"The storyline with which this is achieved is nothing short of brilliant." – Collider

"'Karma' delivers much of its suspense through a nonlinear narrative." – Time

The Netflix series 'Karma' (written and directed by Lee Il-hyung) has been receiving acclaim for its artistic quality both domestically and internationally. Immediately after its release, it ranked first in the 'Top 10 in South Korea' series.

'Karma' was released on the 4th. It tells the intertwined stories of six individuals caught in a web of bad fate, depicting the catastrophic consequences of their choices.

'Karma' is a crime thriller. It portrays the process through which the characters – the witness (played by Park Hae-soo), the lead (played by Shin Min-a), the loan shark (played by Lee Hee-joon), Gil-ryong (played by Kim Sung-kyun), the glasses man (played by Lee Kwang-soo), and Yoo-jung (played by Gong Seung-yeon) – fall into the cycle of misfortune.

The robust storyline has drawn responses from foreign media as well. The American 'Time' described it as "a work that maximizes tension through a nonlinear narrative."

'Collider' noted, "It realistically and harshly portrays the tragedy brought by greed, and the story development is incredibly exquisite. The main plot unfolds intricately."

'Karma' presents twists in every episode. The media stated, "It repeatedly reinterprets events from a new perspective with each twist and praised the director for his meticulous approach to the complex narrative."

Particularly, the acting skills of the cast have been highly praised. 'Collider' reported, "Park Hae-soo's dynamic and lively performance made the glasses man be described as a 'complete psychopath.'"

'FandomWire' mentioned, "Shin Min-a led the drama with a deeply emotional performance, playing a central role in the story's empathy with her complex emotions."

However, there was some disappointment regarding the lead character's episode. It pointed out, "Although it seemed likely to be a major driving force of the plot, it ultimately remains a secondary element," adding, "Her character abruptly exits just as it begins to take root."

In contrast, 'Time' views the lead as the only character who overcomes trauma. It stated, "The lead is depicted as the only one who recovers her life amidst the vortex of violence and greed by choosing forgiveness and healing instead of revenge."

'FandomWire' evaluated, "With a constantly changing plot, it continues to offer viewers mystery and suspense until the very end," calling it "one of the most satisfying works of 2025."

<Photo credit: Netflix>