Title: 크리미널 마인드 | Keurimineol Maindeu | Criminal Minds
Genre: Drama | Crime | Suspense
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: July 26 to September 28, 2017

Synopsis:

Kang Ki Hyung leads talented group of people under NCI who have their own special brand of abilities for being profilers. They are Kim Hyun Joon, a loving son who takes care of his mother and comatose brother; Ha Sun Woo, a serious and intense detective; Yoo Min Young, a beautiful woman who handles the media relations; Lee Han, a young genius who has wealth of knowledge he imparts on the group and Na Na-Hwang, the computer geek that handles all technical matters of each cases. Together they fight crimes through profiling the perpetrators and the victims.

Characters:

• Son Hyun Joo as Kang Ki Hyung
• Lee Joon Ki as Kim Hyun Joon
• Moon Chae Won as Ha Sun Woo
• Lee Sun Bin as Yoo Min Young
• Kim Young Chul as Baek San
• Yoo-Sun as Na Na-Hwang
• Go Yoon as Lee Han
• Kang Yi Suk as Younger Hyun Joon
• Jung Ye In as Younger Sun Woo
• Oh Yun Soo as Seo Hye Won
• Kim Kang Hoon as Kang Han Byul
• ?? as Ha Yoon Man
• ?? as Han Seung Hye
• Kim Won Hae as Kim Yong Chul
• Hwang Bo Mi as Reporter
• Hong Ji Yoon as Park In Hye
• Ahn Seung Hwan as Km Tae Joon
• Jung Ah Mi as Hyun Joon’s Mother
• Park Shi Eun as Mo Ji Eun
• Kim Kwon as Kang Ho Young
• Kim Hee Jin as Go Young Min
• Ji Min Hyuk
• Sung Chan
• Shin Da Won
• Heo Dong Won
• Kim In Kwon as In Sang Chul on Episode 1-2
• Jang Dong Joo as Park Jae Min on Episode 1-2
• New Sun as Choi Na Young on Episode 1-2
• Lee Seo Hwan as Jo Suk Hwan on Episode 3-4
• Yoo Jung Ho as Jo Suk Hwan’s Phantasm on Episode 3-4
• Yoon Byung Hee as Kang Won Young on Episode 3-4
• Park Geun Hyung as Chief Commissioner Kwon Sang Ho on Episode 3-4
• Kim Hyun Bin as Son of “Reaper” Victim at Camping Site on Episode 3-4
• Im Hyung Joon as Seo Jin Hwan on Episode 3-4
• Goo Gun Min as Ha Eun on Episode 5
• Kim Se Dong as Professor Jung on Episode 5
• Yoo Sang Jae as Special Task Force Leader on Episode 5
• Yoon Soo Hyuk as Lee Suk Han on Episode 5
• Kwon So Hyun as Kwon Yoo Jin on Episode 6-7
• Im Soo Hyang as Song Yoo Kyung on Episode 6-7
• Park Ga Ram as young Yoo Kyung on Episode 6-7
• Kim Seo Kyung as Kang Jae Duk on Episode 6-7
• Lee Kyu Bok as Yoon Jung Sup on Episode 6-7
• Nam Myung Ryul as Yoon Hee Chul on Episode 7-8
• Jo Han Chul as Jang Ki Tae on Episode 7-8
• Chae Min Hee as Hwang Min Young on Episode 7-8
• Shin So Hyun as Jang Ji Young on Episode 7-8
• Lee Da Young as Jang Ji Soo on Episode 7-8
• Hong Sung Duk as Chief Lee on Episode 8-10
• Park Hyun Sook as Oh Soon Young on Episode 8-10
• Jung Joon Won as Kim Jin Woo on Episode 8-10
• Lee Han Seo as Hwang Yoon Ah on Episode 8-10
• Kim Do Yun as Yoon Ah’s Mother on Episode 8-10
• Lee Yoon Mi as Lee Sang Hee on Episode 8-10
• Yoon Sang Hoon as Jang Jin Hwan on Episode 8-10
• Yoo Eun Mi as Victim on Episode 8-10
• Song Seung Hwan as Kim Hee Jae on Episode 8-10
• Park Ha Won on Episode 10-11
• Kim Woo Rin as Han Seung Hee on Episode 10-11
• Kim Ho Jung as Ahn Yeo Jin on Episode 12-13
• Gong Jung Hwan as Jo Young Hoon on Episode 12-13
• Lee Yong Nyeo as Ahn Yeo Jin’s Mother on Episode 12-13
• Choi Hong Il as Prison Officer on Episode 12-13

