The Killing Vote (2023)

The Killing Vote drops the plot and never quite picks it up.

Don't get me wrong, this is an entertaining crime thriller. The core premise is an intriguing one. The public are offered the opportunity to cast a vote via an app on their mobile device to see if vigilante justice should be metered out, to criminally culpable individuals, who escaped the South Korean justice system. Its a judicial take, if you like, on the wisdom of the crowd.

The problem is, this premise is never explored far enough into the series or in enough depth. What you get instead, is a tale that quickly becomes a truncated "who dunnit", where the focus shifts to the police's efforts to identify and hunt down the network of digital vigilantes.

The handling is somewhat at odds with loosely comparable series, such as Squid Games, where the games themselves are the central focus. Had The Killing Vote done something similar, I believe it would have been a far more compelling watch.

As it stands The Killing Vote ts still worthwhile. Characterisations have depth and detail, narrative is excellent. That said, you are left with the feeling, this series could have been more.

In summary, an interesting core premise, great acting, great characters and narrative but still on a certain level, feels like a missed opportunity.