Memorist

One thing that kept me amazed while watching this drama is its ability to fool its viewers.

Of all drama genres, good thriller/crime dramas are the most difficult to achieve because most of the time, the plots are cliche. Having serial killers/murderers, detectives/police that has past relationship with the suspects etc. Although this drama is almost as cliche as the others, one thing that it differs from the rest is its ability to fool its viewers. (Ngl, i always thought it was Chun Ki Soo who's behind the mask, but I got fooled. Then, I started to think that it was Lee Shin Woong, and I got fooled again.) This alone, made the drama become more interesting and thrilling.

As expected, Yoo Seung Ho (Dong Baek) always nails his role. He's a flexible actor who can do every genre and this is why I like him so much!!! After Remember: War of Son and My Strange Hero, he hasn't done any crime/thriller dramas so I was really waiting for this!! Lee Se Young (Han Sun Mi) is a great actress as well, i've only watched her on Hit The Top so I never knew her that much, but seeing her acting here, she's a great actress and deserves more recognition!!! She portrayed the superintendent role very well!!! And Jo Sung Ha (Lee Shin Woong), I don't know why he always portray the villain role in korean dramas but he always nail the role as well!!! And appreciation for Oh Se Hoon!!! He was such a good partner and friend, I wanted to have a friend like him, willing to fight with his friend even though he knew that it will risk his life.

This drama was good as I have expected. Yes, there is no romance but that makes this drama more interesting, because it focuses on their story, the reason why they fight, who they are fighting for etc!! Although I've been craving for more scenes of Dong Baek and So Won because they really suit each other in the drama, and I got really teary eyed when she died and Dong Baek blames himself because he thought if he did something (shook the hand of girl who killed So Won), he could've saved her. I also got teary eyed for Dong Baek's sister, imagine dealing with all those scumbags. Although what she did to give justice was wrong, I'm thinking that it must have been difficult for her too since she saw all their memories, she knew all those crimes that they did, so she must have felt the pain that her loved ones felt.

Overall, I liked the acting, the story, and the major plot twists that got me fooled every time. Having no romance in this is also an advantage since it showcased more the beauty of this drama!!!

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I finally managed to finish watching this drama and was happy that it turned out to be good. This drama was pretty enjoyable when you can just marathon watch it in one go, cos if you watching it as it air you may end up losing interest in the middle as the tension goes down.

This drama was yet another good show featuring a detective with a supernatural telepathic ability to read minds and to my delight, the drama made good use of the plot idea while also showing realistic reaction of how the public would respond knowing that such a person existed. If anyone had seen He is Psychometric, the story had a similar tone though Memorist had a much more darker and sinister cases and mystery.

I've watched quite a number of dramas by Yoo Seungho and grew to really like his character Dongbaek in this drama. As always Seungho was able to bring out the sincerity of the character and the anguish felt by Dongbaek, enough to make you care about him to keep watching the drama. You just can't help rooting for Dongbaek as he continues to push forward to save lives while also being cornered into unfavourable situations.

That said, at first I wasn't really taken in with Lee Seyoung as the profiler character, Han Sunmi. Though that probably also influenced by my initial impression of the actress from her character in Korean Odyssey, to which I had some mixed feelings about. But once I set that bias aside, I was able to like the character as Han Sunmi's pasts and motivations were unveiled.

The cases featured in Memorist were written quite well. And while there were some pretty hard cases that involved implications of rape as well as religious cult stuff that may be a bit unbearable, the rest of it was pretty fine. The mystery elements as well as supernatural were pretty balanced with the normal detective stuff so it was good enough to draw you more into the story without making it too unbelievable. And I love the fact that as much as there were a lot of corruption in the drama like the many abuse of powers by people of influence, the drama still had a lot of hope for things to become better. And the writing of the Eraser and Executioner character was done so well that it didn't feel out of place when those characters started to be redeemed. Only thing I regret was that I wished the drama could be longer because Dongbaek was really such a lovable character.

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I liked the show but it was just meh. The acting of the leads is good and I liked the supporting characters. This was my first series with Yoo Seung Ho and he was good as Dong Baek. Even when the character was annoying I liked him and felt his emotions.

The revenge aspect took away from the series in my opinion. I liked the first few eps with them working different cases. It probably wouldn't have bothered me as much if it hadn't gone on for so many episodes. One of my main gripes with these Kdrama thrillers is that the writer(s) never know how to make the main arc concise and logical. It's always so outlandish and implausible. I mean this revenge scheme lasted 20 years why??? Also, too many innocent people died on purpose. I just don't like stuff like that.

