Além do Mal (2021)

A tale of twisted characters.

I am honestly in awe how refreshing and gripping Beyond Evil was - even taking into consideration how, at times, it follows rather well known scenarios and clichés. The key to its success lies in the versatile characters and dynamic relationships between them.

The plot gives us the same old story of a serial killer on the loose, detectives with personal stakes and bits of political scheming surrounding it. Does not sound that groundbreaking, does it? Thanks to the complex, amazingly written and dynamic characters, the story is not as simple as we might have initially thought.

Each character had their own story, secrets and goals. There were no noble good guys, but we did get a lot of amazingly gray characters and a variety of villains, each of them having a unique reasoning behind their actions and wrongdoings. Slowly we gathered more puzzle pieces that form a complex picture that goes beyond the actions of just one person. I am truly incapable of describing how perfect the set of characters in this show was. They were all so unique and intriguing, I could literally watch them just talk to each other, and it would be entertaining.

That said, the explanation of the big mystery felt flat. With how amazingly the tension was building, how we could not predict which of the characters were involved - the answers just didn’t do it for me. For some aspect, I just didn’t get any explanation. To avoid spoiling the show, more about it in the comment under the review :)

As for the acting, Shin Ha Kyun went beyond what’s humanly possible in delivering us the compelling character - Lee Dong Shik. There are not enough positive adjectives in the dictionary to truly describe this performance - he was simply talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before… you know what’s up. The acting gave me the best type of goosebumps - some scenes were worth rewatching countless times.

What’s more, I genuinely believe this is the best performance we have seen from Yeo Jin Goo. Just the fact he was able to keep up with Shin Ha Kyun and his performance did not feel flat at all, but rather I saw it as gripping and convincing, means a lot.

Of all the main and supporting actors, I did have a small beef with Son Sang Gyu in episode 11 and 12 - the acting was just not right. There was too much going on for my liking. Taking into consideration this was his first role, and he was surrounded by quite experienced actors, I am not mad about the end result and I am willing to let it slide.

The production value was pure perfection. Not one frame felt off, not one detail has been out of place. From camera work, to editing, up to soundtrack - everything crafted in a way to elevate the story to an artistic level. With no hint of exaggeration, Beyond Evil has one of the best soundtracks in the history of kdramas. Choi Baek Ho’s “The Night” is simply a masterpiece.

Overall, it’s a characters and relationships driven drama, with the plot serving as the background for us to understand and enjoy the ever changing dynamics between them. Beyond Evil might not seem as a masterpiece for people preferring fast paced shows, that said, with how gripping and fascinating the characters and performances are, I would highly recommend everyone to at least give it a chance.

Leia Mais

Bromance

the chemistry between the 2 male lead is amazing.
we need a lot of drama like that. that have good Ost and story and OMG Excellent acting, their facial expressions 10/10
and the gaze looks at each other eye.





I can say that the director and the camera angle are perfect, I love the scene even I repeat it like 1000000 times with my UwU face ( the uwu slap face )

the poster is sexy or is that is my wild imagination, the two of them tied each other in handcuffs. like: you will not run from me, my love. we will be forever in the bad and in the good.

Leia Mais

one of the best of 2021

one of the best dramas of 2021!!! the plot may not be extravagant but the cast, i swear they are beyond excellent! special mention to lee dong shik, park jeong je and han ju won. i am a fan of character-driven dramas, and i love the fact that despite this being plot driven, the characters werent set aside. you could still feel every pain and sorrow that they are going through. and the actors were superb. dont even get me started with dong shik and jeong je. i just just loved loved everything about this drama.

honestly, what i expected is like super dark vibes, but it wasnt like that. the atmosphere was lighter that what i have thought but the things that are happening, esp in dong shik's life arent as bright as that.

i'd say that the plot is simpler than what i had expected, but this drama did well with the mind games and the tricks they're hiding in their sleeves. it managed to maintain the suspense even though the culprits were revealed pretty quickly.

and how the actors delivered that ending... beyond touching. the ending wasnt even a scene that will supposedly makes me cry, but i dont know why i did. i was literally teary eyed while watching that scene. i just want to hug everyone and keep them safe. dong shik and ju won's friendship was so beautiful i feel like towards the end it became more of a familial love. i'm glad that despite everything that happened in their past, they were able to form such an amazing bond and helped each other recover.

so if you're hesitating to watch this , dont. GO AND WATCH THIS BEYOND EXCELLENT SHOW. you won't regret it.

Leia Mais

"Can you still hear the cry of that deer?"

Because of my love for Shin Ha Kyun I jumped into this drama right after the airing of the first episode. I just had to watch this so badly, even if it wouldn’t be a good production. But really, what else is there to say about Beyond Evil other than it’s the best drama of 2021 for now.

The direction is so cinematically poetic, dark, deep, metaphoric.

The story is very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. Nothing was forced, every episode made sense.

Some people might complain about the music, because it doesn't get every person into a serious mood, but for me it was so powerful it haunts me to this day.

