Bad And Crazy (배드 앤 크레이지, 2021) Review

Ryu Su Yeol works in the anti-corruption department. To put it bluntly, he’s not a particularly good police officer — he calmly takes bribes from suspects and turns a blind eye to many things as long as the higher-ups are pleased. He’s satisfied with his small, predictable life until, for the sake of a promotion, he has to set up a colleague from a neighboring department.

However, that’s only half the trouble. The real problems begin when a young woman goes missing in a nearby district, and no one intends to look for her. Strangely enough, this coincides with the rising popularity of a new synthetic drug from abroad. But most importantly, Su Yeol begins to be pursued by a mysterious and persistent motorcyclist in a helmet who clearly knows something about him.

“All events are fictional...” — well, you get it:

cops steal, politicians lie.

“Bad and Crazy” is a very dynamic, multi-genre drama that came out at the height of interest in Korean culture during the coronavirus epidemic. It’s easy to miss against the backdrop of newer (and more cinematic) works, and the concept takes time to unfold. But once you get into the rhythm of the story, it will be harder to tear yourself away than for the hapless hero at a junkyard to escape from angry homeless men.

The story takes a big risk from the start by putting at its center a protagonist who is difficult to sympathize with. Ryu Su Yeol, portrayed by chameleon actor Lee Dong Wook (“Strangers from Hell”), appears as a highly ambiguous character. A sloppy, bribery-taking cop and sycophant, a shameless careerist with a ridiculous gaze who somehow managed to break up with the coolest girl in the narcotics department… it’s not just hard to relate to such a character — it’s even awkward to laugh at him. But that’s precisely part of the original concept: a developing character must have flaws and obstacles he will want to overcome.

The second member of the duo, the cheerful hooligan motorcyclist K with a clear, albeit naive, moral compass, is the true heart of the plot. Energy, boyishness, courage, and honesty — the complete opposite of Ryu Su Yeol. The interaction between the characters of Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon (“Midnight”) is the main reason to watch this series. It’s a very funny and heartfelt journey from hatred to genuine friendship.

The other characters are good too: from the already mentioned cool Hee Gyeom to the capable rookie Oh Kyung Tae and the reliable partner Yang Jae Seon. There are also familiar faces: Su Yeol’s mother is played by Kang Ae Shim (“Squid Game,” Season 3), and the cruel Russian boss Yong is portrayed by Kim Hieora (“The Glory”). So if you’ve watched at least these dramas, which have already become modern classics, the company will feel almost like family.

That said, this doesn’t mean the story is flawless in terms of logic or that the balance between comedy and seriousness is perfectly maintained. Another regression in the situation or a comedic relief moment might even test your patience. But the final third of the plot, which turns the story from a detective action piece into something almost like a mystical thriller (while actually tying up the remaining questions), leaves an excellent impression and concludes the story on a worthy and mature note.

In addition, the plot here is very dense. There are only twelve episodes, but several storylines follow one another in sequence, each with its own genre and even its own antagonist. That’s not something you see often! So if the identity of the main villain also confuses you… don’t be upset — “Bad and Crazy” is only just beginning.

How is all this executed technically? Not as well as it could have been. The action is staged somewhat chaotically, the editing is at times too clip-like, and the fight scenes aren’t performed at as high a level as in other projects like the later “The Good Boy”: stuntmen conveniently falling onto well-placed mats (things that are usually either cut in post-production or hidden beyond the frame). There are also too many close-ups, and at first it may even seem as though Lee Dong Wook is taking a break from his usual clear-cut hero or villain roles rather than portraying a psychologically nuanced and deep character. But that impression is misleading: closer to the end, the series starts working at full capacity, and you begin to worry about Su Yeol and K’s relationship more than about your own.

“Bad and Crazy” can certainly be recommended if you like police detectives, dynamic fight scenes, stories about the search for justice, “what-a-twist” moments every twenty minutes, laughing to tears, fitting touching moments, and stories about how even the most typical Korean cop from jokes — batting his eyelashes and taking bribes in envelopes — can become better for the sake of himself and those he truly cares about.

Rating: 7.8/10, a вполне worthy drama with a not-so-obvious hero, an interesting approach to mental health themes, a cleverly branching plot, a mix of drama and humor, charming supporting characters, and a whole array of villains. (And not a single white truck!)