The characterisation is one of the best aspects and ultimately, the one that sold the series for me. I became attached to many people of Manyang (Jaeyi, Namsabae, Jiwa and Park Jeongje own my heart) but the ones whom I loved the most were Dongsik and Joowon. What more can I say about them? Their dynamic was one of the main reasons why (if not THE reason why) I loved this series. They didn't start in the best terms and yet as the story went on, they started to respect each other more and care about the other. Joowon's development was so well-written and I loved seeing him bickering with Dongsik. AND THEIR CHEMISTRY WAS SO STRONG, OH MY GOD, THEY REALLY MADE ME GIGGLE LIKE A TEENAGER (I mean, I am 18 years old BUT STILL).
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Beyond crazy: when the best revenge against your rival & partner is to always be one step ahead
You don’t want to stoop that low—but you might just have to. You don’t want to get blood on your hands—but perhaps you already have. You don’t want to be a monster—but it’s actually all you’ve ever been. If there is a line to be crossed, something that separates the good from the bad—could there ever be an effort worked against cruelty good enough to justify crossing it? ‘Beyond Evil’ is a gripping series that has imagined these concepts in a way that is so deep and beyond electrifying, turning viewers into detectives with its thrill and inviting them to juxtapose their own judgements and morals to discern the good from the bad. Not only will it put one’s detective skills to the test, but it also permits exploration of morality, questioning how to label what rests in between both extremes of a crime: all those who are witnesses but choose to turn a blind eye. It is as much an uncomfortable watch as it is heartbreaking—but it is these very qualities that qualify the series as a well-produced thriller that has succeeded in its performance.These themes are all tackled with great strategic pacing in the unravelling of crimes and brought to scene with its award-winning actors who have greatly succeeded in giving goosebump-raising performances. Its ever-present suspense is amazingly developed and gradually built using play on perceptions between both the characters themselves, and how the viewers perceive them. The buildup to the true culprit is impeccable—the series will shine a spotlight on even the faintest of suspicions just to clear certain individuals out of the portrait of possibilities in being the murderer only to make them targets of investigation again later on when more clues arise. Jam-packed with extremely spine-chilling scenes and revelations, the show’s execution of its promising premise did not let hopes down and instead surpassed the lines of constraints it set.
Twenty years after a gruesome killing spree that targeted illegal women immigrants, citizens of the small town Manyang are pulled into yet another detective case to catch the culprit that no one ever worked thoroughly enough to find 20 years back. Son to an extremely high-ranking father, Han Joo-won is a Seoul-originated detective from the illegal-immigrants department, who is strangely committed to discovering the truth behind the string of serial-murder cases despite initial orders from his father to cease in his investigation. Lee Dong-sik, brother to the successful yet modest 20-year-old girl who was first to cause ruckus in the small town 20 years prior to the present day with her disappearance, was convicted guilty to her abduction and possible disposal of body and now finds himself wound up in the Manyang police department after being demoted following his former partner’s death.
Against their own will, Han Joo-won and Lee Dong-sik are partnered, with their own suspicions of each other’s involvement in the case only growing after another disappearance occurs and seems to have the same MO as the cases prior to it. Both equally determined and eager to catch the murderer, they secretly decide to tackle the case on their own. However, it soon embodies greater issues and becomes something big that may concern the police department itself, leaving other officers and investigators no choice but to get involved. There are those who join the case for personal gain, such as promotions or a raise in status, those who wish to frame a culprit to end things quickly, some who just want to find the peace of mind of catching a killer on-the-loose, and others who get involved to create fake alibis and protect their own interests.
