English Title: Connect
Korean Title: 커넥트
Director(s): Miike Takashi
Screenwriter(s): Nakamura Masaru & Heo Dam
Studio: Studio Dragon
Released: 2022
Runtime: 6 episodes, ~45m each.
Starring: Jung Hae-in, Go Kyung-pyo, Kim Hye-joon
My Verdict: Not bad ideas but clumsy plotting.
Based on the webtoon of the same name by Shin Dae-sung, this is a mystery-thriller that follows Ha Dong-soo as he tries to survive two primary conflicts. I have not read the webtoon so the review is of the series only.
Dong-soo (Jung Hae-in) has the ability to heal quickly, even serious injuries such as reconnecting a completely severed body part. One night, having been captured by gangster organ traffickers and his eyes harvested, he manages to retrieve one before escaping. Later, he has painful visions, literally seeing through the eye of Oh Jin-seop (Go Kyung-pyo) who turns out to be a serial killer. Jin-seop obviously has Dong-soo’s other eye.
So, Dong-soo has to watch out for gangster organ traffickers who are after him as they presume he will keep on generating new organs. He also tries to stop Jin-seop. Meanwhile, a young woman named Choi I-rang (Kim Hye-joon) claims to be a novelist researching the urban legend “Connect”, a term given to people like Dong-soo. She helps him evade the gangsters and is a bit of a mystery herself.
The ideas are there. For example, Jin-seop displaying his victims in public as arty sculptures is not a new idea—the anime Psycho-Pass does the same—which is fine as the story needs a psychopath for the hero to stop.
However, the storytelling is lacking, particularly the actions of the main character. Dong-soo is somewhat timid and lacks fighting skills. That is not a bad idea, one cannot have a character who heals fast and can fight as he or she would demolish any adversary too quickly. But for someone who tries to keep a low profile, he is simply too stupid to do so when he does want to find someone or find something out. He just runs around drawing attention to himself. Even after knowing the cops are after him (not that one needs to wait until then), he doesn’t get rid of his eyepatch or change clothes.
Also, one of Jin-seop’s colleagues notices Dong-soo hanging around. She gets uncomfortable as Dong-soo may be a stalker. That is understandable but she also has a crush on Jin-seop who behaves like a serial killer snob anyway. Right.
Dong-soo’s healing ability is inconsistent and unclear: to what extent can he regenerate as opposed to merely reconnect (which requires some regeneration)? There is dialogue discussing the origins of this ability and it is clear that the series does not intend to fully reveal this but that is another matter, there is insufficient clarity regarding the ability itself.
The series has its mild horror violence and gore. Whilst there isn’t that much in absolute terms as it wisely avoids constant gore for the sake of it, some scenes try too hard when there is. When Dong-soo is injured, numerous tentacle-like formations extend and interconnect to heal. The effects are sufficiently good and vaguely remind one of the recent K-drama Parasyte: The Grey.
It is shot and edited nicely enough, mostly using cooler colors but with enough variation in color and lighting so that it doesn’t look too cool. There are scenes with a deliberately warmer and ominous palette. There is also some measured use of low-angles and high-angles. If anything, there could be more stylization.
The performances are good enough but it is obvious the writing is lacking. This is a shame because the cast comes across as more capable than what they are given. There is nothing likable about Jin-seop, he is a narcissistic snob and not interesting as a villain. His colleague who has a crush on him is almost a token victim and actress Jang Hee-ryung deserves more. Dong-soo is perhaps interesting on paper and although his timidity does not equate to a lack of agency, his actions are just stupid. I-rang is probably the only interesting character and Kim Hye-joon clearly milks it.
The series mostly provides a conclusion to the two primary conflicts in the sense that the conflict in its current form ends. However, it does introduce new issues and it is clear that it is intended to continue. This is fine in itself, although it is clumsy.
The entire plot including its progression can be described as clumsy. Dong-soo understandably takes time to find out what is going on but it is obvious to the audience, so that aspect can be paced better. And as already mentioned, some of the characters’ actions are just silly. At 6 episodes, it does not drag but it could be more effective at four episodes.
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