Chief Inspector (2024)

They served......justice!

The story follows Detective Park Yeong Han, who's a total pro at nabbing cow thieves (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)But now, he's been transferred to Jongnam Police Station, where he and his teammates gear up to tackle corruption along with other crimes occuring in the 60s.

So let me put it out straightforwardly to y'all: the story is, most of the time, ordinary, like nothing groundbreaking or unimaginable, but the way Unit 1 solves each case charms me up and keeps me intrigued. Watching the dynamics and the bond and friendship among the teammates feels genuine and real.

Each episode brings in a new crime, which our detectives solve. As I mentioned, it's pretty ordinary, so here's the twist: you usually spot the culprit early on in this drama, but the real puzzle is figuring out the tactics they'll use to reel them in because it is more like a socialist economy (as in the 60s) where everything is controlled within the government/police authorities, and it's not easy because they have the power unless there is some solid evidence ¯⁠◡⁠¯. One of the main storylines is corruption in the police department, so buckle up to watch some good for nothing cops￣⁠ヘ⁠￣

The actors and characters were so endearing to watch, but there are some annoying ones too. And how can we forget Lee Je Hoon?! Man never disappoints with his acting in the action genre; it's so fun to watch him: > Yeong Han and Sang Sun duo was the highlight for me. >>

The romance could've been more developed, I felt. It was subtle and cute nevertheless, but not a main focus.

One of the things I didn't like is how some characters were used as plot devices. It wasn't fast-paced, more like a laid-out story with a leisurely pace, so sometimes I skipped scenes.

Overall, the cases are not out of the box or overwhelming, but if you enjoy the bonding between the characters, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the show! And honestly it was pretty light hearted as a overall watch, the crimes weren't heinous compared to other crime dramas, with a sprinkle of humour!

Thank you for reading my review ^^
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The Most Entertaining Show of 2024

Where should I petition to get Season Two? I haven’t got enough of this show, I want more!

Lee Je Hoon’s “Chief Detective 1958” was an unforgettable experience, once that was well written, portraying the brotherhood and camaraderie between four men who are crusaders for justice. Starring alongside Lee Je Hoon, the ensemble casting includes Lee Dong Hwi, Choi Woo Sung, Yoon Hyun Soo, Seo Eun Soo. The show portrays the younger days of Inspector Park Young Han, a fictional legend who formed a formidable team with the other protagonists in difficult times when corruption was on the rise in the police force. As the main protagonists cleanse their department of corruption and seek justice for the downtrodden, the show is high on antics as the four main leads bring different flavors to this variant palate. Inspector Park Young Han (Lee Je Hoon) remains at the centerfold as he fights alongside the righteous Chief Yoo Dae Cheon (Choi Deok Moon) who had been fighting alone until his eccentric team gather together. Let’s wind down as we reminisce the best parts of this show!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/05/19/chief-detective-1958-series-review/#more-845

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Weirdly Good

I find this drama weirdly good. It's unlike most exaggerated detective dramas, where the detectives go against the tide and challenge every villain they come across. This is more realistic and the detectives know when to stop. This is also because media wasn't a huge luxury in this period and investigations were not very advanced. I wouldn't say this is binge-worthy, but it is very relaxing, funny and intriguing in its own way.

This is not a detective story focusing on one villain, instead each episode is about solving separate cases and all the episodes just vaguely relate to each other. It's like the difficulty level of each case level up by each passing episode and the detectives also level up in their competence in solving them. For example, the story starts with finding cow thieves and by the end, it's about putting kids of influential people in jail. But all is solved with appropriate seriousness and humour.

Lee Je Hoon's character in this drama is like a tone-down version of his character as "Taxi driver", with more smiley smiley faces. The bromance between the 5 detectives is just wholesome and funny and is a good reason to stick to the very end. All the actors and actresses did an amazing job and their chemistry was really good.

The set of this drama was particularly very noteworthy. The vibe it gives was just perfect for this period drama. And also the overall vibe is different from most detective dramas I have watched so far.

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Why Chief Detective 1958 is a must watch

Who loves quirky crime thrillers....please raise your hand here as Detective Young Han is here.

