Mouse (2021)

Astonishing thriller story with incredible plot twists

First of all I gave the rewatch value only 7 because I personally think It would be a boring thing watching it again because you know all the incredible plot twists. In many reviews about mouse some people thinks there is some unwanted scenes. I completely disagree because you need to see and understand every little details to enjoy the full story. Mouse has than more twists than it's episode number. Just kidding. But it's true that there is some amazing plot twists. Some of them were completely unthinkable and some of them were I think it could be guessed? Mouse is a drama that will keep you at the edge of your seat until it ends. Every episode ends at a certain point that you can call cliffhanger. Each episode ending is so unexpected. Undoubtedly it is one of the best dramas I have seen. This is an absolute masterpiece for me. If you are thinking about watching it then do yourself a favor and watch it. You will not regret it.
I think mouse deserves more fame & popularity. Every thriller lover should watch this at least once in their life. Those who look for romance in every drama. Mouse is not for them.

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ONE OF THE BEST CRIME-THRILLER DRAMAS

This is one of the best crime-thriller dramas I've watched. I was always amazed with how every episode was made. The gradual reveal of the truths kept me excited the whole time. All the actors and actresses were so good!! I really felt their emotions especially Lee Seunggi and Lee Hee Jun. This needs more appreciation!

If you're looking for a psychopath/crime thriller series, this one's for you! Just prepare your mind and your heart. Everything went by quickly with just 20 episodes.

100% will rewatch. I think there are some clues I missed while watching before and I'd like to see them clearly now :)

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Intriguingly Controversial yet Complicatedly Satisfying

A longer-than-usual review to a very complex drama. The simile between the mouse and the killer's sneakiness was definitely not lost on me from the drama's opening scene, which dictated the nature of the drama. Well done, show. I love crime shows, and to have Lee Seung-gi back as what seemed like a kind, honest rookie police officer in Jung Ba Reum after Vagabond (still waiting on season 2) was a wonderful treat. And as unassuming as Jung Ba Reum's character sounded, it's what happens to him when he one day comes face to face with the evil he probably didn't recognize at the time that completely impacts him, his life, the people around him, and career path that makes him interestingly complicated to watch.

On the other hand, having Lee Hee Joon as Ko Moo Chi; was my first encounter with Hee Joon as an actor, seeing how he navigated the persona of a hardened detective whose life was motivated by the tragedies he suffered as a young child and subsequently as an adult was intriguing to watch; a job beyond well done. I am a fan. I completely understood his obsession; guilt is a terrible burden.

As great as it was to have Kyung Soo-Jin in another reporter role after the outstanding splash she had with her short but powerful role in Hush but this time as Choi, Hong Joo a tenacious and a dedicated journalist who gives her all to her work as disappointing for not using the full potential her character could've made in the flow of the drama.

Park Joo Hyun was another new face for me, but the synopsis on her role as Oh Bong Yi, a troubled high school student scared by a decade-old incident who lives with her grandmother and would rather go to the gym than study, piqued my interest. All the characters had the most interesting development as the drama progressed in a very complicated kind of way, but then the same could be said of all the characters.

Everybody has a story, and from its first episode, Mouse gave the vibe of a drama, willing to take the dark path to not only capture a horrific serial killer but raise and explore the complex issues around psychopathic behaviors through the use of fetal genetic testing to predict or detect antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits in the womb and the suitability of bringing such a child into the world. Ahn Jae Wook as the demented Han Seo Jun was splendid, and he does for sure give credence to the issues the drama raises. Talk about the controversy and the drama stayed true to its complicated tone throughout its run and brought to the forefront the preconceived notions a society may have on what it means to be born with psychopathic traits and its effects on those labeled as such.

By the end of the drama, I understood how everybody felt broken for Yo Han (great acting by Kwon Hwa Woon) for the hopeless life he lived and how he died, but I am more broken for Jung Ba Reum. He never had a chance of becoming anything other than what they all perceived him to be from when he was born; everybody who crossed his life failed him desperately. The one good thing Ba Reum's father ever did for him was to give him part of Yo Han's brain, and that in itself was ironic. I am glad his end was at the hand of the very son he so willfully tried to save. Daniel Lee, in my opinion, was the culprit that started the whole mess that miserably directed Yo Han and Ba Reum's life. He planted the most atrocious seed in everybody's mind with the psychopathic gene.

