Brain Works

4.4
20231h

Production

Logo for Samhwa Networks

Two ill-fated men become a comic duo to investigate criminal cases involving a rare brain disease together.

Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Official Netflix Trailer [ENG SUB]

Official Netflix Trailer [ENG SUB]

Thumbnail for video: Trailer [ENG SUB]

Trailer [ENG SUB]

Seasons

16 Episodes • Premiered 2023

Putting aside their disdain for each other, a kindhearted detective and an arrogant neuroscientist team up to solve a series of mind-bending crimes.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 1: Cooperation As Yet Unheard Of

1. Cooperation As Yet Unheard Of

9.0

Dr. Shin Ha-ru is fired after illegally acquiring a criminal’s brain. He volunteers to help Detective Geum Myeong-se's bureau — and to make him pay.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 2: The Most Brilliant Moment

2. The Most Brilliant Moment

8.0

Ha-ru and Myeong-se's first case involves a famous guitarist and his wife, who turned herself in for his murder. But Ha-ru turns the case on its head.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 3: I Don't Know My Wife's Face

3. I Don't Know My Wife's Face

8.0

A Vietnamese woman is found dead with her face and hands burnt. Her husband suffers prosopagnosia; her best friend has disappeared. Both are suspects.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 4: Things That Are Visible When You Close Your Eyes

4. Things That Are Visible When You Close Your Eyes

8.0

New evidence and test results drastically change the face of the case. A killer approaches Ha-ru, saying he wants to donate his brain to neuroscience.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 5: The Girl With The Wicked Spirit

5. The Girl With The Wicked Spirit

8.0

A 6-year-old with aphasia gets turned in by her mother. She believes a demon has possessed her daughter to kill — and her husband has paid the price.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 6: How To Be Saved Forever

6. How To Be Saved Forever

8.0

Ha-ru exposes the truth before the child’s exorcism can take place. And a tablet reveals some dirt on the detective, much to the doctor's delight.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 7: A Man Cheating With His Wife

7. A Man Cheating With His Wife

8.0

Ha-ru’s attempt to sully Myeong-se embarrassingly backfires. A man reports his wife missing to the police, claiming a "virtual human" attacked her.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 8: Love, The Basic Instinct

8. Love, The Basic Instinct

8.0

After a husband's confession, his wife shows symptoms of conversion disorder. Who killed who? Ha-ru gives up his revenge and leaves the department.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 9: Reset Man

9. Reset Man

A suspect whose memory resets every 30 minutes claims he has killed his mother. Ha-ru returns, intrigued by a patient with anterograde amnesia.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 10: Though Memories Fade, feat. How to Forget Bad Memories

10. Though Memories Fade, feat. How to Forget Bad Memories

The stepbrother becomes a prime suspect as the siblings’ harrowing tale comes to light. On his date with So-jeong, Myeong-se gets a call about a body.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 11: A Brain on Trial

11. A Brain on Trial

9.0

The perpetrator who left a mysterious note at the murder scene demands a reduced sentence. Unaware of Dong-u’s plan, Ha-ru appears as a witness.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 12: The Effects Love and Breakups Have on the Brain

12. The Effects Love and Breakups Have on the Brain

9.0

Ha-ru's statement in court stirs up the media. When he unravels the cause of Kim Mo-ran’s hypersexuality, Myeong-se and So-jeong get tangled up in it.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 13: A Teenage Brain Versus A Psychopath Brain

13. A Teenage Brain Versus A Psychopath Brain

8.0

A bleeding boy is found unconscious in I-na's bedroom. All of her friends claim she's the one responsible, and unfortunately, the evidence agrees.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 14: The Best Revenge

14. The Best Revenge

8.0

Ha-ru helps prove I-na's innocence. As he and Myeong-se's family bond, Ha-ru finally discovers Myeong-se’s flaw, leading to his untimely resignation.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 15: Episode 15

15. Episode 15

8.0

Ha-ru learns that his parents weren't killed in a car accident but murdered. To find their killer, Ha-ru must accept a psychopath's dangerous offer.

Still image for Brain Works season 1 episode 16: Episode 16

16. Episode 16

8.0

Myeong-se and Ha-ru must play the sympathy game, or else. The hostages will be released if their brain waves sync. Can two heads work better than one?

Cast

Photo of Jung Yong-hwa

Jung Yong-hwa

Shin Ha-ru

Photo of Cha Tae-hyun

Cha Tae-hyun

Geum Myeong-se

Photo of Kwak Sun-young

Kwak Sun-young

Seol So-jeong

Photo of Ye Ji-won

Ye Ji-won

Kim Mo-ran

Photo of Jeong Dong-hwan

Jeong Dong-hwan

Hwang Dong-woo

Photo of Kim Soo-jin

Kim Soo-jin

Shin Ji-hyeong

Photo of Im Cheol-hyung

Im Cheol-hyung

Park Chi-guk

Photo of Woo Hyeon

Woo Hyeon

Kim Gil-joong

Photo of Kim Ah-song

Kim Ah-song

Geum I-na

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Reviews

P

ParkMin

5/10

This drama was a constant coin toss for me, swinging between great and bad throughout, this included the story, characters, jokes, and, in particular, cases. Every case related to one or multiple subjects around neuroscience for the doctor to talk about, however, some subjects were poorly executed and questionable. These ones were totally forced and stretched thin just for the sake of including them. Other cases were actually interesting. The humor as well was a big hit or miss, especially with the male leads. The drama placed too much focus on the male leads while neglecting the remainder of the cast dynamic. On the other hand, the detective wife didn't fit quite well and it took until the last few episodes for her character to finally blend. The drama had its good moments with its witty humor but it lacked in many areas to be a solid drama.

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