Alice Oscura, Featured Writer
Warning: Contains Minor Spoilers
Plot: A crippled South Korean teenager named So Mun is suddenly chosen to become a Counter, a demon hunter who searches for evil spirits who choose to inhabit the bodies of evil people rather than face judgement in the Yung, the boundary between the afterlife and the world of the living.
Review: The Uncanny Counter is based on the webtoon “Amazing Rumor” by Jang Yi. The story follows So Mun (Jo Byung-gyu from K-Dramas Sky Castle <2018> and Hot Stove League <2019>), a teenage boy who walks with a permanent limp as a reminder of a tragic accident he suffered seven year ago. After a Counter is murdered by a demon, his partner in Yung called Wi-gen (Mun Sook) is violently ripped from his body and makes a painful journey that ends with her being unexpectedly being thrust into So Mun’s body.
Eventually a trio of noodle-making Counters — super strong Ga Mo-Tak (Yoo Jun-sang), evil spirit tracker Do Ha-na (Kim Se-jeong) and motherly healer Miss Chu (Yeom Hye-ran) —recruit So Mun and begin his training. One of the main elements that centres around this series is the relationship dynamic of the Counter team. So Mun lost his parents in the accident that crippled him and so lives with his doting grandparents. But his noodle-making mentors become something of an adoptive family for So Mun. It was extremely touching to follow him on his journey of learning to become a Counter and trying not to let his feelings get the better of him.
There are some comedic moments when the Counters find it awfully hard not to abuse their powers for tasks not related to the capturing of evil spirits. I mean, it must be difficult to know that you have these awesome powers at your fingertips and turn a blind eye to all the injustices that occur on daily basis, but those are the rules. You can get strikes put on your record for this behaviour, and if you get five you’ll be stripped of your Counter abilities.
It became glaringly apparent from the start that So Mun was meant to be different and stand out from the rest of the Counters, but this is as far as I’ll go on this topic because I don’t want to spoil the epic journey that this series became in its 16-episode run.
The series began in November 2020 with weekly episodic releases on Netflix. It definitely takes a different approach to the regular run-of-the-mill K-dramas that you might be accustomed to. The series dips its toes into the science fiction and supernatural genre with slight undertones of horror, namely with some creepy performances by the actors playing people inhabited by evil spirits. The fighting styles are also epically choreographed and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The catchy instrumental soundtrack for the opening score and main theme attracts your attention instantaneously, and the heartfelt emotional Korean ballads during the episodes tug at the heartstrings.
You do detect a slight change of pacing and direction of the series upon writer Yeo Ji Na’s exit due to a differing of opinions about the later episodes. But despite this slight hiccup, the series held on steadily and rights itself enough to not only stick the perfect landing but gives you the most satisfactory ending ever.
On a side note, for current fans (like myself and Editor Jules) you will be extremely delighted to hear that the show has be renewed and will return for a second season. It is currently being touted as the Korean network OCN’s most successful show to date so don’t miss out. You can binge all of Season 1 on Netflix right now.
So grab a buddy and be prepared to laugh, cry, scream, rant and be absolutely entertained by the Korean series The Uncanny Counter!
Alice’s Score: 9 out of 10
For Editor Jules’ review of Korean superhero film Psychokinesis, which is also available on Netflix and blends action with comedy, you can click here.
Dark Alice has an old soul and a curious mind. I believe that anyone can be a hero and that the good guys should always win! I dislike cruelty to animals and think that they have far superior qualities to humans. My motto is there is no future without the past. I also have a weird penchant for Paranormal TV shows even though the slightest sound makes me jump.
I enjoy writing reviews and throwing in fun facts to pique the readers’ curiosity. My ultimate goal in life would be to become a published writer one day. You can find me as Dark Alice Reviews on Facebook, my Instagram is alice_oscura and my Twitter handle is @lise_veliz2. For more on me you can click here.