Lee Soo Yeon, I owe you my life. (And I'm only half-joking when I say this).

Everything about this drama just makes me feel so...unhinged. I put off writing this review for a while because I would just start thinking about Hwang Shi Mok's and Han Yeo Jin's friendship and I would start screaming or tearing up because, well, you'll see once you start watching Stranger.

After watching Life, which was also written by Lee Soo Yeon and features many of the same actors, I immediately decided to start watching Stranger, and I am so glad that I did because Stranger definitely deserves all the praise it has received. I will admit, I do think I enjoyed Life more compared to the first season of Stranger, but I think I did enjoy Life and the second season of Stranger equally if that makes any sense. Overall, I think the second season of Stranger surpasses the first, which is usually rare, and I'll explain why.

First, I'd like to point out that while though we are introduced to many new characters in the second season, a lot of familiar faces will crop up again and there isn't really a reintroduction of these characters, hence why it is important to give ALL of your attention when watching Stranger. And I mean ALL of it, which is actually one of my favorite aspects of the show. Watching Stranger is the equivalent of being given a ball of yarn that has already been unraveled, and you have to wander around a labyrinth of small details and stolen glances in order in order to ravel the ball of yarn back up. The second season, much like the first, is not something you want to watch when distracted, or else you'll become horribly lost. Definitely not the kind of show you should watch if you're looking for something to help turn your brain off.

One thing I liked about the second season when compared to the first is how the characters that we were already introduced to were utilized. We already know these characters, such as Hwang Shi Mok, Han Yeo Jin, and Seo Dong Jae. We know their personalities, their quirks, the losses they've gone through from the first season (which definitely impact the choices they make in this second installment). There are decidedly fewer action sequences in the second season compared to the first, but now we get to see these characters grapple with questions of morality, ethics, and personal philosophies which allows these characters to truly blossom and flourish. Relationships, too, were deeply explored, and it was very satisfying to watch everything come together for these characters by the last episode.

Speaking of relationships, I loved the range that we were given in the second season. Hwang Shi Mok’s and Han Yeo Jin’s friendship is probably the most important thing to me ever. Like, I will never shut up about it. Ever. Their dynamic works so well under Lee Soo Yeon’s care, and it was interesting to see that even though they were at odds with each other because of the conflict between the police and the prosecution, they still managed to have each other's backs. Magnificent proof that male/female platonic relationships CAN be written with authenticity and not be boring at all.

I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing other relationships showcased, as well. Brief appearances of members of the Special Investigation from the season brought a smile to my face, as well as a sense of closure. Seeing Han Yeo Jin reunite with members of her old team at the Yongsan Police Station made me laugh as I watched them fall back into their easy dynamic, though there were a few tense moments that were brought up to highlight the difference between police work at headquarters and on the field, as well as when questions of ambition were brought up. The student/mentor relationship between Han Yeo Jin and Choi Bit was also very interesting to watch unfurl, but also devastating once it reached its conclusion. And can we talk about Hwang Shi Mok and Seo Dong Jae? I loved watching their relationship develop, becoming more of a grudging friendship instead of workplace adversaries. I definitely hope to see more of them if there is a third season. (And there better be a third season or I will cry even harder than I did while watching the final episode.)

Another brief thing I wanted to touch on was the music! Definitely a lot more diverse than the first season - a very nice touch!

This was such a nice follow-up to the first season of Stranger that affected me a lot more emotionally than any crime show has before. It probably won't be to everyone's taste, considering that it is much more dialogue-heavy than its predecessor, but if you're looking for a smart, mystery-type drama with compelling characters, I would definitely check out the Stranger franchise. I will be keeping an eye out for any future projects that Lee Soo Yeon will be a part of. She has a very unique talent and I'm sure she will produce a lot of great things!