Title: 뱀파이어 탐정 | Baempaieo Tamjeong | Vampire Detective
Genre: Suspense | Crime | Thriller
Episodes: 12
Broadcast Network: OCN
Broadcast Period: March 27 to June 12, 2016

Synopsis:

Yoon San was in the police academy when he was called to be on a special secret mission along with his girlfriend, Jung Yoo-Jin and friend, Kang Tae-Woo. During that mission, something inexplicable happened that Jung Yoo-Jin ended up shooting him. During the escape of Jung Yoo-Jin and Kang Tae-Woo, they supposedly died in a car explosion. Yoon San left the police academy and join his immediate boss in the police before, Yong Goo-Hyung to be private detectives. In one of their cases, while investigating the brother of Han Gyeo-Wool, they met a gang dealing with organs and it seems Han Gyeo-Wool’s brother is experimenting with blood. During the investigation a fight ensued and in protecting Han Gyeo-Wool, Yoon San got shot again but this time before he dies, Han Gyo Min, the brother of Han Gyeo-Wool, injected Yoon San an experimented blood that turned him into a Vampire. This allowed Yoon San to live and heal his weak body from being shot twice in his life. Yoon San, Yong Goo-Hyung, and Han Gyeo-Wool ended up all working together to continue being private investigators and solve cases. In doing so, Yoon San encountered Yo-Na, an evil force that somehow can provide him the truth about what happened to Jung Yoo-Jin and Kang Tae-Woo. But, may end up sacrificing his life along with Yong Goo-Hyung, and Han Gyeo-Wool.

Characters:

• Lee Joon as Yoon San
• Oh Jung-se as Yong Goo-Hyung
• Lee Se-young as Han Gyeo-Wool
• Lee Chung-ah as Yo-Na
• Jo Bok-Rae as Kang Tae-Woo
• Ahn Se-ha as Detective Park
• Jei as Se-Ra
• Kim Yoon-hye as Jung Yoo-Jin
• Kim Ki-moo as Doctor Hwang
• Choi Gwi-hwa as Jang Tae Shik
• Kim Ha-Rin
• Jo Won-Hee
• Han Ho-Yong
• Lee Hae-Young
• Han Soo-Yeon as Yeon Joo on Episode 1
• Jae Hee as Han Gyo Min on Episode 1
• Choi Song-Hyun as Seo Seung-Hee on Episode 2
• Park Jin-Joo as Radio Staffer on Episode 2
• Kim Young-Jae as Kim Kyung-Soo on Episode 2
• Park Doo-Shik as Choi Cheol-Woo on Episode 3
• Park Hyo-Jun as Choi Cheol-Yong on Episode 3
• Kim Nan-Hee as Moon Mee Jin on Episode 4
• Kim Nan Hwi (김난휘) as Yun Young Rin on Episode 5
• Goo Jae Yi as Yun Seol Ah on Episode 5
• Yoo Joon Hong as Kim Min Soo on Episode 5
• Lee Chae Won as Eun Chae on Episode 5
• Kim Hye Na as Kim Ji Yeon on Episode 6
• Lee Ju Ah (이주아) as Younger Ji Yeon on Episode 6
• Go Seo Hee (고서희) as Yim Mi Ra on Episode 6
• Seo Jung Hui (서정희) as Younger Mi Ra on Episode 6
• Sung Min Soo (성민수) as Ji Seung Cheol on Episode 6
• Lee Jung Hyuk as Younger Seung Cheol on Episode 6
• Jun Hyun Sook (전현숙) as Noh Hui Sook on Episode 6
• Lee Yeon (이연) as Younger Hui Sook on Episode 6
• Hong Seung Bum (홍승범) as Park Jae Wook on Episode 6
• Kim Jin Woo as Younger Jae Wook on Episode 6
• Han Eun Seo as Lee Soo Yeon on Episode 6
• Nam Hyun Joo as Eun Hye’s Mother on Episode 7
• Hwang Sung Kyung as Young Ju Young Gwang on Episode 7
• Kim Hee Ryung as Kang So Yeon on Episode 7
• Kim Ha Rin (김하린) as Younger So Yeon on Episode 7
• Ha Joo Hee as Vampire in the Club on Episode 7
• Park Jae Hoon as Ra Jae Wook on Episode 7
• Han Bo Bae as Hwang Jae Yun on Episode 8
• Jo Seung Yun as Seol Yong Cheol on Episode 8
• Kim Jung Young as Doctor Hwang’s Mother on Episode 8
• Kwon Hyuk Soo as Doctor Hwang’s Father on Episode 8
• Woo Jung Gook (우정국) as Shaman on Episode 8
• Lee Han Saem (이한샘) as Shaman on Episode 8
• Min Joon Hyun as Shaman on Episode 8

My Review:

This K-Drama wasn’t that bad but I wonder why OCN preferred to produce and present this rather than Vampire Prosecutor? Vampire Detective is about vampires and has almost the same formula and style as Vampire Prosecutor. I think the fans of Vampire Prosecutor, like me, would have preferred to have Vampire Prosecutor to end properly as a send off to all the fans who invested their time on that K-Drama. Instead we got Vampire Detective which is not that bad but truly pales a lot in comparison to Vampire Prosecutor in all aspects if not an insult to the original.

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

I wish I have a lot of good things to say but I really don’t except it is not as bad as the K-Dramas in comparison to those who are really bad.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

It seems it was produced to be more commercial than Vampire Prosecutor. This is to cater to romcom gals like me who looks for a romantic angle in K-Dramas but, oddly and sadly enough, I felt that that was the strength of Vampire Prosecutor and the weakness of this K-Drama. It became like every vampire stories in the market. I really don’t understand why OCN prioritized this than doing the Season 3 of Vampire Prosecutor.

(1) The cases for every 1-2 episodes are weak and not too exciting. Sometimes I find myself sleepy and bored. Plus, there’s so many loopholes and unanswered questions to the story.

(2) The flow of the story is too slow and honestly, even if the lead is quite personable, he is far from Yeon Jung-Hoon as Min Tae-Yeon. Character development is too weak as well, more so, the character of Jung Yoo-Jin, who has a lot of options to correct her mistakes or choice not to do what Kang Tae-Woo wanted her to do in the first place. I mean really, if you can shoot someone you love why is she so weak in everything else? And, what kind of a lame ass ending is that? (Sorry for the pun intended.)

(3) It is not too original and even has a touch of some of the elements of Vampire Prosecutor including the music. Unfortunately, it looks like a distorted photocopy with younger characters of Vampire Prosecutor in terms of quality. Obviously, OCN seems to have produced this instead due to budget rather than produce the quality that Vampire Prosecutor had. Oh, what a world…bottom line is always money, isn’t it?

(4) I think if one hasn’t seen Vampire Prosecutor, then, one will probably like this but for those who have, like me, it was such a let down. Wish OCN just saved the money and waited to produce Vampire Prosecutor Season 3 at a later date.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Not Really.

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

OST:
01. Vampire Detective – Yoon San Han Gyeo Wool
02. Into The Night – Lee Joon
03. When You’re Gone – Lee Joon
04. Just A Dream – Flower
05. Danger – MC Sniper (MC 스나이퍼) feat. Yi Noo (리누) & Kim Seo Hyun (김서현)