The Worst Evil (2023)

A Gritty Crime Drama

This drama is a gritty crime drama that delves into the dark underbelly of organized crime. Starring Ji Chang Wook, Wi Ha Joon, and Im Se Mi, the series explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for power.

Story
The narrative is intense and fast-paced, focusing on the rise of a criminal empire and the moral ambiguities faced by those within it. The story is filled with twists and turns, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The writing is sharp, with well-developed characters and a plot that explores the complexities of crime and justice.

Acting
Ji Chang Wook delivers a powerful performance as the conflicted anti-hero, while Wi Ha Joon shines as his ruthless rival. Im Se Mi adds depth to the story as a woman caught between loyalty and survival. The supporting cast is equally strong, bringing authenticity to the world of organized crime.

Cinematography
The visual style of the series is dark and gritty, perfectly capturing the harsh realities of the criminal world. The action scenes are well-choreographed and realistic, adding to the tension and drama of the series.

Music
The soundtrack is intense and brooding, perfectly matching the tone of the series. The music enhances the suspense and emotional impact of key moments, making it an essential part of the viewing experience.

Rewatch Value
"The Worst of Evil" has significant rewatch value due to its intricate plot and rich character development. Each viewing reveals new details and layers, making it a compelling rewatch value.

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Riveting

April 2024
The Worst of Evil, 18+, 2023, 12eps, Disney+
Synopsis and cast attached.

Very intense, violent and multi-layered drama with excellent pace, characters and acting. The script was intelligent and apart from 1 character's antics, very believable.

A stubborn, relentless, but 'good' police officer (Ji Chang-wook), with a no nonsense and short fused personality, goes deep undercover. Watching how his personality changes with almost every episode, is often an uncomfortable and anxious watch.

The rules by which organisations operate, whether they be gangsters or the establishment, are all basically for totally selfish reasons, although often disguised as being for the good of others, or a better life.

It comes across strongly in this, how just about everyone uses others, or gets used, purely to meet their own agendas. Characters are incredibly fickle, with making and holding on to money and power, plus kudos, being the nr.1 motivators.

There are lots of links between characters, with some being quite a surprise. There is a weird, but unstoppable, connection and bond between the main characters, as they are forced to cover the backs of their targets, yet also find themselves being protected and trusted by them. This impacts on outcomes, in so many ways.

I found that the most irritating, vile, and stuck-in-the-70s character, was Detective Hwang Min-gu, excellently played by Yoon Gyung-ho. I absolutely detested him! A real bullying sleaze ball! Why his character was allowed to constantly get in the way and jeopardise such an important international police investigation, was beyond me.

He was subtle as a brick and openly turned up at scenes already under surveillance. Yet at no point did any higher ups reign in him or transfer him out of the way, until the operation was concluded. I found that ridiculous.

The ending was conclusive and not surprising at all to me, but was confusing in one pretty major aspect. I did not understand JCW's behaviour at all and say why further on.

An exciting watch and whilst not something I'd see again, it certainly captivated and entertained me.


** SPOILER AHEAD **


The part that confused me, was Jun-mo shooting Gi-cheol, rather than letting him kill himself, as he was about to do. If Jun-mo had shot him in the arm, shoulder, or anywhere else, to incapacitate and prevent him from shooting himself in the head, I could have understood it; but not shooting to kill him. It seemed pointless and actually turned it into murder.

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Subpar at Plot, Amazing Acting

I had high expectations of this drama because of the cast, but I’m afraid it was disappointing with respect to the writing. I thought that acting was amazing throughout, but I simply couldn’t get into the story. It wasn’t engaging enough and relied on making one side weaker without substantial reasons for the other side to win. If you’re looking for an intense crime thriller with an interesting plot, you’ll feel the latter doesn’t quite catch up. It’s intense nonetheless. It’s also quite brutal with all the action scenes, but most of them feel like it’s for the ‘vibes’.

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Un drama bon mais pas excellent

"The worst of evil" a attiré beaucoup d'attention sur lui pour plusieurs raisons mais principalement pour les acteurs qui sont, pour la plupart, des acteurs très connus et pour le budget mis sur ce drama.

Il est indéniable que beaucoup d'argent a été mis sur ce drama, le but étant que ce drama soit de grande qualité, ce qui explique aussi le choix des acteurs, et le pari est réussi. La qualité cinématographique est très bonne : très bonne performance des acteurs, effets spéciaux très réussis , je pense notamment aux scènes de violences qui m'ont parues très réalistes, et un ost sympathique avec de bonnes musiques mises aux bons moments, bien que les musiques ne soient pas très mémorables selon moi. On peut donc dire qu'il s'agit là d'un bon drama.

Cependant, selon moi, ce drama n'est pas aussi excellent que tout le monde le dit. Je pense que beaucoup pensent aussi favorablement de ce drama parce qu'ils sont biaisés par la présence d'acteurs très connus et très appréciés.

