If you love bleak and disturbing storylines, you're in luck

A Superior Day is the drama adaptation of an identically titled popular webtoon. The key word here is adaptation, as the drama is really its own take on the webtoon’s base concept. The similarities are mostly in the name, alongside some repurposed scenes and ideas. For the most part the reimagined narrative is actually a very creative and interesting progression from the original, translating over to the screen effectively while retaining the gruesome spirit of the webtoon and adding some welcome depth.

This drama has a rather interesting structure due to its 8-episode length and the fact that it takes place over a 24-hour period. As a result, the pacing is unrelenting but to its credit the show does ultimately know when to give the viewer a little breathing room, which is especially important because of how very bleak and stifling its atmosphere is. From its first moments the drama quickly establishes itself as a macabre high-tension thriller and works hard to reinforce that label. Interestingly enough, rather than employing the classic technique of cutting away from violence it really doubles down on it and never shies away from its notably dark themes.

The significantly character-driven storytelling revolves mostly around following the perspectives of our 3 main characters – family-oriented firefighter Lee Ho-Cheol (Jin Goo), serial killer Kwon Si-Woo (Lee Won-Geun) plus professional hitman Bae Tae-Jin (Ha Do-Kwon) – and seeing how their fates eventually coincide. In that vein, one of the biggest assets of this drama is the incredible acting talent of the main cast which is further strengthened by their immense and apparent chemistry. While there are many standout performers present, the one I particularly want to highlight is Lee Won-Geun. Psychopath characters are notoriously difficult to pull off as it is far too easy for a portrayal to become shallow and devolve into disengaging, over-the-top cheesiness. Despite that, Lee Won-Geun consistently avoids these pitfalls and delivers a chilling and complex performance that expertly conveys the disturbed psyche and innermost beliefs of his character. Honestly, I would recommend this drama even just based on the quality of his acting alone.

Another aspect of this show that really sets it apart is the effective combination of its imagery and soundtrack. The haunting creative design of many props and sets takes centre stage in communicating the drama’s morbid tone and leaves a deep and unforgettable impression, so much so that I still have several scenes seared into my memory. The soundtrack gives a predictably slasher-esque feeling yet still manages to be rather memorable with the occasional use of some interesting instruments and motifs. Those two things play off each other well and elevate the tension exceptionally.

Admittedly, this drama has its flaws which will vary in significance to a viewer depending on preference. As is common with many thrillers, it certainly requires a little suspension of disbelief in a few parts where things are made slightly vague or coincidental to keep the story flowing. At times, I was surprised by which setups paid off and which didn’t. Moreover, due to the situation our characters find themselves in they sometimes make some decidedly naïve decisions. One could make the argument that this simply reflects their desperate circumstances on top of their personal values, and I would agree with this for many but not all cases. Lastly, this is not a casual viewing kind of drama. To fully understand the characters and thus the events of the story paying attention to the details and giving them some thought is quite important. This is not a flaw in itself, but it can be a plus for some viewers and an inconvenience for others.

TLDR AKA the final verdict: As someone who often spends my time sighing at thrillers because they tend to be so predictable, I was very taken with the fact that I couldn’t even begin to imagine a lot of the twists and turns the story took. This drama is thoughtful in its execution, answering the majority of questions that could possibly arise and making sure that almost every scene has purpose. In addition, the message it delivers ends up being surprisingly poignant and left me with many thoughts. It really brings something unique to the K-Drama scene and certainly stands out, in part due to its considerable shock value. Because of that, however, if you’re very sensitive to violence and disturbing themes in general I would probably give it a miss. Otherwise, I thoroughly recommend this drama for its stellar cast, compelling imagery and highly immersive thrills.

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