Signal created a parallel timeline that works – one where a criminal profiler of the present has mysteriously connected with a detective from the past.
- Main Cast : Lee Je Hoon | Kim Hye Soo | Cho Jin-Woong |
- Supporting Cast: Kim Won Hae | Jang Hyun Sung | Jung Hae Kyun | Lee Yoo- Joon | Kang Chan Hee |
- Streaming Site: Netflix
- Thrill/Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Rewatch Value:
- Kdramas of Similar Vibe: Go Back Couple | Criminal Minds | Tell Me What You Saw | I Can Hear Your Voice |
Quick Plot Recap
Park Hae Young (Lee Je Hoon), heard a weird radio transmission coming from an old walkie-talkie. He checks the mentioned place and discovers a skeletal corpse. This event eventually led to a breakthrough on a cold case.
Gaining public interest led the police force to create a Cold Case squad, where Park Hae Young will work as a criminal profiler under the supervision of Detective Cha Soo Hyun (Kim Hye Soo).
Detective Cha Soo Hyun has an unresolved case of the past on her own – the disappearance of her senior Detective Lee Jae Han ( Cho Jin Woong) from fifteen years ago.
Signal Peak Points
*Spoilers Ahead
The Cold Cases
There is a reason why the cold cases from Signal tug differently and emotionally. At least three of them were loosely based on real-life and well-known criminal cases in Korea. This disturbing fact adds to the chilling element of the whole series.
The Cause and Effect Factor
Lee Jae Han and Park Hae Young’s communication was both a blessing and a curse, and they both learned it the hard way. Changing the past changes the future (or the present, whichever way you prefer to describe Park Hae Young’s timeline) and the change does not always come in the best form. Their intentions might be noble, but sometimes, the results can go from worse to worst.
The Interconnected Lives of the Trio
The back story between Lee Jae Han and Park Hae Young, and between Lee Jae Han and Cha Soo Hyun, are pure genius. The difference between the past Cha Soo Hyun and the present Cha Soo Hyun is also a gift of art, and the way Park Hae Young and Cha Soo Hyun works together on the present timeline is something which we should not take for granted.
Signal Series Musings
Signal is more than a personal favorite, it is my standard of what and how a K-Drama should be. The thick and tight storyline contrasted well with the smooth scene transitions, pulling you in not as a viewer, but as a silent participant involved in the story. Even if a parallel timeline-themed series might not be your cup of tea, you can be assured the natural and realistic portrayals of the cast is more than enough reason to check this drama out.
– hyorifeels
A Must-Watch Riveting Story
It’s a crazy timeline but when you watch it you won’t be lost. A plot like this isn’t supposed to be described in detail so I’m just going to warn you the ending is the only thing that I thought felt lacking. Nevertheless, the narration all throughout was well directed and engaging.
Halfway through the series, I liked what I saw even if I saw similar stories already. The peculiar thing in the drama was the use of the haunted radio that linked the main police officers from the past and present. But I have religiously watched Criminal Minds, Dexter, The Mentalist, and the rest of police procedural Western TV series so there’s nothing surprising that I saw with the criminal files they tackled. It was more of me waiting if the writer will niftily tie the loose end and connect the relevance of the supernatural twist as a whole.
While the story conflict was resolved, I hoped not for an open-ended closure. I followed the thrill and analyze the situations like I was also a silent detective of the team. Then, I was given something to ponder on in the dying minutes of the drama. I was like what was that? You already baked a satisfying conclusion, why cool it down and put it in a fridge?
But for the record, that’s my only concern about Signal. Overall, it was excitingly projected. The runs on how they made the cases simultaneously being solved from different timelines were easy to follow and the main actors exhibited great chemistry. – abbyinhallyuland
Photos: tvN
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