21
35
7
WandereR
Borneo
Voices in the Dark
I recall reading an article in 2019 which had speculated that the Voice series had ended for good. Specifically Lee Ha Na, the most recognisable face (and voice) of the franchise had intimated that she wished to pursue other projects for a change. She ended up taking on a totally different role in the romance drama A Piece of Your Mind. As it turns out, never say never because Voice is back and led by Lee Ha Na herself again with the fourth instalment, Voice 4: Judgment Hour.
It really shouldn’t come as a surprise, since it is after all one of the more successful series in South Korea having spawned adaptations in Japan (Voice 110: Emergency Control Room) and Thailand (Voice สัมผัสเสียงมรณะ). Initially launched by OCN, the first season was quite the ratings success and had garnered considerable attention mostly because of its unique concept and also partly due to the inclusion of the stellar Jang Hyuk as well as Kim Jae Wook as its main cast. Despite not quite reaching the same heights, the subsequent seasons performed decently and have seen Lee Jin Wook taking on the lead role. Now we have Song Seung Heon as the ML.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Voice is about the Golden Time Team, a specialised 112 emergency response team that is not dissimilar to the US 911 call centre but with a wider investigative scope, targeted response and its very own dispatch team. It is headed by Lee Ha Na’s Kang Kwon Joo, who is gifted with exceptional hearing abilities. She takes charge of the call centre while the dispatch team directly conducts search and rescue missions as well as apprehending perpetrators. Every season follows a similar pattern, where we have the overarching mystery of the main crime(s) committed by the major villain(s). In between, we have the episodic procedural that focuses on minor cases or in this context, emergency call-ins, which may or may not be linked to the main investigation.
For me, S1 is still the best of the lot. S2 had an ambitious cross-border premise which tied in with S3. This new S4 is completely self-contained, much like the first season. If you’re wondering whether you need to complete the earlier seasons prior to watching this one, I would say no. However, do be warned that within the first 10 minutes of S4’s episode 1, a full recap of S2 and S3 is shown. So, if you intend to watch the entire series, best to skip S4 to avoid the spoilers (because there are references throughout to the earlier seasons).
There are a couple of firsts this time around for the series. The setting of Voice 4 is moved from Seoul to the fictional Vimo Island (pronounced as Bimo in the drama but subs translated as Vimo). Although certain major events transpired in the capital during the first episode, the entire story takes place on an island that is modelled after Jeju Island. In addition to that, the drama is aired on TVN instead of OCN which had aired all the preceding seasons, perhaps reflecting a shift in marketing strategy as both channels are owned by the same parent company.
The high quality of the production remains, as regular viewers or followers of the series have come to expect. Screenwriter Ma Jin Won remains involved since the very beginning but interestingly, each season so far has been helmed by different directors. Shin Yong Hwi, who previously co-directed notable crime thrillers Tunnel and Bad Guys, takes over for this instalment. As significant portions of the principal photography took place in Jeju Island, I felt that the cinematography and production designs did not really take full advantage of the island setting. With the exception of episodes 4 and 5, where the Haenyeo (women divers) are featured along with scenes at the pier, there are no other distinguishing views of the island landscapes, which is a shame.
The premise for this season revolves around Kang Kwon Joo’s recurring PTSD as a result of her overexertions in S2 and S3. She has a new partner in Derek Jo, a Korean-American LAPD anti-vice squad leader who goes to Seoul under a joint task force with the Seoul Police Agency. The plotline is focused on serial killings purportedly by “mysterious and shadowy perpetrators” who approach their victims online before committing the heinous crimes. Things quickly escalate before the action then shifts to Vimo Island, where the team joins up with the local police force as part of the Vimo Provincial Police Agency Golden Time Team 112 Call Centre. Key elements featured include mental health issues and a religious cult/ sect, among other themes in the mix.
I actually enjoyed this season much more than S2. It is not as complicated to follow and less political, while the relationship dynamics are in no way as complex in their depictions. That said, as much as I had fun, I did find the final reveal of the antagonists along with their motivations and modus operandi to be rather absurd and far-fetched. But I think with some suspension of disbelief, there is much entertainment value to be had just by going with the flow of the fast paced storytelling. There is no shortage of action-packed sequences and thrilling edge-of-the-seat stuff, which is available in abundance here.
