Trigger Warning: This show contains graphic violence, blood, torture, suicide, and mature themes involving corruption and murder.

I love my K-Dramas, but I need more romance than this detective thriller gave me. And I’m used to the pace of Law & Order or other procedurals that solve entire cases in one episode. This one took 2 seasons to uncover corruption that was obviously present in episode 1. I was also very thrown by the depth of respect required by the patriarchy in this show. Some of the most awkward scenes were entirely preventable if anyone was simply willing to stand up to an elder or a corrupt boss.

I love aspects of South Korean culture that demand care for others, but that obviously does not solve the problems of crimes against women, the underprivileged, and anyone not in the top 1%, just like in the U.S. Their legal system seems just as messed up as ours (at least based on these shows), except for the fact that they have done away with the death penalty in their country. I also struggle with the norm of suicide as an honorable path forward for taking accountability. I know they are trying to change that in Korean culture, but it is still very present in their shows.

The main character Si-mok is a prosecuting attorney tasked with uncovering all the corruption, and the general gist of the hook is that he is more capable of doing so than most because he has had a partial lobotomy. Some in the show suggest that his intense sense of justice and inability to be swayed by bribes is an aspect of his altered brain. I think it is just who he is and the brain stuff just helps him look neutral in crises. His more emotional counterpart is a female detective Yeo-jin, who is equally righteous and is perfectly capable of showing her emotions. She’s my favorite character in the whole show because she stands for honor and integrity in a sea of wavering men. I’m glad I watched it, though it did feel a bit like I was reading through case files in real time with these crime solvers and would have preferred a bit faster pace.

Ahn, Gil-ho; Yoo, Je-won; Park, Hyun-suk. Stranger (also known as Forest of Secrets), Cho, Seung-woo; Bae, Doona. Signal Entertainment Group; IOK Media; Ace Factory. June 10, 2017 – October 4, 2020.