Achi news desk-
Taxi Driver returned as the Chief Detective from another era on Friday, April 19, marking the long-awaited return of Lee Je Hoon to K-drama screens. Looking at the viewership ratings for the first time from Chief Detective 1958 (수사반장 1958), suffice it to say that the charming actor’s absence has been greatly missed. Although introducing a new saga of stories, the latest series of the former Taxi driver is a prequel to the classic Korean series, The Chief Inspector which was broadcast between 1971 and 1989.
Just as the original series managed to blow off the roof in its heyday, the first performance of the MBC 2024 drama also began to break records. According to Nielsen Korea, Episode 1 captured an average national rating of 10.1%, surpassing the limit set by any show to air on Friday and securing the highest premiere rating of a Friday-Saturday drama in MBC history.
From every possible aspect – the cast, the classic nostalgic draw of the series, and once again, the presence of Lee Je Hoon – Chief Detective 1958 was inevitably going to make waves on the small screen. Despite its all-time high opening, did the series captivate the viewers?
Top Detective 1958 Reviews: What is the verdict of the viewers on the return of Lee Je Hoon in 2024?
With the first weekend over, the retro investigative drama has already wrapped up two episodes starring Lee Je Hoon, Lee Dong Hwi, Choi Woo Sung, Yoon Hyun Soo and Seo Eun Soo. Created by Park Jae Beom (Vincenzo, Good Manager, The Fiery Priest), the new MBC drama is set in the late 1950s, ten years before the original Choi Bool Am-starrer classic went into motion.
Je Hoon leads the squad as the titular detective, Park Young Han, who is always one step ahead in catching criminals by channeling all of his signature quirks. With three colleagues at his side, who equally support his esoteric ways, he strives to serve the people and blow the lid off corruption that hides in plain sight.
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However, her happy-go-lucky vibe should not be misconstrued as one-dimensional. The audience has already heard about his potentially traumatic history and can’t wait for the bittersweet plot to unravel itself.
Even before the premiere saw the light of day, fans were hit with a ray of hopeful bullying, knowing that Lee Je Hoon and Lee Dong Hwi would be sharing the screen for this retro series. The episodes between Friday and Saturday marked the beginning of an endearing dynamic between two new “besties” that fans will cherish for a long time. The lead duo’s comic chemistry was top-notch as user X/Twitter stated the obvious: “Lee Jehoon and Lee Donghwi’s tandem is top tier; these roles were so perfectly made for them 😭.”
As always, Lee Dong Hwi rules the screen while holding his own. Twitterati has once again fallen for his wits and funny charm and is having a ball witnessing his comic timing and dialogues unfolding in real time.
On top of the bromance, the romance set the bar high too. Je Hoon’s lovely screen presence, along with Seo Eun Soo’s sweet magnetism, came to the fore. Rounding out each other’s personalities, viewers declared Lee Je Hoon the “bf who talks a lot” and Seo Eun Soo the “gf who listens quietly.”
Other users did not hold back in praising her gentle grace: “#SeoEunSoo is so lovely here! Who wouldn’t fall in love with Lee Hye-ju, I totally get them!”
Hitting back hard with his effortlessly suave stance, Lee Je Hoon quickly became the favorite thing about the latest MBC premiere. His odd body language tapped into aggressive physical comedy, which had his fans rolling on the floor.
Alongside Queen of Tears Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, 1958’s Top Detective has become an instant weekend obsession for many. If the former has the power to inspire the hearts of fans with poignant feelings, the latter has the comical strength to take that burden away immediately.
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Choi Bool’s cameo immediately warmed a nostalgic fire, starting a balance of all the heartwarming themes and genres designed to cook the sweetest dish.
The first set of episodes focused more on giving the funny combination of detectives that fit well together. While fans wait to see how the soup will be cooked, here are some other fan reviews of the 1958 premiere of the Detective Chief:
- “#ChiefDetective1958 first two episodes SO GOOD. love it w/ dynamic sangsoon! LJH has not disappointed me yet LDH such a charismatic actor! Excited for the romance and to see our loser hero with his squad of losers!”
- “I didn’t expect #Detective1958 to have this much comedy 😂 and it turned out great.”
- “And so, the team is now complete. They have already won my heart.”
- “The 1958 lead detective team is officially complete! can’t wait to see our squad working together to give justice to those who needed it! 🕵🏻♂️🚨🚓”
- “This is how jehoon’s characters always have a traumatic history.”
- “I always hear his main theme and watch some clips of the play on varshows. this opening makes me emotional 🥹 no wonder it got a double digit rating for its premiere. put this on my watch list.”
- “Park YoungHan is so coded “Kim Doki”. I’m already in love.” (A fan wrote, referring to Lee Je Hoon’s Taxi Driver character)
- “An engaging story with a stellar cast, #Detective1958 has all the makings of a crime thriller.”
- “Get ready for retro cops in this Action Comedy, #ChiefDetective1958. A great start! Didn’t think I would like it but it has a light touch on heavy subjects, already invested in the story and characters which is chaotic but in a good way. The comedy is on point.”
- “Love #ChiefDetective1958 ! Comedy, action, bits of romance all thrown in. The team is a good mix of brains, brawn with a sense of justice and passion. I hope they don’t play the 🩷triangle because everyone in the team is precious!”
Catch Master Detective Episode 3 on Friday, April 26, at 9:50pm KST on MBC TV. International viewers can stream it on Disney Plus Hotstar.
