Rien Chnd

The Worst of Evil showcases the very best of Korean drama - brilliant casting and a compelling story combined with a production that brings everything to life. This series is as close to faultless as it is possible to be, in any medium or genre. The two male leads, Ji Chang Wook (Park Jun Mo) and Wi Ha Joon (Jung Gi Cheol), are effortlessly intriguing, engaging and real as the undercover police officer on a dark journey and the gang boss who becomes his 'brother' rather than his target. The female leads, Im Se Me and Bibi, are a carefully nuanced complement to the evolving relationship between Jun Mo and Gi Cheol. The action sequences are bloody and undeniably gruesome, but they fit the narrative style of the story perfectly. It's also refreshing to watch male Korean actors who aren't made up to look like porcelain dolls. That might work for romantic comedies, but a 1990s era gangs and drugs story needs a more realistic look, and The Worst of Evil delivers - literally warts and all. I'll be surprised if there aren't a heap of awards coming for this drama - it's the best Korean drama I've seen, and I'm still thinking through the story and its message.