Drama Digest
Seo Do Won is living every day with the guilt that his alcoholic father killed another man before dying on the same day without paying for his crime. He spends his life trying to covertly make up to Han Seo Kyung, a vigilant prosecutor who is the daughter of his father’s victim. He became a detective to escape his past and works excessively to avoid facing the facts. Han Seo Kyung on the other hand becomes a prosecutor obsessed with seeking her father’s killer.
One day, Do Won discovers corpses buried in an abandoned train station. The police soon begin an investigation after classifying it as a serial murder case. However, the case becomes strange when a deceased victim is discovered alive. While investigating this, Seo Kyung is killed and later found alongside the discovery of a fresh corpse. Recognizing that the odd train that appears in the abandoned station is a conduit between parallel universes, Do Won journeys to the other world and with the help of the other Seo Kyung begins to track down the serial killer. A thrilling tale of uncovering mysteries beyond the human imagination.
The Feel-Good Part
“Train” was an engrossing, dramatic, well-designed, and well-executed drama. The performances, cinematography, plot, incredible soundtracks that brought depth to every scene and the major to small things are all related at such a molecular level. The plot is reasonable and coherent. Every scene is perfectly tied to the primary narrative and what the series is attempting to portray. There are no filler episodes; the narrative is carried out through the show. The portrayal of the parallel universe in this show was immaculate. The differences between realms were crystal clear with the transitions and colour tones effectively identifying each universe. The performers also did an excellent job of distinguishing their roles in both realms.
The Disappointing Factor
Although the show does a good job of holding your attention, it is also very predictable. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing because you are still curious to see if your theories are correct or not. Another thing that the writers of the show missed out on are the backstories of the supporting characters. They should have explored their backstories more in order to make the plot more interesting. If they had gone further into the characters’ motives as well as their backstories, we could have identified with and related to the villains more. Lastly, there are certain plot holes that do not get solved till the end, leaving viewers slightly confused with particular elements of the story.
In-Depth Analysis
Every episode of “Train” is a genuine roller coaster that builds momentum till the end of each episode. At the end of each ride (episode), you will want more! The show essentially dealt with crime and investigation, but at its core, it addressed how our life choices affect ourselves and others around us without us even realising it. The underlying messages show us how our decisions become our fate, moulding our lives up to who and what we become. Despite the few shortcomings, the show exceeds most expectations and ends up being a worthwhile investment of your time.
Star Power
The drama features Yoon Si-Yoon as detective Seo Do-Won and Kyung Soo-Jin as prosecutor Han Seo-Kyung. Yoon Shi Yoon is an actor and TV personality under MOA Entertainment. He is most recognised for his main performances in films such as Hit the Top (2017), Grand Prince (2018), and Nokdu Flower (2019). He played his role with such depth and maturity that it really did his character justice. His counterpart Kyung Soo-Jin is an acclaimed actress who has won several awards. Her acting debut was in the 2011 television series “New Tales of Gisaeng.” She has also played a main role in the hit drama “Weightlifting Kim Bok-Joo” as Song Shi Ho. Her acting was phenomenal and she really brought the darkness out in her character which gave it the elevation it required.
Overall Opinion
“Train” is one of those dramas that you cannot stop watching once you have started. As a thriller it maintains the audience’s interest throughout and does not fizzle out halfway. Regardless of the overall rating it is a 10/10 recommend to watch.