And even if Daniel Lee wasn't responsible for how everyone behaved after, he was for sure responsible for the power of the suggestion. Not all psychopaths are criminals. It's a fact that some psychopathic traits link to success. So, rather than work so hard to try and pass into law aborting fetuses and whatnot, wouldn't it have been more meaningful if they'd worked just as hard at ensuring they became upstanding members of society as they did, making them into predators. All Ba Reum ever wanted was for someone to love him, hug him, and let him know he wasn't a monster. Kudos to Lee Seung Gi for a job beyond well done in one of the most complicated roles I have ever seen him do. And if Seung Gi was excellent, Lee Hee Joon was phenomenal. Despite how complicated this drama gets, I enjoyed it to the fullest, and I highly recommend it.

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Must watch.......

So I don't know how to start this because I can't get any particular words mainly because i scared if i tell something which may leads to a spoiler, i mean of course reviewing about a complete thriller drama will be more difficult i have to think twice before i spill something. So i definitely be careful about that. Mouse was an outstanding drama. Its a kind of a show which i never watched before from kdrama. First of all a big salute to the writer and director for making such an extraordinary screenplay also Lee Seung gi for took that courage to come up with this outstanding performance.

You can't predict that easily when you watching this at the time of it airs, because everything was so messed up and you don't know what's going to happen next and they left so many loopholes in each and every episodes which even more confusing. But some of them may you can definitely predict in some point later, but i am sure there were something left for you to feel wondered after watching.

The story telling was top notch and the detailing of all the incidents was also excellent. There is a huge back story about all those incident so the 20 long Episodes was understandable. And the performance wise apart from lee seung gi the actor who done that role detective kim muchi was also just fabulous. And the background score played a big part to make this more intense.

Mouse surely not a usual psychopath crime thriller, it has more to say. And the concept they are dealing here was also looks innovative and i haven't seen this anywhere before.. So am stopping here.. Don't think too much or go through the plot or the clippings, just watch and experience it..

A Must Must watch drama

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"Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping" (lmao)

The cliffhanger, the suspense, the twists - 'Mouse' has it all. The first episode really gets you hooked on the drama. Even if you are not a fan of thriller, this will surely get you to like it. And if you ARE a fan of thriller, crime, mystery (like myself) I HIGHLY suggest you to watch the drama. There isn't one episode where you wanna skip or feel like you got bored of it. The end of every episode fills your mind up with questions and theories. The story was well-written. And can't forget about the actors, which made the drama more appealing to watch. It's a first to see a killer's perspective and not a victim's in a drama. You get to see WHEN, HOW and WHY his unfortunate life made him what he is.

So, to keep it short- You won't waste your time and I promise you will surely enjoy every bit of it. So.....GO WATCH IT NOW!

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Solid 8.5 - not for the faint-hearted and impatient

I'll try to keep it short: This drama is a good psychological thriller, the perfect example of a roller coaster ride show with all it's twists and turns, ethical conflicts and not to forget all the characters and names to remember xD. It's further dark and intense, might not be everyone's cup of tea.

It was messy in some parts and also tiring in others, because so much was going on with so many characters involved. What also bothered me was the editing in some episodes, they jumped from one scene to another with no transition like really scene 1 *cut* scene 2 *cut*, but other times it was so smooth that I was puzzled if they occasionally let an intern practice editing. Also, the middle part was a bit dragging BUT the first few episodes were mind-blowing and the last ones (the special ones as well) and especially the ending were so well-rounded, that I'm really glad I chose to watch this show.

The cast is great - fitting and really talented, everyone did a great job portraying their given characters, wouldn't be surprised if they get an award for "best ensemble of the year" or something similar. Special mention must be made of Lee Seung Gi and Lee Hee Joon - they understood the task and delivered. It's not easy to make the viewers feel the character's emotions be it fury or pain or joy, but it was a breeze for these two, found myself crying every time they did.

