A MUST WATCH
I’ve heard so much about this drama that I thought I’d give it a try. It’s a good thing I did!I felt so moved by the cases and the characters in this drama. I did cry at several points but it’s a drama that left me feeling good after completing it.
The cast did a wonderful job with the acting and the story was very well written.
Shoutout to Choi Jin-Woong who made me fall in love with Lee Jae Han. His character very well written and the actor did an amazing job portraying the passion for justice.
As I watched the drama this year (2021), I was satisfied with the ending. Even though it’s a cliffhanger, I am satisfied.
I 100% recommend this drama as you will not regret it!
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I am exhausted!
This show was so well done and I'm glad that I finally took the time to watch it. My brain feels somewhat fried, trying to keep up with the twists and turns in the story line, and attempting to keep the past and the present sorted out. I'll admit that time travel, butterfly effect shows are hard for me to grasp. Since this show is from 2016, the whole thing is kind of grainy in its film quality, both in the present and in the past, so it was sometimes hard for me to figure out which time period I was watching. A lot of the characters looked pretty much the same in both time periods, which you wouldn't expect from a 20-year time difference.Corruption, unfortunately, was a big part of the drama, and that seemed to be the cause of so many unsolved cases. That got a little old. Plus, working under people that you know are corrupt was very hard to watch, their efforts were stymied more often than not.
The acting was excellent, most notably Jo Jin Woong as Jae Han and Lee Je Hoon as Hae Young. Especially impressive was the fact that so much of the time they were acting alone, with just the walkie talkie, and not face to face with other actors. I felt a whole gamut of emotions watching this, excitement, fear, sadness, and hope.
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Story:
11/10 tbh. Actually, 99/10. This story was very well-written. What I loved most about it was how it unfolded. Everything wasn't revealed at the start, each episode gave you new clues into what the "real" story was and how the minor plots that you'd been exposed to thus far related to it. Also, it keeps you guessing. You never quite know what something is going to lead to, and I don't mean in the sense of not knowing who the criminal in a case is, but more so in the sense that you don't know how a certain case ties in with another. It's one of those series that you honestly can't draw out; you have no choice but to finish it in a few days (heck, I finished it in two) because you have to know what happens next. Also, I like how the writer tied in the fantasy aspect. I'm not a fan of the fantasy genre, but it was incorporated quite well into the story I think. There are definitely questions I still have that bother me about how it all worked, but I think it really added to the overall impact of the story. Also, this story is an emotional clusterf*ck. I have never felt so much pain in my heart lol. Less to do with characters dying and more to do with what I mentioned earlier, having to face the fact that life can be so unfair.
Cast:
I actually gave the cast a high score not because I loved the protagonists, but because I'd really like to commend the antagonists for playing their roles well. There are.... so many people in this drama that you will despise, lol. Be prepared. But I think the fact that their acting is so convincing that it makes you want to cry angry tears at the fact that such a character exists... I mean, that's good acting. So, yeah, the antagonists were WAY too good at their roles haha. But I didn't hate the protagonists, I thought they were okay. It's just that I feel like even if they were replaced by other actors and actresses, I'm not sure if there would be much change, if that makes sense? THAT being said, the one character I adored was Lee Jae Han, played by Jo Jin Woong. That man's performance was... perfect. The role was made for him. There are so many scenes that I still remember crystal clear because the acting was just so on point. Like, he embodied his character and gave a damn good performance. There is a reason he is on my favourite actors list now, because he was just that great.
Music:
I thought the music wasn't bad. They picked the right tracks for the appropriate moments, i.e., suspenseful music during scenes of suspense. I don't remember anything particularly outstanding, but it wasn't a bad job.
Overall:
I actually would rewatch this, but with someone else. I would watch it 5 more times if I could watch it with someone else. It's honestly such a great drama. It captivates you from the first episode, and it really will make you reflect on what present society is like. Please do watch this if you're putting it off, because you will 100% not regret it.
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Sign 을 보내 signal 보내
I must let you know
Sign 을 보내 signal 보내
I think Signal did a lot of things really well. To start with, Kim Hye Soo is a queen. I'm really excited to do a deep dive into the rest of her dramas and films. Soo Hyun was a brilliantly written character to me. I love that she was this tough policewoman who wasn't always, that she began as a green rookie who couldn't even drive. She was vulnerable, unsure in love for her superior. Such an incredible performance.
