Less Than Evil Explained

Alt Name:Luther
Native Name:
Hangul:나쁜 형사
Hanja:나쁜 刑事
Rr:Nappeun Hyeongsa
Lk:Bad Detective
Director:Kim Dae-jin
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:32
Producer:Yoo Hyun-jong
Camera:Single-camera
Runtime:35 minutes
Budget:[1]
Network:MBC TV
Related:Klim (Russia)
Creator:Park Jae-beom (MBC Drama Operation Team)

Less Than Evil[2] is a 2018 South Korean television series based on the British series Luther.[3] It stars Shin Ha-kyun, Lee Seol, Park Ho-san and Kim Gun-woo.[4] It aired on MBC from December 3, 2018 to January 29, 2019.[5] [6] [7]

Synopsis

The drama centers on the ongoing psychological battle between a brilliant psychopathic murderer and a hot headed, justice-driven Detective Chief Inspector.[8]

Cast

Main

A tough and unscrupulous detective with the highest arrest rate, a character based on DCI John Luther.

A female psychopath based on antagonist Alice Morgan.

A leading detective in the metropolitan area who is at odds with Woo Tae-suk

A serial killer who pretends to be a prosecutor and Woo Tae-suk's greatest enemy based on serial killer Tom Marwood.

Supporting

A straight-as-an-arrow detective who graduated early from the police academy based on Luther's partner DS Justin Ripley.

A prickly police officer based on DCI Erin Gray.

An expert in IT programming who sets up her own detective agency based on DS Benny Silver.

The head of the PR department at the police station and Woo Tae-suk's best friend based on John Luther's best friend DCI Ian Reed.

A policeman on Woo Tae-suk's team

The head of forensic investigative team based on Luther's bosses DSU Rose Teller and DSU Martin Schnek.

A lawyer and Woo Tae-suk's wife based on John Luther's wife Zoe Luther.

A victim of a case that Woo Tae-suk cannot forget

Woo Tae-suk's sister

A timid head detective who is indecisive. He works with Jeon Choon-man

Special appearances

Production

The actress Lee Seol was chosen among 300 others who auditioned for the role of Eun Sun-jae to play the female lead.

The first script reading was held in early September, 2018 with the attendance of cast and crew at the MBC in Sangam-dong.[18]

Original soundtrack

Less Than Evil
OST
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Various artists
Released:2018
Genre:Soundtrack
Label:Blending

Part 3

Ratings

Original broadcast dateAverage audience share
AGB Nielsen[19] TNmS
NationwideSeoulNationwide
1December 3, 20187.1% 8.1% 6.5%
28.3% 9.2% 8.5%
3December 4, 20188.6% 9.8% 8.2%
4
5December 10, 20187.4% 8.1% 6.9%
69.1% 10.0% 9.1%
7December 11, 20187.3% 8.0% 6.2%
88.7% 9.5% 7.3%
9December 17, 20187.1% 7.8% 6.2%
108.5% 9.4% 7.2%
11December 18, 20187.6% 8.5% 6.6%
128.7% 9.6% 8.3%
13December 24, 20186.6% 6.8% 6.1%
148.5% 8.9% 7.7%
15December 25, 20187.0% 7.5% 6.5%
168.7% 9.4% 7.7%
17January 7, 20195.4% 6.4% 4.8%
185.7% 5.2%
19January 8, 20195.7% 5.4%
205.9% 6.5% 5.7%
21January 14, 20195.6% 6.1% 4.7%
226.8% 7.8% 5.7%
23January 15, 20195.6% 6.2% rowspan="2"
246.3% 6.9%
25January 21, 20195.4% 6.2% 4.4%
266.5% 7.1% 5.5%
27January 22, 2019
285.0% 5.3% 4.3%
29January 28, 20195.7% 6.2% 4.8%
306.9% 7.3% 5.8%
31January 29, 20195.7% 6.0%
327.2% 7.7% 6.2%
Average

