This review may contain spoilers
Underwhelming
Unpopular opinion, but I think I’m one of the few who found The Manipulated to be pretty average. For me, the biggest issue comes down to structure. Watching this show felt like reading the last page of a book first and then flipping back to page one, there’s simply no thrill left. The weekly-release format drained its momentum completely, especially since the villain and motive were revealed so early on. With all the suspense deflated upfront, waiting a full week for the next episode felt unnecessary
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Ji Chang Wook’s role didn’t help either. His performance was fine, but the character felt like a familiar echo of K2, Healer, and The Worst of Evil. The ML seemed stuck in repetitive, bland character beats.
Surprisingly, the villains had far more personality and depth than the protagonists. And as strong as the antagonists were, villains shouldn’t be the best part of a great show. When they outshine the heroes, the emotional weight weakens.
The cinematography also fell into tired patterns, endless nighttime scenes, repetitive chase sequences, and writing that lacked sharpness. The mini “prison break” attempt bordered on unintentionally comedic, and the addition of a one-sided romance in a thriller felt out of place. By the time the revenge was finally revenging, the buildup had me rooting for the villain. And the worst thing is that the final revenge wasn’t even satisfying.
But I’ll give the show this, it does have genuine strengths. The cast delivers across the board. Ji Chang Wook remains solid in action-heavy roles. And Kyungsoo? He absolutely devoured the screen as An Yo-han. I loved how completely unhinged he was, killing without hesitation, framing people and covering up murders purely for the thrill of it. He didn’t gain anything from these acts. He did it out of the pure love for the game. He was terrifying and fascinating in equal measure.
The prison scenes were another highlight. They were some of the best-crafted portions of the show, driving real character development. Watching the ML evolve from an innocent, overwhelmed man who could barely adapt, into someone hardened, determined, and fueled by survival and revenge, was genuinely compelling.
And the nanny deserves her own spotlight. Layered, chilling, charismatic, and utterly ruthless, every time she appeared, the screen sharpened. One of the standout presences of the entire series.
In the end, The Manipulated is a watchable thriller elevated by strong performances. I’m sure it’ll sweep award shows. But for me, it wasn’t an enjoyable watch. Maybe I’m especially underwhelmed because this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, but it simply didn’t live up to its potential.
.
Ji Chang Wook’s role didn’t help either. His performance was fine, but the character felt like a familiar echo of K2, Healer, and The Worst of Evil. The ML seemed stuck in repetitive, bland character beats.
Surprisingly, the villains had far more personality and depth than the protagonists. And as strong as the antagonists were, villains shouldn’t be the best part of a great show. When they outshine the heroes, the emotional weight weakens.
The cinematography also fell into tired patterns, endless nighttime scenes, repetitive chase sequences, and writing that lacked sharpness. The mini “prison break” attempt bordered on unintentionally comedic, and the addition of a one-sided romance in a thriller felt out of place. By the time the revenge was finally revenging, the buildup had me rooting for the villain. And the worst thing is that the final revenge wasn’t even satisfying.
But I’ll give the show this, it does have genuine strengths. The cast delivers across the board. Ji Chang Wook remains solid in action-heavy roles. And Kyungsoo? He absolutely devoured the screen as An Yo-han. I loved how completely unhinged he was, killing without hesitation, framing people and covering up murders purely for the thrill of it. He didn’t gain anything from these acts. He did it out of the pure love for the game. He was terrifying and fascinating in equal measure.
The prison scenes were another highlight. They were some of the best-crafted portions of the show, driving real character development. Watching the ML evolve from an innocent, overwhelmed man who could barely adapt, into someone hardened, determined, and fueled by survival and revenge, was genuinely compelling.
And the nanny deserves her own spotlight. Layered, chilling, charismatic, and utterly ruthless, every time she appeared, the screen sharpened. One of the standout presences of the entire series.
In the end, The Manipulated is a watchable thriller elevated by strong performances. I’m sure it’ll sweep award shows. But for me, it wasn’t an enjoyable watch. Maybe I’m especially underwhelmed because this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, but it simply didn’t live up to its potential.
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