Speaking of hot older people, Jo Jin Woong was another standout. I love Jae Han, his fierce determination to always do good, his belief that no one should be shielded from punishment just because of their wealth and power. Corruption always figures so prominently in these Korean police stories. I think they're inspired by the real life abuses of power, but I can't be sure. Jae Han being a bumbling idiot at his big age who couldn't even talk to the woman he loved was also very endearing. I'm just mad there wasn't a satisfying conclusion to his & Soo Hyun's relationship. I was cheated of a romance. And oh my land, that incredible scene in episode 13 (I think) where Jae Han grabs his fellow officer's head, howling in grief and rage, just the intimacy of that scene will be on my mind for a long time.
Lee Je Hoon was sometimes the weakest guy here. He has these quirks that I found distracting. Subtlety is a good thing sometimes.
As far as time travel mysteries directly inspired by Bong Joon Ho's Memories of Murder go, I think Signal is a solid entry.
My ranking:
1. Life on Mars
2. Signal
3. Tunnel
Shout out to that soundtrack too, especially the '70s detective show instrumental.
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Signal may not be the best murder mystery series but it is certainly one of my favorites. What's more, it manages to add a supernatural element where characters from the past and present communicate to solve crimes, which gives things a unique twist. I undersand this sort of thing has been done before (see Hollywood movie "Frequency") but Signal ups the ante, makes the theme all its own and gives it a Korean flavor that I can't help but applaud the writer for putting it all together.
The experience is like watching a crime drama, with mystery after mystery being solved by veteran detective Cho So Yun (refreshingly strong but vulnerable- can't help but compare her with the inefficient female counterpart from Galileo) and profiler Park Hae Young, with the help of a character from the past - detective Lee Jae Han (who is now one of my favorite kdrama characters); the result is fun, exciting and a bit tragic.
The series does a good job of letting you know when the scenes are from modern time vs. past time and the scenes from the late 80's and early 90's looked genuine and authentic. I wouldn't say that Signal is a scary show, but it certainly had its fair share of atmospheric, eerie moments. All the characters had good chemistry and I liked every member working in the 'unresolved cases' crime unit. The main villain was despicable but I find that kdramas do a good job in making you hate the villains/antagonists. This one was no different in that I wanted to reach out and slap him in the face, repeatedly.
My only complaint was that there were times when both Park Hae Young and (to a lesser extent) Cho So Yun would take too long to react to a shocking piece of news when they'd hear it. It would usually happen at a suspensful moment when it was critical for them to react quickly, so it got on my nerves a bit since I was worried for their characters at those times! This wasn't a deal breaker for me, and I thing Signals advantages far outweigh whatever flaws it has. I think the difference between asian crime drama (using Signal here as the reference point) and the American/English ones I've seen is that the former tends to be overemotional. It works in context though, and I like the fact that I know I'm watching a korean melodrama* as well as a murder mystery.
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I keep rewatching this drama because its that good!
This drama deserves more then 10/10. Absolutely amazing cast, storyline everything. The emotions, the main characters as well as the side characters, all growth arcs were so amazing! I just couldn’t watch it at night though, cause it had its fair share of spooky elements lol.I started my kdrama obsession with this one. So glad its finally gettong a part 2.
Since they have announced the season 2 after so many years I'm really hoping they get back all of the orginal cast as well! It’s gonna be epic!
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Is "Signal" a masterpiece?
Hi. This is my first review. The reason I am writing it, is that I am greatly disappointed by this overrated drama.I started it cause I read so many good reviews. Man, that was not true for me. I am still confused, why viewers praise it so much. I mean why? I really don't get it. Good acting ok, yes. By two out of the three leading actors. I hated the female lead, but I will come to that later. Good cinematography ok. But other than that? A messy plot, a messy scenario, too much illogical stuff going one, plus a stupid ending, with too little conclusion , too much suffering with inadequate retribution. Hell, why did this guy had to go through all these? What was this ending, really? I honestly ask you, did you all like it and were satisfied by it? Really? I am just shocked. Cause I felt betrayed and disappointed. Let me just write you a list with everything I didn't like in random order. Cause I let two months pass after watching it, to see if I will calm down. But no. I didn't.
1. The actress they chose, not a good choice. Bad casting, to start with. I didn't like her. The past tense of her, being naive, idiotic etc enraged me. Ok that was the part you say. They shouldn't picture her like this. I disagree. Why should she be like this? Why couldn't she be clever from the start. Inexperienced still but clever. And the actress, played this part, terribly. It didn't fit her. She couldn't convince me. Acting kind of sweet and innocent, didn't fit her. It felt just like she was trying too much, but with no result.