Pour moi, ce drama n'est pas excellent parce qu'il n'a rien de plus qu'un autre du même genre. "The worst of evil" n'a rien de spécial, ne se démarque aucunement d'un drama de la même catégorie, le scénario est tout simplement banal et ne nous a offert que ce que l'on était en droit d'attendre, en tant que spectateur, mais rien de plus.
Dans le même genre, je peux penser au drama coréen "Cruel City" qui se démarque par le fait que l'on ne sache pas dès le début que l'un des personnages est un policier mais aussi par le fait que le fait qu'il a noué de vrais liens d'amitié avec un criminel, amenant à des moments très émouvants, notamment lorsque ce derniers apprend que son ami est un policier. Il y a aussi un vrai questionnement du personnage quant à sa loyauté allant à la police ou à cette organisation criminelle. Je peux aussi nommer le film "New World" dans lequel il y a aussi une amitié très forte et très intéressante ainsi qu'une fin à laquelle je ne m'attendais pas du tout étant donné les circonstances du film. Bref, ce sont là des titres dont je me souviendrai pendant un long moment, quand bien même je n'ai pas vraiment aimé "Cruel City", grâce à leur unicité, à leur scénario qui se démarque. Alors que, "The worst of evil" sera un drama apprécié mais dont on ne se souviendra pas de part son manque d'unicité.

"The worst of evil" est un drama d'action racontant la mission très dangereuse d'un policier sous couverture dans une organisation criminelle très dangereuse. C'est le genre de drama où tout peut arriver. Le spectateur doit toujours être tenu en haleine, dans l'appréhension de ce qu'il pourrait arriver aux personnages. Il doit y avoir des évènements surprenants, inattendus dont le spectateur ne se sera pas douté ce qui l'amènera à se demander sans cesse si le personnage a été découvert ou non.
Or dans ce drama, le sentiment d'appréhension n'est pas assez présent, selon moi, il devrait l'être tout au long du visionnage dans ce type de drama. Il n'y a pas non plus d'évènements qui nous prennent par surprise, à l'exception d'un passage à la fin du deuxième épisode. Et puis, bien qu'intéressant, je n'ai pas non plus trouvé ce drama très captivant. Si ce n'est à quelques exceptions près, pour la majorité des épisodes, il n'y a rien qui m'encourageait à regarder l'épisode suivant, n'ayant pas particulièrement d'impatience pour celui-ci.

Je pense que ce drama n'a rien de plus qu'un autre et que l'on ne se souviendra de lui que pour les acteurs qui ont participé à ce projet. Je ne dis pas que ce drama est mauvais, au contraire. Comme dit précédemment, c'est, sans aucun doute, un drama de grande qualité dans lequel beaucoup d'argent a été investi mais dont, selon moi, le scénario n'est pas à la hauteur dans son unicité. Je vous conseille donc ce drama qui est fort sympathique à regarder, bien qu'il ne soit pas le chef d'œuvre que beaucoup de personne prétendent qu'il soit.

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Who is the Worst of the Evil?

I really enjoyed this drama. It was full of suspense, and excitement, and each episode kept me on my toes.
I like how complex the main lead characters are, like for JM I couldn't tell if he really was going to turn to the dark side???

I like the dynamic friendship between Jun Mo and Gi Chul. They became good friends, and I believe that Jun Mo viewed Gi Chul as his friend, while he was undercover. Like JM can see GC is not a bad person, but he makes poor choices and chooses a bad life. When Jun Mo lets GC go in the last episode, I can see that Jun Mo cares for Gi Chul.

Most of the side characters were good, and I liked their performance as well.

I think the ending was good and satisfying. There really wasn't anything bad I can think about it like GC needs to pay for his crime, and he did that by wanting to kill himself, but JunMo killed him instead. Also, I think the wife was conflicted between Jun Mo and Gi Chul. I think she still holds some nostalgic feelings towards GiChul, which could explain why she never threw away the cross necklace that GiChul gave to her.

In the end, Jun Mo and his wife ended their relationship; kind of sad about it; but there's just too much so I guess divorce is best for them.

I like Haeryung and her bodyguard. He is loyal and committed to protecting HR. I wish they could have ended up together.

In the end, Junmo gets promoted and successfully completes his undercover task, but in the end; he is left with no wife and loneliness. He ended up befriending with GiChul, and in the end, he lost his friend as well as his wife.

So who is really the worst of the evil?????? Or maybe it's no one, that's for you to figure out :).

Overall 8/10. 9/10 for JCW and WHJ's bromance :)!!!!

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This drama peaked at the end of episode 7.

...Which sucks, because that was just when it was really getting good.

The positive things about this drama:

OST. Phenomenal, stylistic and perfectly mood-setting.
Cinematography.
Acting. Even from the supporting characters.
Overall the production and styling were outstanding.

