Stranger (2017) 비밀의 숲
Directed by Ahn Gil-ho and Yoo Je-won, starring Cho Seung-woo as Hwang Si-mok, Bae Doona as Han Yeo-jin, Lee Joon-hyuk as Seo Dong-jae, Shin Hye-sun as Young Eun-soo, and Yoo Jae-myung as Lee Chang-joon.
Watched 5 - 17 January 2026 — 16 episodes (NETFLIX)
*This series has good ratings and comes highly recommended by many K-drama fans. But having seen my fair share of Korean crime dramas, this simply doesn't rise above acclaimed series like Beyond Evil and Through the Darkness. These are my benchmarks, standards for comparison. You can also debate whether we need just another corruption drama. To be honest, I lost a bit of interest in the plot along the way.
*But .... what makes this series stand out from the rest, is its protagonist, the prosecutor Hwang Si-mok who lacks emotions. He doesn't feel empathy and has no social skills. I didn't find him a cold or mean person, though. He just can't help himself and isn't intentionally rude to people. It's almost as if he wants to connect with his inner emotions but cannot reach them. You sense something is brooding inside of him. At first I noticed his emotionless behaviour mainly in his dealings with the old lady (mother of the victim). But his conduct is consistent and therefore it's getting more apparent. By the way, I love how meticulous Si-mok is and how extremely observant. He notices everything, yet there's no emotion/reaction to his observations.
*Cho Seung-woo gives a good performance and manages to evoke sympathy for his character. I love Cho Seung-woo! His voice, his looks, the way he fits a suit!
*I instantly liked Bae Doona as Han Yeo-jin, the Police Lieutenant whom Si-mok is working with. She's feisty, frank and funny. There is mutual trust between her and Si-mok. I love how she kept making drawings of him and how she eventually could make him smile. I knew there wasn't going to be any romance, but I was content with their connection and liked their scenes together. They have good chemistry.
*I really like Shin Hye-sun as Young Eun-soo. I had already read beforehand about her tragic fate so I was prepared. There was a strong pull between Eun-soo and Si-mok. I found their relationship the most interesting because she stirred feelings inside him he couldn't express. I often felt sorry for her, whenever she approached him and he was brusque towards her. The only time Si-mok showed feelings of anger was when it concerned Eun-soo. I would have welcomed a romance because the two make a nice pair.
*Lee Joon-hyuk's shady character Seo Dong-jae was initially on the bad side. I was glad he came around and cooperated with Si-mok. Still, he stays morally grey and not completely trustworthy. I need to see more of this actor because I like him. And I just found out there's a spin-off around Dong-jae's character: Dong-jae, the Good or the Bastard. Might check that one out.
*I loved prosecutor Kang Won-cheol (played by Park Sung-geun). I was glad he wasn't corrupt. I also love Lee Kyu-hyung (Looney from Prison Playbook) as Yoon Se-won. Even though his actions cannot be condoned, he makes you feel his pain and I felt sorry for his tragic loss.
*Overall this series is well made, has a great mood, appealing main leads, atmospheric photography and a good accompanying OST. Though it's not a stand-out drama by any means, and not the crime masterpiece I was hoping for, it's still significantly better than the average crime series. I will definitely watch Season 2, just to spend more time with Cho Seung-woo. I love him so much!