The Mantis: Original Sin renewed its own highest ratings and ended on a high note.
According to ratings firm Nielsen Korea on Sept. 28, the final episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama The Mantis: Original Sin (directed by Byun Young-joo, written by Lee Young-jong), which aired on Sept. 27, recorded 7.9% in the metropolitan area and 7.4% nationwide, renewing its own highest ratings record. The peak momentary rating rose as high as 10.3%. The key channel competitiveness indicator for ages 20-49 averaged 2.5% and peaked at 3.52%, proving its topicality. Also, it ranked high on the OTT platform Netflix throughout its run, establishing itself as a hit, and even reached No. 6 globally on Netflix (non-English), receiving global love beyond Korea.
In the final episode aired that day, the copycat murder suspect of The Mantis was dead, and serial killer mother Jeong I-shin (played by Go Hyun-jung) felt happiness seeing her son Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon) grown into an adult with compassion unlike her. But when Choi Joong-ho (played by Jo Sung-ha), who was the link between mother and son, was murdered, the two faced each other again. It was an ending that hinted their joint investigation as serial killer mother and detective son would start again.
That day Jeong I-shin walked into danger to save her daughter-in-law Lee Jung-yeon (played by Kim Bo-ra). The perpetrator Seo Ah-ra (played by Han Dong-hee) demanded an exchange of hostages between Lee Jung-yeon and Jeong I-shin. Terrified, Jeong I-shin told the approaching Lee Jung-yeon, "Go! Run!" Lee Jung-yeon ran and ran to survive and to protect the precious life in her womb.
Seo Ah-ra, who took Jeong I-shin to her hideout, showed obsession, kissing Jeong I-shin and more. Seo Ah-ra was a killer who needed the excuse of "The Mantis" but wanted to kill people. It was bitter that the abuse she suffered from her father in childhood fueled her murderous instincts. Soon after, Cha Soo-yeol found the hideout but Jeong I-shin was gone. Cha Soo-yeol and Kim Na-hee (played by Lee El) shot Seo Ah-ra, and Cha Soo-yeol set off saying he would find Jeong I-shin.
While chasing Jeong I-shin, Cha Soo-yeol found Jeong I-shin's hypnosis video. Inside was Jeong I-shin's secret. As a child, Jeong I-shin was horrifically abused by her father Jeong Hyun-nam (played by Lee Hwang-eui). Jeong Hyun-nam strangled Jeong I-shin's mother to death in front of Jeong I-shin and then set the house on fire. In the end, Jeong I-shin was also a deeply wounded victim.
Jeong I-shin, who had been missing, appeared at Jeong Hyun-nam's church. Jeong Hyun-nam spouted sophistry, saying, "I have been forgiven by the Lord." As an angry Jeong I-shin was about to kill Jeong Hyun-nam, Cha Soo-yeol arrived and restrained her. Just as the mother and son were about to turn away, a young child Kim Eun-ae (played by Han Si-a) appeared with red lipstick on her lips like young Jeong I-shin. Jeong Hyun-nam had been committing vile acts against Kim Eun-ae as well.
An enraged Cha Soo-yeol aimed a gun at Jeong Hyun-nam, but Jeong I-shin injected Cha Soo-yeol with a sedative, shouting, "Don't become like me!" Alone with Jeong Hyun-nam, Jeong I-shin intended to kill him and then herself. Meanwhile Cha Soo-yeol, who had woken up, rescued Jeong I-shin and, for the first time, poured out his feelings toward her, crying, "Mom! Please wake up!" Only then did Jeong I-shin open her eyes, and Cha Soo-yeol could only sob and scream without words.
Jeong I-shin told Cha Soo-yeol, "Blood relations mean nothing. You are a different person from me. I like that." She told Choi Joong-ho she was grateful he raised Cha Soo-yeol with compassion. Jeong I-shin, a victim who had been abused by her father and turned into a killer, wished that her son Cha Soo-yeol would live a different life from hers. In the end, she, too, was a mother. It was a heart-rending story.
But The Mantis: Original Sin did not end like that. The camera showed Jeong I-shin in prison watching news that Choi Joong-ho was mysteriously murdered two years later. Then Cha Soo-yeol and Kim Na-hee visited Jeong I-shin. It hinted that the joint investigation of serial killer mother Jeong I-shin and detective son Cha Soo-yeol would begin again. It was a shocking ending that proved it wasn't over until it was over, making it even more unforgettable.
The Mantis: Original Sin explored the unprecedented premise of a serial killer mother and detective son working together with meticulous storytelling and unpredictable developments. Go Hyun-jung's shocking transformation into a serial killer delivered an overwhelming presence from an all-time legend actor, and Jang Dong-yoon's passionate challenge to a deeper performance lent the story strong appeal. Director Byun Young-joo's stylish direction heightened immersion and drew viewers to their TVs. In addition to Go Hyun-jung, Jang Dong-yoon, Jo Sung-ha and Lee El, every actor who appeared was 100% immersed in their character, meshing the gears of the drama without gaps.
A drama where the script, acting and directing aligned perfectly. The Mantis: Original Sin, SBS's well-made, high-density crime thriller that showcased the essence of the genre and left a weighty message, is likely to linger for some time.
[Photo] SBS broadcast capture of The Mantis: Original Sin
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