The acting! Oh, the acting is beyond good... Shin Ha Kyun had definitely shown us the creepiest smile with the saddest eyes, so much pain hidden inside. And what’s even more amazing, Yeo Jin Goo wasn’t overshadowed by this veteran actor who always steals all of the attention. He also showed us marvelous emotional performance (especially with his heartbreaking gaze in a few scenes). AND THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THOSE TWO. I really don’t know how to say this, but it’s just something we probably won’t see anytime soon in the upcoming dramas. They played so extremely well together that it’s a crime to miss it.
And let’s not forget about the rest of the actors… even they were so immensely great! (Choi Dae Hoon especially resonated with me) It’s scary how I don’t have anything to complain about…

It’s just beyond good. I loved every second of it. This show is epic.

Leia Mais

A worthy Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor

Enough praises have been showered for this amazing thriller, and no wonder it’s a Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor. I feel that it’s even more amazing when this drama has an original script and not an adaptation of a novel or webtoon. Adaptations seem to be so common these days that original ideas from screenwriters have run dry. This genre is not usually my cup-of-tea and I was hesitant to watch even though I know it’s a masterpiece. I’m so glad this was assigned to me during a challenge and ‘forces’ me to witness the amazing acting of the whole cast.

Shin Ha Kyun’s award for Best Actor is so deserving. As a veteran, and mostly a movie veteran, he was perfectly casted as the “crazy” cop who was desperate to find his murdered sister’s missing body for over 20 years. Being accused of killing his sister and living a really hard life, Shin Ha Kyun was able to portray all the emotions of grief, guilt, regret, hate, and being loved by his found family. I was haunted by the evil grin and eyes he showed from time to time, but also cried for him when he’s been hurt so deeply by people close to him.

On another note, Yeo Jin Goo held his own playing opposite the amazing Shin Ha Kyun. He has grown so much as an actor and continues to amaze me whenever he’s in a serious drama. I first loved him as the young crown prince in “Moon Embracing the Sun” but really acknowledged his acting in “The Crowned Clown”. Although he is probably best known for his role in “Hotel del Luna”, I think with him being in “Beyond Evil” and playing with so many great veteran actors must be a very enjoyable process. Yeo Jin Goo’s character, Han Joo Won, might not be as multi-layered as Shin Ha Kyun’s character, Lee Dong Shik. Joo Won could be a little more emotionless but Yeo Jin Goo’s micro expressions and subtle yet emotional acting shines through. I might be more impressed by this young fella than the veterans.

But honestly, the whole cast from the found family of friends, to the villains who cause troubles, they are all amazing. The group of friends who hung out at the restaurant after work each night brings warmth to my heart. They care for and love each other, yet each harbors a secret that you will discover one by one. The villains are not cartoonish. They are so well-written that you don’t feel like you can hate them outright.

The friendship/partnership between the leads is fun to witness. Do they really trust each other as partners? Are they just using each other for their own purposes? Do they really care for each other? Is their next move to protect the partner? This drama keeps me guessing and I love both of them. I really want them to want to die and sacrifice for each other, even though you will never hear them say that out loud.

Lastly, the drama keeps me interested and engaged throughout. From my novice eyes, I love the plot and twists. I thought initially why they let me know the murderer so early on and then I realized, there’s so much more to the story. Different side plots seem to all intertwine into the main plot. It keeps me guessing but not guessing. It’s like you know who the big bad wolf is, but you wonder how the drama is going to show you. I enjoy the showing and not telling approach. There are some pretty intense scenes and a few pretty grueling visuals (after all this is about murders).

If I am going to be nick picky, there are a few minor questions I have about the storyline. Why would Ha Joo Won pick that certain someone for the sting operation? Why her? How did he know she would be chosen? What's the commonality of all the murder victims? Is there a reason to the madness? I would have loved to know more about the backstory of the murderer and what drove him into this madness.

I am really glad I watched this, even though I might have fallen asleep watching it because I was too tired from work. It’s not the fault of the drama, but it does require my focus and attention 100% because each scene and each facial expression is important. I strongly recommend this if you are a lover of this drama, or if you are a novice like me and want to start with something amazing.


Completed: 3/1/2024 - Review #412

Leia Mais

Beyond your expectations.

Wow. Do you ever watch something so good that it puts you in a daze and takes over your mind entirely? Well, Beyond Evil is perfectly that. There are so many things about this drama that were a hit that I don’t think I will be able to cover it in this review. Most of the things are observations and emotions that you feel with each passing episode. How can every episode manage to be superior than the previous one? They seemed to have done it in this!

One of the best things about this drama is the acting — every actor/actress has given it their best. And Shin Ha Kyun? What an amazing actor. So worthy of the Baeksang he won! And Yeo Jin Goo, despite his young age manages to give back to back hits and bring characters alive like no one else done. Considering his offline personality, he has hit Han Joo Won’s portrayal out of the part. Apart from the leads, the supporting characters have done an incredible job as well. All this wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the well written script — if the characters weren’t layered and realistic.

