The Killing Vote takes the "vote to kill" storyline and pairs an anonymous vigilante with an ambitious yet apathetic officer, creating an intriguing setup that questions how everyday inequalities extend to the justice system. The first episode is quite disturbing as it tackles child pornography, but with this pilot, the series is able to cement an expectation it fulfills in succeeding episodes: this is a severe show that tackles severe cases and severe criminals. Coupled with immersive performances across the board (the star-studded cast includes K-drama staples Park Hae-jin, Park Sung-woong, and Lim Ji-yeon), The Killing Vote is already off to a high-intensity start. If it keeps this up, it very well could be one of 2023's best.

The show’s lead, Kim Moo-chan (Park Hae-jin), serves as an intriguing nucleus for the narrative. He’s apathetic on the outside but hides a strong moral compass on the inside, so even though he’s built a reputation as a reckless cop, he still feels the need to take the fall for bad cases. This makes his pursuit of the mysterious mastermind, known only as Gaetal, a good foundation for the series. Even Gaetal, who hacks into phones and dangerously tests the public’s free will, presents an opportunity to explore the injustices that prevail due to class inequalities (as many revenge K-dramas do). The vigilante cat-and-mouse style promises a thrilling ride.