Top Crime KDrama with Time Travel
Who would’ve guessed that mixing time travel with the gritty world of hardcore crime could actually be a winning formula? I mean, we’re talking about the kind of crime that involves serial killers.
To be honest, there are only three Korean crime dramas involving time travel that I’ve checked out so far. But what blew my mind was how unique and unforgettable each one of them turned out to be. I can easily tell them apart, which makes it a breeze for me to rank them.
Let me break down the differences between these KDramas for you based on their plots:
Tunnel tells the story of a detective from 1986 who’s on the trail of a serial killer. However, during the pursuit, he unexpectedly stumbles upon a time portal in a tunnel, transporting him to 2017, where it appears the same killer has resurfaced.
Signal, on the other hand, revolves around a contemporary cold-case profiler named Park Hae Young, who receives unexpected communication from Detective Lee Jae Han, living back in 1986, through a walkie-talkie.
Together, they work to solve long-forgotten cases. Here, the unique twist is the ability to see both the past and the present, as they collaborate across time.
So, in a nutshell, while both shows involve detectives and time-related elements, Tunnel focuses on one detective’s leap through time, while Signal delves into a dual timeline with modern and past detectives teaming up to solve cases.
Life on Mars takes a different route compared to Tunnel. In this KDrama, a present-day detective finds himself transported back to the 1980s after an accident. Interestingly, the serial killer he was chasing in the present was just a child during the ’80s. So, he tried to figure out why he was brought in that decade.
Realistic approach
Out of the three, Signal tops my list. I appreciate the parallel investigation approach, where both the detective and profiler work on cases simultaneously. This makes the information gathering more reliable.
In a way, it feels more realistic to me, perhaps because we’re exposed to psychic powers, like speaking to the dead. But just to be clear, I don’t actually believe in psychic abilities.
Now, let’s talk about Tunnel. It leans more towards the fantasy side, which can be a bit challenging to grasp for the other characters. The detective’s seamless integration into the present time might feel a bit too easy and predestined.
Lіfe on Mars takes a distinct approach. The protagonist can communicate with the present time. I find this more convincing than Signal because it has a medical aspect. The lead character’s ability to interact with people from the present through his doctor adds an intriguing twist to the story.
Accuracy
What I appreciate about these series is the consistent attention to detail that transports you to different decades. For instance, the music in the present time reflects the era accurately. The lack of technology like the presence of a typewriter instead of a computer. CCTV and DNA sequencers or analyzers were not yet available during this period.
Ending
While these dramas have unique storytelling approaches, Signal takes the top spot for me. It left me with a lingering sense of curiosity after watching the final scene of the last episode.
Tunnel and Life on Mars are relatively easier to wrap up, but Signal leaves room for interpretation and a desire for a second season, an epilogue, or a special episode to shed light on that perplexing final scene. I was indeed left bewildered, but in a thoroughly engaging way, of course.
That’s it. I promise these KDramas are not cringey. Crime + time travel concept really works.
