great job too

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ??

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The K-drama unable to be Masterpiece BUT

I started this K-drama after being disappointed with Signal 2016, and as Signal had higher ratings, I thought Mouse would be just an okay show to kill time, but I was so wrong.
Mouse 2021 is one of my favourite show from now on and Lee Seung Gi nailed his role. Lee Seung Gi is so good I used to ignore him but I won't now.
The show is Great, Good Suspense, a nice mystery, Emotions, and Serial Killers. But the main problem is that the show is too dramatic, and the police get clues so quickly. A show broadcasting serial killers was so unrealistic.
Also, the ending was good; I was not disappointed at all. That's how it should be.
But the overly dramatic plot is the thing that, in my opinion, I won't rate it 10/10, but if you don't care about that and are okay with drama, this show will be a good thrill. The last few chapters are always boring in any K-drama, and so was the case with Mouse, but I'm glad it ended on a good note, which compensated for the stretched episodes.
Highly recommended if you Love Serial Killers Movies, Thrillers, Suspense and Mystery with a pinch of sci-fi.

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This series has only one hospital in it, that does not make sense at all.

"Mouse" stands out for its exceptional cast and compelling storyline. The actors deliver stellar performances, drawing viewers deeper into the intricate plot with each episode. However, one aspect that leaves audiences puzzled is the portrayal of a single hospital and doctor servicing an entire region. This oversight raises questions about the realism of the setting and the lack of alternative healthcare options. Despite this inconsistency, the series succeeds in keeping viewers engrossed with its suspenseful twists and character dynamics. The revelation of the killer being someone trusted adds an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. While the scarcity of medical facilities may strain credibility, "Mouse" remains a captivating watch for those enthralled by mystery and psychological thrillers.

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BABILONICO

Simplesmente mudou vidas, carreiras e trajetórias! Mouse me surpreendeu demais mesmo, especialmente pq nunca vou assistir algo esperando muito, e ele além de conseguir me dar expectativas ao longo dos episódios, ele cumpriu todas elas!
Se o drama tivesse ido parar em alguma rede grande de streaming ele COM CERTEZA teria mais reconhecimento pois ele faz por merecer isso, muito parabéns a quem escreveu o roteiro ! É uma história muito grande e com vários personagens, histórias, emoções, então é fácil se perder na narrativa ao longo dos episódios, mas cada uma das partes foi contada da forma devida e absolutamente TUDO faz sentido no final, quase nenhuma ponta solta, e o fechamento faz todo sentido, não consigo ver o dorama terminando de outra forma da que terminou, especialmente aquela última cena ineditazinha com o rato que *, enfim! Se tivesse uma segunda temp assistiria horrores, um beijão!
(Um crédito especial a direção de arte pois a ambientação é TUDO, sem contar na simbologia por trás de várias cenas)

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