Stellar crime thiller! (he didn't do anything wrong)
Vigilante is a fast paced crime thriller, that is perfect for a fast binge. It's not the most fleshed out drama out there, we don't really get to know any of the characters backstories or why they do the things they do. I really liked the main protagonist/antagonist (actually he was 100% right in everything imo). It was super refreshing to see Nam joohyuk in this type of role. I'm so used to him just playing the "pretty boy next door". Actually acting was great all-around.The drama do lack any type of realism when it comes to injuries, logic etc etc, like why can everyone in this show fight? Why can that guy lift a car? why did the reporter barely react to the crazy stuff happening right in-front of her eyes? This did bother me a bit, but honestly it wasn't a huge deal for me, since k-dramas do tend to go out of the realm of reality pretty often. Also the show didn't really have a emotional punch to it. I did really like the ending of the drama, I would actually be fine if that was it you know? (don't wanna spoil)
It's a drama worth-while if you like these types of shows! A solid 8/10 from me.
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The story follows Kim Ji-yong (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), a brilliant model student at the National Police University. By day, he learns to uphold the law; by night, he becomes the masked “Vigilante”, a ruthless avenger who punishes repeat offenders and criminals who have received absurdly light sentences. His motivation stems from childhood trauma: witnessing his mother’s death at the hands of a thug who barely faced any punishment.
The fight scenes are dark, intense, and realistic, eschewing overly polished choreography. Every punch, kick, and chase feels brutal, heightening the raw energy of the thriller.
With just 8 episodes, the series moves at breakneck speed. There’s no filler. The mystery unfolds quickly, and the tension builds with a constant sense of urgency.
Nam Joo-hyuk delivers one of his best performances, channeling his character’s suppressed rage and inner duality. The supporting cast also shines: Yoo Ji-tae is commanding as the detective seeking justice within the law, while Lee Joon-hyuk steals scenes with his eccentric and complex character.
Vigilante is a must-watch for fans of the genre. It’s a dark, adrenaline-fueled drama with a core theme that resonates with public frustration over judicial failures. If you’re looking for a K-drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you question what “justice” truly means, this is not to be missed.
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great to binge watch ?↕️
literally watched it in one day, it’s really good!! although at some parts it kind of gets a bit tedious, it might have also been since i watched one episode after the other. overall i really enjoyed it and i hope to see nam joohyuk doing more of this kind of roles!! and although i think the ending was nice, i also wouldn’t mind if there was a second season, i think it has a lot of potential if they don’t drag around some storylines for tooooo long. it’d be interesting to see the aftermath of everything and how jiyong’s life as a police officer is…Was this review helpful to you?
Criminally underated!!
Why is this show so underated because this is pure excellence I can't believe I slept on this drama for so long it was so good from the main to side characters every character was so intriguing which is rare to see nowadays in dramas this drama had me wanting for more I really hope there is a season 2 for this will absolutely love that here each of the character was so unique that it was good to see their different perspective on law and justice definitely a quality watch for sureWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Vigilante was the perfect action thriller. I binged the whole thing in one day. If you’re looking for a show with an intricate plot and lots of backstory, this is not that show. Instead, it immediately jumps into the action and the plot goes at full speed until the very end. While I might have liked a little more backstory for some of the characters, the rapid pacing kept things from ever feeling stale.
Nam Joo-hyuk is fantastic (and ripped) in this role and I hope he does more action shows in the future. Even though a lot of his screen time is spent fighting, he gets to show his acting chops through some great scenes with very raw emotions. Similar to a lot of the characters in the show, I was rooting for vigilante the whole time.
The fight choreography was amazing. There is so much fighting in this show but I never felt bored. The show really ratcheted up the tension by having vigilante constantly on the verge of getting caught. All of the escape sequences had me on the edge of my seat.
The introduction of the copycat was genius. His character was hilarious and brought so much humor to a pretty dark show. The relationship between the vigilantes was one of the highlights of the whole show.
Vigilante was a great time and seems very underrated. They really set it up for a season 2 and I hope it happens!