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
201837th MBC Drama AwardsGrand Prize (Daesang)Shin Ha-kyun[20]
Drama of the YearLess Than Evil
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday MiniseriesShin Ha-kyun
Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday MiniseriesPark Ho-san
Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday MiniseriesLee Seol
Best New Actress
In Awe AwardShin Ha-kyun
201955th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest New ActressLee Seol[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jang . Ka-young . November 9, 2018 . ko: 아이에이치큐, MBC ‘나쁜 형사’ 제작 공급계약 체결 . IHQ signs production supply contract for MBC's 'Bad Detective' . July 29, 2024 . Newsway . ko.
  2. Web site: Less Than Evil [Title in the URL]]. iMBC.com. ko. Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. November 24, 2018. September 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911104740/http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/LessthanEvil/. live.
  3. Web site: MBC Confirmed To Remake BBC Crime Drama "Luther". A. Kim. Soompi. February 5, 2018. November 23, 2018. August 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180803222001/https://www.soompi.com/2018/02/05/mbc-confirmed-remake-bbc-crime-drama-luther/. live.
  4. Web site: [Orion's Daily Ramblings] Morality is Negotiable for the Leads of "Less Than Evil" @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database . 2018-11-23 . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826074034/https://www.hancinema.net/orion-s-daily-ramblings-morality-is-negotiable-for-the-leads-of-bad-detective-123669.html . live .
  5. Web site: Korean adaptation of 'Luther' to go on small screen in winter . 2018-11-23 . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826074036/https://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201808101631401768029_2 . live .
  6. Web site: 이설→차선우까지…'나쁜형사' 책임질 美친 캐스팅. 2018-11-23. 2018-11-23. 2023-08-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20230826074035/https://sports.donga.com/list/3/02/20181123/92990563/1. live.
  7. Web site: 'Less Than Evil': A Korean adaptation of 'Luther' with a twist. November 29, 2018. The Korea Herald. November 29, 2018. August 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230826110723/https://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201811291823248656714_2. live.
  8. Web site: [New Drama] BBC Crime Drama "Less Than Evil" to Get Korean Remake @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database . 2018-11-23 . 2018-11-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181123065801/https://www.hancinema.net/new-drama-bbc-crime-drama-bad-detective-to-get-korean-remake-115401.html . live .
  9. Web site: Shin Ha-kyun cast in MBC remake of 'Luther'. 3 August 2018. Korea JoongAng Daily. 23 November 2018. 2 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162838/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3051416&cloc=joongangdaily. live.
  10. Web site: Shin Ha-kyun and Baro Courted for "Less Than Evil" Remake @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database . 2018-11-23 . 2018-11-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181123111948/https://www.hancinema.net/shin-ha-kyun-and-baro-courted-for-bad-detective-remake-120945.html . live .
  11. Web site: http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2018082008073307285. ko:바로, '나쁜형사' 합류 확정..신하균·박호산 호흡(공식). 20 August 2018. Star News. ko. Sung Kyun-yoon. 23 November 2018. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123111941/http://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2018082008073307285. live.
  12. Web site: Bae Da-bin to Join "Less Than Evil" @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database . 2018-11-23 . 2021-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211106190022/https://www.hancinema.net/bae-da-bin-to-join-bad-detective-122003.html . live .
  13. Web site: http://enews.imbc.com/News/RetrieveNewsInfo/242508. ko:‘나쁜형사’ 홍은희부터 배윤경까지··· 황금 라인업 완성! 역대급 앙상블 예고. 7 September 2018. iMBC. ko. Kim Hye-young. 23 November 2018. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154257/http://enews.imbc.com/News/RetrieveNewsInfo/242508. live.
  14. Web site: http://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1016650. ko:[공식입장] '나쁜형사' 홍은희·류태호·차선우·윤희석·배윤경 합류. September 7, 2018. Xports News. ko. November 23, 2018. March 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220318070236/https://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1016650. live.
  15. Web site: http://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1110982423. ko:홍은희, '나쁜형사'로 2년 만에 안방 컴백…신하균 아내 된다 [공식입장]. Osen. ko. Jang Jin-ri. 5 September 2018. 23 November 2018. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123112054/http://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1110982423. live.
  16. Web site: [공식] 신예 조이현, MBC '나쁜형사' 캐스팅…신하균과 호흡]. October 19, 2018. SE Daily. ko. Kim Dong-ki. November 23, 2018. November 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154119/https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1S5Z2VG810/GL01. live.
  17. Web site: JYP 신예 조이현, '배드파파'→ '나쁜형사'…눈도장 제대로. October 19, 2018. Tenasia HangKyung. ko. Noh Kyu-min. November 23, 2018. November 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154132/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1587924. live.
  18. Web site: '나쁜형사' 신하균X이설X박호산X김건우, 대본 리딩부터 시너지 폭발. 5 October 2018. SE Daily. ko. Kim Dong-ki. 23 November 2018. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154230/https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1S5SLVFD2E. live.
  19. Web site: Nielsen Korea. AGB Nielsen Media Research. ko. December 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601140426/http://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=3_1&area=00. June 1, 2016. dead.
  20. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000038901. ko: 소지섭 ‘데뷔 23년 만에 첫 대상’(mbc연기대상)[포토엔HD]. So Ji-sub Soo'First Debut in 23 Years' (mbc Drama Awards)[Photo and HD]. December 31, 2018. Jung. Yu-jin. Newsen. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20181231092413/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000038901. December 31, 2018. June 5, 2020. Naver.
  21. Web site: 55회 백상예술대상, TV부문 최종 후보 공개. April 4, 2019. Ilgan Sports. ko. April 4, 2019. April 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190404044155/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=241&aid=0002899040&lfrom=twitter. live.