Premiering Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:50 p.m. KST, SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama "The Mantis: Original Sin" (directed by Byun Young-joo, written by Lee Young-jong) kicks off when a copycat emerges more than 20 years after the capture of the notorious serial killer known as “Mantis.” To crack the case, a detective is forced into an unthinkable alliance with the very “Mantis” he’s despised his entire life ― his mother. The result is a tightly wound, high-stakes thriller.
With Ko Hyun-jung (as Jung Yi-shin) and Jang Dong-yoon (as Cha Soo-yeol) leading the cast, the series promises buzzworthy transformations and a premise that flips the crime genre on its head: a mother-son team-up between a convicted serial killer and a cop. It’s a hook that practically begs to be binged ― and the creative pedigree seals the deal.
At the helm is director Byun Young-joo, acclaimed for "Ardor," "Flying Boys," and "Helpless," whose sleek visual language and unflinching focus on character psychology have drawn raves. Expect her signature precision ― from immersive pacing to razor-sharp mise-en-scene ― to supercharge "The Mantis: Original Sin" and pull viewers straight to the edge of their seats.
Penning the script is Lee Young-jong, the writer behind the 13.12-million-admission hit "12.12: The Day," with additional credits that include "Black House," "Private Eye," and "Flu," plus adaptation work on "Confession of Murder," "The Chase," 'The Roundup," and "Hunt." For his first television series, Lee promises a meticulously plotted narrative, whiplash twists, and finely etched, emotionally complex characters that deepen the show’s pull.
"Helpless," "Black House," and "Private Eye" are already regarded as modern touchstones in Korea’s genre cinema ― and now Byun and Lee are joining forces for television. With sweat-in-your-palms tension and top-tier craft, "The Mantis: Original Sin" is poised to be a standout, prestige thriller.
"The Mantis: Original Sin" will premiere on SBS at 9:50 p.m. KST on Friday, Sept. 5, following "The Winning Try."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)