Season 1 |
|
|
Episode Guide
Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 7 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 8 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 9 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 10 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 11 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 12 – | Review Score – 3/5
Picture this: You get a notification on your phone that reads out a person’s details and their crimes. You vote yes or no depending on whether you think their crime deserves capital punishment. Miles away, the punishment is carried out. The Killing Vote is a thrilling K-drama that makes this hypothetical situation a reality.
The Killing Vote follows a masked vigilante named Gaetal, who sets up a vote every month for citizens to vote either for or against a person’s death. The person is usually a criminal of some sort who has slipped through the jaws of justice due to corrupt police and justice systems. A detective named Kim Mu-chan and a cyber expert named Joo Hyun come together to catch the mysterious Gaetal. They end up joining hands with a prison inmate named Kwon Seok-joo to try and find the culprit.
There’s a lot about this K-drama that is incredibly enjoyable. Mu-chan has an interesting tendency to use illegal means to reach morally upright goals. Hyun’s approach is more straightforward but her risk-taking often lands her in trouble. Kwon Seok-joo, who was in prison for the murder of his daughter’s killer, comes shrouded with mystery that is a joy to unpack.
These three characters form the crux of the show and their interpersonal dynamic is what grabs the viewer — a well-balanced mix of tension, empathy, resentment and love. All three actors do a great job of portraying their complex personalities. However, Park Sung-woon stands out as Seok-joo, imbibing him with an air of mystery as well as omniscience.
However, the primary flaw in the show is that it loses sight of its premise. The central moral conflict was the most interesting part of The Killing Vote — can vigilante justice ever work? Is it justified in the face of corrupt systems? Can ordinary people determine a person’s life or death with no consequences or anything of theirs at stake?
In the first few episodes, the drama raises these complex issues and tries to look at them from multiple perspectives. But over time, the drama forgets to address these questions and shifts focus to simply apprehending Gaetal.
Don’t get me wrong. The chase to catch Gaetal, the slow uncovering of how he works, the gradual reveal of key players in the game, it’s all executed well. The pace can be slow at times but the story is thrilling and keeps viewers hooked. But by the time The Killing Vote finale rolls around, the original conflict of the series is left unexplored. The conclusion is simply not as impactful as the beginning was.
A lot of this comes down to the clumsy writing of the last couple of episodes. The tightness of the writing is lost and there is a dip in the editing quality. Season 1 seems to jump from one lane to another, often not bothering to explain itself and then hastily ties it all up in the end. As a result, there are gaps in logic and questions left unanswered. In the end, the characters don’t seem to have changed much either.
All in all, The Killing Vote Season 1 is still worth the watch, offering a suspenseful and engaging storyline. You will enjoy the performances, the complex characters, and the thought-provoking themes. Just be prepared for the latter to take a backseat as the story unfolds.
Feel Free To Check Out More Of Our TV Show Reviews Here!
-
Verdict - 8/10
8/10