2. The radio element. Bad choice. So, although the two male leads were connected in the past, he finds the radio by a coincidence?? Ya, right.... This is a joke. And they could speak for only one minute??? And it was the same radio item that they both had? The same machine? And it was working at present without batteries??? Hahaa well that was the scifi element mentioned. Too many inconsistencies.
3. All these corrupt cops. Dang. There were too many.... My nerves....
4. Was justice served? Hell, no. I waited and waited, just for the plot to become more annoying, and then, Lee Jae Han has noone to rely on, he has to give up everything, how he did it, with no money beats me, I don't get it. How he survived, I don't get that either. And why did he hide in a hospital? Was he ill or not? Anyway, even she didn't help him in the past. Why? Cause he didn't ask for her help. And how come, the bad guys didn't find him, so many years? Were he pressumed dead? Did he stage his death? They don't tell us anything. This was never explained.... Noone thought to keep an eye on his dad, and see if he is meeting his son.
4. The first episodes were too confusing, and they didn't gave us enough clues, the cases seemed not connected and I was asking myself why I was watching all these. I must confess that I dropped it after episode 4 for quite a while. I just couldn't get hooked.
5. Why did the hero became a policeman afterall? Who would do such a thing, knowing how corrupt they were. He thought he could find the bad guys? But we wouldn't if there wasn't this radio, right?
6. After all these misfortunes, his brother isn't saved.... I wanted to break everything. Those episodes were so annoying. That was what I was expecting and the reason I kept watching.The poor boy gets coldboodly murdered, because LJH gets delayed by her, spraining her foot, omg what a silliness. And he couldn't sent another one, or call the boy, and tell him to leave the house...... Ok LJH gets rescued but only for a while.... What? The script was a disaster. Why everyone liked it, again?????
7. The main villains were roaming around and lived their lives until the last episode, doing whatever they liked. That was unbelievable. And the rapists were NEVER punished. So, what was the message, the scriptwriter wanted to convey? That you should never give up? I totally believe that she failed her goal.
8. So, so much illogical stuff going on. The note LJH wrote. How did he know that Park Hae Yeong, will find it for sure? And why didn't he write the main story, the main case, the most crucial, in the top of the list? And so many other crazy stuff. I will only mention this. In the past LJH gets murdered. And she, his partner,, his coworker, that was in love with him, never succeeded in solving this case. Why? Cause she was stupid , that's why. And the few first conversations that the two men, have through the radio, why were they messed chronologically? The timeline was not consistent. I wanted an explanation. I deserved one. First, he is in the abandoned hospital rooftop, gets knocked on the head etc then while talking to PHY from the future, he gets shot. Ok wow, and I am thinking is that it? Was he a guest role? No, no, no. Silly me. They talk again and then it's some years before that. Why? How? Did she write the script urgently? Was she in a hurry, or she was just pushing everything by the hair , just to be illogical, and hence intriguing, different, hence unique, well it was just pissing me off. Even in a series like this, I want you to convince me. I have seen Kairos recently. And it was written brilliantly. It didn't left me believing I am stupid. This one did. Or you are all jeniuses, that like it. I don't know anymore.
The two male leads were great. I respected them. And they were the only thing that kept me watching on and on. Also, the curiosity where all this was going ,and the need for justice. But I wanted that to happen in the past. I wanted so much that I didn't get. Justice for me would be, for his brother to live , the rapists to be punished, and Lee Jae Han's life not to be ruined. Maybe he would be safe, get a raise, and get married and have family with that idiotic police girl. In the past. Be happy. Ok that's too much, i know. Well just be alive and not hiding. That was one of the worst finales for me in a kdrama.
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Mixed Signal with Mixed Messages
I have a mixed feelings about this one. I'm a huge fan of crime solving premises. Added with some science fiction aspect of time travelling, boy I'm sold. It's a potentially great drama to explore with however some of the plot developments in the story really bothers me. It infuriates me as the emotional elements somehow reduces the affect of an awesome investigation-time-travel story. It had potential. Wish it could have been better executed.Story
Brilliant storyline. However it was caught up with too much emotional overflow that really takes a toll on me. For me its too overwhelming. At first I was able to focus on the story but as it unfold and explored further I find myself feeling frustrated of how things are progressing. The severity of each cold cases, of how cruel this world work in the story is really becoming unbearable to comprehend. It's one man versus the world. And I find it so disheartening. Almost too good to be true.