But among them all, only a certain individual, or perhaps more than one person, can be given the label of a murderer, even though everyone is guilty of something and has a role to play in the impending question: who is the serial killer? This is ultimately the question that torments Lee Dong-sik the most, fueling his strive to always remain one step ahead of everyone else so that he can orchestrate the murderer’s perfect demise and revelation. He deliberately makes the murderer's investigation unfold slowly and only publicly points fingers at the killer when a body is found to be careful in the steps he takes before fully closing in on the murderer’s arrest. More than anything, he wants to ensure that the culprit has no way of defending himself because he doesn’t want any wrongdoings on their own side as police being revealed in his capture when so many have been hurt by the murderer. Personally being the brother of one of the victims himself, and partner to an officer that made a mistake by committing a crime against a murderer, Dong-sik emotionally connects with the struggle of not wanting a criminal to turn into a victim. He believes that their acquaintances don't deserve that extra baggage and betrayal of causing the criminal to have something to be sympathized and victimized for.
Lee Dong-sik knows Han Joo-won already has his eyes set on him being the killer and makes this work in his favour, using his suspected culpability to ensure Joo-won’s role in working on the case since he’s convinced he is the only person capable of taking on such a big role in a case that requires everyone in the police station to be suspected. By encouraging Han Joo-won to invite more suspicion on himself, he teases the clear possibility of there being a murderer and that it is still possible for that individual to get caught, making the 20-year-old case still relevant to be investigated. Lee Dong-sik’s goal in doing this is so that he can use Han Joo-won to investigate the case all whilst gathering new information through him, since Lee Dong-sik’s role in its investigation would otherwise be illegal considering he is family to the victim and had previously been declared guilty of the murder.
With Lee Dong-sik scared to frame the wrong person in fear of taking away from the victim’s injustice, and Han Joo-won narrow-minded and set on his own suspicions, they speak in riddles, manipulate each other into helping one another in their investigations, and intricately fabricate their own facades to draw out what they want from one another. They build frames of storytelling to shed light on clues, trying to draw attention to a bigger picture. Both leads pull each other in by raising suspicion to one another, building a sense of mutual mistrust. However, this eerie sense of mysteriousness in their relationship gradually grows into a unique and strong bond that is built on a strong reciprocal trust that both pretend don’t exist. Between them sizzles an intense rivalry and chemistry—they go from pointing guns to each other’s throats in one scene to working side-by-side against everyone else in the next.
‘‘There are times where you’re not sure. If you pull out too soon, you’ll chase away the fish. And if you take too long, the fish will get away. Should I reel in? Or not?" With such an endless array of possibilities of things that could go wrong, Lee Dong-sik and Han Joo-won have to feign ignorance, resist acting on impulse, and accept doing the unimaginable in order to find the perfect proof that would immediately prove the murderer guilty before reeling in so that there would be no space for doubt to be raised during the official investigation—and no chance for the killer to slip away from their grasp. This goal of the main leads' explains the importance and focus that the show places on a certain conversation both investigators shared—where Lee Dong-sik wanted to be sure that Han Joo-won understood that even against any accusations, it is juridically impossible for a murderer in South Korea to be convicted guilty for their crime if there is no body found.
Twisted and dark, from the first episode to the very last, it’s a timeless masterpiece of a detective series that'll pull viewers into its game of show and tell—but only show, and then tell in a few more episodes just to keep them guessing. It’ll propose ideas, make the audience believe them, and just when they think they're on the brink of coming up with a conclusion, it turns out that everything they believed is wrong, and viewers have been tricked so well that they’ve swapped the innocent for the guilty. The hefty plot heavily relies on the narrative that no one is free of suspicion or can be trusted to embark viewers on a journey that’ll leave them desperate for answers and relentlessly searching episodes for hidden meaning or new clues. There is no other thriller that does it better in building suspense, delivering acting performances, character intricacy, offering a top-tier OST, unmatched tension, and showing remarkable storyline complexity.
Overall, ‘Beyond Evil’ has beautifully mastered the art that is storytelling—from its intricate little details to the bigger picture it creates and everything that stretched in between its many mysteries’ unraveling, exceeding the precedents of its genre with its unexpected, thrilling, and flawlessly executed plot.
