Netflix's New K-drama Just Landed and Already Has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Summary

• On February 9, Netflix once again added the intriguing K-drama A Killer Paradox to its library.
• The series not only stars Choi Woo Sik, but also has a great script that brings a fresh breeze to the crime genre.
• The series has already been hailed as Netflix's new flagship as it received a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

In recent years, K-dramas have become no less popular than the American-produced series. This is largely due to the popularity of South Korean cinema: whereas before the general public had only heard of Oldboy (and that was after the release of a completely soulless American remake; moreover, only hardcore movie buffs knew about other movies in the Park Chan-wook's Vengeance trilogy in the '00s), nowadays, especially after the success of Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning films, including Parasite, it's not just K-pop fans who are paying special attention to Korean pop culture.

Crash Landing on You, Kingdom, Itaewon Class, Hellbound and, of course, Squid Game are just a few examples of incredibly popular Korean series that have literally become flagship shows on Netflix. But even though the highly anticipated Squid Game Season 2 is coming, it looks like each of these listed series will have to step aside as the bandwagon of fame comes for the new K-drama, A Killer Paradox, starring Choi Woo-shik.

Yes, the same Choi who became famous after the aforementioned Parasite. Although the show has only been out for a week, critics and viewers alike are already incredibly impressed, and A Killer Paradox has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

A New TV Series with the Star of Parasite

Released on February 9, A Killer Paradox was perhaps Netflix's most high-profile premiere in recent months, thanks in large part to Choi Woo Sik's involvement. The show marked the first TV appearance in 7 years for one of South Korea's most celebrated actors, who rose to stardom thanks to such iconic movies as Train to Busan and Parasite, and remarkably, the performer is once again taking the lead in a dark comedy with thriller elements.

Woo-shik plays a humble college student called Li Tang, whose life suddenly takes a dark and twisted turn after he unintentionally murders a drunken man while moonlighting at a convenience store. However, the dead guy turned out to be a serial killer and so Li Tang, horrified but also convinced that the murder was justified, decides to hunt down other criminal offenders and viciously kill them.

Two independent but determined investigators play cat and mouse with him. One is police officer Jang Nan-Gam, played by Son Suk-Ku (D.P., My Liberation Notes), whose instincts lead him to suspect Li Tang of the crimes. The other is former detective Song Chon, played by Lee Hee-joon (Mouse, Chimera), who decides to conduct his own investigation.

A Gripping Thriller That Wowed Critics and Audiences Alike

On Rotten Tomatoes, as we mentioned earlier, the new K-drama has earned a perfect 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. While there may not be many reviews from professional critics yet, many of those available have noted how atypical A Killer Paradox is for Korean TV series.

Though perhaps overly ambitious, the series offers an incredibly multi-layered plot full of intrigue and unexpected twists, as well as more than a few moral dilemmas due to Li Tang's actions. Perhaps the main complaint was that the protagonist's conceit was not sufficiently revealed and therefore seemed underwhelming and overly intrusive. However, these points are smoothed over by talented acting and gorgeous cinematography, especially the sequences with Li Tang's hallucinations.

The audience rating was slightly lower, only 83% (which is not insignificant when compared not only to other K-dramas, but also to world TV series in general). However, there is not a single negative review among the viewers, as many came to admire the show thanks to excellent performances, dark humor, and unique direction.