‘Trigger’ (2025) Netflix Series Review - Strong Plot but Slightly Confusing

Right from the first scene, we are introduced to the chronic stress that people in Seoul are experiencing. The main focus is on students and how they are stressed out amongst their peer group. The first question that lingers in your mind is, Why the name 'Trigger' then? And just as you wait, you get a sense of it. We see Patrol Officer Lee Do, played by Kim Nam-gil. He also happens to be a former military sniper. Lee is not like other officers as projected by the media. He is kind and empathic. So, unless it’s a requirement, you won’t see him doing those unnecessary stunts to show his agility. This is shown to us when he calmly handles an incident on the road without losing his own temper. He embarks on a suicide case where he finds bullets hidden in the ceiling.  But what’s strange is that in South Korea, guns can’t be sold easily, let alone those bullets.  We slowly see the plot shifting towards Yoo Jung-tae, who plays Woo Ji-hyun. Yoo is a calm guy (or so he appeared at the start). The makers want us to see his kindness when he points out a man for taking a seat that should belong to a pregnant woman.  What startles him is how openly a seller in the metro is selling guns of all types because South Korea is supposed to be “gun-free”. All this is fine until a graphic scene comes where Yoo, who is fighting his inner demons, has a premonition that he enters a class and shoots everyone, including himself. That scene can scare you, but you will breathe a sigh of relief when you come to know that it was just a thought.  Yoo’s character is important because he represents the vast majority of people. He is aiming to be a civil servant but is underpaid and is not a very social person. That explains his inner feelings and why he is taking therapy. Yoo becomes enraged over the smallest of things, and his unresolved anger issues persist. He might appear to be quite on the outside, but inside, he isn’t.

This is what the makers want us to see and notice. When an ordinary man reaches his limit and is aided by the easy and illegal availability of weapons that can cause destruction or harm others, what are the consequences that we as a society will have to face? How important is mental health, and the ability to keep ourselves calm is what matters in life.

Now, no doubt the plot has a lot of depth in it. It is one of those serious dramas that forces you to put your thinking caps on and think hard about the serious repercussions that can happen. But what it lacks is a flow. The series is slightly confusing to watch. Sometimes it feels as if it is portrayed to us in fragments and bits and pieces. You are left to join the dots and understand what exactly is happening. Definitely, the opening scenes about news commentary helped keep the record straight about anger and mental health issues, but slowly, as we move forward, the plot loses its momentum.

Coming to the acting, the actors are compelling. A show like this requires a great deal of emotion, and we get full-on from the cast. For example, the character of Lee Do, played by Kim Nam-gil, shows the character trying to understand the cases calmly, and Kim does a great job of telling Lee’s part. For me, however, the star of the show is Woo Ji-hyun, who plays the role of Yoo. Woo comes across as a soft guy with inner rage. At one point, he is so good that he will make you believe that his character cannot do anything wrong. That’s how powerful his emotions and acting are. And bam! In the forthcoming moment, his hands are holding a gun, and he has started firing at people. Two contracting emotions by the same guy. So on the acting front, you are given the best.

But let me issue a warning for those who are planning to watch: the series has very graphic content. So much that it can leave many of you disturbed. There are scenes of blood, bodies, suicide, and murder that can make you feel uncomfortable. So, for those of you who can bear this and understand the plot, this is definitely a good watch for you.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times