Set in late 1950s Korea, it is the story of Young Han who gets promoted to Seoul after catching a maximum number of cow thieves in his hometown. As the upright, fun-loving straightforward 27-year-old steps feet in Seoul, he finds the world in the gutter. Instead of losing focus, he teams up with mad dog Guk Jin, and powerful Kwang Han to save the innocent.

Now after giving an insight of what the theme is, let's dive into facts that will keep you hooked to the story.
1. The period

You have to agree period piece stories exhume a different essence. The costume, the vibes, the music- everything exhibits a time that makes us smile and feel lost at the same time.

2. The storyline

Writer Kim Young Shin has left no stone unturned in penning a prequel to "Chief Inspector." You know the biggest element of a period piece is to keep the aura alive. You are watching 1958...you want to feel the era yet you do not want to feel left out as this is 2024. The director understood the assignment he had been shouldered with and each corner and nook of the story will surely make you feel nostalgic but not left out.

3. The cast

As I heard the name Lee Je Hoon, I heard awesomeness. This man does not settle for less. From his role as the inspector in the time capsule series Signal to his effervescent performance in Taxi Driver, he is the OG actor of the Korean drama industry. His subtle chemistry with Youth of May girl Seo Eun So is soft and warm. Lee Dong Hwi, and Choi Woo Sung in pivotal roles add the necessary layer to this tiny series.

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easy-going 60s era crime drama

I love the vibes of the 60s era. I have to say they did a great job. I like that each episode represents different case and I love the way they solved the cases. I like that it is inspired by Korean history and how difficult it actually was to catch bad guys.

I am amazed by the first half of the drama as it has really funny moments and the dream team was build. To be honest for the the second half was loosing its charm. Also it is upsetting to see that no one cares about normal people except the unit 1 and the corruption is on different level. I guess nowadays it is the same but they cover it much better.

The drama is easy to follow as the cases are not that difficult to follow so it does not need your full attention.

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Well crafted procedural

I really enjoyed this. I was a little worried it might be stodgy or hard to follow for someone ignorant of Korean history but that wasn't the case at all. Lee Je Hoon was excellent as usual, I always appreciate his range, intensity, and charisma. His Unit 1 colleagues aren't deep characters but I enjoyed their camaraderie with each other. It was interesting how in most of the episodes the mystery wasn't "who's the perpetrator" but rather "how will we bring the perpetrator to justice given the constraints we're working under." The characters come up with smart workarounds to the municipal corruption that stymied legitimate police work at the time, such as forming strategic allegiances with beggars, staging rogue undercover operations, and tricking a gangster into attacking an American soldier which changed the jurisdiction of the case. I wasn't totally on board with how the show dispatched it's multi-episode villains (quickly and anti-climatically) but I was consistently pleased with how they resolved the cases of the week. The romance subplot was really nice as well, they were such a sweet couple.

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A tribute to the original show (1971) and actors.

This was a tribute to the original show and actors.

* Detective/Inspector Park was played by Choi Bool Am in the original and the 2023/older version.
* Detective Kim played by Kim Sang Soon in the original passed away in 2015.
* Detective Jo played by Jo Kyung Hwan passed away in 2012.
* Detective Nam played by Nam Sung Hoon passed away in 2002.

Special mention:
* Actors Lee Kye In and Song Kyung Chul, were also in the original. They appeared in the last episode of this show.

I hope they release a sequel.

They can do it multiple ways:
1. Another prequel set before the original “Chief Detective 1971”.
2. Remake the 1971 original.
3. A sequel of 1971, set sometime later.
4. A modern 2023/2024 version. Continue the story line of the present time. This time, focusing on Park's descendants, and telling us the other case stories through his grandson.

If they'll choose to do a 2023/2024 version next, then those past case stories can become the 3rd sequel/prequel. For example, it will tell the story of Park's son. Was he a detective as well? How much did he adore his father, the cow-thief detective? What were his achievements?

Doing that way will fill in the gap as to how original Park's grandson became a detective, which is his father (or son of original Park).

There are plenty of ways they can go about this. And I hope they will.

