Written by Kim Jin-a, Koh Young-jae, and creator-director Kim Jee-woon

Rating: ★★★★★

Kim Jee-woon, a true master of South Korean cinema, has an extraordinary ability to craft dramas that evoke profound emotions. How can anyone not be captivated by the cinema magic? It’s a question I struggle to answer! “Dr. Brain” is wonderfully bizarre and visionary in all the right ways. South Korean cinema and television are finally having their well-deserved moment, and it’s about time the spotlight landed on Kim Jee-woon, one of the country’s most gifted directors. The visionary behind “The Good, The Bad and The Weird,” “A Tale of Two Sisters,” and “I Saw the Devil”—which remains one of the most impactful films I’ve ever seen, thanks in large part to the incredible Lee Byung-hun—Kim is an auteur who embraces the surreal to craft unforgettable experiences.

I don’t want to be redundant, as my love for South Korean dramaturgy is no secret. However, this production, while beautifully pretentious, is a tonal rollercoaster. It’s a genre-blending production with so much to admire. Every episode gave me goosebumps, thanks to the incredible performances and stunning cinematography. It took me a while to watch, much like “Sleep,” as I’m still struggling with the loss of Lee Sun-kyun—a tremendous blow to cinema. The soundtrack is astonishing, adding even more depth to the experience. By the final episode, I found myself sitting through the credits, wiping away a few tears, and absorbing the profound journey the series had taken me on. The series delves into deep emotional and psychological themes, such as grief, loss, and the ethics of technology, adding further layers to its narrative.

Image courtesy of Apple TV Plus