The background score was apt - well-timed and elevating the scenes.

All in all a good, captivating show which makes you ponder on ethics and morals.

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Best psychological thriller of era

I found out there were many mixed review for the series so am actually posting my opinion. This drama focuses more on psychological warfare rather than suspense and thriller. Though the main twist is predictable the detail revealation is what this show makes unique. They were many who dropped this show in midway due to illogical reasoning and confused editing but I personally find it interesring and intriguing because the same incident was shown in 2 different perspective. This drama has its own charm and is definetly not made to satisy everyone.

For those who are thinking whether to start this drama or not I'll suggest to give it a go. You need to watch it from Main leads perscpective as the revealation progesses slowly. Please dnt drop it mid way and give it a full go am sure u wont regret ur decision.

Special mention to cast especially LSG. Even I was planning to drop it but hold it out because of him and I truely was greatefull in discovering this masterpiece. LSG raises our bar among kdrama actors.

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An interesting premise done terribly

Warning: This show has a LOT of on screen violence against both kids and animals. Yes, it's blurred, but you know what's happened/what something is.

This show was certainly something. It had everything. Eugenics. Serial killers. Vengeance. Police being bad at their jobs. Problems that could have been solved if just one person answered their phone. Amnesia. Brain transplants. Murder. Government conspiracies.

And that is the problem. It had everything, so it wound up being a mess. There were bits and pieces of good ideas in the show, but the way that it came together was...not good. I finished it out of fascination, going 'what the hell' the whole time. And then in the end, the government conspiracy is successful! The bill passes!

I found the editing very confusing, especially in episode one. I was so confused about how each scene related to the others with the 'two years before' 'one year later' 'ten years ago'. It took me until like halfway through the show to actually cobble together what the actual timeline for those events was. I get that part of the point with the editing was that it was supposed to be misleading so that the reveal partway through actually means something, but there's ways to do that without making it hard to figure out what year it is when something's happening.

A lot of my frustration stems from the fact that there is that kernel of an interesting idea at the centre of the story: If we can identify a genetic disposition to violence and we identify a child as having this genetic marker, if the child has violent outbursts, are they naturally occurring or were they caused by society/family/community having treated that child as if their existence was violent in and of itself before the child was even capable of making choices?

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This drama is on a scale of its own!!

I have been watchig kdramas for 10 years and I'm telling you this drama is on a scale of its own!
First of all the acting in this drama is beyond spectacular, the actors did a great job specially Lee Seung Gi. It's the first time he plays a role like this and he absolutely slayyy all his scenes I'm very proud of him.
The story line is completely different from the typical thriller drama, this one is full of and mystery (many people couldn't take it and drop it) too bad because is Masterpiece indeed.
The story line gets you involved since episode 1 and from there is a roller coaster, you start to suspect everyone to the point you just give up making theories and decide to just watch.
One thing I love and praise this drama is for giving us special episodes...that allow us to understand as it shows the different side of the coin.
Perfect ending writing is honest without any safe play they told the story with full of thrills from ep 1 to 20.

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The best thriller so far in my life

The writers are not human how can they come up with this masterpiece, the twists and suspense in this drama is twisting my neck , nothing is absolute until its over.
Every other episodes is soaring through the roof with thrill and suspense. Lee seungi hyung portrays the characters so good that i have no words to describe. All the actors are top notch. The people missing out on this drama i feel sad for them. The ones that are about to watch this masterpiece never skip a second because you will loose some details even if you watch it carefully. Enjoy the drama.
BTS-Army one's a wise man(suga) said loveyourself lovemyself peace. And also love this drama because it deserves it.

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Warning - Enter at Your Own Risk

I meant it in a tongue-in-cheek way, of course. But on a more serious note, do be prepared, both mentally and physically. Mouse is a drama that I had briefly dropped at episode 14, and then picked up again after 2 weeks of much needed respite when my brain had finally recovered from the blunt force trauma inflicted from attempting to make sense of it all (and after much encouragement as well as support from MDL friends to re-join this roller coaster of a drama).

