Forest of Secrets: (aka Stranger) Episode 1
December 23, 2017 11:27 AM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe

 
For anyone looking for this show on Netflix US, it's titled just "Stranger" (related Fanfare Talk thread)

This is the first South Korean drama I've tried, just finished watching this episode today. I don't know how much discussion can be generated in episode-by-episode threads for a police procedural as compared to the sf/genre Netflix fare I'm usually drawn to, but, a full-season thread would be all spoilers, so, I figured I might as well start binge-posting since the Dramabeans recaps (thanks for the link, asperity!) have saved me from having to watch the show in note-taking mode.

Anyway, this was really intriguing and I'm curious to see where it's going.
posted by oh yeah! at 12:01 PM on December 23, 2017 [1 favorite]


I've finished watching the series, but the first episode really hooked me with how plausible Si-Mok's chain of deductions seemed. It felt a lot less magical-hand-wavey than, say, BBC Sherlock usually does.

The institutional corruption theme is super topical and makes yet another police procedural (subtype: emotionally-stunted detective) feel fresher than it might otherwise, and there's some fun character development all around. The medical stuff is questionable, but they don't spend too much time on it.

In conclusion, Hwang Si-Mok should not be allowed to drive, at all.
posted by asperity at 2:23 PM on December 23, 2017


Aw, yay, I'm happy to see a k-drama posted here! Everyone I know has loved this drama, and while I liked it well enough, somehow I must have missed the magic that everyone else saw in it. I feel like I ought to give it a second chance so maybe I can squeeze in a rewatch.
posted by paisley sheep at 2:34 PM on December 23, 2017


Aw, yay, I'm happy to see a k-drama posted here! Everyone I know has loved this drama, and while I liked it well enough, somehow I must have missed the magic that everyone else saw in it. I feel like I ought to give it a second chance so maybe I can squeeze in a rewatch.

I'm not sure how quickly I'll be watching & posting the remaining episodes - I will probably only get to a couple more before I have to switch over on 12/26 to another binge-post-athon for the return of "Travelers", but I hope to pick it back up and be finished on 1/1. If someone wants to post a full-season thread now, please feel free.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:29 AM on December 24, 2017


If anyone needs help with character names that can be linked to actor pictures, this, uh, asianwiki page is a lot better for having pictures of actors than imdb.

This is a fun show, though it's a very plotty TV political drama and not much else. I'm ten episodes in, and it's a gaunlet of gratuitous dramatic twists. I happen to like high drama cop stuff so I can enjoy it, but honestly it's kind of a slog and I find it hard to recommend. Sixteen episodes is a lot of episodes to have big sweeping music moments.

Joon-hyeok Lee is kind of hypnotic as the snakiest heel there ever was.
posted by fleacircus at 6:23 AM on December 24, 2017 [1 favorite]


I really enjoyed this series. It is a top rate K-drama. Since it is a K-drama at its base, it will be filled with plot twists and constantly shifting good guys/bad guys. I'll have to watch it again before commenting anymore to avoid spoilers.
posted by forforf at 11:05 AM on December 25, 2017


Well I reached the ending.

My SO and I had a bet going on whether Lt. Han and Prosecutor Hwang would kiss. I WON, but I won't say which side my bet was on.

Yoo Jae-Myung did a great job as the prosecutor (the son-in-law of the Big Rich Evil dude (or "Drac-in-law" as we were calling him)). He can do awesome quick looks with a little eyebrow arch. And I was satisfied with the character.
posted by fleacircus at 4:41 PM on December 30, 2017


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