Only the stories that touched my heart make it to my reviews.
Connecting the Past and Present: Solving Cold Cases with 'Signal'
'Signal'
has also seen remakes in Japan, Thailand, China, and more, highlighting its
global appeal. Its compelling storyline and superb direction have touched the
hearts of audiences worldwide. Imagine if you could connect with
the past right now; what truth would you seek? 'Signal' takes you on that very
journey.
Start
your extraordinary experience now, linking past and present through a simple
walkie-talkie. Missing out on this drama means missing out on a potential
life-changer.
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| Signal (2016) |
Characters
l Park Hae-young (played by Lee Je-hoon): After a tragic incident in his family during childhood, Park Hae-young grows up to become a police profiler. By chance, he discovers an old walkie-talkie that allows him to communicate with Detective Lee Jae-han from the past. His sharp intuition and determination are key drivers in solving the unsolved cases.
l Cha Soo-hyun (played by Kim Hye-soo): A
tough detective in the violent crimes unit, she has a deep connection with Lee
Jae-han from the past. Cold yet caring, she pursues the truth of current cases,
working alongside Park Hae-young to unravel the mysteries.
l Lee Jae-han (played by Cho Jin-woong): A
detective from 1989, Lee Jae-han is unwavering in his sense of justice and
refuses to compromise with corruption. Through the walkie-talkie, he connects
with Park Hae-young in the future, fighting hard to uncover the truth behind
cold cases.
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| Lee Jae-han (played by Cho Jin-woong) |
Plot Overview
l "An Unexpected Connection with the Past"
Profiler Park Hae-young stumbles upon an old
walkie-talkie, which enables him to communicate with Detective Lee Jae-han from
1989. This strange connection becomes the key to solving long-standing cold
cases.
l "A Cross-Time Joint Investigation"
Park Hae-young and Lee Jae-han work together across
time to investigate cases, uncovering increasingly complex conspiracies and
truths. Detective Cha Soo-hyun also joins their effort, strengthening the
team’s resolve.
l "Attempts to Change the Past and Their Consequences"
Their attempts to alter past events lead to
unintended outcomes, throwing the present into chaos. This brings about moral
dilemmas and personal conflicts for the team members.
l "The Final Pursuit for Truth"
Despite all the dangers and challenges, Park
Hae-young, Cha Soo-hyun, and Lee Jae-han make a final attempt to reveal the
truth. Their cooperation, transcending time and space, ultimately brings
justice.
Key Highlights Not to Miss
l Inspired by Real Cases: The drama draws inspiration from real unsolved cases, including the infamous Hwaseong serial murders, which enhances its realism.
l Social Commentary: 'Signal' isn’t just
about solving crimes; it empathizes with the pain and trauma of victims'
families while emphasizing the importance of crime prevention.
l Time-Jumping Storytelling: The story
alternates between the past (1989) and the present (2015), offering viewers a
unique and captivating narrative experience.
l Character Chemistry: The interaction and
emotional depth between the lead characters are major highlights of the show,
with each actor’s nuanced performance adding depth to their roles.
Appendix 1. Iconic Scenes and Memorable Quotes
l Cha Soo-hyun and Lee Jae-han’s Reunion: A powerful moment where emotions explode as these two characters finally reunite, overcoming years of separation. Cha Soo-hyun, played by Kim Hye-soo, who couldn’t forget Lee Jae-han for 15 years, makes her first and last desperate call, saying, "Don’t go there."
l Compilation of Iconic Scenes
Memorable
Quotes
l Cha Soo-hyun:
"Do you know why cold cases are such a nightmare? When you know who did it
and why—when everything is out in the open—at least you can bury the pain
eventually, even if it takes time. But when it's a cold case, you don’t know
why your loved one died or how it happened. That’s why you can’t forget."
l Park Hae-young:
"You think I didn’t try? I reported it, but no
one listened. At first, I believed. Because it was the police, I thought they'd catch her if I waited a little. I thought, someday, they would. But nothing
changed, so I went back to the precinct. I went back countless times and lodged
complaints, but the response was always the same: 'We got it, go home.' No one
listened, just like before. That’s how it always was with you... and
eventually, I understood why. Because acknowledging the Kim Yoon-Jung kidnapping case meant admitting the police and the investigation team made mistakes. It was
a blot on the face of the police."
l Lee Jae-han:
"Is it like that where you are, too? If you
have money or connections, you can get away with anything and live well? It’s
been 20 years—something must have changed, right?"
l Park Hae-young:
"Even if the past changes, some things never do. The world is still
unfair."
Appendix 2. OST List and Notable Tracks
l "Reminiscence" by Jang Beom-june: This song enhances the emotional depth of the drama.
l "Reminiscence" by Jang Beom-june and 6 Other Tracks
Appendix 3. Recommended Korean Dramas to Watch
l 'Stranger' (2017): A drama that delves into the corruption within
the prosecution system.
l 'My Mister' (2018): A healing story about people who carry their own
scars and find comfort in each other.
l 'Misaeng' (2014): A realistic depiction of the lives of office
workers.
Appendix 4. Lead Actors' Filmography
l Dramas:
'Secret Door' (2014), 'Tomorrow With You' (2017), 'Where Stars Land' (2018),
'Taxi Driver 1, 2' (2021, 2023), 'Move to Heaven' (2021)
l Movies:
'Architecture 101' (2012), 'Papillon' (2013),
'Anarchist from Colony' (2017), 'I Can Speak' (2017), 'Collectors' (2018), 'The
Runaway' (2024)
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| I Can Speak (2017) |
Kim
Hye-soo (as Cha Soo-hyun)
l Dramas:
'Three Families Under One Roof' (1986-1994), 'Gukhui' (1999), 'The Queen of
Office' (2013), 'Hyena' (2020), 'Juvenile Justice' (2022), 'Under the Queen's
Umbrella' (2022)
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| Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022) |
l Movies:
'Kick the Moon' (2001), 'Tazza: The High Rollers' (2006), 'The Thieves' (2012), 'The Face Reader' (2013), 'Coin Locker Girl' (2015), 'Default' (2018), 'Smugglers' (2023)
Cho
Jin-woong (as Lee Jae-han)
l Dramas:
'Tree With Deep Roots' (2011), 'Full Sun' (2014), 'No Way Out: The Roulette'
(2024)
l Movies:
'The Suspect X' (2012), 'A Hard Day' (2014), 'The
Admiral: Roaring Currents' (2014), 'Believer' (2018), 'Intimate Strangers'
(2018), 'The Policeman's Lineage' (2022)
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| The Policeman's Lineage (2022) |
Appendix 5. Writer and Director: Key Works
'Sign' (2011), 'Ghost' (2012),
'Kingdom' (2019–2021), 'Jirisan' (2021), 'Revenant' (2023)
Director
Kim Won-seok
'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' (2010),
'Misaeng' (2014), 'My Mister' (2018), 'Arthdal Chronicles' (2019)
Appendix 6. Viewing Platforms
l Available in South Korea: The drama is available on major OTT
platforms such as Netflix, TVING, and Wavve.
l Available Internationally: You can watch 'Signal' on Netflix in
countries like the United States, Japan, and across Europe. However,
availability may vary depending on the region.
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