K-Drama Review: "Bad and Crazy" (2021)

“Bad and Crazy” is a 2021 Korean drama that captivated audiences with its unique blend of crime, mystery, and mental health themes. (WARNING! ‘Bad and Crazy’ Should Not Be Construed as Professional Mental Health Advice. It's enjoyable entertainment, pure and simple.)

Starring Lee Dong-Wook as Ryu Sool-Yeol (“The Bad”) and Wi Ha Joon as “K” (“The Crazy”), the series explores the life of a law enforcement officer struggling with a split personality. The show addresses multiple mental health issues but takes creative liberties with their portrayal. While fans eagerly await a potential Season 2, the cast has moved on to other projects, leaving the future of the series uncertain. With high ratings on various platforms, “Bad and Crazy” remains a must-watch for KDrama enthusiasts.

“Bad and Crazy” is an iQIYI Original that first aired from December 17, 2021 through January 28, 2022. Netflix USA started streaming the series on November 28, 2022. Clearly, it was well received by the viewers because as late as November 2022, people were still wondering if there would be a Season 2. Loyal viewers would love to see the cast team up again to continue fighting corruption and crime.

Who are the cast members of this KDrama that fans love so much?

• Lee Dong-Wook plays Ryu Sool-Yeol. He’s “The Bad”. Although he’s not really a bad guy. He just wants career advancement in the law enforcement agency he works for and figures the best way to get a promotion is to overlook or cover up crimes that have been committed. All he has to do is neatly wrap things up, close the cases, and file them away. This way, he gets promoted, collects a steady paycheck, and does not upset the “higher-ups” in the police department or in the government who could make his life miserable or even kill him to get him out of their way! He’s not bad. He’s just realistic. I mean … he’s no HERO! Or is he??

• Wi Ha Joon plays “K.” He’s “The Crazy”. When viewers are first introduced to this character, they might think that he’s possibly a ghost who decided to occupy Ryu Sool-Yeol’s body in order to make him do the right thing. But as time goes on, “K” is revealed as Ryu Sool-Yeol’s alter ego; a justice-seeking HERO! Whereas Ryu Sool-Yeol would get down on his knees and grovel at the feet of a corrupt politician which he knows committed murder and agrees not to expose his wrongdoing. “K” would publicly kick that politician in the face, slap him around, and call him a murderer out loud in front of several witnesses who just can’t believe what they’re seeing. I mean … is he CRAZY??!!! “K” may act crazy, but “K” says … he’s a HERO!!

So? Does Ryu Sool-Yeol have a split personality? Yes! Yes he does. But what happened to him to cause this mental health condition? Not saying. No spoilers.

But I will say that this is why viewers should be cautioned not to construe the script as professional medical advice. Multiple personality disorder, also referred to as dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a real disorder, and it is treatable, but it is not so easily treated. If you are familiar with the movies “The Three faces of Eve” (1957) and “Sybil” (1976), then you know they were based on true stories of real patients who had multiple personality disorder. They were ultimately cured, but it took years! This K-drama series is only 12 episodes, so our main character has to be cured quickly.

The scriptwriters took a lot of liberties with the script of this KDrama. The main character had to deal with numerous mental health issues:

• multiple personalities,
• trying to separate false memories from true memories,
• the long-term traumatic effects of being subjected to violent abuse as a child,
• caring for an elderly parent with dementia, and
• a “What If?”

What If the psychological or psychiatric counselor who is treating you for your mental illness is also a NUT JOB?!! Imagine if the doctor that Eve and Sybil had gone to for help had just as many mental health illnesses as they had! Imagine also if that doctor was wicked, cruel, and manipulative and persuaded patients to commit all sorts of criminal acts.

Will there be a Bad and Crazy Season 2? Fans can only HOPE! I'm hoping.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

If you are a Lee Dong-Wook fan, add these K-dramas to your watch list:

• Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
• Tale of the Nine Tailed

If you are a Wi Ha Joon fan, add these K-dramas to your watch list:

• The Worst of Evil
• Little Women

Thanks for reading.

NOTE: This content first appeared on PopGeeks.com.