Karma Review: Korean series Karma showcases the lives of six people irreversibly changed when they get caught in a karmic loop following a devastating accident. Governed by their reckless choices, the six have to find a way to atone for their sins before it’s too late.
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Karma Netflix Cast
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Karma Kdrama Screenwriter and Director
Lee Il-hyung
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AKA
악연
The series, based on the webtoon 악연 by Choi Hee-sun, has 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 60 minutes.
Karma Review
In Netflix Kdrama Karma, what goes around comes back around. The series follows the cyclical nature of life — if you throw go things into the universe, the universe rewards you with good things as well. Of course, that’s true if you harm others as well. The series is a thorough examination of human beings and the greed that exists in people. Instead of doing what is right, they always look for a get-rich-quick scheme that not only takes place at the cost of others, but, in the long run, themselves.
This is a very interesting crime thriller that is surprisingly simple to understand. If you don’t like something too complicated, this one breaks things down quite well to keep you in the loop. Six characters are connected in one way or another — the story starts with a man trying to get some money from his father after finding himself drowning in debt. He employs the help of a gangster to kill his father to get his life insurance, but the accident goes awry, and the life insurance falls through.
Meanwhile, another guy, “glasses,” tries to impress Yu-jeong but finds himself in a pickle when he accidentally runs over a man and then has to pay off an eyewitness, who constantly keeps asking him for money. And lastly, there’s doctor Park Ju-yeon, who is grappling with the trauma of a childhood assault and is left shocked when the guy appears in her hospital.
There are more complications to the story than this, which I will not get into here, but the story had me hooked from start to end. There were moments when I found myself hoping for justice to prevail, and interestingly enough, things had a way of working out against the bad guys. It’s a story that will make you lose your faith in humanity, but simultaneously will restore your faith in nature. The series does a great job of navigating the different stories, choosing to focus on one person and then showcasing how they fit into the overall narrative.
Also Read: Karma Ending Explained: What Happens to Everyone in the End? Does Ju-yeon Get Justice?
I think what works in favour of this series is that it’s an effective story without making things too cerebral. Although I love a good twisted thriller that makes me watch it 5 times just to understand what is happening, I think stories like Karma are great for an enjoyable yet thrilling time. The acting is top-notch as usual, and everything looks so mesmerising that it’s hard to look away. I think the long runtime fits well, and I didn’t find myself bored at any point. The series packs enough punch to keep viewers engaged. I think all the characters don’t get enough time to develop, but their performances more than make up for it.
Final Thoughts
Karma makes a point to tell us that our actions have consequences, and we feel that in every episode. It’s an entertaining watch through and through and keeps viewers engaged throughout its runtime. I think the series will be a good time for most people who wish for some disturbing thrills surrounding terrible people without feeling the complete weight of their choices, even getting the rare opportunity to get out on the other side with a smile on their faces.
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