As it turns out, the Roy family does not have a monopoly on vicious families who will do the worst to each other. Before <em>Succession</em>, the Korean thriller The K2 provided an even more brutal picture of the concept. The 2016 series follows Kim Je-ha (Ji Chang-wook), who becomes a mercenary after he was betrayed by his country. While becoming a fugitive, he takes a job as a bodyguard to the daughter of a politician. Go An-na (Im Yoon-ah) is the illegitimate daughter of a presidential candidate and a pawn in the schemes of everyone around her. Eventually, she becomes the love interest of Kim Je-ha as the two get wrapped up in these political machinations.
One of the biggest obstacles is the person who set all of this in motion. Je-ha was originally hired by Choi Yoo-jin (Song Yoon-ah), the head of a security company. Though she initially hires Je-ha to protect An-na, it is not without self-interest. The ruthless former heir to an industrial conglomerate, she will do anything to regain her position at the top. This includes blackmailing her own husband about his secret love child to get what she wants. This twisted state of affairs is part soap opera and part thrilling character drama. The series would not be out of place on any premium network and should be fans’ next obsessive watch.
The Intrigue Is Just As Compelling As the Fight Sequences
Fans of HBO are no strangers to cutthroat familial struggles. The bedrock of any premium series, the dynamics in The K2 make the series one of the best martial arts K-dramas and compelling television. Yoo-jin quickly becomes the standout in her villainous stepmother role. She is the driving force of the narrative, maneuvering everyone around her like puppets on a string. The treatment of her stepdaughter, while reprehensible, wouldn’t be out of place in a series such as Game of Thrones, a series with no clear villains.
As An-na’s father is a presidential candidate, Yoo-jin secreted the girl away to an Italian convent at a young age. Sequestered for most of her life, An-na developed a social phobia and retained PTSD from her biological mother’s death. Her return to Korea heightens the drama around everyone as Je-ha is tasked with protecting her. If Yoo-jin shines as the villain of the series, then Je-ha represents the other immersive component of The K2.
The titular mercenary brings the action-heavy sequences that round out the series. He uses his physical prowess against the wits of the maniacal Yoo-jin, which adds to the series’ entertainment value. This series delivers on every front that fans may enjoy. Romance, action, and political intrigue are all present in The K2. The more time that An-na and Je-ha spend together, the more it becomes obvious that they have fallen in love. As they learn about political conspiracies and the truth behind the death of An-na’s mother, the romantic component drives the final few episodes. Unlike shows like Succession, The K2 has a sense of hope for the future that propels its characters forward. The escapist nature of the series is exactly why viewers should find themselves drawn to this exciting world. The K2 is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime.