Make no mistake, this is a roller coaster in every single sense of the term. It will fry your brain cells, toy with your every emotion, leaving you gasping for air at the end of each episode, right down to the grand finale. Watching this show isn’t as straightforward as simply observing the story unfolding - this production fully consumes you until your entire being is immersed into the layers upon layers and twists within twists amidst the convolution of interconnected nonlinear plots and subplots.

Without spoiling anything, these are the major aspects that I actually liked about it (when my mind wasn’t spiralling)...

The premise of the story about serial killing and the concept of scientific identification of serial killers through their genes (DNA) are original, refreshing and intriguing. Whether or not this is scientifically feasible, only the experts will know (I’ve been told it’s pure fiction). The plot moves at an extremely frenetic pace that’s punctuated by numerous backstories, side-stories and transitions between multiple timelines. This is essentially a “whodunnit” that gradually evolves into the “when, how and why” of it all. Everyone in the comments section and on Feeds (and possibly around the world who’s watching) definitely had fun and/ or stress postulating countless ever-changing hypotheses week in, week out!

Mouse is primarily plot-driven but the acting elevates the entire production to exceptional levels. For me the two main men have been incredible. Lee Hee Joon’s Ko Moo Chi is quite extraordinary where the range of emotions that this character conveys and puts us through is just remarkable. The highlights are many but his heart-wrenching and supercharged performance in episode 5 is certainly worthy of mention. As for the role of Jung Ba Reum, I can’t quite believe how this character is conceived and written. It’s insane when you think about it, really. The term multidimensional is an understatement. What even beggars belief is how Lee Seung Gi is able to bring to life this extremely complex work of fiction. No words of description will do justice to this portrayal because seeing is believing. Both of them are good value for 2022’s Baeksang nominations indeed.

No production is ever perfect and Mouse certainly has its fair share of flaws...

The elements of sensationalism in the screenplay. The screenwriter Choi Ran is certainly deserving of praise for the script on the whole but I couldn’t help feeling that the inclusion of more than a few instances of fake cliffhangers, false endings, shock-and-awe factors smack of exploitation and manipulation of viewership ratings. This drama is anything but subtle because exaggeration is the name of the game. For the most part, it works but sometimes you just feel annoyingly cheated and frustrated.

For me, the women in the show are not as compelling to watch as the men. Although credited as main roles, the characters of Choi Hong Joo and Oh Bong Yi are largely depicted as supportive in the development of the plot. Kyung Soo Jin’s portrayal is somewhat understated while Park Joo Hyun’s characterization has some room for improvement. I didn’t feel connected and invested enough with their characters which lack the extra dimensions that are present in the male leads. Both these two actresses are critically acclaimed award-winning professionals, (Park Joo Hyun recently won the best new actress at the 57th Baeksang) so perhaps the script didn’t focus enough on their characters for the portrayals to be fully fleshed out.

The technical execution, notably the editing and camerawork, could have been better. They become rather erratic, especially in the final third of the production where the cameras seem to be struggling to keep up with the increasingly frantic pace and sudden scene transitions alternating between the various characters’ points of view. To be honest, I think at this stage viewers just couldn’t care anymore and wanted the answers to be revealed as soon as possible.

Personally I struggled to keep up with the storytelling at times, which oscillated between coherence and hot mess. However, all things considered, I think Mouse has largely succeeded in giving viewers what it was designed to deliver - gripping plotlines, edge-of-the-seat thrills, mind-blowing reveals and much takeaway to ponder regarding the overall theme of violent crime prevention. As far as the ending is concerned, I’m actually quite pleased with the final outcome. After all that had transpired, it truly feels like a fitting closure for the characters involved. In truth, no amount of words will do justice to this spectacle because, at the end of the day, seeing is believing.

(Note - If you do decide to start this drama, remember to watch the 2-episode spin-off special, Mouse: Predator after completing episode 15 and before proceeding to the remaining episodes. This special production provides further "clarity" to the entire story)

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