Wow, this show was completely different from anything I was expecting. I picked this up after watching Strangers From Hell, thinking it would be similar. While there were some similar themes, this show was definitely a comedy through and through. While the plot deals with some serious scenes, it balances it out with the comedy perfectly, creating enough tension to push the story line forward without losing its playful heart. I absolutely fell in love with Dong-Sik's character, and Bo-Kyung was the perfect partner for this crazy duo. The writing was awesome and there were never any boring moments. I also really enjoyed the homage's to some great movies like The Shawshank Redemption and American Psycho among many many others. I highly recommend this!
12 Reviews
Good Enough
PennyReviews13 January 2020
" Psychopath diary " blended the genres of comedy and thriller so well that the drama was entertaining till the very ending.
First of all, kudos for not adding romance in this one. The relationship of the main character and the leading lady was pretty great, with nice chemistry and amazing dynamics. Their pairing was pretty clever and entertaining.
The performances were fantastic too. Especially the leading actor was phenomenal, and probably one of the reasons to watch this drama.
Also, the cemody elements were plenty and they kept them up till the final episodes, although, I have to admit that they were less and less as the drama progressed. The thriller and action scenes were really good too, especially the mystery-criminal case was very entertaining.
So, overall, eight out of ten.
First of all, kudos for not adding romance in this one. The relationship of the main character and the leading lady was pretty great, with nice chemistry and amazing dynamics. Their pairing was pretty clever and entertaining.
The performances were fantastic too. Especially the leading actor was phenomenal, and probably one of the reasons to watch this drama.
Also, the cemody elements were plenty and they kept them up till the final episodes, although, I have to admit that they were less and less as the drama progressed. The thriller and action scenes were really good too, especially the mystery-criminal case was very entertaining.
So, overall, eight out of ten.
So good...so very very good. Loved it!
leahcubed1 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Yook Dong-Sik (Yoon Shi-yoon) , is a financial analyst with the quintessential "nice guy" personality. He does just about anything for anyone up to and including taking the fall for a bad business deal. Miserable and pushed to the brink he goes through the motions up to the point of suicide. As his luck would have it the "under construction site" Dong-sik chose for his suicide attempt (he changed his mind) was the site where a serial killer was attempting to kill their next victim. The serial killer kept diaries to record his crime and his victim hits the diary sending it where Dong-sik is hiding. As the serial killer stalks toward his location, Dong-ski fleas into traffic. He is hit by Police Officer Shim Bo-Kyung's (Jung In-sun) patrol car. When he revives after the accident he is suffering from retrograde amnesia and does not remember anything about his past including the murder he witnessed. The diary seems like the perfect way to discover who he was but when he reads it he thinks HE is the vicious psychopath who wrote in the diary. Shim Bo-Kyung has been sticking close to Dong-sik feeling guilty for hitting him with her car. And; she begins to see details that are alarmingly similar in some of the seemingly unrelated cases she has been working on. As they grow closer and explore the edges of the case, (Dong-sik is a crime drama buff and has unique insight into the mind of criminals) they wind up squarely in the sights of a real life monster? Will Dong-sik figure out who he really is before it is too late. Can Shim Bo-kyung trust her new friend who she suspects may be harboring a dark secret? Seo In-Woo (Park Sung-hoon) is a chaebol and executive at th company where Dong-sik works. In-woo also has the nasty habit of killing people he deems inferior as a hobby.
I really loved this series. I saw Yoon Shi--yoon in "Flower Boy Next Door" and did not, at first, realize it was the same actor. Once I realized it was him I was excited. He was so good in FBND so I expected he would be good in this and he did not disappoint. He played the "pushover" character so well and, when he switched to psycho mode, that was also very believable. I watched Jung In-sun in "Welcome to Waikiki" and she performed that comedic role incredibly. Her role in Psychopath Diary was mostly serious and her portrayal of a lady detective was very compelling. I have not seen Park Sung-boon) in anything but he played a chilling psychopath. He found Dong-sik's antics so amusing that even though he was evil as heck it still made you laugh. It is a very masterful dark comedy. One character surprised me in I thought they were one way and they turned out to be another. They were going for a plot twist but it really wound up just seeming out of character. Not a main character though and a minor part of the story. I loved the camaraderie of all the main characters. The plot was interesting enough it kept me looking forward to every episode. I highly recommend this. It is one of my new favorites. I have watched over a hundred dramas so I am harder to impress. This impressed me a lot.
