The best kind of mystery shows are the ones you want to give up on in the first few episodes. They’re the ones that appear as a huge steaming mess of disparate plots and flickering scenes, but in the last couple of episodes, they suddenly wind together into an intricate web of art where suddenly everything clicks. Bonus points if even the post-credits scene leaves your jaw hanging. Those are the kinds of mysteries that stay with us, and then there’s Mouse, a South Korean drama series that takes this to a whole new level.Mouse really makes you earn that satisfying finale, but it is worth every second of what-the-hell-is-going-on.
It’s difficult to give a decent introduction to Mouse without giving too much away, but fans of serial killers and detectives will adore this show. I can’t even describe the goal of the plot because it keeps shifting and twisting, as we initially assume the identity of the serial killer is the main question to ask, but soon enough, the rug is swept from underneath us, and we’re on a cat-and-mouse chase for other questions and answers. What I can say is that Mouse is an intriguing exploration into what makes a serial killer, while also juggling the ripple effects in a mesmerizing, mangled web of mystery.
‘Mouse’ Subverts Our Expectations Through Perception and Mystery
In the very first episode, we are introduced to a serial killer dubbed the Headhunter, known for decapitating his victims. Also, in the very first episode, we discover the serial killer’s identity. Already, Mouse plays with our expectations of a cat-and-mouse chase as we wonder the purpose of the remaining 20 episodes when the villain has already been arrested. Deception is embedded within the structure of the series, where the first few episodes feel dizzying and filled with meaningless, throwaway scenes, but end up being the most important visuals or interactions of them all. But Mouse also cleverly feeds us some gratifying resolutions during these episodes to ensure we still remain motivated to decipher its mosaic of clues.
As the series delves into the deeper secrets and history of the Headhunter case, where nothing is as it seems, the two characters who act as our guiding light (at least, in the beginning) are Detective Go Moo-chi (Lee Hee-joon) and Officer Jeong Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi). Both Hee-joon and Seung-gi’s performances (one of which becomes utterly haunting) add to the twisting revelations throughout the story, heightening the tension while also becoming the anchor for which Mouse toys with the idea of perception. The show is a masterclass in proving how different perspectives shift the tiniest details that ripple out into more shocking ramifications. It’s a series that will keep you guessing and demands all your attention until the credits roll, even if it’s definitely an earned reward.
‘Mouse’ Delivers a Thoughtful and Wild Exploration into Serial Killers
Alongside an intricate mystery is a deep dive into the minds of serial killers, specifically their genetics. Once again, Mouse’s first episode establishes the starting point of this theme, but it would soon mutate into something far more jaw-dropping by the finale. During a lecture, Dr. Daniel Lee (Jo Jae-woon) discusses a gene he discovered that, 99% of the time, indicates the human is a psychopath or serial killer. The other 1% indicates that the human is a genius, but it is virtually indistinguishable. As such, the government tries and fails to pass a bill that mandates a screening for this gene in every fetus and a forced abortion if it is found. Hence begins the wild exploration into serial killer genetics.
Mouse gives us the most straightforward yet wild approach to the nurture vs. nature argument, and it is gripping as the rhetoric unfolds. We question what makes a serial killer, whether psychopathy can be passed on to an offspring, and the morality of not giving someone a chance to prove nature wrong. This thematic exploration progresses just as elusively and enticingly as the central mystery, following the same pendulum swing into the realm of mind-boggling in the last couple of episodes. While the non-linear timelines, flashing frames and random interactions can become disorienting, the show maintains a taut, suspenseful atmosphere throughout every second, and much of this is through the fascinating discourse around psychopathy.
Mouse is a serial killer mystery in its most mind-bending form. It pulls no punches and lays down the framework of its grand finale from the beginning, one that simply looks like a smattering of useless scenes and torn limbs. As it cleverly weaves its web around us, we are caught with our jaws on the ground and relishing the feeling. It’s the perfect series for fans of true crime and mysteries, one that even the most avid of detectives couldn’t possibly predict.
