Mouse is a TVN crime series about a serial killer and the two detectives chasing him. Detective Go Moo-chi and rookie officer Jung Ba-reum face off against a psychopath whose murders have gripped the nation with fear and chaos. The show ran 20 episodes, airing Wednesdays and Thursdays from March 3 to May 19, 2021.
Trailer, via CJ ENM WATCH.
Go Moo-chi and Jung Ba-reum
Go Moo-chi is played by Lee Hee-jun. He carries a tragic past tied to a horrific incident he witnessed as a child, which shaped his work as a detective. Jung Ba-reum, played by Lee Seung-gi, is the rookie partner who joins him. Together they try to find answers about the genetic predispositions toward psychopathy and how one might act on the knowledge if such predispositions could be detected.
The Killer and the Case
The series follows a psychopath’s ruthless serial murders. His attacks leave the country gripped by fear and chaos. Go Moo-chi and Jung Ba-reum face off against the killer after their encounter changes their lives completely.
Supporting Cast
Park Ju-hyun plays Oh Bong-yi, Kwon Hwa-woon plays Sung Yo-han, Gyeong Su-jin plays Choi Hong-ju, Woo Ji-hyun plays Koo Dong-koo, Jo Jae-yun plays Daniel Lee, Kim Young-jae plays Go Moo-won, and Hwang Se-on plays Kim Da-seul. Each character fills out the world around the central investigation.
The OTT Ranking
On KT’s online video service Seezn, Mouse ranked 3rd hottest drama for the first half of 2021. Among tvN’s Wednesday and Thursday series, it placed 5th in Nielsen Korea’s all-time rankings across paid platforms integrated with cable, IPTV, and satellite.
Comparing the Rankings
| Ranking | Source | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Hot drama (first half 2021) | Seezn (KT’s online video service) | 3rd |
| All-time tvN Wednesday/Thursday series | Nielsen Korea | 5th |
The rankings reflect how audiences responded to the show during its run.
What Works
The show’s strength comes from its pairing of Go Moo-chi’s troubled history with Jung Ba-reum’s fresh perspective. Their chemistry drives the investigation forward even as the case grows darker. The mystery holds attention across all 20 episodes.
Where It Falls Short
Some viewers may find the middle stretch slower than the opening episodes. The pacing eases slightly in the later episodes, though the finale brings everything back together.
Final Word
Mouse earns an 8.4 out of 10. The series delivers a strong crime thriller with a compelling central relationship between its two leads. Go Moo-chi’s haunted past and Jung Ba-reum’s relentless drive make for a watchable pairing. The killer’s identity remains a constant threat throughout.
The show’s ranking among tvN’s Wednesday and Thursday series shows its popularity. Its position on Seezn’s hot drama list for the first half of 2021 backs that up.
If you enjoy crime dramas with psychological depth, Mouse is worth your time. The show builds steadily toward its conclusion, and the final episode pays off the tension built over the season.
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