Season 1 Review
Decoy is a crime drama that combines the thrill of serial killer dramas with the devastation and emotional distress of con artists. The crime thriller attempts to solve old, cold, and unsolved cases through a series of sinister current investigations that take place 13 years after a notorious fraudster orchestrated a fraud worth more than 5 trillion won.
A con man is alleged to have died in a car accident while on the run in a foreign country, but 13 years later he is identified as the prime suspect in a series of murders by his accomplices.
The story immediately grabs your attention with an alternate narrative between detective-turned-lawyer Koo Do Han’s investigation of recent murders and the famous fraud case that rocked the country 13 years ago. Cheon.
However, the case of Bigs network fraud is not as simple as many would like to believe. There are some powerful people here, including politicians, government officials, prosecutors, the police, and even victims of fraud.
The script uses a unique format that alternates between past and present, developing the history behind the relationship between the murders, Noh Sang Cheon, and the potential murder victims. The story is unpredictable and full of twists and mysteries that keep you glued to the screen to figure out what happens next. Regardless, the story is easy to understand and follow, leaving room for relaxation and excitement while watching the story.
Another thing that makes Decoy a must-watch crime series is that it doesn’t follow the traditional revenge plot format. The lead detective, Do-han, has nothing to do with the cons and has no revenge to pay back in the first part. Given that he’s a well-known lawyer, we still don’t understand how or why he became a detective, but the mystery adds a spice that makes the series even more engrossing.
Thus, the writer touches on a topic that worries not only the Korean audience, but everyone around the world. Fraud is a world threat and the show shows how ruthless fraudsters can be in building huge empires and successful businesses out of fraud. The story continues with its flow, successfully linking the past and the present.
The plot starts slowly in the first 2 episodes, giving the audience time to understand the plot, and then the tension builds as the pace picks up in the last 4 episodes. The ending is a big cliffhanger that will have you looking forward to part 2.
The actors also add to the mystery. Do-han is smart and stands up for his team. Therefore, the team trusts him wholeheartedly and follows his lead closely, whether he decides to solve the case as a lawyer or a detective.
Deputy Chief Jong-hoon is implicated in the fraud case and may be on the kill list, so he wants Do-han to handle the case because he knows when to reveal the truth and when to sweep it under the rug. Do-han is an enigma; she is always calm and collected and never smiles. She has deep scars about her sister’s death, but they are yet to be revealed.
The supporting cast is amazingly talented and consciously written to add to the storyline. Everyone in the Magang Nambu police agency team, including current and former police forces and detectives, all other supporting staff play a puzzle role. Whether Part 2 will continue the momentum established here is another matter.