Mouse (2021)

This review is more to vent and appreciate all the aspects of the drama for my own purpose

From the beginning till the end I was hooked. like a fish out of water, each episode was like oxygen I needed. I could not stop and I would have binged the whole 20 episodes in one go if the normal human body allowed it but useless instincts took over at times. Pathetic human bodies am I right?

In the beginning, I was doubtful. The first 2 to 3 episodes were a clash of scenes and characters. Random killers and families and pregnant women. For me honestly, it was like an information overload. I still loved it though, no doubt there. As that random person on Rick and Morty said, "this information will be important later." Now, the story sticks to its plot of 'what if psychopaths' genes could be detected before they were born. A creative idea worth exploring. The plot is interesting and the avenues they explored to showcase the pros and cons of such an unrealistic idea were entertaining. I say unrealistic because let's face it, as someone in the science department the number of flaws, ethical regulations, and whatnot even pertaining to this idea is insurmountable. But lets not get into the semantics of science.

This drama revolves around the consequences one single step can induce. Every single episode was a whirlwind of emotions and questions that really made me think more about the moral obligations we face every day. In terms of pacing, the drama deserves a 9/10. Simply because I believe they could have wrapped it up nicely in 16 episodes. At some points I found the dialogue to be tedious and some scenes to be unnecessary. Like that scene where Seung Gi stands in front of the cross and declares that he's diety. I realize that that scene might be the ultimate act of sinning; the act that showed how monstrous he is but DAMN the number of times I had to see that scene nearly made me want to punch a wall.

The storyline cleverly shows us two halves of the same story and at the first half, you see scenes that make you think you've figured out everything but then comes the revelations, and when you finally understand you've been duped, by then you can only appreciate how they've managed to hook you line and sinker, even though half of it is a lie. As the story unweaves itself you realize that the information, in the beginning, was indeed important for later. Scenes that make you go "ahhh" and "ohhh" and *gasp* are my favorite scenes and there was a surplus of this in the drama.

In the end, this drama left me feeling emotionally drained in a satisfying kind of way. Not every character got the ending they wanted but in my eyes, it was the ending they needed. The only ending I feel conflicted about was *cue gasp* Lee Seung Gi. Yep, I said it. Why? okay so hear me out, he was a psychopathic killer I agree but this was before his brain transplant. Prior to his transformation, he put on an act. To the normal eye, he was an adorable, kind of air-headed, and a naive young officer who was a goody-two-shoes who was actually a psycho serial killer. Okay. Now after the transplant, he developed emotions right? and the kind act he put on actually became his persona. He came to believe his act and that in turn became his memories. This brings me to the question, is he the same person as he was one year ago? No.

Just like that question where if we replaced all the old planks of an antique ship with new planks, would it still be the same old ship or would it be a new ship? The planks in this case are his memories. I might be going way off course here but imagine if something like this did actually happen and the killer never regained his memories of being psychotic. If he was judged, you would have to judge the person he was before the incident. This new person has no recollection and hence would hold no accountability in my opinion. Of course in reality, the said person would be convicted of his crimes nonetheless but it still got me thinking and in turn, I had conflicted emotions. I do not disagree with the end Seung Gi met. Looking at it from a logical point he has to be held accountable for his actions and rightly so. I disagree with the ending the non-psychopathic Seung Gi met.

Every character in the drama was complex and important. Except for the two useless detectives. Sheesh, sometimes the police were so useless istg. The acting was top-notch and the soundtrack was grade A.

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Astonishing thriller story with incredible plot twists

First of all I gave the rewatch value only 7 because I personally think It would be a boring thing watching it again because you know all the incredible plot twists. In many reviews about mouse some people thinks there is some unwanted scenes. I completely disagree because you need to see and understand every little details to enjoy the full story. Mouse has than more twists than it's episode number. Just kidding. But it's true that there is some amazing plot twists. Some of them were completely unthinkable and some of them were I think it could be guessed? Mouse is a drama that will keep you at the edge of your seat until it ends. Every episode ends at a certain point that you can call cliffhanger. Each episode ending is so unexpected. Undoubtedly it is one of the best dramas I have seen. This is an absolute masterpiece for me. If you are thinking about watching it then do yourself a favor and watch it. You will not regret it.
I think mouse deserves more fame & popularity. Every thriller lover should watch this at least once in their life. Those who look for romance in every drama. Mouse is not for them.

