I don't engage with Korean television dramas as much as I used to. To be precise, I’ve probably seen over 130 K-dramas—romances, action stories, suspenseful plots, you name it. But these days, lighthearted romantic comedies just don’t do it for me anymore; no matter how popular they are, I usually end up watching them sped up to three times the normal speed. Because I'm already so familiar with Korean television production, I still watch thrillers and action dramas—the habit hasn't completely gone away! Now, let’s discuss *The Manipulated*. I watched it as it aired, so this review reflects my enjoyment week by week. The first four episodes were the strongest part of the series, and those initial installments are truly the best. Ji Chang-wook delivered a remarkable performance. The scenes set in prison were fantastic; all of the characters featured there were entertaining to watch. And I have to mention Yang Dong-geun (who also played Player 007 in *Squid Game)—he was absolutely brilliant. Episode 5 felt a little underwhelming, but the next one contains some of the most exciting action sequences—probably the best action scene throughout the entire show. Episodes 7 and 8 are slow to develop the storyline. Episodes 9 and 10 were highlights in the latter half, full of impressive action. Episode 11 was the weakest episode overall, though the final episode was quite good. The ending could have been more impactful—it didn’t quite land as strongly as it could have. The acting was great; Ji Chang-wook really shone. Yang Dong-geun was also wonderful. It would have been even better if the primary antagonist had been more compelling. If you like action, this is something you should definitely watch! The visuals are beautiful, and the camera work during the action sequences is quite striking. If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend checking it out. You'll probably get more out of it if you watch all the episodes in one sitting. It’s certainly among the best Korean television dramas this year!

Source on TMDB