TV Review | A Killer Paradox (Episode 5-8)

“The last four episodes of A Killer Paradox are a riveting ride delivering a fitting conclusion for all the characters. Choi Woo-shik and Son Suk-ku deliver nuanced performances demonstrating all the complexities and inner struggles of their characters while Lee Hee-joon simply delivers an unhinged performance.”

A Killer Paradox is the latest series starring Choi Woo-shik from the winning-Oscar film Parasite. The series is based on the Webtoon of the same name by Kkomabi. All the episodes release today on Netflix. You can read our review of the first four episodes here.

A HERO OR A SINNER?

Choi Woo-shik as Lee Tang in *A Killer Paradox* Cr. SONG KYOUNG SUB/Netflix © 2023

You can clearly divide the series into two parts. In the first four episodes, Lee Tang (Choi Woo-shik) starts as a killer by accident, he becomes stuck in this circle of violence killing one person after another. Things simply happen to him. While in the last four episodes, Lee Tang is on a quest to kill evil people. He fully knows he operates outside the boundaries of the law to do justice himself. In fact, the victims of his first murders being all evildoers, it leads Tang to believe he somehow possesses the supernatural ability to identify bad people. He becomes this kind of vigilante, delivering his version of justice on his own.

The story definitely takes a surprising turn here, one that I wasn’t necessarily expecting. But, this is really interesting. With Roh-Bin (Kim Yo-han) being a fan of superhero having this desire to do justice and Lee Tang being a vigilante, there is a commentary on superhero stories. Superhero stories are great but in real life, this isn’t the same thing. So when people think they can do justice like Batman does, it doesn’t go the same way.

Even though, Lee Tang has changed and he has more confidence in what he does, there is still a part of him that questions what he does, that feels the guilt. Does he really have a supernatural power that allows him to identify bad people or does he simply kill people who turn out to be criminals. The answer to that question isn’t really important. Despite these murders, there is still a part of humanity inside of him, that is what matters. This is why we keep caring for this character in the second part of the series.

THE DETECTIVE

Son Suk-ku as Jang Nan-gam in *A Killer Paradox* Cr. SONG KYOUNG SUB/Netflix © 2023

Moreover, the cat-and-mouse chase with Detective Jang Nan-gam (Son Suk-ku) continues in the remaining episodes. There is another layer to that chase and the parallels between Jang and Tang. There is conflict within Jang between his sense of duty and his personal emotions. This is more present in these episodes as we learn more about him. His backstory is explored. I love that he is not just a good detective but there is more to him. Characters who have flaws are always more interesting.

It becomes clear that even though Jang represents the law, he can actually become just as dangerous as the criminal he is chasing. Undoubtedly, he is a tormented character. The chase is even more interesting when you are not sure how far the detective is going to go to catch the killer. This series is not all black-and-white, it is navigating in the grey areas.

A TALE OF VIGILANTES AND A DETECTIVE

(L to R) Choi Woo-shik as Lee Tang, Lee Hee-jun as Song Chon in *A Killer Paradox* Cr. SONG KYOUNG SUB/Netflix © 2023

Moreover, the stories of Jang and Tang become more complicated with the arrival of Song Chon (Lee Hee-joon). Chon is like Lee Tang, a killer who supposedly kills evildoers, except he is like the Joker, a man who has gone mad. There is nothing that makes you care for him because he is exactly like the people he kills. He simply enjoys killing. Unlike Tang for whom you feel sorry for, Chon is actually scary. Him coming at this stage of the story changes everything for the other characters. It brings a new dynamic into this chase.

Overall, this second part of the series is great and I had an absolute blast watching it. However, I do find the first part better because it is just about Tang and Jang while the final episodes are bigger in the story they tell with other characters coming in. The conclusion is a satisfying and fitting one for all the characters.

CAST

Through their performances, Choi Woo-shik and Son Suk-ku demonstrate the evolution of their characters and show all the complexities that come with that change. Nuanced is the perfect word to describe what they do with their characters. Both truly deliver dazzling performances. For Lee Tang, the change also comes in terms of physicality. The look he has further brings out his sex appeal. There is also something interesting to talk about here. Changing Tang’s look means he is more confident in himself. It also highlights a certain arrogance coming from him. But beyond that, it hides the fragility of his state of mind. While, Lee Hee-joon simply delivers an unhinged performance as Song Chon. He really goes for the insanity.

VISUALS

In addition, the last four episodes have the same slick aesthetic as the first episodes. The director Lee Chang-hee is a master at his art. The night scenes/scenes taking place in the dark are so impressive. Visually, there are a lot of memorable scenes – the scene at the Hawaii Club with the red lights, the scene by the lake, the scene at the warehouse with the game of lights and shadows. These settings create tension and a feeling of omnipresent danger.

At Future of the Force we are collectors so I have to mention that Roh-Bin has an amazing collection of DC Hot Toys figures in his apartment. We see shots of his collection in the background several times. As a Hot Toys collector, this makes me so happy to see these figures in a series. This is so unexpected but so cool!

VERDICT

The last four episodes of A Killer Paradox are a riveting ride delivering a fitting conclusion for all the characters. Choi Woo-shik and Son Suk-ku deliver nuanced performances demonstrating all the complexities and inner struggles of their characters while Lee Hee-joon simply delivers an unhinged performance. Undoubtedly, A Killer Paradox is a must-watch series that deserves your attention. When all is said and done, it may very well be one of the best series of 2024.