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He will show what is real justice
What is this impenetrable line that holds the balance between justice and vengeance? What is the guarantee that the line forever exists? What happens when someone toes with the line? You know that a drama is intricately complex when it asks these types of questions. And as it may be, the audience may begin to ponder over these very questions, perhaps more as the drama moves along.Vigilante tells the story of Kim Ji Young, a prospective police officer who adopts the identity of a Vigilante to punish those who have been let off lightly by the law, perpetrators who continue to commit crimes, in an attempt to provide a sense of safety to not only the victims of the crimes, but to the general public.
The drama is efficiently character driven, and there is not one character who is morally white or black, most of all our Vigilante. He is surrounded by characters with an equally ambiguous moral compass, a journalist who cares about ratings as much as the vigilante justice system, a vigilante fanboy who's values don't nearly line up with those of the actual vigilante, and a police officer who serves his own version of vigilantism to catch our dark hero.
When each character performs what they believe is right, a web of chaos is created wherein everyone has to now perfect unprecedented actions to achieve their goals. Beneath it all though, the leads have a common goal, the crux of it all: Justice. While their methods may differ, their morality may sway, they strive to protect the public by performing their own form of justice. This creates conflict and leads to confrontation between the characters where everything they believe in comes into question, until it finally bubbles up to create the complicated connections between the characters.
There were some interesting questions the drama asked, all the while blending it with the quintessential K Drama thriller vibes. Most importantly, the story was gripping and there were no scenes I would categorise as filler/unnecessary. I believe there is much more complexity to the story than they actually showed, sort of like barely scratching the surface, and it will be interesting to see the story play out as a result of Ji Young's state at the end of season 1. Overall, a very solid series in all aspects that I would highly recommend to those who want to get a glimpse of sweet, sweet justice.
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A Thrilling Dive Into Justice and Morality
I ended up binge-watching the entire series in one sitting because it had me on the edge of my seat from the very start! Vigilante is one of those dramas that doesn’t let go once it hooks you, every twist and turn draws you deeper into the moral dilemmas, action-packed scenes and the dark explorations of justice.Plot & Storyline
The plot is filled with tension and suspense. At its core, the drama is about a man who is fed up with the system's failure to bring criminals to justice. Jiyong's vigilante persona, known for taking brutal justice into his own hands, brings about moral dilemmas that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is sharp, with each episode delivering a new layer of intensity while also fleshing out Jiyong’s troubled psyche and his personal motivations.
The show balances action-packed sequences with deeply emotional moments, often diving into Jiyong’s internal struggles. He’s not just the hero, he’s also a deeply flawed individual, and Vigilante does an excellent job of capturing this complexity.
Characters & Performances
The performances in Vigilante are top-notch, with Nam Joohyuk delivering a standout performance as Kim Jiyong. He brings a nuanced portrayal to the role, balancing vulnerability and grit with remarkable skill, and the performances of the supporting cast are equally compelling.
Cinematography & Direction
The cinematography in Vigilante is gritty. The dark and moody color palette complements the tone of the show, heightening the sense of unease and danger. The action sequences are choreographed well, with a realistic edge to them that makes the viewer feel every punch, kick, and chase. The direction keeps things taut and engrossing, ensuring that the drama doesn't feel like it’s overstaying its welcome.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Vigilante is a moral exploration of the costs of justice, the corruption of power and the dangers of vigilantism. Through Jiyong’s journey, the show teaches us that while the desire for justice is noble, it can easily be corrupted if we allow our emotions to take over. Vigilantism may offer a temporary sense of righting wrongs, but it comes with profound costs.
Despite being predictable at times, it still managed to engage me on a deep level. As someone who has enjoyed similar kdrama of this genre, I genuinely believe Vigilante deserves a spot among the best of them.
So, if you're a fan of crime kdramas with a strong moral dilemma, complex characters, and intense action scenes then Vigilante is a must-watch for sure.
