Lowkey yet highly addicting, Decoy plays up enigmatic characters entangled in an elaborate game of deceit.
Portending humans’ susceptibility to trust something that promises great benefits, the series harps on various faces of covetousness.
- Main Leads: Jang Keun Suk | Lee Elijah | Heo Sung Tae
- Overall Rating:
- Thrill/Addictive Meter:
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abbyinhallyuland watched Decoy Part 1 on Prime Video
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 | 5 to 8 | 9 & 10 | Finale + Series Review |
Decoy Finale Week Highlights *Spoiler Alert
Catching up on No Sang-cheon’s scheme, Gu Do-han feigns ignorance that he knows the villain connived with the duo working together in the recent killings.
Meanwhile, the high-ranking officers are also in a pickle owing to Sang-cheon’s unpredictable mission.
Do-han who received a call from the murderers agrees to let go of Sang-cheon and put a tracker on him.
At the hideout, Sang-cheon affirms Do-han’s suspicion that he had been conspiring with the two who want the gold bars presumed to be hidden by Sang-cheon alone.
Cunning as always, Sang-cheon kills the murderers he hired by poisoning them together. He then lures the victims that have persistently hunted him to an abandoned mine.
Thinking they can claim their money back, they heedlessly take the trap laid for them. Fortunately, Do-han arrives to lure them out and chases after Sang-cheon albeit the severe blizzard.
Wounding Do-han with his knife, Sang-cheon momentarily escapes but Detective Cho whose wife and daughter died after being held by Sang-cheon to do his bidding arrives and stabs him to death.
Thinking he will be able to leave the country unscathed, Sang-cheon prepared a scheduled video confession that reveals all the police officers and government officials who helped him in his Ponzi scheme.
Decoy Parts 1 and 2 Plot Recap
Summoned to investigate a series of murders that keeps bringing up the name of a scammer presumed to be dead, Gu Do-han (Jang Keun Suk) begins investigating the cryptic case.
He also gets entangled with Cheon Na-yeon (Lee Elijah), who is a member of the victims who still believes that No Sang-cheon is alive.
But bringing out the truth is especially hard for Do-han and his team as betrayals and withheld truths abound in the real deal of the villain’s “death”.
Decoy Series Highlights
Subdued But Engrossing Narrative
Decoy made sure that viewers continuously get hooked with its prepared bait. It was simply contrived yet its distinct storytelling can make the viewers invest in it no matter what.
Humbly presenting a nonetheless compelling picture, the series presents an engaging adventure to connect a presumed dead scammer from the past to successive murders happening at present time.
From its modest opening, it continuously propelled exciting developments while serving awareness of societal issues specifically the intricacies of fraud activities prevalently happening in the country.
On that note, Decoy might not appeal to people who like sequences of thrill bursts. In presenting its big puzzle picture, it patiently explicates the perspectives of the different groups of characters intertwined with No Sang-cheon’s escape plan after his failed business as well as his return to fulfill his nonsensical thirst to avenge himself.
The weekly episodes appear disconnected at first glance, but it makes sense when you connect them from the start. Thus, it’s best to watch it in one sitting.
A Fascinating Chase-The-Villain Story
Interestingly, the sole dominating conflict of the series does not lean on a mind-blowing scenario. Yet, as viewers might have felt a distinct charm, the story gravitates by putting unique emphasis on the story of the villain. To the point that he’s like an underdog hero.
It is probably a rare occasion in K-Dramaland, but the love-and-hate relationship of any viewer to No Sang-cheon is inevitable once you get hooked on the story. Seemingly, you became an unaccounted victim, to be honest. And you want to see his downfall at the very least.
Even in his dying moments, he did not show any remorse and considered himself a victim, too. No Sang-cheon reminds us that pure evil exists, and it’s up to us to discern if we want a taste of it.
For his relentless villain pursuit, Gu Do-han amplified the energy by propelling his clever brilliance. Unfazed and mission-bound all throughout gave the viewers the reassurance that amidst all the lies and betrayals in the story, he’s the sole guarantee that everything will be fine.
Decoy Series Musings
With a compelling tale, Decoy enthuses with a unique format that goes back and forth between the past and the present. Elaborating a solid story spanning nearly 20 years full of unpredictable plot twists, the series is made more riveting owing to the lead characters’ committed portrayals.
In a story where trust gets always breached and being friendly with enemies is but normal, Decoy puts forward a string of convincing bait that keeps the audience wanting more.
Considering its unique storytelling of laying out the motivations of the characters from the past timelines and heightening the excitement owing to the pressing problems at present time; Decoy capitalized strongly on the efficient character interactions.
Putting weight on the world of scams, the series asserted how it is a business that will keep evolving because of people’s blind trust. Some would gamble for a better life while some do not have a better life, to begin with. Hence, they mindlessly succumb to it.
Unfortunately, it often gets overlooked because of more pressing lawless situations. Despite the disheartening and irreparable damages experienced by victims of fraudulent schemes, there are still opportunities to improve the efforts to eliminate this highly organized crime.
Taking that into account, this drama achieves an enlightening and encouraging message to be mindful of choices. That it is better to work hard and reap the benefits after a long time than take chances on too-good-to-be-true offers that promise benefits right away.
All episodes of Decoy are now available on Prime Video!
Photos: Coupang Play
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