Plot wise, this is an absolute thriller. From the first episode we are drawn in, given details and made to suspect almost every single person in Manyang. One thing I absolutely love was how the plot was laid down so well and wasn’t dragged. When something is revealed, it is acted upon! It’s fun to watch this if you are analysing and theorising on the motives and wondering about the plot. Perhaps this experience has made it more memorable for me.

Music wise the drama manages to bring out all the right emotions. The way each scene has been filmed — such brilliant camerawork.

I’m in awe of everything about this show and looking forward to more projects from the people involved in the making and acting. Beyond Evil is an experience that will remain a beautiful heartbreaking part of you. One which you’ll want to go back to watching while knowing all you do. Please don’t disregard this drama for the hype, it is worthy of all the praise it has received.

Leia Mais

WORK OF ART!!!!!!

Beyond Evil is an absolute masterpiece. The suspense, the plot, the characters, the setting, everything about this drama is nothing short of a PERFECT MYSTERY THRILLER. Every episode will keep you on the edge of your seat suspecting everyone and no one at the same time. Heck you CANT EVEN TRUST THE MAIN LEADS yet alone the suspicious group of people surrounding them

The underrated thing about this drama is the tension and TSUNDERE BROMANCE the 2 leads have. They are both geniuses and crackheads at the same time. I love how important the supporting characters are to the story and how uniquely different everyone are contrasting one another.

GIVE THIS DRAMA A SHOT AND YOU WILL BE ADDICTED!!!!

Leia Mais

The best thriller of the year.

One of the best dramas in the world.
Perfect.
The actors are great actors.
I loved since ep1 i couldnt wait for the next episodes
Love love love
I hate when I am between episodes 6 to 14 of any show. Because I can't wait for the two last episodes, because I know all the waiting, waiting, guessing.... It drives me over the rails!
But when it comes I hate because when is over I will miss, because I may not find anything as good.
I know your feelings.
It was perfect crime thriller, it had everything corruption, serial killers, love, abuse (Park's mother she abuses him, by castrating his maturity), devotion, betraying, spirituality, friendship, good looking people, and showed a lot of Korean culture. Brilliance

Leia Mais

I have mixed feelings about this drama. I started it with zero expectations and the
story seemed very promising but then...
I just felt so confused almost all the time!

The two main characters had great bickering scenes but I really didn't grow fond of either of them. I was honestly glad when I remembered their names because for some reason I had so much troubles remembering the characters' names in this drama. 😅

One thing I really really liked was the OST. It was so good, especially just the instrumental parts! They matched amazingly with the atmosphere and overall vibe of the drama.

Although I didn't like it, I still wanted to finish it to uncover the mysteries so I watched the last episodes on 1.5 speed and it was bearable. But it wasn't a memorable drama for me so I give the rating 6.5.

Leia Mais

A rare masterpiece in psychological thriller genre.

When you watch a psychological thriller there are certain things you expect. There'll be one killer at least, it will be full of plot twists, focused on characters' psyche and the killer's grand reveal in the last ep. And that's what I expected from BE but boy did it prove me wrong.

When I think of BE the immediate things that come to my mind are trust and family. BE breaks and constructs many layers of this concept while keeping the plot moving.

What does Beyond Evil mean? I think Dong shik answers it for us when Ji hwa confronts him about his lies. He tells her what she already knows that there existed no law that could judge the sinners and bring justice to the victims. Law is written by man and conducted by the ones who studied it. Humans are inherently flawed because we are social beings, we rely on a community and so everything is subjective.

But evil wasn't created by man. It was born through life but birthed out of nothingness and co-existed with the good because there is no good without evil and no evil without good. So when our law proves useless it should be the "creator" who rules.

See the killer is revealed fairly early in the drama and the bad guys are pretty much known, the intricacy of BE lies in how the characters react when the killer is right in front of them.

Many times both Dong shik and Ju won are faced with a decision, to kill or not to. They are handed that power but the inherent good in him fights back the urge.

How can a person keep taking lives? How is it that immense guilt and fear don't drown them? Evil can't be controlled by humans, hence it is beyond human comprehension. It is simply beyond evil.

At least that's what BE told me, I wonder what it will tell you. You just have to watch it for yourself then. :')

(PS: One of the best OST ever. There is something truly special in pairing strong, intense scenes with an acoustic guitar. The music fills you with that anticipation and the acting brings in the dread. Spectacular.)

Leia Mais

Worth Your While!

This drama is not light, funny, or fluffy, even though it had a few amusing scenes for comic relief.
However, if this is your type of genre, then you will love every single moment of this rollercoaster!
SHK did an exceptional job in this drama and really turned me into a fan. His best work yet, in my opinion.
I was a little confused with YJG's character in the beginning because he wasn't contributing to the plot at all, but I now understand why the writers did that. You have to let it marinate before you smoke it!
The acting was amazing, the plot was thick and full of twists, and the OSTs complimented the scenes perfectly.
Nicely done overall, I recommend this 100%!

Leia Mais