While the big reveal was interesting it came a day late and a dollar short, even after they went thru with all the explanations. Plus I had planned in my head for a very cliche long lost twin!! LOL!!! I felt the ending was very anti-climatic and the deaths of the ultimate main villains was just not enough for me!

8/11/25

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Yoo Seung-ho was and remains one of my favourite Korean actors. I've long been surprised he only averages one drama a year and had great expectations for his 2020 outing, The Memorist. Based on a Webtoon and having a very comic book look and feel, the show is about a telepath who works openly for the police to solve crimes. Tortured by the things he sees in the memories of criminals, Seung-ho's Dong-baek is prone to violence and insubordination. His female equivalent is a brilliant profiler (played by Lee Se-young) whose genius almost presents as a superpower in and of itself.

One of the things Seung-ho is known for is choosing projects with sensitive, multi-layered male leads and strong, three-dimensional female leads with their own arcs. No female lead in a recent Yoo Seung-ho drama has been there merely to propel the male arc's lead or serve as an accessory. Strong female leads are almost a part of his brand.

The Memorist continues this trend by having a good mutual partnership between Seung-ho's telepath Dong-baek and the profiler, Han Sun-mi. Capable, intelligent, respected and extremely competent, Se-young's character has her own connection to the plot independent of Dong-baek and serves an equal role in the text to his own. This is extremely rare for this genre (and for kdrama generally). And, if it wasn't for the weaknesses of the plot, direction and editing, it would almost be enough for me to persist with the show.

These are two excellent actors doing their best with the material. It's just the material itself that's the problem.

Unfortunately, The Memorist just isn't that interesting. The show is dark - so dark sometimes that you can barely see what's happening - and badly edited, with things moving from action frame to action frame as though it's still a comic book and not a live action version. The characters remain undeveloped at episode 8, with little time given to them as people. To some extent, this is deliberate as Dong-baek's ambiguity is required for several plot points. But it doesn't add to the show's watchability if we can't connect or feel invested in these people as characters.

By episode 8, the show consists of our protagonists chasing a smirking psychopath around in the dark. And while I would usually persist just for Seung-ho and his badass female lead, I am unfortunately bored. Worse even than that, the show has a voyeuristic violence against women problem - a common issue with this genre. It's unfortunate for it that I am very tired of crime shows torturing women for their viewer's pleasure, or for them perpetuating the myth that it's strange psychopaths in the street we need to be concerned about. The real threat to women is men they know and it's about time dramas started acknowledging that.

Having a single strong female lead is not enough to overcome the victimisation of every other female character and by episode 8 this is becoming a real problem.

And so I am dropping the show and hoping Seung-ho's next endeavour is more to my taste.

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I usually have a strict policy of not writing reviews on shows I haven't finished. But I had such a hard time with Memorist, that it compelled me to write one. I dropped this on episode 4- longest 4 hours of my life, during which I slept at least 5 times while watching.

In the sea of K-crime dramas, Memorist tries to be a blue whale but ends up being a fluke- the most abundant fish in the waters. It's generic, follows a pattern already used by many others, unoriginal and unfortunately boring by the end of the day.

In order to be apart from the norm, a mystery/crime show has to bring its own color to shine through. Stranger did that with the unique characters, Voice did that with its powerful antagonist, Defendent did that with the brilliant acting but Memorist, unfortunately has nothing that stands out.

Trouble with over powered protagonists (like the ML here, can read memories, is a kickass fighter, super smart, handsome , has a fan base) is that you're less forgiving of their stupidity. The ML's reckless actions and punch first, think later idealogy was less charming and more idiotic to me. It kept him from doing what matters and unfortunately, that meant I'd be stuck with more episodes of the same running around in circles with the plot I have no interest in.

Yoo Seung Ho is good here. He knows how to act but does not have the wow factor to make you connect with him (unless you're already a fan), the FL's character is well written but the actress's portrayal of her is just bland enough to make it meh.

Sure, there's mystery and the whodunnit factor and the frustration of not being able to catch the murderer but to me personally, it felt like I was seeing more of the same thing. And the idea of watching the same thing for the umpteenth of time, digesting all of the info dump with a mediocre setting and characters for 16 hours straight does not sound appealing to me at all. Some people say it got better, others say the plot just became messier as the episodes progressed, I for one don't have the patience to find out.