As far as the acting is concerned, there isn’t much left to be said about Lee Ha Na. She truly personifies the character of Kang Kwon Joo, so much so that I can’t imagine anyone else who could possibly do a better job than her. Even the Korean National Police Agency seems to think so, having made her its honorary police officer and ambassador. Co-starring with Lee Ha Na is the experienced Song Seung Heon, as Detective Derek Jo. In terms of portrayal and emotional depth, he certainly looks the part of a tough and stoic police detective with a tragic past. Probably the only issue is his English-speaking parts. The lack of fluency or an American accent for one, and the inconsistency in dialogue where sometimes he speaks Hangul to his LAPD teammate (also a Korean-American but one who speaks better English).
Son Eun Seo, Kim Joong Ki and Song Boo Geon (S2) make their return while Baek Sung Hyun re-joins the team after a 2-season hiatus. Among the new faces, Lee Kyu Hung deserves acknowledgment for his range in the portrayal of a rather “varied” role. Kang Seung Yoon plays cyber division police officer Han Woo Joo as the GTT’s resident computer whiz (a replacement of Kim Woo Suk’s Jin Seo Yool in a similar capacity for the team). Look out for memorable supporting and guest appearances by Kil Hae Yeon, Lee Jin Wook, Kim Bup Rae, Im Chul Soo and Kwon Yool.
There are 5 tracks in total for the soundtrack. My personal favourite is the hauntingly theatrical Coming to You by the young singer GRASS which sounds like a chilling version of a lullaby. Full listing as follows:
1. GRASS – Coming to You
2. Kang Seung Yoon – Your Voice
3. KLANG – No Way to Go
4. Elaine - Here for You
5. Kim Jaehwan - Promise You
All things considered, I would place Voice 4: Judgment Hour as my second favourite of the series. I still feel the first season is by far the best, and although this one doesn’t come close to reaching its levels of brilliance, it’s enjoyably engrossing with mild suspense, sufficient thrills and without the overly mind-boggling complexities to keep viewers entertained. Just in case you can't get enough of the Golden Time Team, there's more than a hint for a potential season 5 in the horizon. Looks like the franchise won't be concluding any time soon...
It really shouldn’t come as a surprise, since it is after all one of the more successful series in South Korea having spawned adaptations in Japan (Voice 110: Emergency Control Room) and Thailand (Voice สัมผัสเสียงมรณะ). Initially launched by OCN, the first season was quite the ratings success and had garnered considerable attention mostly because of its unique concept and also partly due to the inclusion of the stellar Jang Hyuk as well as Kim Jae Wook as its main cast. Despite not quite reaching the same heights, the subsequent seasons performed decently and have seen Lee Jin Wook taking on the lead role. Now we have Song Seung Heon as the ML.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Voice is about the Golden Time Team, a specialised 112 emergency response team that is not dissimilar to the US 911 call centre but with a wider investigative scope, targeted response and its very own dispatch team. It is headed by Lee Ha Na’s Kang Kwon Joo, who is gifted with exceptional hearing abilities. She takes charge of the call centre while the dispatch team directly conducts search and rescue missions as well as apprehending perpetrators. Every season follows a similar pattern, where we have the overarching mystery of the main crime(s) committed by the major villain(s). In between, we have the episodic procedural that focuses on minor cases or in this context, emergency call-ins, which may or may not be linked to the main investigation.
For me, S1 is still the best of the lot. S2 had an ambitious cross-border premise which tied in with S3. This new S4 is completely self-contained, much like the first season. If you’re wondering whether you need to complete the earlier seasons prior to watching this one, I would say no. However, do be warned that within the first 10 minutes of S4’s episode 1, a full recap of S2 and S3 is shown. So, if you intend to watch the entire series, best to skip S4 to avoid the spoilers (because there are references throughout to the earlier seasons).
