The Manipulated (Season 1) is an outstanding crime drama which explores the element of injustice, manipulation and revenge. The book focuses on the life of Park Tae-jung who is a simple man whose life is destroyed after he is falsely charged with a gruesome murder. Tae-jung discovers a sinister conspiracy by the mysterious Yo Han, who seems to have engineered all the details of his failure, as he goes through the ruthless prison life. This discovery feels like a flame of vengeance that drives Tae-jung in an unstoppable mission of avenging Yo Han because of his betrayal.
The performances make the series strong especially Ji Chang-Wook as Tae-jung whose transformation of an ordinary man to a vengeful avenger is convincing and emotionally touching. The character of Yo Han played by Do Kyung-Soo brings about a sense of mystery and danger, and he is a very strong antagonist with unclear and ambiguous motives. The plot of the story creates an atmosphere of a tense, gritty atmosphere which is alternated by moments of introspection and high-stakes confrontation that make viewers stay on the edge of their seats. The editing and the direction make the suspense worthwhile, with the emotional nuances and the heart-thumping action.
The most striking element was how the series touched on the theme of human need of justice and the corrupting power. It is a tale about how much one can go to find revenge and the ethical concerns associated with vengeance. The Manipulated made me so fascinated with its gloomy and complex plot, and ethical dilemmas the characters experienced. It is a powerful story and it sticks with you even after the end credits because it is a powerful reminder of how manipulation can ruin lives and how far people go in their quest to regain their dignity.