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A heartfelt and touching detective drama

First of all, I really liked the vibes of this drama, it brings some nostalgic and retro vibes. It has also a some educational part of Korean history which is interesting but maybe too short to fully understand it, it might lead to some research later haha

I appreciate the development of the story in general, nice to follow although I do think, I felt there's the same pattern when you watched a few episodes and you know that it's a little bit predictable.. or not lol

I liked the characters especially one of the main leads, Park Younghan (his character was interesting, empathic, kind and know what to say ) and their teamwork, I love their dynamic it's heartwarming; the acting was great and very convincing and some episodes and characters broke my heart, it was too painful to watch..

I just feel there's things that are lacking or not explained enough but I'm not sure...And, it's weird but after the good things that I've brought up, I have to admit, the first episode, yet entertaining, didn't get me fully invested it was maybe the second or the third one that I finally got invested.

Worth the watch.

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─ there are two things we need to remember

This drama was a breath of fresh air for me, with its period and location, the storytelling and the sincerity between the squad. While the cast always had a great potential, the narrative and characters were so well crafted that I found myself completely immersed in their crime-solving journey ─ plus, everything happened at such an engaging pace.

As a fan of crime dramas, I found the choice of timeline for this series to be quite unique. The 1950s was not the idyllic era that some might imagine ( we see the mix of traditional and modern approach not only in the way they think but also how they dress, how they present themselves ), and it was compelling to see it through the eyes of dedicated detectives battling not only criminals but also internal conflicts. The cases they tackle, while not so unfamiliar to us in today's world, are presented from a fresh perspective, highlighting historical events, avoiding unnecessary dragging and delivering their message with precision. I think one of the most memorable cases was in EP4 ─ it was heavy but delivered such important messages. Also EP8, gave us two different cases that really made us question "what exactly is the right way to look for justice?"

The chemistry between the characters is palpable, making their interactions a joy to watch. While romance is not the main focus, they prioritize the importance of genuine bonds and mutual respect between the characters.

One particularly poignant aspect was the homage to the prequel, honoring the legacy of previous actors. Loved the small details they included to do that.

All in all, I enjoyed watching this drama and I think it deserves multiple seasons.

link to edit : https://youtu.be/_PdVYFzPXvY

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what a show man! Something very different amongst all the dramas that are airing rn. the cases were easy to follow yet very interesting, and the acting was phenomenal. The whole Found Family/ dream team vibe they had going on was just perfect. I don't wish it to be 16 episodes of drama but I think 12 episodes wouldn't hurt anyone but oh well I love what I got.
If anyone thinks the way they solved the cases was unrealistic or unconvincing please notice this drama is set in late 1950's, great hunches and gut feeling is what they had instead of technology!
THE LAST EPISODE (specifically the last graveyard scene) I SOBBED FOR 20 MIN STRAIGHT, I just stopped crying to write this review, it wasn't sad in a way because that is inevitable. the goodbyes when you grow up, but I think that what makes it so sad and heartbreaking THERES JUST NO WAY OUT of THAT SPECIFIC THING THE GROWING UP.
if you're into crime/detective dramas that are set in 50's(60's) with a low-key found family trope this is for you and its not even a long watch!
p.s The 4 guys that played rich spoiled children were so good at acting bad! I need to see them in more shows doing something wholesome now please like some university based show!

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Lee Je Hoon pegando a los malos? si por favor

Comence este kdrama por Lee Je Hoon, si bien al principio le cuesta un poco arrancar desde el caso de los niños creo que dejan un buen final . En ciertos momentos, dudaba de la legalidad de sus metodos asi como el abuso de poder que hacían pero ha sido grato ver un kdrama de detectives ambientado en una epoca que no es la actual. No voy a negar que habia ciertas escenas que eran las tipiccas de risas enlatadas pero eso no ha conseguido que lo dejase , como he mencionado el caso de los niños y el último me han parecido sublimes. Me hubiera gustado que profundizasen un poco mas en lo de la mafia y los polícias corruptos (ese cambio de la unidad 2 en el ultimo capitulo se me ha hecho artificial). Me ha gustado la serie, no es el novamás pero se agradece ver a Lee Je Hoon pegando a los malos. La gente estará harta y dirán que tiene que probar otros papeles, que no lo niego pero sinceramente, a veces una chica necesita ver a Lee Je Hoon pegando puñetados para olvidarse durante una hora de sus responsabilidades.

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