2025/02/14
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"Who is the real monster?"
Beyond Evil goes far beyond being just a crime thriller, it proposes a profound reflection on the nature of evil, the fragility of human morality, and the thin line that separates justice from monstrosity. Its strength lies not only in the investigative plot but in the way it constructs, deconstructs, and reconstructs the ethical convictions of its characters and of the viewer.The drama is structured with surgical precision, every event is meticulously calculated to serve the psychological progression of the protagonists and the gradual revelation of the truth. This narrative cohesion is sustained by writing that understands the weight of waiting and doubt, transforming mystery into an instrument of moral introspection.
The central point of Beyond Evil lies in its thematic evolution, the series abandons the traditional moral dualism of police dramas and plunges into ambiguity: everyone is guilty to some degree, and everyone carries a shadow that brings them closer to what they condemn. By constantly asking “who is the real monster?”, the drama leads to the realization that evil is rarely an external entity, it is a latent possibility within the human being. This approach gives the narrative depth and universality, turning it into a critique of moral arrogance and institutional blindness.
The characters are built with rare psychological depth, Lee Dong-shik and Han Joo-won are not moral opposites but distorted reflections of each other, two men torn apart by guilt, mistrust, and an unrelenting pursuit of justice, even if each must use his own means to achieve it. Their interactions fluctuate between rivalry and complicity, forming a study of character that replaces the cliché of redemption with the restlessness of conscience. The supporting characters, far from being mere narrative tools, also bear authentic conflicts, reinforcing the sense of a living and morally decayed world.
In essence, Beyond Evil is a story about the limits of humanity in the face of pain and moral corruption. Remarkably, the drama achieves an almost perfect balance between form and substance, reason and emotion, light and darkness. It is a raw and austere work, devoid of sensationalism, which may distance some viewers, but therein lies its narrative richness. The drama does not seek emotion or sentimentality, it is silent and somber, every character has a motive, every line of dialogue, every crossroad and confrontation leads only toward the path of truth, and within that confrontation lies the revelation of true horror, the one that dwells within us.
🇧🇷"Quem é o verdadeiro monstro?"
Beyond Evil, vai muito além de um thriller policial, o dorama propõe uma reflexão profunda sobre a natureza do mal, a fragilidade da moral humana e a linha tênue que separa justiça e monstruosidade. Sua força não está apenas na trama investigativa, mas no modo como constrói, desmonta e reconstrói as convicções éticas de seus personagens e do próprio espectador.
O dorama se estrutura com precisão cirúrgica. Cada acontecimento é meticulosamente calculado para servir à progressão psicológica dos protagonistas e à revelação gradual da verdade. Essa coesão narrativa é sustentada por uma escrita que entende o peso da espera e da dúvida, transformando o mistério em um instrumento de introspecção moral.
O ponto central de Beyond Evil está em sua evolução temática. A série abandona o maniqueísmo tradicional dos dramas policiais e mergulha na ambiguidade: todos são culpados em alguma medida, e todos carregam uma sombra que os aproxima daquilo que condenam. Ao perguntar incessantemente “quem é o verdadeiro monstro?”, o dorama conduz à constatação de que o mal raramente é uma entidade exterior, ele é uma possibilidade latente dentro do humano. Essa abordagem confere profundidade e universalidade à narrativa, fazendo dela uma crítica à arrogância moral e à cegueira institucional.
Os personagens são construídos com rara densidade psicológica. Lee Dong-shik e Han Joo-won não são opostos morais, mas reflexos distorcidos um do outro. Dois homens dilacerados pela culpa, pela desconfiança e pela ânsia de justiça mesmo que cada um tenha que usar os seus meios para isso. Suas interações oscilam entre rivalidade e cumplicidade, compondo um estudo de caráter que substitui o clichê da redenção pela inquietude da consciência. Os coadjuvantes, longe de meros instrumentos narrativos, também carregam conflitos autênticos, o que reforça a sensação de um mundo vivo e moralmente corroído.