My Review:

I watched this k-drama because I was curious on how the Korean version will play out one of my most favorite US TV series. All in all I was kinda disappointed because it could have been better if they just made it uniquely their style. Or, probably would have enjoyed it if I am not an avid fun of Criminal Minds US version and didn’t watch its series religiously.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) Initially on the first episodes I can’t connect with this K-Drama because I can’t help but compare it to Criminal Minds US version which is one of my favorite American TV series. It kinda pales in comparison which is always the danger of remaking such successful series. More often than not, it doesn’t work out the same. However, in the fashion of Korean Dramas, they are great when it comes to incorporating emotional elements in the story which what finally connected me to this K-Drama. It started on Episode 4 and with a simple scene with Kang Ki Hyung about the tie which is a gift from his wife, this what made me finally get on board a little bit on Criminal Minds Korean version.

(2) The actors are all good, but, I found it more engaging because of Lee Joon Ki. I’m not just used to seeing him in normal clothes in the current modern times.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

(1) I would have preferred they created a separate and different characters away from the american version of Criminal Minds which is by the way, one of my all time American TV series. Just on the 1st episode, Go Yoon as Lee Han who is trying to be Matthew Gray Gubler as Spencer Reid is a doing a poor imitation of the whiz young doctor. And, from the get go Yoo-Sun as Na Na-Hwang who is being Kirsten Vangsness as Penelope Garcia is not even amusing and totally pale in comparison to the technically savvy, beaming, exuberant and amusing character of Penelope.

(2) It is more often than not the weakness of most korean dramas when it comes to criminal genre or even simple criminal investigation scenes is their inability to be meticulous in details. Especially on this k-drama which deals precisely on criminal procedural drama and not to be meticulous about delivering the details is totally disappointing. Just on Episode 1, it is so ironic to that the criminal scene investigator are in full protective gear while investigating the suspect’s place yet the NCI are touching everything wearing no protection at all not even gloves to preserve the evidence.

(3) How I wish they made it totally in a different style from its American counterpart. Almost every case presented is the same cases done in the US version. There are a lot of suspense thriller k-dramas like Circle, Duel, God’s Quiz and etc. who deals with criminal cases and done a splendid job in making the cases interesting. They should have done it the korean way, the impact would probably be better.

(4) This k-drama should have followed the expertise of the way OCN or other series of tvN who write these kind of k-dramas on this genre. Instead of using cases of the american version and turning it into pale comparisons, it should have written original cases and characters that we can also relate and not necessarily a reflection of its american counterpart. After all, by the k-dramas I’ve watched from OCN and other tvN series on this genre, there are certainly writers and directors who are capable of making it original even if it still Criminal Minds.

(5) They should have just invited Daniel Henney, who is now a regular cast of Criminal Minds US in a guest role and this could have brought some joy in me rather than putting me to sleep half of the time and make it more interesting to watch.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Not Really. Just watch the original one.

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 3/5 Stars

–
OST:
01. Higher Plane – Flowsik feat. Kang Min Kyung
02. Another Day – Yoo Hoe Seung of N.Flying
03. Pain – Various Artists
04. Decision – Various Artists
05. Caution – Various Artists
06. Distress – Various Artists
07. Montage – Various Artists
08. Tension Act – Various Artists
09. Inspire – Various Artists