Action comedies featuring crime-solving detectives are no new tropes to grace our screens. We have had classic offerings from across the globe that remain iconic to date. Finding new angles in already-existing tropes takes skill. In new K-drama Seoul Busters, Disney+ Hotstar brings a fresh twist to the crime procedural genre with a comedic flair, anchored by the charismatic Kim Dong Wook as the overachieving Detective Dongbang Yu Bin. The series premiered on September 11 on the streaming platform with simply 4 episodes. After a 4-episode premiere on September 11, Seoul Busters will air every Wednesday for 20 episodes.
Seoul Busters tells the story of the lowest ranking Violent Crimes Unit. The team’s last captain was transferred to a remote area after the team failed to capture a culprit owing to a series of mishaps. They are assigned a new captain named Dongbang Yun Bin (played by Kim Dong Wook), a talented fellow with sharp observation, good deduction skills, and an effective approach to keeping these oddballs in line. Everyone is wondering why would such a decorated officer ask to head a team that no one has their hopes on.
Mu Jung Ryuk (played by Park Ji Hwan), Jung Jung Hwan (played by Seo Hyun Woo), Seo Min Seo (played by Park Se Wan), and Jang Tan Sik (played by Lee Seung Woo) are eccentric detectives whose careless and laid-back approach leads to the culprit getting away most times. Even the head of the police is frustrated by their failures. The team is near to getting fired but Yun Bin’s entry serves as a hope to retain their jobs. The team is not very happy with the new captain’s appointment as they feel that Jung Ryuk should have been promoted since he is the senior officer on the team.
In the four episodes, we see the team solve a double murder case thanks to the effective perception and crime-solving skills of Yun Bin. They are assigned a new case, which is suspected to be arson. The case hits close because it involves Jung Ryuk’s close friend from his early days as a featherweight boxer. Yun Bin and Jung Ryuk lock horns over the investigation process.
We are also introduced to the entire team and their quirks. Jung Ryuk is a former boxer and quite the boomer. Jung Hwan has a big family and is always looking for rewards, discounts, and free stuff to take home. He is also somewhat of a teacher’s pet as we see him taking sides with Yun Bin often. Min Seo is the only woman on the team and is also quite hard-working. She is sometimes subject to doing menial tasks by Jung Ryuk and Jung Hwan because she is junior to them. Then finally we have Tan Sik, the youngest member of the group. He has ambitions to work in the Violent Crimes unit but lacks adequate skills. These four always end up in trouble no matter what they do. Like a bumbling bunch of baboons, they always find themselves in embarrassing and awkward situations that can be laughed at a few years down the line.
Seoul Busters is an action crime series with ample slapstick and situational comedy to keep the tone entertaining. So far, the crimes featured are not of a strong degree but showcase a side of humanity that often goes unchecked. It is only in episode 3 that we come to know a little about Yun Bin’s past. There was a woman in his life and perhaps he is investigating something related to her disappearance or absence. He is no less than a Korean Sherlock Holmes - version lite. He is the team’s captain but he is not very involved with the team. He simply solves the crimes based on his deductions and keeps his interactions minimal.
Each episode is just under 50 minutes. Considering the way the show took 3 episodes to cover one case, there will be a limited variety of cases we see the detectives solve in the next episodes. The pacing of the drama is long enough to keep the story flowing steadily and short enough to not make it into an intense stream of twists. The comic timing by each character is noteworthy here. The chemistry between the cast is also applaud-worthy.
With its blend of procedural elements and relentless humour, Seoul Busters promises both hearty laughs and occasional moments of genuine intrigue, though its balancing act between comedy and crime might vary in impact as the series progresses. Seoul Busters would serve as a good option to watch in the middle of the week. It will make you laugh and it will also invoke curiosity about the case. For now, Seoul Busters stands as an amusing and light-hearted entry into the detective genre, with the promise of further development in both its comedic and procedural dimensions. Fans of the genre will find much to enjoy, though the show's commitment to humour will determine its broader appeal.
Watch the trailer for Seoul Busters here:
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