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ONE OF THE BEST CRIME-THRILLER DRAMAS

This is one of the best crime-thriller dramas I've watched. I was always amazed with how every episode was made. The gradual reveal of the truths kept me excited the whole time. All the actors and actresses were so good!! I really felt their emotions especially Lee Seunggi and Lee Hee Jun. This needs more appreciation!

If you're looking for a psychopath/crime thriller series, this one's for you! Just prepare your mind and your heart. Everything went by quickly with just 20 episodes.

100% will rewatch. I think there are some clues I missed while watching before and I'd like to see them clearly now :)

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Solid 8.5 - not for the faint-hearted and impatient

I'll try to keep it short: This drama is a good psychological thriller, the perfect example of a roller coaster ride show with all it's twists and turns, ethical conflicts and not to forget all the characters and names to remember xD. It's further dark and intense, might not be everyone's cup of tea.

It was messy in some parts and also tiring in others, because so much was going on with so many characters involved. What also bothered me was the editing in some episodes, they jumped from one scene to another with no transition like really scene 1 *cut* scene 2 *cut*, but other times it was so smooth that I was puzzled if they occasionally let an intern practice editing. Also, the middle part was a bit dragging BUT the first few episodes were mind-blowing and the last ones (the special ones as well) and especially the ending were so well-rounded, that I'm really glad I chose to watch this show.

The cast is great - fitting and really talented, everyone did a great job portraying their given characters, wouldn't be surprised if they get an award for "best ensemble of the year" or something similar. Special mention must be made of Lee Seung Gi and Lee Hee Joon - they understood the task and delivered. It's not easy to make the viewers feel the character's emotions be it fury or pain or joy, but it was a breeze for these two, found myself crying every time they did.

The background score was apt - well-timed and elevating the scenes.

All in all a good, captivating show which makes you ponder on ethics and morals.

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Must watch.......

So I don't know how to start this because I can't get any particular words mainly because i scared if i tell something which may leads to a spoiler, i mean of course reviewing about a complete thriller drama will be more difficult i have to think twice before i spill something. So i definitely be careful about that. Mouse was an outstanding drama. Its a kind of a show which i never watched before from kdrama. First of all a big salute to the writer and director for making such an extraordinary screenplay also Lee Seung gi for took that courage to come up with this outstanding performance.

You can't predict that easily when you watching this at the time of it airs, because everything was so messed up and you don't know what's going to happen next and they left so many loopholes in each and every episodes which even more confusing. But some of them may you can definitely predict in some point later, but i am sure there were something left for you to feel wondered after watching.

The story telling was top notch and the detailing of all the incidents was also excellent. There is a huge back story about all those incident so the 20 long Episodes was understandable. And the performance wise apart from lee seung gi the actor who done that role detective kim muchi was also just fabulous. And the background score played a big part to make this more intense.

Mouse surely not a usual psychopath crime thriller, it has more to say. And the concept they are dealing here was also looks innovative and i haven't seen this anywhere before.. So am stopping here.. Don't think too much or go through the plot or the clippings, just watch and experience it..

A Must Must watch drama

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"Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping" (lmao)

The cliffhanger, the suspense, the twists - 'Mouse' has it all. The first episode really gets you hooked on the drama. Even if you are not a fan of thriller, this will surely get you to like it. And if you ARE a fan of thriller, crime, mystery (like myself) I HIGHLY suggest you to watch the drama. There isn't one episode where you wanna skip or feel like you got bored of it. The end of every episode fills your mind up with questions and theories. The story was well-written. And can't forget about the actors, which made the drama more appealing to watch. It's a first to see a killer's perspective and not a victim's in a drama. You get to see WHEN, HOW and WHY his unfortunate life made him what he is.

So, to keep it short- You won't waste your time and I promise you will surely enjoy every bit of it. So.....GO WATCH IT NOW!

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Best psychological thriller of era

I found out there were many mixed review for the series so am actually posting my opinion. This drama focuses more on psychological warfare rather than suspense and thriller. Though the main twist is predictable the detail revealation is what this show makes unique. They were many who dropped this show in midway due to illogical reasoning and confused editing but I personally find it interesring and intriguing because the same incident was shown in 2 different perspective. This drama has its own charm and is definetly not made to satisy everyone.

For those who are thinking whether to start this drama or not I'll suggest to give it a go. You need to watch it from Main leads perscpective as the revealation progesses slowly. Please dnt drop it mid way and give it a full go am sure u wont regret ur decision.

Special mention to cast especially LSG. Even I was planning to drop it but hold it out because of him and I truely was greatefull in discovering this masterpiece. LSG raises our bar among kdrama actors.

