If you’ve been craving a good mystery drama, then “Frog” is just what you’re looking for. It has a touch of unsettling eeriness.

The Frog is streaming on Netflix.

Much like how Japanese horror had its moment in the early 2000s, South Korean media has been on a roll. This popularity surge started ever since “Train to Busan” caught everyone’s attention. And with “Frog,” this surge isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

“Frog” is a 2024 South Korean mystery crime thriller that takes a few episodes to pull you into its web. The series, written by Son Ho-young and directed by Mo Wan-il, stars Kim Yoon-Seok, Yoon Kye-sang, Go Min-si, and Lee Jung-eun. It’s one of those shows that sneaks up on you. You think you’re on a quiet Sunday drive before suddenly finding yourself in a car chase. And trust me, it’s quite a ride.

Setting the scene

The story unfolds in a quiet, almost forgotten town nestled in the forest, a few hours away from Seoul. This is where we meet Jeon Yeong-ha, played by Kim Yoon-seok, who has retreated to this secluded area following his wife’s passing. It’s a place that was supposed to be a sanctuary, but like all good thrillers, it doesn’t stay peaceful for long.

Yeong-ha now runs a holiday rental, a way to occupy his time and keep his mind off the grief. But he’s not particularly motivated, and it’s his best friend, Yong-chae, who really pushes him to keep the business going. That is until a mysterious guest, Seong-a, arrives with her young son. And this is where things start to get interesting. Yeong-ha welcomes her without a second thought. But when she leaves abruptly the next morning, she leaves behind something more than just an empty room—blood stains and the overwhelming smell of bleach. And most of all? Her son is nowhere to be found.

Two stories, one series

The story is told through two parallel times: one in the early 2000s and the other in the present day. In the past, we meet Gu Sang-jun, played by Yoon Kye-sang, who ran the Lake View Motel with his wife, Eun-gyeong. Their story takes a turn when they unwittingly offer a room to a man who turns out to be a serial killer. This decision not only shatters their lives but also leaves a stain on the town’s history.

Fast forward to the present, and the mystery deepens as Officer Yoon Bo-min starts connecting the dots between the past and the present. Bo-min is no stranger to tragedy, having witnessed the motel incident first-hand as a rookie cop. Now, as a seasoned officer, she’s back in the same town, noticing the strange behavior of Yeong-ha and the curious disappearance of Seong-a and her son.

The show’s title, Frog, might seem odd at first, but it ties into a Korean saying: “A frog is hit and killed by a carelessly thrown stone.” The idea is that thoughtless actions can cause great harm to innocent bystanders—those “frogs” who end up being collateral damage in someone else’s story. This theme is woven throughout the series, with all the characters experiencing the fallout of someone else’s action.

A slow burn, but stick with it

Frog is a slow burn, and I mean slow. With only 8 episodes, the first few episodes take their sweet time building up the tension, and you might find yourself wondering if it’s all going somewhere. But stick with it. Around Episode 4, the pace picks up, and by Episode 5, you’re hooked. The last few episodes pay off on the mystery it’s been teasing all along.

However, this slow start could be a turn-off for some viewers. It feels like the show tries a bit too hard to be clever and in the beginning, which might test your patience. But trust me, it’s worth pushing through because the payoff is solid, and the way the two timelines converge is satisfying. Frog is not a casual watch. It demands your full attention, and if you give it that, it rewards you with a satisfying ending. It’s a must-watch for fans of Korean media.

The Frog is streaming on Netflix.