Signal (2016)

It is a South Korean TV series. Written by Kim Eun hee. Directed by Kim Won-seok. Starring Lee Je hoon, Kim Hye soo,Cho Jin woong.

It was inspired by real -life criminal incidents in Korea, including the Hwaseong serial murders.

It received widespread acclaim from audiences & critics for it’s story & performances. It is one of the highest rated Korean dramas in cable television history, with a peak audience viewership of 12. 544 %.

Rated at 8.5

In present day 2015, criminal profiler Park Hae young finds a mysterious discarded walkie talkie , the person at the other end , Detective Jae han is from the past & addresses him familiarly though Hae young has never met him.

Hae young is able to solve a 15 year old kidnapping & murder case involving a former classmate from his childhood with Jae han ‘s help. Success of this case triggers the formation of a cold case team. Led by Detective Cha Soo hyun who has been searching for Jae -han, her long lost mentor & unrequited love , for the past 15 years.

With Jae han ‘s help from the 1990s, Hae young solves other cold cases that have remained unsolved for years. He is then drawn into the mystery surrounding Jae han ‘s disappearance in year 2000.

As they try to fix the past & catch the criminals, unintended consequences follow in the present.

This series is inspired by the 2000 film, Frequency, a science fiction thriller film. It also inspired a TV series in 2016 of the same name by The CW, Frequency.

In 2016, at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards it won the Best Drama , Best Actress Kim Hye soo & Best Screenplay Kim Eun hee. At the 5th APAN Star Awards , Best Screenwriter Kim Eun hee & Top Excellence Award, Actor in a mini series for Cho Jin woong.

At the tvN 10 Awards, Grand prize for Cho Jin woong, Best actress Kim Hye soo , PD ‘s choice Award for Lee Je hoon & Bset Content Award Signal.

At 1st Asia Artist Awards , Grand Prize (Daesang) for Cho Jin woong. Kim Eun hee received the Presidential Commendation Award & in 2017, at Brand of the Year Awards Kim Eun hee won the Drama Writer of the Year.

In 2018, a Japanese remake was made. In 2019, a Chinese remake named ‘Unknown Number ‘ was made. In January 2023, a Thai remake titled 23 :23 was made. In April 2024, an Indian remake titled ‘Gyarrah Gyarrah’ was made.

I wonder why I had postponed watching the show. It is excellent. It is somber, serious & stimulating. Your brain cells are rejuvenated. Not on edge, sitting comfortably on sofa, munching chips & watching avidly.