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Korean batman
vigilante aka Korean batman. now lemme get to the plot. first priority for every movie or drama especially the action ones is having a strong motive behind heros action and the clash BTW the antagonist. now protagonist backstory is quite basic for the plot but now the director beautifully takes time and explains the motive of hero and all which infact is quite likable appealing. now (protagonist) is a cop in trainne who's a vigilante(punishes people which the law fails to ) heros motive is perfect he's portrayed as empathetic, quite a kind soul . now plot goes like this our protagonist whose a vigilante starts punishing people during weekend's and police starts to investigate and people start supporting the vigilante and form groups and start punishing the bad guys but now there's a big issue for protagonist a new police officer is appointed catch the vigilante whose quite strong asf ! and there's another vigilante copying our protagonist ditto who's the other vigilante? will hero get caught? who's the main antagonist? well grab snacks and sleep on sofa and start binging this short mini drama full of adrenaline rushWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
IT'S SO UNDERRATEDD ?️?
I only found this drama cuz it came up when I was seeing if Hulu had kdrama. IT'S SO GOOD. I just finished it and I'll admit that I cried when his friend died at the end, I really like the story and I think it was interesting to watch, I watched it in about 8 or 9 hours and it took me 2 days. I personally had never heard of Vigilante and now that it's done I'm sad because there aren't many edits for it 😿. I can't wait for season 2 🗣️🔥🔥, and if anyone reading this is wondering if they should watch it, DO IT IT'S GOOD TRUST ME🤑🤑Was this review helpful to you?
Glad this exists.
The story, the cast, everything seems on point.I don't know in which order I should express my feelings/rating about this show.
Plotwise: awesome, not forced, logical, realistic, relatable, not stretched/far fetched
Actors: great casting, great acting, these characters fit them like a glove(or they made them fit which would be even more upstanding)
Soundtrack: decent overall, not exagerated or overused, almost perfect; would've been great to get just a little more out of it to make it trully "glow"
Production: great scenes and cuts, dialogues, prologues to important scenes
Big thumbs up for production/stunt crew/actors etc. that they didn't exagerate(too much) in fights or action scenes, but still made it enjoyable and cursive.
I would recommend everyone to watch this. Sincerely, a great show without using the romance, revenge(kind of used at the beginning, but just as a medium), time skip/return plot, but at the same time they didn't go overboard with the script and make it too dramatic on a point that it's not realistic/relatable/enjoyable.
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Fighting for Justice in the Injustice World
Vigilante is based on a webtoon with the same name. Prior to watching this, I've read the webtoon to get better understanding but stopped halfway after I completed the series.To date, this is, perhaps, one of the best miniseries in k-drama land. It blends action, thriller, psychological, and crime genre perfectly. It uses 'fighting for justice in my own way even though it's wrong' trope heavily. We see the ML (Kim Ji-yong) had a traumatic past as his mother was murdered and the murderer got a short-sentence in prison. After ML grew up, he came across the murderer again and beat him brutally. At last, he made up his mind to become a vigilante (a serial killer, to be precise) - to protect the world and the innocent people from injustice by dealing with the criminals with his own hands since the law couldn't be trusted anymore.
Nam Joo-hyuk portrays Kim Jiyong seamlessly and expresses various emotions versatilely - he's as good as a pyscho, I really love it. Yoo Ji-tae also does well as Cho Heon - a detective who was sent to arrest the vigilante. I'm really impressed by Kim So-jin - the one who acts as Choi Mi-ryeo - she's maybe some kind of lunatic, but she still got her own sense of justice and was willing to help the vigilante as she could as possible. Lastly, Lee Joon-hyuk as Cho Kang-ok is a great fan and a big support of vigilante as well - like his funny banter with Ji-yong...
I've no more words to describe it anymore - but yes, this dark tale deserves more attention from the public and the rating could've gone higher. After Vigilante, another miniseries, which is 'A Killer Paradox', tries to duplicate it, but falls short compared to this one. If you love pyscho plot with a blend of action thriller genre, you can give this a shot. Warning: Lots of bloody and violent scenes, don't try it at home.
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A very good/short thriller drama!
This drama was highly anticipated for me, and it did not disappoint (overall).The storyline was actually pretty good, but the last 2 episodes felt a bit rushed...
The characters were amazing, and the actors did a great job!
Overall a really good drama for when you don't want to commit to 16+ episodes (although this one should've gotten 10 instead). Will definitely rewatch!
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