Chase (2017)

A more low-budget jdrama than what I'm used to, but that's actually not a complaint. In fact I think that quality is perhaps the selling point of this show - it feels closer to reality because of it, as if this actually were the behind the scenes makings of a documentary exposing a real world crime.

The down to earth quality makes the crime itself far more chilling and unsettling than how I usually feel watching more polished crime shows. And I was shocked to find myself tearing up, even, during a particular scene with the family of one of the victims. That realism is where Chase shines.

If it has any big issue it would probably be in its main character. It seems like there was never a firm decision on how to write her? In early episodes she is portrayed as equal parts "bright-eyed newbie looking for big break" & "put-upon underachiever who doesn't want to be bothered" and it's very odd. When she's the one who did the initial research, who passionately campaigned to reinvestigate this case, why is she then complaining about having to do the legwork, or being grossed out by details of the crime scene? I don't know what you expected, girl.

The whole cast is a little lacking, honestly. Nobody here is particularly interesting, but you get the impression it wasn't really aiming to be a character-focused thing anyhow. It would've been a nice bonus to get invested in them, though.

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