Em síntese, Beyond Evil é uma narrativa sobre o limite da humanidade diante da dor e da corrupção moral. Incrivelmente o dorama alcança um equilíbrio quase perfeito entre forma e conteúdo, razão e emoção, luz e trevas. É uma obra seca e crua, sem artifícios mirabolantes, o que pode afastar algumas pessoas, mas definitivamente essa é a riqueza narrativa, o dorama não busca emoção, não busca comoção, ele é silencioso e escuro, cada personagem tem seus motivos, cada texto, toda encruzilhada e cada confronta, só leva ao caminho da verdade, e nesse confronto é, revelado o verdadeiro horror: aquele que habita dentro de nós.
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A Psychological Thriller Done Right
Usually, crime thrillers don't have much rewatch value. Beyond Evil stands apart from the crowd due to its phenomenal screenplay. The two police officers and their cat-and-mouse game with each other is the heart of this show. What I loved about the show is that instead of focusing on the severity of the crimes that many crime dramas focused on serial killing do, the creatives of Beyond Evil focused more on the psychological impact of such crimes on the families of the victims. Though the pacing was a bit slow until episode 6, from then on it was a rollercoaster. The serial killer was exposed on episode 6, but Beyond Evil has managed to keep me totally hooked until the last episode. Exposing the serial killer this early was a masterstroke by the creatives. The entire cast, along with the direction, music, and screenplay, was done just right. I absolutely loved the drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Favolous
This is definitely one of the best kdrama ever. Sounds like bragging but the acting, the storytelling, the direction, the visuals everything is top notch. This is a type of drama that will keep you hook up for 2-3 days straight. I dropped everything just to finish the drama. It's also doesn't lack in thrilling. Still considering whether to watch or not? Just give it a try until 4 episode.Was this review helpful to you?
Thriller fascinant au cœur d'une petite ville hantée par son monstre (괴물)
Le drama nous livre un démarrage immédiat avec la découverte d’un corps au milieu d’un champ de roseaux. Cependant, il ne tarde pas à nous renvoyer vingt ans en arrière, là où tout a commencé… Qui est le monstre de Manyang ? Qui incarne la créature dangereuse dissimulée dans les fourrées, attendant de sauter sur sa proie ?En Corée du Sud, lorsqu’un adulte disparaît, on l’enregistre comme une fugue et non une disparition. Ainsi, cela laisse tout le loisir à un tueur en série de sévir selon son bon vouloir au détriment des familles. Et peut-être que ça tombe bien, parce qu'au cœur de cette ville, où tout le monde connaît les secrets de tout le monde, les secrets peuvent être bien gardés.
La rencontre entre les deux personnages est comme rencontrer un mur. Les deux hommes ne s’apprécient pas et ne font aucun effort pour le cacher. Lee Dong Sik est un homme entouré de mystères, tandis que Han Ju Won, derrière son attitude guindée et arrogante, possède un but : obtenir la justice. On sent les étincelles venir et elles ne tardent pas à se décupler au fil des épisodes.
Bien que leur mauvaise entente permette d’ajouter encore plus de piquant au drama, Beyond Evil ne lésine pas sur la qualité de chaque personnage. Chacun possède sa propre histoire, son passé, ses démons et ses désirs. Principaux ou secondaires, ils ont tous un rôle. Le fait d’être au cœur d’une petite ville permet d’accentuer cette ambiance si particulière et de donner encore plus de force au récit.
D'ailleurs, l’intrigue principale et les sous-intrigues sont d’une qualité irréprochable. On doute des personnages, alors que deux minutes auparavant, on leur aurait donné le bon dieu sans confession.
En bref, Shim Na Yeon offre une intrigue gorgée de rebondissements avec un développement profond de ses personnages avec un casting monstrueusement parfait !
