I’d been hearing a lot about The Manipulated as one of the current Korean dramas everyone has been watching.
The Manipulated is a crime–action drama starring Ji Chang-wook (Healer, Suspicious Partner, Welcome to Samdal-ri) in the lead role, alongside Doh Kyung-soo, Kim Jong-soo, Jo Yoon-su, and Lee Kwang-soo. The show is available to watch on Disney+ and is part of a Hulu Original series. It consists of 12 episodes. Here’s my honest review of The Manipulated.
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What is The Manipulated About?
The Manipulated follows Park Tae-jung, a delivery driver who dreams of opening his own business. He is an older brother, a boyfriend, a friend, and a good citizen in Korea. With a love for helping others and caring for his plants, Tae-jung’s quiet life is shattered when he wakes up to the sound of sirens and is taken away in a police van, accused of a murder he didn’t commit.
During a gruelling court case, Tae-jung discovers that someone has carefully fabricated evidence against him, leading to his conviction and imprisonment.
Consumed by a desire for revenge, he does everything he can to uncover the real culprit and clear his name.
The Plot
If you’ve ever seen Prison Break or Squid Game, this definitely felt like a mix of both. The first few scenes completely hooked me, as it got into the action straight away. I love a drama that knows how to grab viewers’ attention from the very beginning.
When I saw the fast cars and motorcycles, I knew instantly there’d be some huge car chase scenes, and possibly explosions, and that we’d dive into a sinister world of the rich, powerful and corrupt. I love these elements in an action.
However, having said that, I did kind of guess where the story was heading from the very beginning. I felt there weren’t enough plot twists or surprising elements throughout. But I mostly stayed because of the fact it we had incredible actors involved and the pacing on this series was great. I can’t lie I did binge the show pretty quickly. I never got bored and I appreciated the cliffhangers at the end of each one.
Some of the stunts were unbelievable, especially those involving our main character, Tae-jung — like motorcycles driving along walls, jumping off buildings, or fighting against 10 to 15 men and still surviving.
Characters
Park Tae-jung
Park Tae-jung is a protagonist you can truly root for. I felt both sympathy for the hardships he faced and a genuine hope that he’d find his happily-ever-after. I was also impressed by his strength and intelligence as he pushed through so many obstacles and so much trauma. Ji Chang-wook does an amazing job as this character in this series. Everything about his acting skill makes me feel sorry for his character and completely root for him. His range in this is amazing.
Ahn Yo-Han
Our evil mastermind, Ahn Yo-Han (played by D.O.), is the sort of wild, money-hungry antagonist you’d expect from this show. However, I would’ve preferred him to be a bit more cunning and less over-the-top, but I guess that’s how the directors wanted him to be. He’s a kid who let power get to his head without understanding the real consequences of his actions.
No Young-sik
No Young-sik is such a caring and kind friend to Tae-jung. The pair first met each other while serving time in prison. I love that this series included a backstory into his life and what had happened to him before he met Tae-jung. You kind of feel sad for him, especially his estranged relationship with his daughter Eun-bi.
No Eun-bi
No Eun-bi. I hadn’t expected her to become such a prominent character in the second half of The Manipulated, but given how closely her father became intertwined with the plot, it ultimately made sense. But it felt off that producers teased a possible romance between her and Tae-jung, only for it to go nowhere.
The Ending
All the loose ends were tied up nicely. We get an intense, action-packed finale that’s the kind of conclusion you’d expect from this genre of show. My only critique is that it felt a little too short— the buildup was slightly rushed. Other than that, it was solid, especially with the characters showing how their lives have developed by the end.
Overall thoughts
This series – if you’re thinking of watching it – includes violence, gory fight scenes, and foul language. It’s an action-packed show that I thoroughly enjoyed. I finished it in just a few days. The pacing is great, and each episode ends with a suspenseful cliffhanger.
The music choices and graphics really enhance the dark, tense ambience of the show. Meanwhile, the characters are well-developed.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced series with plenty of twists and intense action, The Manipulated definitely lives up to the hype.