A Killer Paradox (2024)

In terms of responses to past trauma.

This series explores how past trauma can change a person—in how one sees and acts in response. Although it's not very fresh, it's definitely worth watching.

Following the main character, Lee Tang; one day when he meets a man and he’s beaten up, flashbacks of the past that traumatised his elicit a response-reflex retaliation. In that accident, Lee Tang’s found to have killed someone-more precisely, he killed a serial killer. This is how Lee Tang becomes a seeial killer—in a paradoxical sense. Accident—whether it’s luck or, in this case, God’s messenger to reward individuals for what they’ve done—leads Lee Tang to a series of horrific incidents that, to some, are justified.

Together with someone who claimed to be a “Justice Enforcer”, he invited Lee Tang to join him in his noble task. It sounded hallucinatory at first, I guess it was just the motive of a crazy and lonely psychopath. As the story progressed, minute-by-minute, episode-to-episode, the light of evil slowly emerged. But it wasn’t entirely “demonic nature”; the paradoxical vengeance of an Otaku’s idea started this series of events.

From a victim’s point of view, revenge by an “Anonymous Hero” against an escaped criminal is a divine favour, albeit, we know, in an infamous way. It cannot be denied that in some cases, criminals who are related to, or within the scope of important people, such as officials, will be difficult for the law to touch. Whether incompetence of the police or law enforcement, bribery or the like, there will be a way to escape. Therefore, as Mr Otaku said, people like Lee Tang are needed in this sinful world. Lee Tang’s “special ability” to detect those who deserve to be punished around him also leads him through his noble task; a series of unbelievable luck and encounters with other Anonymous Hero. The twists and turns of disguise, evasion, cat-and-mouse with law enforcement didn’t stop this noble task.

As the title suggests, A Killer Paradox, means the same as infamous. Don’t just expect good acting, a great story, and unexpected plot twists, try to learn some life lessons. I know, we’re sick of moral lessons, but still, looking at what’s happening now, human morality needs to be questioned—not to mention the triggers of past trauma that are usually caused by physical and non-physical bullying.

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A Killer Paradox é mais uma história de assassino em série cujas vítimas são também criminosos. Esse tipo de enredo em geral faz o expectador simpatizar com o assassino em vez do policial que tenta prendê-lo, porém algumas características desagradáveis do Lee Tang me fizeram no inicio torcer para o policial prendê-lo o mais rápido possível, apesar de suas vítimas serem criminosos horríveis. Mas quando entrou em cena o segundo assassino, Song Cho, passei a torcer para que Lee Tang saísse ileso de tudo. No final ele era apenas uma marionete do Roh Bin e talvez tivesse parado com os assassinatos, se não fosse incentivado a cometer crimes pelo Roh Bin.

Lee Tang estava lendo "Crime e Castigo" do Dostoiévski que conta a história de Raskólnikov, um homem que acaba matando duas mulheres, uma agiota e a irmã dela, e não sente nenhum arrependimento, na verdade ele se preocupa em ser descoberto, mas não se sente remorso porque considerou justa sua ação. É curioso que Lee Tang estivesse lendo este livro, pois assim como Raskólnikov, Lee Tang também não sente remorso pelo crimes, especialmente depois que descobre que suas vítimas eram criminosos. A sua única preocupação é ser preso pelos crimes. E mais curioso que Roh Bin tenha guardado este livro no cofre, pois temia ser uma prova contra Lee Tang.

O final foi satisfatório e encerra o arco narrativo proposto, mas também deixa margem para uma continuação. No geral é um drama com bastante suspense e investigação. Recomendo para quem gosta do gênero.

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If you truly appreciate art, you’ll love it

I’m so confused by the bad reviews on this. Because of the lower ratings, I didn’t expect much going in, but boy did my expectations get blown out of the water!

Masterfully and beautifully directed. Yes, the storytelling is disjointed, but it’s intentional and it really kept me engaged and guessing. And the acting is great. The old cop guy was phenomenal.

I finished in about two days, and thought it was pretty fast-paced to the end. I greatly preferred over Vigilante, which has a similar premise but is way less artsy and entertaining. I haven’t even finished yet cause I got bored halfway through.

If you appreciate stylized storytelling, you’ll love the show, so give it a chance.

