4 Years Later, It's Time to Watch the Most Mind-Blowing K-Drama With Fincher Vibes – It Has a 9.6 on Viki
Korean cinema is one of the best in the world, and detectives are its pride and joy. Directors from South Korea have been developing this genre since the 2000s, setting new standards. And this series is one of its best representatives.
While most people know K-dramas for their swoon-worthy romances, Korean crime thrillers are also worth all the hype. Four years ago, the most intense detective K-drama of the decade – Mouse – was released.
K-dramas don't often keep you on the edge of your seat, but they make you think about the meaning of life. Mouse is much more layered than your typical crime thriller, and here's why.
What Is Mouse About?
A serial killer terrorizes the country. Panic and dissatisfaction with the police reached such a level that the government seriously discussed a bill for a genetic test that would allow the determination of the psychopathy gene in an embryo with 99% accuracy.
Ten years have passed, but such terrible events cannot disappear without a trace and have already closely intertwined the fates of an experienced detective, a talented producer, an ordinary policeman and a troubled high school student. But they do not know it yet.
Mouse Is Loosely Based on a Heartbreaking Real-Life Story
The series is based on a chilling true story: in 2017, a 17-year-old student who killed an 8-year-old girl was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and her 18-year-old accomplice received a life sentence.
When the mother of the deceased child asked the accused if she repented, the girl replied that she was sorry that in such good weather she could not see the cherry trees in blossom. In the show, the writers fantasize about how psychopaths would behave if they felt guilty about what they did.
Mouse Is Inspired by the Best Detective Movies and TV Series
Mouse's color scheme is reminiscent of David Fincher's projects, with greens and grays mixing into a grimy haze.
When the mysterious hooded killer hides in the rain in a field of tall grass, the inspiration of Bong Joon-ho's Memories of Murder is obvious, as well as when the two detectives start arguing about each other's methods.
When it comes to the disagreements between the two detectives, there are similarities to True Detective, where one character is tired of life and the other tries to solve the problem with already familiar methods.
There's Less Action With Fights and Chases, and More Philosophical Reflection and Moral Dilemmas
Chases, traps, and suspicions – all the main components of a detective story are present, but there are not too many of them. For those who prefer a brisk pace of narration and gunplay, the show may seem too slow and calm.
But if you haven't thought about injustice and impunity in a long time, the series will give you food for thought.
Here, the issues of the state's influence on the life of society and the invasion of personal space are intertwined. The characters try to find a middle ground between humanism and justice, and the killers cannot justify their actions by a difficult upbringing, as is often the case.
