When it comes to Ji Chang Wook, I’m usually a bit subjective, simply because he’s my best Korean actor, and whatever he acts is gold in my opinion, whether or not I’ve seen the film yet to vet for myself. But, I will try to be as objective as I can, simply because I’d like people to watch this movie because of just how great it is, and not because the reviewer is biased to a particular actor.
The Worst of Evil (2023)
Set in the 1990s and released on Disney Plus in 2023, this Korean crime thriller tells the story of undercover police agents who infiltrate a massive drug organisation to gather evidence and capture members of the criminal union.
Park Jun-Mo (Ji Chang Wook) is a senior office in the Police force, but he is constantly mocked and belittled by his in-laws because he is of a lower rank and status than his wife, Yu Eui-jeong (Im Se-Mi), in the police force. In order to stop the emasculation by his job, he accepts to go undercover as a gangster in Gangnam Union, so that he can get a promotion and finally be equal to his wife.
Then, we meet Jung Gi-Cheul (Wi Ha-Joon), who has risen in ranks to become the leader of Gangnam Union. Despite the objections by his brothers/partners in crime, he takes Jun-Mo under his wing because of the many times he has saved his life.
But things begin to get complicated. Eui-jeong, who turns out to be a childhood crush of Gi-Cheul has resurfaced in a bid to protect her husband. How long will Jun-Mo remain undercover as Kwon Seung-Ho before getting discovered, and will he be able to carry out the mission before it’s too late?
My Review and Rating
Like I said, I will try to make this as objective as possible. But, like my cousin would say, “Even a blind man on a galloping horse can see how amazing Ji Chang Wook is.” Okay, my cousin didn’t add that last part, but it’s just necessary to point that out, you know? I think what makes an actor is more than just the words, but the facial expressions, the mannerisms, and the charisma. Chang Wook embodies all these fields. He aces any and every role his given. Jealous lover, ruthless gangster, dexterous cop, pretty much anything. Being that versatile as an actor makes you indispensable, and I loved the entire experience of this series because of him.
I loved the acting of pretty much everyone else as well, except maybe Eui-jeong who seemed to have just one facial expression all through the series. I felt like she could have done more to make the series exciting from her end, but sadly, that wasn’t the case. Anyway, I loved the cussing. You guys, Korean cussing is the most rhythmically exciting thing you may ever hear. I found myself going back a bit in some parts just to hear the cussing again. It’s pleasing to my ear for some reason, and crystallized the viewing experience for me.
I loved the plot. Korean action dramas scarcely ever miss the mark. You will clearly see that a lot of thought goes into each episode and each scene is tailored towards being knotted neatly in the end. And that says a lot about a film production. The absence of unnecessary loopholes and plot discrepancies. I felt each emotion deeply, not just because of the acting, but also because of the storytelling and how each scene kept flowing seamlessly to the next.
When it comes to the endings in Korean series however, there’s a tendency for everything to be rushed on that final episode, so it feels like too many things are happening all at once. I always have that feeling that things could have been tied up better if it wasn’t so rushed. The Worst of Evil has only 12 episodes, as opposed to the usual 16 episodes, so that makes it easier to watch. The ending wasn’t too bad, and I was somewhat satisfied. Of course, you can’t always expect it to go your way, but at least, the most annoying people got what they deserved.
It was a fulfilling experience, and now, I’ll move onto the next series that I’ve always wanted to see. I know it’s going to be an exhilarating journey, and I’ll be happy to take you all with me on it. Till then, have a beautiful week ahead. And yeah, the series just reviewed has a solid 8/10 from me.
Jhymi🖤
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