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I did not know what to expect lol. I only knew that I was going to watch it because Choi Woo Shik and Son Suk Ku was going to be in it. From the outset, the premise hooked me with its intriguing setup. Lee Tang, an ordinary college student, finds himself in a nightmare scenario after a fatal altercation at his part-time job. The tension escalates as he grapples with the guilt and fear of his actions, only to discover a startling truth: the man he killed was a notorious serial killer. Lee Tang's journey from a guilt-ridden vigilante was portrayed with depth and nuance. I thought that his struggles and conflicts added layers of complexity to the narrative, making him quite a compelling ML to follow. SSK character added depth to this intricate web of morality and justice.

The first half was great! The storyline was sharp and kept me on edge but as it comes to the second half it became quite dull. Cast was top notch with CWS knocking it out of the park as LT. One minute you're rooting for him and then the other time you just questions him and his decisions. LOL.

This was quite a binge-worth drama. I only wished the thriller part of it was more and longer.

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Good drama that could habe been much more

To be honest I was expecting much more from this drama. The first half was great it was really intense and I love the main character but after the other leads appeared the story was a bit dragging and it wasn’t so engaging. I would prefer if the drama would concentrate more on the main character Lee Tang and his retake of justice.

It is real shame as it had much more potential.
Choi Woo was great…the role of killer really suits him.

Overall it was good show, not amazing not bad.

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A surprising take at Dark Comedy for South Korea

This was on my watch list for a long time and i paused it after the first 10 mins of episode 1 thinking it was yet another plot about an unassuming nobody becoming a superhero. How wrong was I.

A Killer Paradox is a rare find in SK dramaland cos it falls into the Dark Comedy genre which is extremely hard to pull off without a solid script, a knack for good comedic timing, and strong actors (and I think this show managed to achieve all 3). The subverted superhero storyline makes you question what makes it morally acceptable to kill another person and I loved the fact that the "hero" went down that path after much denial and was convinced by what seems to be "divine intervention" or a severe case of Murphy's Law in his view, not to mention a superhero enthusiast king-maker sidekick.

Plenty of symbolism, which is a joy for people who like to watch something that allows them to peel off the layers and interpret the show in various ways, to be engaged. Cinematography was beautiful, fight/kill scenes were well choreographed and executed, music and comedic timing were on point and it was just the way Dark Comedy should be, gritty, uncomfortable, strangely light-hearted, morbid and senseless, yet with issues that make you question your own perception of morality hidden beneath the desensitising layers.

I do wish they had done a little more with the detective's character and had more scenes to develop the interaction and play-off between the two leads. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable watch that kept me engaged from start to finish.

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Sensacional!!

Um excelente dorama! Um suspense perfeito!
É uma ótima história que te prende do começo ao fim. É um tipo de enredo que considero fora do padrão, e que foi super empolgante de assistir. A cada ep que passava vc passa a entender mais um pouco de como as coisas funcionam e fica ansiosa para saber de qual rumo a história vai tomar. Apesar de ser um dorama curto, consegue explicar tudo perfeitamente em 8 eps. Não deixou nada a desejar.

A cinematografia é espetacular, eu amo doramas nesse estilo e esse ficou excelente!
A atuação de todos os personagens é tão perfeita que te faz sentir todos os sentimentos junto com eles!

Por fim, recomendo muito, principalmente pra quem gosta de um Thriller, pq esse aqui eu amei!

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Kill Or Be Killed!

I've only watched a few episodes so far and would binge them all if I could, but unfortunately its getting far too late.

No complaints, however.

It is well paced, there are no fillers and it gets into the nitty gritty from about 15 or so minutes in.

What could be better than that?!

This drama series is more or less about a part time working student, Lee Tang, who kills a man with a hammer near his work place (convenient store) late one night in self defence. The only witness is a blind woman and her dog only she plays dumb. Not long after the killing Lee Tang discovers on the news that the man was actually under an alias name and responsible for quite a few murders. To make it worse, however, the blind woman decides to black mail the poor lad for money and from there more and more things start to add on to make his life just that tinier bit colourful...

No OSTs have stood out for me at all or been noticed really although the sound effects used have been in the right places - perfect for the scene or situation.

I recognise the male lead from a few other drama series like Rooftop Prince (not finished watching) and some Summer one, I think. Didn't get too far into that one as it wasn't quite holding my interest.

With this drama it is quite straight forward, interesting and touches on the possibility of someone that is either about to lose their mind if not already or spiral out of control towards becoming a serial killer themselves. Too late!

I'm crossing my fingers that the remaining 6 episodes are just as enthralling with a few hanging on the edge of my chair moments.

Recommended!

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