Part 1 |
Episode Guide
Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 4/5
Decoy is a crime drama combining the thrill of serial killer dramas with the devastating and emotional distress of con artist scams. The crime thriller seeks to solve old, cold, and unsolved cases through a series of vicious current investigations happening 13 years after a notorious con man orchestrated a fraud worth over 5 trillion won.
The fraudster allegedly died in a car accident while on the run in a foreign country but is identified as the prime murder suspect in a series of killings of his accomplices 13 years later.
The story grabs your attention immediately with alternate storytelling between the investigation into recent murders by the lawyer turned detective Koo Do Han, and the renowned fraud case that shook the country 13 years prior, committed by the alleged suspect in the current serial murder, Noh Sang Cheon.
However, the Bigs network fraud case is not just as simple a case as many would like to believe. There are some powerful people involved here, including politicians, government officials, the prosecution, police, and even the victims of fraud.
The script employs a unique format, alternating between the past and the present which elaborates the backstory behind the connection between the killings, Noh Sang Cheon and the potential murder victims. The story is unpredictable and full of twists and mysteries keeping you glued to the screen, eager to figure out what happens next. Regardless, the story is easy to understand and follow, leaving room for relaxation and thrill while watching the story unfold.
Another aspect making Decoy a must-watch crime series is that it does not take the traditional revenge plot format. The lead detective Do-han seems to have no connection to the cons nor does he has a vendetta to repay in the first part. We are yet to understand how and why he became a detective given that he was a renowned lawyer, but the mystery adds spice making the series even more captivating.
Consequently, the writer taps into a topic that plagues not only Korean viewers but everyone all over the world. Scams are a world menace and the show shows just how ruthless con artists can be in building massive empires and successful businesses from frauds. The story stays on course, successfully bridging the past and the present coherently.
The plot starts slow in the first 2 episodes, giving viewers time to understand the plot and then the tension increases as the momentum pick up in the last 4 episodes. The ending is a major cliffhanger, which will leave you eagerly waiting for part 2.
The cast adds to the mystery too. Do-han is intelligent and stands up for his team. The team, therefore, trusts him wholeheartedly and follows his lead meticulously whether he decides to solve the case as a lawyer or as a detective.
Deputy chief Jong-hoon is indirectly connected to the fraud case and might be on the kill list, so therefore he wants Do-han to handle the case since he knows when to reveal the truth and when to just sweep it under the rug. Do-han is an enigma; he is always calm and collected and never smiles. He has deep scars connected to the death of his sister but they are yet to be revealed.
The supporting cast is amazingly talented and is consciously scripted to add to the storyline. Everyone from the team at Magang Nambu police agency including the present and past police force and detectives, along with all the other supporting cast serve as a puzzle piece and are essential to the thrill of the chase to find the serial killer and recover the victims’ money. Whether part 2 will keep up the momentum built here, is another matter.