I really loved this series. I saw Yoon Shi--yoon in "Flower Boy Next Door" and did not, at first, realize it was the same actor. Once I realized it was him I was excited. He was so good in FBND so I expected he would be good in this and he did not disappoint. He played the "pushover" character so well and, when he switched to psycho mode, that was also very believable. I watched Jung In-sun in "Welcome to Waikiki" and she performed that comedic role incredibly. Her role in Psychopath Diary was mostly serious and her portrayal of a lady detective was very compelling. I have not seen Park Sung-boon) in anything but he played a chilling psychopath. He found Dong-sik's antics so amusing that even though he was evil as heck it still made you laugh. It is a very masterful dark comedy. One character surprised me in I thought they were one way and they turned out to be another. They were going for a plot twist but it really wound up just seeming out of character. Not a main character though and a minor part of the story. I loved the camaraderie of all the main characters. The plot was interesting enough it kept me looking forward to every episode. I highly recommend this. It is one of my new favorites. I have watched over a hundred dramas so I am harder to impress. This impressed me a lot.
Amazing Kdrama
laleeannie3 April 2020
I remember seeing ads for this and being intrigued but didn't take action to know more about it. But with the circumstances now, I had so much time on my hands that I decided to give this a try.
I was not disappointed.
The cast was enjoyable and each one made an impression on me. The story flows nicely and kept me hooked and wanting more even if it was 3am and I had to wake up early the next day.
There isn't any romance in this which is great because that'll just become very unnecessary and cliché. So for all those who are sick and tired of seeing romance in every kdrama ever, I'd totally recommend Psychopath Diary.
The comedy aspect of this show is top notch and has made me smile like a madman a few times. Dark comedy? Just my cup of tea.
OST was fantastic. Especially the part at the end where In Woo and Dong Sik faced off. Plus the acting? Awesome.
Main lead is very lovable. The way Yoon Shi Yoon acted had a way of making me sympathise with him and now I'm obsessed. And can I also say Dong Chan is so precious I want him as my younger brother too.
Anyways, this is a must to watch. Definitely THE drama that sparked my interest in the thriller genre.
I was not disappointed.
The cast was enjoyable and each one made an impression on me. The story flows nicely and kept me hooked and wanting more even if it was 3am and I had to wake up early the next day.
There isn't any romance in this which is great because that'll just become very unnecessary and cliché. So for all those who are sick and tired of seeing romance in every kdrama ever, I'd totally recommend Psychopath Diary.
The comedy aspect of this show is top notch and has made me smile like a madman a few times. Dark comedy? Just my cup of tea.
OST was fantastic. Especially the part at the end where In Woo and Dong Sik faced off. Plus the acting? Awesome.
Main lead is very lovable. The way Yoon Shi Yoon acted had a way of making me sympathise with him and now I'm obsessed. And can I also say Dong Chan is so precious I want him as my younger brother too.
Anyways, this is a must to watch. Definitely THE drama that sparked my interest in the thriller genre.
Tragic yet Hilarious
donkrishna-dk11 August 2020
The movie perfectly combine the tragic life of a staff of a security/stock broker and scary life a psychopath in hilarious way. I had never seen this kind of movie. Usually when a movie focusing in psycho then it will be filled serious and thrilling feel. On contrary if a movie trying to mock the psycho then it will be filled with fun and stupidity. But this movie could keep the balance of thrilling and fun.
I remember what I misthink I am!
leonidasstathopoulos25 February 2020
A young man suffers from amnesia after an accident
He finds next to him a diary of dirty secrets of a serial killer,and believes that he is the one who wrotes,and finds the courage he missed in his past life to stand against the world
What a fun ride!
