[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Tunnel - Drama" Episode 10

Our killers get increasingly frustrated in episode ten of "Tunnel - Drama", as the only person on the side of the law who can understand their signatures is Jae-i. Aside from delivering a timeline and recap of the murders, the episode also presents our killers with some surprises. After a conflict with Gwang-ho, Jae-i makes a bold and very dangerous decision about her involvement in the case.

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We now have a clearer image of who has been killed by each murderer and we also have a hinted connection, which should bring about some answers soon enough. If Mok Jin-woo (Kim Min-sang) has been using ink from the factory of Jeong Ho-yeong's (Heo Sung-tae) parents, then the two could have very well known each other. I do hope everyone's connection will be explored by the end, because I assume that time would have a good reason for bending like this.

One thing I find surprising is that Mok Jin-woo has not been aware of Seon-jae's (Yoon Hyun-min) identity. I assumed that he had approached Seon-jae with that in mind, that this was part of his much touted, mysterious reasoning when it comes to the murders. The fact that we know so little about him and that his behavior in light of new knowledge is not something we have precedent for makes him scarier, so it is a wise creative decision.

Speaking of creative decisions, this episode marks the first time when the series really drops the ball. Jae-i's (Lee Yoo-young) plan to act as bait is a smart and brave idea, but the execution here is very flawed. Taunting the killer without having an officer hiding in every bush in the area is simply suicidal. There are ways to elevate her bravery, put her in danger for suspense and make sure that the culprit escapes which do not involve such contrived, poor writing.

Gwang-ho (Choi Jin-hyuk) seeing a generic whistle and somehow recognizing it as his own is also nothing short of ridiculous and it is the kind of problematic drama cliche this series has so far avoided. It also lessens the emotional impact a more understated reunion would deliver, partly due to the irrational assumption and also because it happens during the action-packed scene of chasing away a killer.

There are a lot of good points about the episode, such as the exploration of the two killers' past and the conflict between emotion and duty that Jae-i, Gwang-ho and Seon-jae experience; a good cautionary tale about fiction's frequent portrayal of personal agenda in the workplace as heroic. I just hope the writer can avoid more absurdity. If this is why the drama is taking a break, then I am willing to wait as long as it takes.

"Tunnel - Drama" is directed by Sin Yong-hwi and Kim Seong-min-I, written by Lee Eun-mi-III and features Choi Jin-hyuk, Yoon Hyun-min and Lee Yoo-young.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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