There are a couple of firsts this time around for the series. The setting of Voice 4 is moved from Seoul to the fictional Vimo Island (pronounced as Bimo in the drama but subs translated as Vimo). Although certain major events transpired in the capital during the first episode, the entire story takes place on an island that is modelled after Jeju Island. In addition to that, the drama is aired on TVN instead of OCN which had aired all the preceding seasons, perhaps reflecting a shift in marketing strategy as both channels are owned by the same parent company.
The high quality of the production remains, as regular viewers or followers of the series have come to expect. Screenwriter Ma Jin Won remains involved since the very beginning but interestingly, each season so far has been helmed by different directors. Shin Yong Hwi, who previously co-directed notable crime thrillers Tunnel and Bad Guys, takes over for this instalment. As significant portions of the principal photography took place in Jeju Island, I felt that the cinematography and production designs did not really take full advantage of the island setting. With the exception of episodes 4 and 5, where the Haenyeo (women divers) are featured along with scenes at the pier, there are no other distinguishing views of the island landscapes, which is a shame.
The premise for this season revolves around Kang Kwon Joo’s recurring PTSD as a result of her overexertions in S2 and S3. She has a new partner in Derek Jo, a Korean-American LAPD anti-vice squad leader who goes to Seoul under a joint task force with the Seoul Police Agency. The plotline is focused on serial killings purportedly by “mysterious and shadowy perpetrators” who approach their victims online before committing the heinous crimes. Things quickly escalate before the action then shifts to Vimo Island, where the team joins up with the local police force as part of the Vimo Provincial Police Agency Golden Time Team 112 Call Centre. Key elements featured include mental health issues and a religious cult/ sect, among other themes in the mix.
I actually enjoyed this season much more than S2. It is not as complicated to follow and less political, while the relationship dynamics are in no way as complex in their depictions. That said, as much as I had fun, I did find the final reveal of the antagonists along with their motivations and modus operandi to be rather absurd and far-fetched. But I think with some suspension of disbelief, there is much entertainment value to be had just by going with the flow of the fast paced storytelling. There is no shortage of action-packed sequences and thrilling edge-of-the-seat stuff, which is available in abundance here.
As far as the acting is concerned, there isn’t much left to be said about Lee Ha Na. She truly personifies the character of Kang Kwon Joo, so much so that I can’t imagine anyone else who could possibly do a better job than her. Even the Korean National Police Agency seems to think so, having made her its honorary police officer and ambassador. Co-starring with Lee Ha Na is the experienced Song Seung Heon, as Detective Derek Jo. In terms of portrayal and emotional depth, he certainly looks the part of a tough and stoic police detective with a tragic past. Probably the only issue is his English-speaking parts. The lack of fluency or an American accent for one, and the inconsistency in dialogue where sometimes he speaks Hangul to his LAPD teammate (also a Korean-American but one who speaks better English).
Son Eun Seo, Kim Joong Ki and Song Boo Geon (S2) make their return while Baek Sung Hyun re-joins the team after a 2-season hiatus. Among the new faces, Lee Kyu Hung deserves acknowledgment for his range in the portrayal of a rather “varied” role. Kang Seung Yoon plays cyber division police officer Han Woo Joo as the GTT’s resident computer whiz (a replacement of Kim Woo Suk’s Jin Seo Yool in a similar capacity for the team). Look out for memorable supporting and guest appearances by Kil Hae Yeon, Lee Jin Wook, Kim Bup Rae, Im Chul Soo and Kwon Yool.
There are 5 tracks in total for the soundtrack. My personal favourite is the hauntingly theatrical Coming to You by the young singer GRASS which sounds like a chilling version of a lullaby. Full listing as follows:
1. GRASS – Coming to You
2. Kang Seung Yoon – Your Voice
3. KLANG – No Way to Go
4. Elaine - Here for You
5. Kim Jaehwan - Promise You
All things considered, I would place Voice 4: Judgment Hour as my second favourite of the series. I still feel the first season is by far the best, and although this one doesn’t come close to reaching its levels of brilliance, it’s enjoyably engrossing with mild suspense, sufficient thrills and without the overly mind-boggling complexities to keep viewers entertained. Just in case you can't get enough of the Golden Time Team, there's more than a hint for a potential season 5 in the horizon. Looks like the franchise won't be concluding any time soon...
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