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Série muito empolgante, impossível parar de ver
Meu deus que série!!!! Comecei a assistir e simplesmente não conseguia mais parar e quando parava ficava teorizando sobre ela. Não sei nem como descrever, fazia muito tempo que eu não me empolgava assim. Todo episódio você é levado a achar algo, pois o público só recebe parte da informação, mas nunca nada é como parece ser. Eu realmente achei no episódio 2 que o Dong Sik era o assassino e a série seguiria um estilo Hannibal, mas não foi bem isso que aconteceu. Quando revelam o assassino achei que ficaria chato, mas que nada, continua interessante e quando Joo Won e Dong Sik finalmente se unem a série atinge o ápice. E o que falar da química entre esses dois kkkk várias cenas eu fiquei torcendo pra eles se beijarem, eles tinham uma tensão incrível. Também quero dar destaque para as maravilhosas atuações, nenhuma fora de tom, todas perfeitas,Yeo Jin Goo é tão novinho e mesmo assim entregou tudo e Shin Ha Kyun também foi incrível, e a série foi muito bem dirigida. Outro ponto de destaque é a ótima trilha sonora, confesso que estou bastante viciada e não paro de ouvir. Enfim, pra mim essa série é nota 10, gostei demais, amo esse estilo de série, mas raramente encontro uma tão boa quanto essa, então estou muito feliz de ter assistido e já vou começar de novo, vale a pena demais.
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DENLE UN OSCAR
Es el mejor thriller psicológico que vi alguna vez.Considero que es el mejor drama policial de la fakin historia, ACTORASOS, no por nada el actor de Dingshik ganó a mejor actor del año, deserver!! hay una serie de asesinatos de mujeres que les cortan los dedos y no se hayan sus cuerpos, buscan al asesino, TE HACE PENSAR DE TODO, re juega con tu mente y es buenísimo TOTAL porque dudas de hasta los policías!!! el plot es una locura super inesperado porque ni te imaginas quién podrá ser el asesino, quedé bastante shockeada
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Me encantó
Me encantó de inicio a fin.La historia, los protagonistas.
La verdad lo recomiendo ampliamente, y más si te gustan los thrillers.
Sinceramente, es una serie que te atrapa de inicio a fin, con las situaciones y giros inesperados que se dan.
Y si hay algo que ayuda demasiado en cualquier tipo de programa, es ma musicalización,que en este caso da en el clavo en todas las escenas.
Si quieres reír, llorar, sentir impotencia, enojarte, confiar, pasar por estrés, pero sobre todo quedar más que satisfecha con la serie, adelante.
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Apprenez à être un anti-héros avec Lee Dong-Shik =D !
Alors, alors… Étant toujours dans ma période où rien ne trouve grâce à mes yeux… [Enfin, rien… Disons qu’après analyse, les romances me tapent royalement sur le système. D’habitude dans ce cas, j’enchaine des films d’horreurs afin de me laver le cerveau de toutes ces niaiseries… (Oui, ma logique est assez douteuse =D)] Je suis tombée sur « Beyond Evil » qui m’a fait entrevoir un peu de lumière. (Assez ironique quand on connaît l’histoire x’D)Parlons des points clés de ce drama :
• Une petite bourgade qui accueille un tueur en série… (Est-ce une idée que je me fais ou la plupart des histoires du genre se déroule dans les lieux « isolés » où tout le monde se connaît ?!)
• Un anti-héros pour protagoniste principal : Nous sommes loin du héros qui fait rêver ! Lee Dong-Shik a tout d’un héros désabusé qui adore jouer au psychopathe et nous perdre dans ses raisonnements…
• Une enquête tel un jeu de piste : La quête de la vérité m’a souvent donné des maux de tête ! D’autant plus qu’on finit par soupçonner tout le monde et finalement… Nous sommes loin du compte… [Après avoir découvert la vérité derrière l’affaire, je me suis dit : «Tout ça pour ça ? ». (Je m’explique : Si la vérité avait été exposée dès le départ, beaucoup de vies n’auraient pas été gâchées… Mais vous me direz qu’il n’y aurait pas eu d’histoire alors x’D.)]
