What to watch: The Manipulated is a relentless thriller built for binge-watching

Watching the trailer of The Manipulated, you might think: “Isn’t this just Prison Break all over again?”. But you’d be wrong.

While a few shots and a sliver of the score nod to the American classic, this K-drama, inspired by the 2017 film Fabricated City, quickly carves out its own territory. Imagine a genre-bending medley of Prison Break, Squid Game, Rush Hour and John Wick then compress it into 12 hours of tightly wound suspense.

Fronting the series is Ji Chang-wook as the lead who just can't catch a break. His character makes the one choice viewers beg him not to: he picks up an abandoned phone and volunteers to return it. From that moment, the spiral begins. Wrongfully accused, he’s thrust into a brutal conspiracy that fuels a gripping quest for truth and revenge.

Admittedly, the Disney+ series takes two episodes to find its rhythm, but once it does, the tension barely relents. It’s far more graphic than the trailer suggests, yet cleverly punctuated with flashes of dark comedy that offer just enough relief to keep you breathing. And while dramas are designed to suspend disbelief, knowing that some of the most terrifying on-screen psychopaths (D.O and Lee Kwang-soo) are playful friends off-camera adds an oddly comforting layer to the viewing experience.

What anchors the show, however, is Chang-wook’s performance - a controlled eruption of fury, anguish and vulnerability. He doesn’t just act the pain; he transfers it to you, leaving you with a lingering second-hand ache that is equal parts emotional, physical and psychological.

Beneath the action set pieces and pulse-spiking thrills lies a narrative grappling with disturbingly contemporary themes: the power of advanced technology, the fragility of truth in a hyper-connected society, and the ease with which we slip into reflexive finger-pointing rather than rational thought.

Don’t watch if… you’re too squeamish. I was able to get through by skipping a bit or sneaking a peek from behind my hands. It’s R16 and contains violence and self-harm so viewer discretion is advised.

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