traytray

m not sure what’s been going on with K-dramas these last couple of years. So many of them start incredibly strong, only to lose momentum halfway through—and The Manipulated unfortunately falls into that pattern. Personally, I prefer when a series starts slow and gradually deepens its plot, but this one went the opposite route.
The first four episodes were absolute bangers. They set up a gripping mystery, tight pacing, and a lot of potential. I was excited—really excited. But as the show progressed, the villain became increasingly cartoony, which pulled me out of the tension the drama worked so hard to build early on.
I was also confused by the reveal that the nanny was actually the mom. The show needed to give us more backstory between the nanny and the villain to make that twist land. Instead, it felt rushed and underdeveloped, which made the emotional payoff fall flat.
Overall, I’m disappointed. The Manipulated had all the ingredients to be something great, but it couldn’t sustain the intensity it opened with. A solid start, but a shaky finish.