Maybe more suited for watchers that are new to the genre and fans of the cast but for a seasoned watcher? A hard pass.

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So this is my first time writing a review for a show on this site and I have to say that The Memorist is becoming one of the best dramas that I have watched so far. I know that we have only had 14 out of 16 episodes, but the show keep you on the edge of your seat wonder "What is his connection to this?" "I thought he was a good guy who was trying to redeem himself."

This show while dark, also has it funny moments that show you the human side of all characters, it shows in the bonding of ML with the FL and SCs. I have to admit that while I am use to dramas I am not use to seeing such human emotions brought out, but this is a reflection of life in general.

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Memorist – A Mind-Blowing Thriller You Can’t Forget!

"Memorist" is a rollercoaster of suspense, action, and mystery, delivering a gripping story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Yoo Seung-ho shines as Dong Baek, a detective with the extraordinary ability to read people's memories just by touching them. His raw intensity and emotional depth make his character unforgettable. 🔥 Lee Se-young as Han Sun-mi, a genius profiler with a haunting past, adds another layer of brilliance, balancing logic and heart in a world full of secrets. Their dynamic is electric, with both characters complementing each other as they chase a ruthless serial killer.

The drama masterfully blends supernatural elements with crime and psychological tension. Every twist keeps you guessing, as memories become both a weapon and a curse. The idea of erasing or manipulating memories adds a chilling depth to the mystery, making each revelation hit even harder. The cinematography and pacing are top-notch, creating an eerie yet exhilarating atmosphere that keeps you on edge. The OST enhances the suspense and emotion, pulling you deeper into the drama’s intensity. 🎶

"Memorist" isn’t just a crime thriller—it’s an emotional ride about justice, loss, and the power of memories. The entire cast, from the leads to the villains, delivers flawless performances, making every moment unforgettable. If you love mind-bending mysteries with powerful storytelling, this is a must-watch! 👏🔥

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First of all... wow... amazing story.. amazing cast.. great ending.
Although there are some similar drama like this... but I find this drama very interesting.. and each episode made me curious and wanting to watch the next one as soon as possible...
The plot twist in the end was really good.. Tho some of my predictions were right but I never imagine the plot twist.. which is good... I love dramas like this.

The cast.. was super amazing.. their chemistries are amazing. Yoo Seung Ho really delivers the characters well (knowing he played mellow characters a lot), love seeing him in this drama.
Lee Se Young's acting and character portrayal was great as well.. the chemistry between them was really great...
I will miss their bickering a lot.. as well as the trio (Dong Baek, his chief and Se Hoon).. without the trio... the story line will be too serious...
Yoon Ji On's portrayal of his character (Se Hoon) was really great.. I think without his character and the chief... there won't be much comedy in the drama...

Overall... the story was great... I really enjoyed the drama very much.. will re-watch it later on...

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This is my first time writing a review but i had to since i couldn't get over this drama after watching it.
If you're into thriller and suspense with good plot and spectacular acting then this drama is for you.
I started this drama because of Yoo Seung Ho. We all know he is such a brilliant actor. The actress Lee Se Young didn't disappoint at all either. I could feel the chemistry between them, making the already good drama better. Plus the behind the scenes proved how good the chemistry was between them.
The drama was well written in my opinion and many people didn't find the ending satisfying however that wasn't the case with me. The ending was good enough and with all the twists, i wasn't bored even once while watching this drama. I watched this drama in one go after it was finished since i can't wait an entire week.
Those who want romance, this isn't for you. I'm happy there wasn't any romance in it. I mean, come on, we all know this drama doesn't need romance. It's an action thriller, no need for romance to ruin it.
In short, if you're fan of mystery, action, thriller then this is for you. I thought it would be like he is psychometric but IT IS WAY BETTER THAN THAT. Memorist will always be in my top list of thriller dramas.

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It’s a rollercoaster ride.

This story has a very detailed plot. There are a lot of people to remember the names of and it can be a little hard to follow at times. However, it was very interesting and worth watching because of the plot. This isn’t some thing you can just half ass watch and not get confused. I appreciate the plot and the Details throughout the storyline. Events in the plot really did piss me off and it is violent but nothing like the US TV shows I watch. Some of the story seems like it’s straight out of criminal minds to be honest because of how many curveballs your thrown.

I really like the cast and there acting and I appreciate that it’s not a romance centered storyline. It really does keep you guessing and I had a lot of WTF moments because I was surprised. It’s definitely worth watching if you want an interesting, detailed show to watch

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