Title: 써클: 이어진 두 세계 | Sseokeul: Ieojin Du Segye | Circle: Two Connected Worlds
Genre: Science Fiction | Mystery
Episodes: 12
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: May 22 to June 27, 2017
Synopsis:
It is a story of 2 fraternal twin brothers, Kim Woo Jin and Kim Bum Kyoon. When they were young, they experienced an extra-terrestrial encounter which marred their lives as they grow up. Kim Woo Jin tried to forget that it did happen while Kim Bum Kyoon didn’t and continue to pursue to investigate what happened to them when they were young. He also feel that it will help him find the mystery of the reason why their father abandoned them. In the year 2017, a series of murders are happening at Handam University and are covered-up into suicides. Kim Woo Jin is studying there and Kim Bum Kyoon was obsessed in proving his theory that the alien he saw when he was a kid has something to do with these murders. His interest to do the investigation was totally against his brother’s wishes and be involved especially with the theory he wants to prove regarding the alien. Simultaneously, the events in 2037 is intertwined with the year 2017. In the year 2037, the world commonly known as the Brave New World has 2 districts, the General District and the Smart District. The smart district is a better and utopian-like place as it doesn’t have any crimes and very progressive while the general district was decaying and deteriorating in the quality of life. To be able to live in the smart district you need to have money and influence and it is required to have a care chip implanted on you to control your emotions and mind set. Kim Joon Hyuk is a detective from general district. He is trying to solve the mystery of his lost memory and have been wanting to enter the smart district because he feels that’s where the answers about himself can be found. He found the chance to do so when he was invited to smart earth to solve the mystery of a murder case which is unheard of in smart earth ever since it begun. In his search for who he really is, he needs to solve the mystery of what really happened with Kim Woo Jin and Kim Beom Gyoon and meet Blue Bird who was connected to his past. By facing all these challenges, he can discover his true identity as well as unravel the truth on how people is really living in smart earth and give them back their freedom of choice.
Characters:
- Yeo Jin Goo as Kim Woo Jin
- Jung Ji Hoon as Younger Woo Jin
- Ahn Woo Yeon as Kim Bum Kyoon
- Kim Ye Joon as Younger Bum Kyoon
- Gong Seung Yun as Han Jung Yun
- Jung In Sun as Park Min Young
- Seo Hyun Chul as Hong Jin Hong
- Oh Ui Shik as Lee Dong Soo
- Jung Joon Won as young Dong Soo
- Shin Dam Soo as Detective Choi
- Kim Joong Ki as Kim Gyu Chul
- Song Young Kyu as Han Yong Woo
- Han Sang Jin as Park Dong Gun
- Shin Joo Hwan as Sunbae Lee
- Kim Kang Woo as Kim Joon Hyuk
- Lee Ki Kwang as Lee Ho Soo
- Seo Hyun Chul as Hong Jin Hong
- Oh Ui Shik as Lee Dong Soo
- Kim Min Kyung as Doctor Park
- Kwon Hyuk Soo as Detective Oh
- Min Sung Wook as Lee Hyun Suk
- Nam Myung Ryul as Yoon Hak Joo
- Yoo Young as Secretary Shin
- Choi Ji Hun as Kim Min Ji
- Gong Seung Yun as Bluebird
- Tae Ha as Soo Bin
My Review:
I watched this k-drama as the reviews given by my trusted review sites were good. I’m not much into sci-fi but I wanted to see how koreans does it. It is a difficult genre not only in the special effects it will need to provide realism to the story but also in making sure that it doesn’t get haywire in tackling so many things that it becomes muddled up into a waste of nonsense. It is a big undertaking especially as the plot involves 2 timelines, the present and the future with alien, mind control and cloning thrown down into the mix. And, like an excellent baker in making pastries, one needs to mix the exact measures of the variety of ingredients to make it work. This k-drama exactly needs that to be a success and it indeed achieved that…this k-drama made it simply work.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) It was tightly written and executed by the director and the actors real well. For a sci-fi k-drama, it was really quite entertaining and greatly done. All the actors are quite brilliant but I must say Yeo Jin Goo truly shined in this k-drama. He is one of those actors who I believe has an inherent talent in acting. He has inner depth when he delivers his roles and he has exceptionally done the same here. And, in addition, bravo to the child actors who also did such a phenomenal job and made a difference in their roles.
(2) The special effects and the way the director has delivered the feel of the drama was brilliantly done. I feel like I’m watching a hollywood movie. This k-drama has shown that korean entertainment is really growing to be one of the world’s entertainment industry serious in delivering quality movies and dramas to be enjoyed not only in Korea but by the rest of the world.
(3) Although, this k-drama deals with futuristic and alien possibilities, the story still revolves about being simply human. Our actions and feeling towards our experiences and the way we resolve things in order to live in peace and harmony with each other and within ourselves was the focus of this k-drama, the other stuff are just delicious icing in the cake.
(4) It delivered an unpredictable story telling in a matter of just 12 episodes and it made me want to see more of it. And, that’s precisely what I wish to happen after its ending and hopefully tvN will create a second season and not leave its fans hanging. tvN should really show they are indeed the trend leader as they claim to be and not be the same where ratings is the only thing that’s important.
(5) I believe this has put korean dramas in the map and in a higher category in terms of quality even if the ratings does not show it. It was highly entertaining brought with quality production to enrich the viewing experience of the audience. Moreover, it has touch subjects that are interesting to have a debate with a respected friend. It makes your mind think and not just enjoy the pleasure of watching it.
(6) Initially, you might have difficulty to follow the story as it runs in different worlds and timeline but it was edited in such a manner you will get the hang of it plus an added bonus of discovering a lot of surprising revelations as the story unfolds.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
This K-drama, in my humble opinion, is flawless. I’m not a sci-fi genre fan but this made me one. Unfortunately, in any business around the world, money is the be-all and the end-all and even if this one is done exceptionally, unfortunately, I think due to its low ratings, this is not something tvN can simply ignore and still consider doing a second season. Sometimes I do wonder the low taste of certain viewers. They prefer Goblin which was good in premise but a junk in the end than quality ones like this one. Sorry Goblin fans but that’s my honest to goodness take on that useless k-drama. Go wonder!!!
Would I recommend this K-Drama? A Definite YES!!!
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
OST:
01. Walk With Me – Kwak Jin-Eon
02. Alive – UJi (Bestie) feat. Andup