A lot of great enthralling things happened in the first two episodes of Dark Hole!
Definitely, we need more episodes to present the story’s projected route. If you like thrillers and gruesome scenes are not big deal for you, OCN’s new series is living up to the network’s trademark.
Engrossing despite its eerie tone, it’s easy to settle in the city of Muji as its locals experience an inexplicable situation. Dark Hole incorporates a cryptic sinkhole, a female serial killer, a slew of horrifying monsters, and a band of survivors and heroes fighting for their lives.
Opening Week Rating: 
abbyinhallyuland watches Dark Hole on iQiyi
Recaps: Opening Week | Mid-Series | Finale + Review
Dark Hole Opening Week Story
Devastated after her husband’s passing, Detective Lee Hwa-seon (Kim Ok Vin) learns of the serial killer who killed her husband resurfacing. She visits Muji city to track the vicious female killer Su-yeon, but experienced baffling condition after losing consciousness in front of a sinkhole.
She goes to episodes of hallucination seeing her dead husband and in one of those illusions, she meets Yoo Tae-han (Lee Joon Hyuk). Tae-han runs a local towing service with his friend Young-sik who experienced the same unexplainable behavior and physical change as Hwa-seon’s.
The same situation has been happening to other Muji city locals who inhaled the strange black smoke from the sinkhole. Meanwhile, police officer Park Soon-il is in a sticky situation after discovering the sinkhole. Serving one of the town’s rich men, he was ordered to cover the sinkhole because a nursing home will be built in the area.
Pressed with time, the city falling on a blackout does not help his predicament. While arguing with the maintenance people trying to fix electric posts, a possessed student emerged attacking them.
Muji City in Chaos
After subduing a black smoke monster, Hwa-seon obliged a hospital nurse’s request to rescue her daughter Do-yoon who is currently being attacked by another monster. However, the nurse was attacked so she left with her child.
Chaos is all over Muji city with people fighting for survival against an outbreak of monsters. While fighting one, Hwa-seon lost Do-yoon. Back at Tae-han’s situation, he was left with no choice but to let go of his infected friend.
Dark Hole Opening Week Musings
Sporting survival thriller genre, Dark Hole brandished a persuasive bait in OCN style. The hideous, vengeance-driven black smoke infected people sparingly spurred ghastly terror, and they seem hard to vanquish.
Considering its predicted big cast, we can already assume the main characters that would matter as the story progressed. We can also conclude the endurance game of who will remain thriving in Muji city to be the central conflict.
In the first two episodes, we see how the cryptic black smoke has different effects on people. For those with huge grudges, they seem to be vindictive. For those with stronger fortitude, they experience delusions like the case of Hwa-seon.
What I need more information on is the insertion of the shamaness Sun-nyeo because mixing science and shamanism elements is hard to pull off. We also see next week’s preview to add a cult following to the story’s cauldron.
Nevertheless, I finish this drama’s opening episodes in one sitting. It goes without saying that it is highly-habit-forming. With reliable actors Kim Ok Vin and Lee Joon Hyuk, we get a picture of clever characters who will move in the majority of the story.
Swinging a solid opening week, Dark Hole is a nice addition to your K-Drama watchlist if you are into suspense stories.
Photos: OCN
[wpedon id=”3227″ align=”center”]
