Desperate voice from the past sends clues to the present in Signal

31 January 8, 2016January 8, 2016

Desperate voice from the past sends clues to the present in Signal

by javabeans

I have to say, I’m drawn to the retro-nostalgia feel we’re getting in tvN’s cold-case investigation drama Signal—or at least in half of it, since it’s partially tied to the past though mostly set in the present. The show is centered around the conceit that two cops in the present day (Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo) are able to communicate with one from the past (Jo Jin-woong) via radio, and together work to get the bottom of long-unsolved cases.

The drama has been releasing a stream of short teasers (posted below), and they’re all quite evocative and moody—some more thriller-esque, while others make a great use of old-school songs to evoke a sense of nostalgia tinged with eeriness. There are a few themes and phrases that get repeated throughout: Lee Je-hoon is the skeptical younger cop in the present who wonders how to respond to a radio message seemingly from the past, while Jo Jin-woong, a violent-crimes detective in the 1980s, says, “The past can be changed.” He also declares, “There is no crime in this world that ought to be covered up.” There’s often a fraught look in his eye, and for good reason; his signal is referred to as a message sent through desperation.

We also hear the question repeated in several of the teasers, “Who do statutes of limitations work on behalf of?” expressed alongside frustration at the lack of evidence in pursuing cold cases. Lee Je-hoon wonders what a signal from the past could mean, and veteran detective Kim Hye-soo supposes it’s a cry to help a loved one. Then she asks, “Even if we make a muck of it, isn’t it better to try?”

Kim Hye-soo looks as stylish and put-together as we’d expect of her playing the present-day cop, though we also get to see her younger version in some of the stills, back when she was a fresh-faced rookie. It also makes me wonder just how deeply her connection to the Jo Jin-woong’s voice from the past runs, since it looks like they were young officers together.

The drama certainly looks polished and stylish, and the intriguing setup makes for a mysterious story (and that cast ain’t shabby, either). Directing is Misaeng and Sungkyunkwan Scandal PD Kim Won-seok, and writing is thriller veteran Kim Eun-hee of Three Days, Sign, and Ghost. Signal premieres on Friday, January 22, on tvN.

Via Chosun

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1 Fatima Kas

January 8, 2016 at 3:52 AM

I am not a drama addict, in fact I am very selective on my Kdrama wwatchlist, but I have watched every single drama of this writer, (along with the writers of Empire of Gold & History of Salaryman), they never fail to entertain me, even with the bad ending of sign, I still went on to watch Ghost & its tight plot made me totally forgive her
Looking forward to this one!

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2 mary

January 8, 2016 at 4:16 AM

Wow.

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3 Stuckonyou

January 8, 2016 at 4:23 AM

Actually I've never seen any korean cop-criminal-thriller drama in my entire life. I do not know what to expect. Sounds interesting tho.

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4 john

January 8, 2016 at 4:33 AM

Looks good. Something to look forward to.

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5 jane

January 8, 2016 at 4:49 AM

I am quite sure some hollywood movie or chinese drama has used this mechanism. Anybody has any idea?

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confusedturtle

January 8, 2016 at 5:02 AM

It reminds me a bit of Frequency, although it's a bit different. A guy communicates with his dad 30 years in the past to prevent the murder of his mother.

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Mama J

January 8, 2016 at 8:53 AM

Yes, that's what I was immediately reminded of. I enjoyed that movie quite a bit, and it always reminds me of a particular short story, although I can't remember who wrote it. I don't even remember if it's the husband or the wife, but one of them gets a phone call (I think it's the wife, actually) from a sobbing person - same sex, I believe. They try desperately to figure out who it was. Turns it out it's themselves, in the future, when something tragic happens. I read it as a child - it was meant for someone older - and the idea of it always stays with me, if not the details themselves. That idea that our desire to protect and correct can cross even the dimension of time.

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elric

January 14, 2016 at 4:33 AM

Your story got me curious so I decided to search for it. It's called Sorry, Right Number by Stephen King :)

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Trinity 🍆

January 8, 2016 at 9:36 AM

I loved Frequency. An excellent movie and this is what immediately came to my mind when I saw the synopsis for this drama.

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6 Diana

January 8, 2016 at 4:59 AM

I hope it interesting and can make me entertained.

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7 Amandine

January 8, 2016 at 5:33 AM

I'm so gonna watch this. I love Frequency so I'm excited to see a drama with a story quite similar. Plus, there's my baby Je-Hoon! He never disappoint.

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8 Maryan

January 8, 2016 at 6:13 AM

It looks interesting.look forward to it

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9 sanachan

January 8, 2016 at 6:26 AM

They got the story from Frequency. Loved that movie! It wasn't to prevent getting his mother killed. He actually prevented his Dad getting killed then started a chain of events that eventually got his mother killed. So they (Father and son) tried to catch the killer in the past to prevent his Mother getting killed in the future. Very good movie! Highly recommend it. Hope they can do well on this drama series as well. Fighting!

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confusedturtle

January 8, 2016 at 8:10 AM

You're right, it wasn't to keep his mother from getting killed in the beginning but since that was most of the movie, and what most of the communication was about, that's how I define the movie.

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10 Kiara

January 8, 2016 at 7:44 AM

WARRIOR MOO-HYUL <3. Jo Jin-woong!

This is the only drama I'm looking forward to. Love this cast, I can not wait.

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Shalini

January 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM

I thought I was the only one who thought of that xD I loved him as Moohyul! That stoic cutie

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11 Annunnie

January 8, 2016 at 7:56 AM

The plot kinda remind me of HK drama called 'to get unstuck in time' starring roger kwok and flora chan long time ago. He communicated with a cop ( later happen to his father) from the past to solve cases. That drama was also was inspired by 'frequency'. I never watched frequency but i loved the twist in the drama in the end - about how simple thing that he asked his father to do, (ie saving a girl from a hit and run) later changed the whole course of his life, telling that he can't mess with the past. Now I'm excited how this drama gonna amaze me.

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12 N A G I R A

January 8, 2016 at 8:01 AM

How old is Kim Hye Soo? I'm concerned she's not aging at a normally human rate.

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13 Blossom

January 8, 2016 at 10:49 AM

The premise reminds me of an old TVB drama starring Roger Kwok and Benz Hui..

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14 Cocoboo

January 8, 2016 at 11:03 AM

Haven't watched a cop thriller/mystery drama in a while and this one looks good! Great cast too. :D

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15 Ayan

January 8, 2016 at 11:37 AM

ooh, I can't wait to watch, the plot sounds really exciting,I've been in the mood to watch a good thriller/mystery drama.
Looks like a great way to start the year.

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16 blo

January 8, 2016 at 12:07 PM

Will be watching for Lee Je-hoon. Hope it turns out well! After Secret Door, I need a good drama out of him...

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17 lovepark

January 8, 2016 at 1:05 PM

Jo Jin-woong looks amazing!

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18 amaria72

January 8, 2016 at 2:49 PM

Himebaugh was about 6 months old when she was left, authorities said. A note from a woman identifying herself as the mother said the father was a soldier killed in World War II and said she was unable to care for the baby.