The unexpected outcome of each cases really threw me off-guard but not in a good way. I didn't feel surprised about it at all (its appalling tbh), and what bother me the most is how the good characters poorly-handled the radio-past-to-present situations. They are being inconsistent almost throughout the show. The first few transmissions are acceptable (forgivable); As it demonstrates of what/ who/ how they are dealing with. But as we continued on, it's becoming a tool of deception. A misleading setup. How the story would deviate and alter the future not according to our usual hopeful good expectations. Infact, it totally defeat the purpose as to why such transmissions ever took place. I was hoping that the characters could have made some progress and better themselves in handling each transmission that was being made. If you realized that you could change something in the past, would you hesitate each time? Or would you come up with better ideas on how to manipulate the past to alter the future? Sadly this story focus more on the emotional throttle effects than the logical/ critical thinking aspects. They scripted the story to have an over emotional and disastrous outcome rather than logical, make sense and satisfying ones; and that frustrated me beyond believe.
For example, I really wished that the future policeman's brother would have survived; instead they ignore his death and focus more on the emotional stir of bringing the family back together as his last dying wish. In my opinion, it would have created a better/ greater impact if the brother did survive. It give us as viewers a breather; a ray of hope that somehow in that cruel and harsh world that good will always prevail, but NO... this show prefer to keep taunting us instead (for the sake of realism). The fact that he seems to be desperate in saving his brother only after he found out that he was murdered, is really bothering me. So you only going to save him after learning that he didn't kill himself? Didn't you ever thought of saving him at all since the transmission started? Really?
I'm not saying that the story is bad, but it's not that great either. Why? Because I refused to believe such world existed. Where almost all of the characters in the story can be so ignorant, selfish, cruel, insensitive and inhuman.
Cast
Overall casts are amazing. The ensembles have good chemistry and very convincing display as good/ bad cops, villains, victims and politician. The emotions that they bring really makes me care and love them as characters. But at the same time they also frustrates me of their logical and problem solving inconsistencies.
Music
Hmmm pretty bland and very melancholic but acceptable befitting to time travel premis.
As always; Do I want to watch it all again?
Maybe but not in the near future. Need to have mental preparation.
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My Love-hate relationship
I really had mixed feelings about Signal.It is a really popular show and the concept and cast are exceptional. I really can’t fault them.
But I didn’t like the pacing. A lot of people could get into the first episode but for me it was a real test of patience. It took me about three different attempts to g t past the first few episodes and when I did so I can say that my expectations were admittedly mixed.
The storyline had its triumphs and flaws. I mean every drama does I guess but Signal had me screaming at the screen at times and sobbing the next. Mixed.
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Speaking of which - how much do I love that Signal used real cold cases and presented them to the viewer in a new light? So many cases go unsolved and you tend to forget the victims and their stories - despite the fact that it was heartbreaking at times seeing some of the cases unfold, it was a great reminder that we will never forget. The social commentary made in several of the cases was bold and refreshing - and I liked that even though it's not like the writers could solve the real cold cases, they could at least give the victims their turn at justice in a fictional world.
Story:
The writing in this was absolutely brilliant - it's so hard for police procedural dramas (especially one with a bit of a supernatural twist) to pull it off without significant flaws in logic, but I think Signal handled it very well. Not to say it was perfect - but all the cases were both compelling and still relevant to the main story. The director also played a huge role in telling the story - he emphasized the story telling side versus the crime solving, and because it added a very real, human element, it was beautiful to watch. Despite the lack of romance, the platonic relationships within the show were developed so well. Though the overall tone is heavy, there are still some great, warm moments that help to fuel you through the more depressing ones.
Characters/Acting/Cast:
Three cheers for the cast, who were absolutely phenomenal. The main three actors were given great characters as well, which is always the first step to success, but the performances were top notch. Yes, Lee Je Hoon did tend to overact in the beginning (and a little towards the end), but I still think he was fully able to show the conflicts within Park Hae Young. Jo Jin Woong was the star, and his bumbling but determined Jae Han was such a wonderful hero to have in a show where you weren't sure if justice could prevail. Kim Hye Soo deserves all the love in the world for essentially playing two characters, but still showing that they were the same person, just changed by time and circumstance.
Music.
There was never a moment where the music overwhelmed the scene - it was always a perfect match. And yes, a lot of the soundtrack was a little haunting, but it fit.
Signal is probably the most well done Asian police procedural show that I have seen, and I absolutely love that it has elevated the expectation of quality in this genre. I will say, though, that I rated it lower on rewatch value if only because I don't know if I can live through all the emotions again. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to!
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