• Des puissants plus adorables les uns que les autres (Entendez bien l’ironie de cet intitulé =D) : Ils nous donnent une leçon de vie des plus intéressante : pour couvrir ses traces tout est permis… Et si on ruine la vie de plusieurs personnes au passage, c’est encore mieux ! =X (J’espère que les puissants de Corée ne sont pas comme les décrits la plupart des thrillers, sinon je les plains ^^)
En conclusion, l’histoire est des plus « classique » pour un thriller coréen… On en revient souvent à la même chose. (C’est-à-dire… Des puissants des plus pourris qui feraient tout pour accumuler plus de pouvoir =D) Cependant, ce drama m’a tenu en haleine car finalement… Je voulais savoir qui était le meurtrier de « Lee Yu-Yeon » & comment réagirait tous les protagonistes à cette vérité...
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Todos temos monstros dentro de nós ou nos tornamos?
Para essa resenha preparei muito, mas daí me perguntei “Conseguirei descrever tudo, até os sentimentos?”, penso que não, então tentarei o máximo que puder.Sobre os personagens, todos são incógnitas até certo momento, incluindo Dongsik e Joowon, geralmente o roteiro nos entrega tudo antes de seus personagens aqui não. Pensei que como os outros o maior foco seria os assassinatos, mas não, são as pessoas. Joowon é arrogante e emocional, mais ainda quando cisma com um culpado, sem ter objetividade, Dongsik já é mais calculista, mas então de repente os dois trocam suas personalidades, me fez sentir que os dois se completavam. Amava como Dongsik e Joowon viviam perguntando um para outro “Está preocupado comigo?" Em seguida negava, porque estava na cara que era ao contrário. Com certeza são a ou uma das duplas mais intensas que já vi em doramas. Tão intensas, como sempre explosivas e emocionais, toda vez que os personagens batem de frente são cenas de tirar o fôlego.
Há coisas que podem passar despercebidas como, muitos títulos de capítulo usavam a mesma palavra em coreano, com significados diferentes, que dão a impressão que o que importava é a interpretação delas. O título em coreano em si, chamasse “Monstro”, descreve muito bem isso, dando a dica ou melhor as perguntas que devemos nos fazer do começo ao fim. Até onde nossas ações nos levam? O que é certo e errado? O que é ser humano? Todos temos monstros dentro de nós ou nos tornamos?
Enfim, as atuações de Yeo Jin Goo e Shin Ha Kyun tem grande importância, esse é o motivo de sempre está de olho em seus próximos trabalhos, talento puro. Com certeza entrará para um dos meus favoritos e já espero prêmios.
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Esse provavelmente foi o 10 mais fácil que eu já dei pra um drama investigativo. O plot desse drama me interessou desde o começo e pelo elenco eu já sabia que podia esperar muito dele e não me desapontou em momento nenhum. O Yeo JinGoo e o Shin HaKyun foram simplesmente perfeitos nos papéis.
Ver a evolução dos dois protagonistas, principalmente do Han JooWon, foi ótimo e dava pra perceber o apego e a amizade que os dois protagonistas formaram ali.
Quanto aos casos, que são basicamente dois, no fim das contas, sempre conectados, não desapontaram, nem quando você acha que tudo se resolveu muito cedo, algo muito maior vai acontecer.
A equipe de policia de Manyang, e a JaeYi também, agregaram muito ao drama, todo mundo ali foi bem utilizado onde deveriam e ver a ligação de cada um até o fim, foi ótimo.
As atuações nesse drama são perfeitas, não teve um que não conseguiu me convencer e honestamente, esse deve ser o melhor papel da carreira do Yeo JinGoo, especialmente nos episódios finais.
No geral, se você curte dramas policiais, com suspense, esse drama vale muito a pena.
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