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The best thriller so far in my life

The writers are not human how can they come up with this masterpiece, the twists and suspense in this drama is twisting my neck , nothing is absolute until its over.
Every other episodes is soaring through the roof with thrill and suspense. Lee seungi hyung portrays the characters so good that i have no words to describe. All the actors are top notch. The people missing out on this drama i feel sad for them. The ones that are about to watch this masterpiece never skip a second because you will loose some details even if you watch it carefully. Enjoy the drama.
BTS-Army one's a wise man(suga) said loveyourself lovemyself peace. And also love this drama because it deserves it.

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Warning - Enter at Your Own Risk

I meant it in a tongue-in-cheek way, of course. But on a more serious note, do be prepared, both mentally and physically. Mouse is a drama that I had briefly dropped at episode 14, and then picked up again after 2 weeks of much needed respite when my brain had finally recovered from the blunt force trauma inflicted from attempting to make sense of it all (and after much encouragement as well as support from MDL friends to re-join this roller coaster of a drama).

Make no mistake, this is a roller coaster in every single sense of the term. It will fry your brain cells, toy with your every emotion, leaving you gasping for air at the end of each episode, right down to the grand finale. Watching this show isn’t as straightforward as simply observing the story unfolding - this production fully consumes you until your entire being is immersed into the layers upon layers and twists within twists amidst the convolution of interconnected nonlinear plots and subplots.

Without spoiling anything, these are the major aspects that I actually liked about it (when my mind wasn’t spiralling)...

The premise of the story about serial killing and the concept of scientific identification of serial killers through their genes (DNA) are original, refreshing and intriguing. Whether or not this is scientifically feasible, only the experts will know (I’ve been told it’s pure fiction). The plot moves at an extremely frenetic pace that’s punctuated by numerous backstories, side-stories and transitions between multiple timelines. This is essentially a “whodunnit” that gradually evolves into the “when, how and why” of it all. Everyone in the comments section and on Feeds (and possibly around the world who’s watching) definitely had fun and/ or stress postulating countless ever-changing hypotheses week in, week out!

Mouse is primarily plot-driven but the acting elevates the entire production to exceptional levels. For me the two main men have been incredible. Lee Hee Joon’s Ko Moo Chi is quite extraordinary where the range of emotions that this character conveys and puts us through is just remarkable. The highlights are many but his heart-wrenching and supercharged performance in episode 5 is certainly worthy of mention. As for the role of Jung Ba Reum, I can’t quite believe how this character is conceived and written. It’s insane when you think about it, really. The term multidimensional is an understatement. What even beggars belief is how Lee Seung Gi is able to bring to life this extremely complex work of fiction. No words of description will do justice to this portrayal because seeing is believing. Both of them are good value for 2022’s Baeksang nominations indeed.

No production is ever perfect and Mouse certainly has its fair share of flaws...

The elements of sensationalism in the screenplay. The screenwriter Choi Ran is certainly deserving of praise for the script on the whole but I couldn’t help feeling that the inclusion of more than a few instances of fake cliffhangers, false endings, shock-and-awe factors smack of exploitation and manipulation of viewership ratings. This drama is anything but subtle because exaggeration is the name of the game. For the most part, it works but sometimes you just feel annoyingly cheated and frustrated.

For me, the women in the show are not as compelling to watch as the men. Although credited as main roles, the characters of Choi Hong Joo and Oh Bong Yi are largely depicted as supportive in the development of the plot. Kyung Soo Jin’s portrayal is somewhat understated while Park Joo Hyun’s characterization has some room for improvement. I didn’t feel connected and invested enough with their characters which lack the extra dimensions that are present in the male leads. Both these two actresses are critically acclaimed award-winning professionals, (Park Joo Hyun recently won the best new actress at the 57th Baeksang) so perhaps the script didn’t focus enough on their characters for the portrayals to be fully fleshed out.

The technical execution, notably the editing and camerawork, could have been better. They become rather erratic, especially in the final third of the production where the cameras seem to be struggling to keep up with the increasingly frantic pace and sudden scene transitions alternating between the various characters’ points of view. To be honest, I think at this stage viewers just couldn’t care anymore and wanted the answers to be revealed as soon as possible.

Personally I struggled to keep up with the storytelling at times, which oscillated between coherence and hot mess. However, all things considered, I think Mouse has largely succeeded in giving viewers what it was designed to deliver - gripping plotlines, edge-of-the-seat thrills, mind-blowing reveals and much takeaway to ponder regarding the overall theme of violent crime prevention. As far as the ending is concerned, I’m actually quite pleased with the final outcome. After all that had transpired, it truly feels like a fitting closure for the characters involved. In truth, no amount of words will do justice to this spectacle because, at the end of the day, seeing is believing.

