Chief Detective 1958: Spoiler-Free Review
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Title: | Chief Detective 1958 (2024) |
Platform: | Wavve, Hulu |
MDL & IMBD Rating: | |
Genre: | Period (1950's) Detective, Procedural |
Episode Count: | 10 |
Parental Guidance Rating: | MA: Intense/Graphic violence and "coarse language" (I didn't think coarse language was a factor, at least for the English subtitles). Crimes are more "graphic" as the show goes on but still on the lighter side. For more info: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30485422/parentalguide/ |
Starring: | Lee Je Hoon (Signal) Lee Dong Hwi (Big Bet) Choi Woo Sung (Can This Love Be Translated?) Yoon Hyun Soo (Gold Land) Seo Eun Soo (Made in Korea) Choi Duk Moon (Gold Land) |
RBTS Rating: | 3.6/5 Stars (A stand alone prequel to the famed Chief Inspector series (1971) that explores South Korean crime in the 1950's and shines in its camaraderie. There are violent crimes that do constitute an MA rating, but it's on the lighter side in comparison to many other dramas with that rating.)  |
Cast From Left to Right: #LeeJeHoon, #LeeDongHwi, #ChoiWooSung, #YoonHyunSoo, #SeoEunSoo
Synopsis:
In 2023, 92-year-old Park Yeong Han, once a revered detective known as the "Columbo of Korea," visits Jongnam Police Station to check on his grandson, Park Jun Seo, a rookie cop. The story shifts to Park Yeong Han's early years in 1958, where he earned fame as a crimefighter in Gyeonggi Province. After transferring to Seoul's Jongnam station, he confronts a powerful gang controlled by political connections and corruption. Undeterred, he uses his wit and experience to uncover smuggling operations and confront the systemic issues plaguing the police force. @MDL
Spoiler-Free Mini Review:
Chief Detective 1958 is the prequel to the famed Chief Inspector series that ran for 18 years (1971-89), with an impressive 880 episode run, following Chief Inspector Park and his team as they investigate crimes. The show was prolific at the time and laid the groundwork for the Korean police procedurals that followed. Chief Detective 1958 can be watched as a standalone, which I did, because I do not have that kinda time.
The drama dives into corruption and nostalgia, with cases involving period relevant crimes through a rural turned big city cop armed with bullet proof perseverance. The cases weren’t revolutionary, but they were fascinating as they dealt with the issues faced in a very transitional period for South Korea: American soldiers, gang violence, Pro-Japanese conspiracies, and, of course, cow thievery.
There was the barest whisper of a romance, but the heart was the camaraderie between the Unit. I think it would have hit harder had I watched the original drama— especially at the end, but it did a good job of making the audience feel that there is a tangible history. I could sense a nostalgia and the richness, but just didn't know the details. Also, I would do anything for that old man at the end.
Overall, not addictive, but an interesting background watch. Also, in what world is the biting cop 25 years old? Not this one, that’s for sure. That is a bonefide 39 year old man. And I just realized he played Ryu Dong Ryong in Reply 1988! Mind Blown.
Story=3.5 (Built nicely but not revolutionary), Acting=4 (Good) , Production Quality=4 (Good), Ending=4 (Fine), Enjoyability= 2.5 (Fine)
Trailer:
Director: #KimSungHoon (Gold Land, My Little Hero)
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