The first season of Shark: The Storm is an action-filled, bloody, heartwrenching, and highly ethically controversial show that kept me riveted to watch. The show is based on the life of Cha Woo-sol, a young man with a scar on his forehead who was harassed by his peers at school and became a champion in mixed martial arts after being taken to prison. Kim Min-Suk presents a very strong performance as Woo-sol and reflects the weakness of his past and the strength of his fighting spirit. The overall theme of the story, defeating the trauma, trying to be redeemed and protecting our loved ones, is especially close to heart, and the combination of hope and tension it produces makes the viewers eager to watch to the very end.
I found the uncivilized depiction of the internal struggle of Woo-sol and the strong realism of his surrounding to be the most impressive. The TV show is not afraid to present the harshness of fighting in the sewer and gang warfare, giving it a belching and bloodthirsty feel. The relationships between the characters are rich, in particular, between Woo-sol and the sadistic gang boss Hyun Woo-Yong, who is executed with a threatening charisma by Lee Hyun-Wook. They take their fights personally, demonstrating how earlier traumas can get people into risky loops. The redemption and the so-called moral grayness themes make it more than an action movie with adrenaline, it is a story of struggling not only in the ring but also in the dignity and future.
On the visual front, Shark: The Storm is a masterpiece with the fight scenes, grass-root filming and a gloomy and engaging feel that makes the series even more brutal. The music further lays stress on the highs and lows of emotion, increasing the tension at critical points. Nonetheless, there are instances where the pacing is not even with some scenes taking longer than needed, which to some extent negatively affects the momentum. Nevertheless, the emotional center of the series its demonstration of endurance and struggle to get the second chance resonated deeply with me and created a strong impression of hope in the world of disorder. It is a merciless emotional experience that upsets the expectations of redemption, power and bravery.