(Note - If you do decide to start this drama, remember to watch the 2-episode spin-off special, Mouse: Predator after completing episode 15 and before proceeding to the remaining episodes. This special production provides further "clarity" to the entire story)

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Must-watch thriller for anyone that enjoys cat-and-mouse storylines

Because I have a lot to say, I'll write a short and long review to make things easy.

In short, this is one show that will remain in my memory for a long time. It kept surprising me at every turn, and although the story was at times maybe a bit too plot-twisty/unbelievable, it didn't bother me enough to make me stop watching as if I was nailed to my seat. The main thing about this drama is the amazing acting by the two main actors and its interesting concept. If I were to say one thing: nothing is as it seems - especially first few episodes. When I watched the first two episodes I thought this would be quite straightforward and wasn't yet pulled in as much, but a bit later I was absolutely hooked. To me, this is now one of my favourite k-dramas so far, and the best thriller/crime drama I've watched yet.

The synopsis of this drama doesn't say all that much. It didn't speak to me so much either, as it says so little about the actual story. However, any synopsis that doesn't spoil anything would do this drama a great injustice by making it seem too boring; but a synopsis that tells you what it is really about would spoil too much and ruin the story. So if you are in doubt because of the lack of a clear synopsis, I'll tell you now: it's worth it.

One thing I should mention is that some say this drama is about whether psychopaths are born or raised - that is not so much the case here. The series takes on a viewpoint that lies more firmly on the side of 'they are born'. The entire show starts off with the premise of 'what if we could detect people with psychopathy before they were born?', based on the existence of a psychopathy 'gene'. (Whether or not this is credible scientifically, I won't go into; although there is evidence on the gene MAOA having some influence on it.) But even more central than that question, is the following: "What if psychopathic murderers could feel guilt, remorse, pain?" - I refer to wikipedia for the backstory on how the scriptwriter came up with this idea. Although you won't understand what this question has to do when you start watching, it will become clear near the ending how this question has effectively created this entire plot. As for me, I think they definitely succeeded in what they set out to do.

Okay, now more in depth.

Plot: all in all, I absolutely loved the entire plot line. It pulled me in, and I was hooked all the way through. Although at times far-fetched, it is not so much so to put you off if you can suspend a bit of disbelief (for example, some medical improbabilities - for example the existence of one 'psychopathy gene'). In hindsight I absolutely see why these were necessary in fulfilling the central question/goal of this series. Most plot developments I did not see coming; or I saw them coming but the story convinced me otherwise so that I was surprised even at both the smallest and biggest plottwist of all. That is why I would rate this plot wise 9: thrilling, mysterious, dark and satisfying, with the exception of the few plot-twists that were a bit unbelievable.

Acting: this is what really elevated the drama to a 9.5 overall for me. Lee Seung-gi did a great job in portraying all aspects of his character and made me really believe in everything he said or did. He made me feel both sympathy and disgust, and is absolutely what kept me watching every time. Truly, his acting was phenomenal here, and for that alone I would recommend this drama to anyone who is debating whether or not to watch. Lee Hee-joon also did a stellar job in establishing his character's motivation and emotions. The supporting actors also did a great job.

Music: great - although I am one that is more geared towards the background soundtrack and not so much the songs with actual lyrics. The bgm was suspenseful and kept tension all throughout.

All in all, I think this is a must-watch for anyone who likes thrilling storylines and phenomenal acting. It is in my top 10 series, and perhaps even my number one crime/thriller/suspense kdrama so far. I will definitely be rewatching sometime in the future.

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This drama is on a scale of its own!!

I have been watchig kdramas for 10 years and I'm telling you this drama is on a scale of its own!
First of all the acting in this drama is beyond spectacular, the actors did a great job specially Lee Seung Gi. It's the first time he plays a role like this and he absolutely slayyy all his scenes I'm very proud of him.
The story line is completely different from the typical thriller drama, this one is full of and mystery (many people couldn't take it and drop it) too bad because is Masterpiece indeed.
The story line gets you involved since episode 1 and from there is a roller coaster, you start to suspect everyone to the point you just give up making theories and decide to just watch.
One thing I love and praise this drama is for giving us special episodes...that allow us to understand as it shows the different side of the coin.
Perfect ending writing is honest without any safe play they told the story with full of thrills from ep 1 to 20.

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