But it's not without its flaws. Mostly coming from the writing. At times the plot focuses on stellar action packed episodes full of tension between the gang and cops, and among gang members, others it diverts to the "romance" (whatever the hell you want to call this dysfunctional love square) for what feels like nonstop scenes or even entire episodes on end. The love square here became insufferable in episodes 8 and 9 and didn't let up. The show went from brilliant in episodes 1-7 to the leader of the gang just wanting Joonmo's wife. They really threw away his entire character development.

"Double dates" abound. The tension they were going for got really repetitive. How many times is Bibi going to show up when Joonmo is with Kichul and FL and taunt them for long scenes at a dinner table? How many times is the director going to have Joonmo give jealous glares? It became boring and awful, and this is from a romantic tension lover. Usually I can't get enough. This drama would have been SO much stronger without Joonmo's wife being involved.

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briliant my ass

yet, i got to kind of movie based on review. at the top rev, briliant., good, what a movie and so on.
and geot confidence this series is good. ist it? nope.. big NO.
how people see this briliant?
the stupid idea that the police who try to solve the problem with recruit a low rank officer and involved his wife? do you think with thoose idea that low rank piceman allow it? in real life i think those two chief ccops will murdered with cold bold qnd leave the police to join the gang. the story is awfull. briliant? yet another korean movie that show their cops dint have good competensi to solve problem. yet a korean movie show using stupidty to gain viewer attention. briliant? briliant my ASS. done at 5

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A Riveting and Realistic Crime Drama Set in the 1990s

CHAT-GPT4 writing review for The Worst of Evil (2023):

The Worst of Evil is a gripping and gritty crime drama that takes the viewers on a thrilling ride through the dark underworld of drug trafficking in the 1990s. The show boasts a stellar cast, a captivating plot, and a realistic portrayal of the era.

The acting and cast are one of the strongest points of the show. Ji Chang Wook delivers a powerful performance as Park Joon Mo, a police officer who goes undercover to infiltrate a mega crime syndicate that distributes illegal drugs across South Korea, China, and Japan. He shows his versatility and range as he switches between his dual identities and faces various challenges and dangers. Wi Ha Joon is equally impressive as Jung Ki Chul, a former DJ who becomes the mastermind behind the new drug Gangnam Crystal. He exudes charisma and menace as he rules the nightclubs and the streets with his ruthless ambition. Im Se Mi shines as Yoo Eui Jung, Joon Mo's wife and a narcotics officer who is also involved in the mission. She portrays her character's strength, vulnerability, and complexity with skill and grace. The chemistry between the leads is palpable and their relationship adds an emotional layer to the story. The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Bae Myung Jin as Bae Yong Dae, Joon Mo's loyal friend and partner, and Dok Go Young Jae as Song Dong Hyuk, the veteran police chief who oversees the operation.

The music of the show is another highlight. The soundtrack features songs from the 1990s that fit the mood and atmosphere of the scenes. The songs range from upbeat and catchy to melancholic and haunting, reflecting the different emotions and themes of the show. Some of the memorable songs include "Gangnam Style" by PSY, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., and "Creep" by Radiohead.

The story of the show is well-written and well-paced. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. The show explores various issues such as corruption, loyalty, betrayal, love, revenge, and redemption. The show also does a great job of recreating the 1990s era with its costumes, props, settings, and references. The show does not shy away from depicting the violence and brutality of the drug world, but it also balances it with moments of humor and warmth.

The re-watch value of the show is high. The show has many layers and details that can be appreciated more with repeated viewings. The show also has a satisfying and surprising ending that makes the viewers want to revisit the journey of the characters.

Overall, The Worst of Evil is a must-watch for fans of crime dramas. It is a quality production that showcases the talents of its cast and crew. It is a show that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

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Shocking and fascinating reality

I have watched three episodes and I can say that I already like it. This drama has a good storyline that is unexpected or even has the effect of surprise, even though many Korean detective dramas are already recognized, this story is fresh and has unexpected twists and turns in every episode - it's exciting and keeps me in suspense like it.
The acting is first-class in all GG. Especially Ji Chang Wook - his transformation as an actor is impressive. The battle scenes are so real that you start to worry on a physical level about the condition of the actors. The fight scenes in the drama were perfectly staged without equipment, everything was real and raw.
I also like the interaction between Jang Wook and Ha Joon. I think that this will be revealed to a greater extent later in the plot.
I also liked the OSTs. All without exception.
Looking forward to further episodes.

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Drama portrays every thing was easy then or the people were fooled easily

JCW is one of my favourite guys. I read some of the 10star reviews of this drama, here on MDL. But had to force myself to watch till episode 3. Didn't like anything - how easy it was to take over the gangnam by killing the old boss, how easily JCW fooled the boss, passed off as dead friend's cousin and became the must trusted guy and how easily they killed off the Busan gang leader. Just too easy and I find it hard to believe.
I liked JCW actions, he's does best of the best actions. The fight scenes are well acted.
P.S. does using cuss words in every f***ing line make it a good 90s crime drama. Felt more like teens acting off as grown-ups by using big cuss words.

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