RealityGal24 June 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this Kdrama. What a great cast they had on this one. The main lead makes the greatest facial expressions throughout this series. It's not your typical intense thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, it's actually more comedy in my opinion which was a great combination. I love the relationships between the leads and their families. That always makes the series so much richer. I have to say the highlight of this entire drama was Heo Sung-tae. He was absolutely hysterical the entire time. I had no idea he was so comical. I'm so used to seeing him be the tough bad guy in Kdramas which I've always loved, but his comedic timing and acting was the best part of this show for me. Thumbs up!
Really good!
kulasinghamtehillah18 October 2021
If you are sick of the general type of kdramas, this one is like a breath of fresh air. It isn't too dark or serious, and it has a very likable underdog protagonist. One thing to note is that there isn't any outright romance. I've seen many kdramas where there is forced romance so thankfully this stayed clear of it. Yes there are a few scenes which suggest there could be something more, but its very subtle and its up for your interpretation. Great acting from the two male leads, and the female character is strong without shoving it in your face. The male and female main characters make a great duo, and their friendship is quite heartwarming. As for the humor, dark comedy isn't my type, but they made it work here. One thing that's done well is the main plot. Despite we knowing the real killer and the entire mystery already, it doesn't get boring or feel like we're just waiting for the main characters to catch up. There are lots of twists and turns, and it really hooks you in. Oh, and how could I forget the awesome bromance? Keep in mind that there is some violence and "dark" elements, but it isn't over the top.
Underrated and Good
xmasinswiss28 December 2023
I had to idea what to expect but was surprised with how good this was. The male lead delivered an outstanding performance -- in a couple of series I've seen him play characters with personality disorders or several characters at once, and he always delivers.
In fact, the entire cast delivers above expectations.
The plot is unique for Korean cinema, and I loved that there's no maudlin love story. The comedy works surprisingly well for such a grim story, too. The stereotypical Korean characters (screaming demon of a mother, unbearably stupid "comic relief" personages, open-mouth-eating-and-farting-middle-aged-men, and the like) are thankfully missing.
The only thing I found really frustrating was that no one asks the most obvious question. I mean, seriously, they start wondering about the most obvious thing 12 or 13 episodes in. That's the very first question I would have asked, and watching them not do this was infuriating! :)
I realize they needed it for the plot, but still.
In fact, the entire cast delivers above expectations.
The plot is unique for Korean cinema, and I loved that there's no maudlin love story. The comedy works surprisingly well for such a grim story, too. The stereotypical Korean characters (screaming demon of a mother, unbearably stupid "comic relief" personages, open-mouth-eating-and-farting-middle-aged-men, and the like) are thankfully missing.
The only thing I found really frustrating was that no one asks the most obvious question. I mean, seriously, they start wondering about the most obvious thing 12 or 13 episodes in. That's the very first question I would have asked, and watching them not do this was infuriating! :)
I realize they needed it for the plot, but still.
Worst last 4 episodes
aditya0425 November 2020
Comedy drama
chanshin-9194019 May 2021
Role of a lifetime
dumsumdumfai13 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Yoon is perfectly written for this series. It's a little drawn out and gets too serious near the end. But this comedy about psychopath killer is pretty easy going funny.
The story is about how through accidentsl anmesia, a wimpy low life office worker thinks he is a brutal murderer. And this gag runs for a long long time. What makes this all work is the main lead, and the real psycho guy. Yoon who plays the lead, has enough face contortion and skewl reasoning to makes this work. With the office politics and the xcon neighbor upstairs. The pot gets thick.
The female cop is also made interesting with her investigation instincts shown as her dad. And the real psycho also goes over the top with a lazy brother and a towering father.
This is just a laugh out loud setup. Nothing more but works.
The story is about how through accidentsl anmesia, a wimpy low life office worker thinks he is a brutal murderer. And this gag runs for a long long time. What makes this all work is the main lead, and the real psycho guy. Yoon who plays the lead, has enough face contortion and skewl reasoning to makes this work. With the office politics and the xcon neighbor upstairs. The pot gets thick.
The female cop is also made interesting with her investigation instincts shown as her dad. And the real psycho also goes over the top with a lazy brother and a towering father.
This is just a laugh out loud setup. Nothing more but works.
See also
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