After much anticipation, The Worst of Evil has finally been released, starting off the season with a rumble between gangs underneath Gangnam. Through neon-lit streets, grimy green-tinged windows, and dimly-lit corridors, the series brings its viewers back to the 90s criminal underworld, though with modernized choreography and fairly realistic CGI blood. This set is the arena where undercover cop Park Joon-mo has to fight, in order to gain the trust of crime boss Jung Gi-cheul. As each fight gains some goodwill from each other, and as Park’s wife enters the fray, the series promises dangerous stakes, dramatic betrayals, and thrilling fight scenes. It’s a fresh take on the undercover cop, infiltrating the gritty underworld through sheer persistence, with an added emotional twist.

In the three episodes released so far, plenty of its time has been dedicated to fight scenes. The whole series starts with one. Notably, these scenes are contained in corridors and enclosed spaces, and not limited to one-on-one fights, but whole squadrons of gangs slashing and stabbing each other. These fights had to be carefully choreographed, as the action looks amazing, and the camera never gets lost throughout the rumble. Director Han Dong-wook also takes advantage of the location’s geography, ducking in and out of hotel suites and function rooms. These bloody scenes make the series take on a gritty feel that captures the 90s Gangnam underground world, but it serves more than just aesthetic. As they go through the fights, the series’ main characters use these to prove themselves – Jung, wanting to be taken seriously as a new crime boss on the block, and Park, wanting to infiltrate and gain his gang’s trust. These fights are an expression of their wants, and these cool scenes come as a natural progression of their dynamic.