K-Drama 
This review may contain spoilers
The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children.
Story: Technically, everyone wants to cover their tracks and save their skin after they mess up. I would blame the arrogance that most of these characters show, especially, if not exclusively, the ones who are in a position of power.
In my opinion, this drama shouldn’t be called “The Lies Within.” I would call it “It Ends With Us,” as most characters were sacrificed to stop a tragedy that started 20 years prior or to prevent the exposure of said tragedy.
Furthermore, this drama serves as a good example of how the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children.
Casting: The best acting, for me, came from Seo Hyeon-woo. He had an unsettling aura every time he appeared on screen. He conveyed so much without saying anything.
Lee Min-ki, playing the detective, is well-suited for the role, but there were times when I wanted him to express more anger. For instance, discovering that his colleague of 10 years had been accepting bribes, obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and even killing a fellow colleague to cover up crimes—wouldn’t that truly infuriate anyone? I expected more intensity from his character.
Lee Yoo-Young’s acting fell short for me. While I understand that portraying a doormat can be challenging, her performance didn’t convince me.
Main Characters:
Seo-hee: It felt as if this character never truly grew or developed throughout the story. I don’t understand why she received a redemption/salvation arc in the end. What purpose did it serve? Nothing substantial. From the very beginning, she seemed incapable of acting independently. Despite numerous suspicious events, she continued to trust the wrong people. Ultimately, all she did was cry, scream, and wait for her husband to return. An annoying and predictable character combination.
Tae-Sik: There’s a poignant scene where he daydreams of his sister forgiving him and wishing him a happy life. While it provided some closure, I believe that losing a loved one—whether family, friend, or partner—is an experience from which one can never fully recover.
Overall Impression: The drama was okay to watch, but I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot was rather predictable, although there was an unexpected reveal.
Make-it-make-sense-scenes: The police charged Jo Tae Shik because he happened to be next to Ho Gyu on the night of his murder. No evidence, nothing substantial, and yet they aired this fact on national television. Their justification for killing him was revenge for his suspension due to something Tae Shik did. Curiously, he didn’t implicate his team during the Internal Affairs investigation. If he truly wanted to kill someone, why not target Dae Yong or the chief of police?
And just when you think Seo-hui can’t sink any lower, she surprises you with her ignorance and heroine syndrome! She’s willing to sacrifice everyone and go to prison. Unfortunately, she fails to grasp that exposing her father-in-law would spell the end for her and everyone associated with her. Perhaps she’s delusional or just plain foolish. While helping others in need is commendable, the damage has already been done—she can’t save anyone at this point.
In my opinion, this drama shouldn’t be called “The Lies Within.” I would call it “It Ends With Us,” as most characters were sacrificed to stop a tragedy that started 20 years prior or to prevent the exposure of said tragedy.
Furthermore, this drama serves as a good example of how the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children.
Casting: The best acting, for me, came from Seo Hyeon-woo. He had an unsettling aura every time he appeared on screen. He conveyed so much without saying anything.
Lee Min-ki, playing the detective, is well-suited for the role, but there were times when I wanted him to express more anger. For instance, discovering that his colleague of 10 years had been accepting bribes, obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and even killing a fellow colleague to cover up crimes—wouldn’t that truly infuriate anyone? I expected more intensity from his character.
Lee Yoo-Young’s acting fell short for me. While I understand that portraying a doormat can be challenging, her performance didn’t convince me.
Main Characters:
Seo-hee: It felt as if this character never truly grew or developed throughout the story. I don’t understand why she received a redemption/salvation arc in the end. What purpose did it serve? Nothing substantial. From the very beginning, she seemed incapable of acting independently. Despite numerous suspicious events, she continued to trust the wrong people. Ultimately, all she did was cry, scream, and wait for her husband to return. An annoying and predictable character combination.
Tae-Sik: There’s a poignant scene where he daydreams of his sister forgiving him and wishing him a happy life. While it provided some closure, I believe that losing a loved one—whether family, friend, or partner—is an experience from which one can never fully recover.
Overall Impression: The drama was okay to watch, but I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot was rather predictable, although there was an unexpected reveal.
Make-it-make-sense-scenes: The police charged Jo Tae Shik because he happened to be next to Ho Gyu on the night of his murder. No evidence, nothing substantial, and yet they aired this fact on national television. Their justification for killing him was revenge for his suspension due to something Tae Shik did. Curiously, he didn’t implicate his team during the Internal Affairs investigation. If he truly wanted to kill someone, why not target Dae Yong or the chief of police?
And just when you think Seo-hui can’t sink any lower, she surprises you with her ignorance and heroine syndrome! She’s willing to sacrifice everyone and go to prison. Unfortunately, she fails to grasp that exposing her father-in-law would spell the end for her and everyone associated with her. Perhaps she’s delusional or just plain foolish. While helping others in need is commendable, the damage has already been done—she can’t save anyone at this point.
Was this review helpful to you?
