Television series

Suspicious Partner

Name: Suspicious Partner
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Thriller
Released: 2017
Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Nam Ji Hyeon, Choi Tae Joon, Kwon Na Ra

Serial killer

A South Korean legal thriller that pivots between courtroom intrigue, romantic tension, and genuine danger. When a murder suspect with amnesia keeps targeting the same two people, a prosecutor-turned-private-attorney and a falsely accused prosecutor trainee become reluctant partners—professionally and personally. It's buoyant and earnest, propelled by chemistry and plot momentum.

TVMaze rating

3.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a romance that keeps bickering while a murder mystery tightens around it, and you enjoy leads who spar more than they swoon.

Skip it if you want a tight, serious thriller, since the comedy and romance dilute the suspense, and at forty half-hour episodes the middle may feel stretched.

What it asks of you: Forty half-hour episodes give it room to stretch, and it swings from giggles to dread within a single scene, so you need to stay alert to tonal shifts.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Descendants of the Sun2016

Similar blend of romance, action, and high stakes with gorgeous leads and addictive chemistry. Fast-paced, emotionally generous, and knows exactly what kind of show it is—a vehicle for swoon and spectacle.

But The plotting can feel secondary to the romance, and some will find the earnestness cloying rather than charming. Melodrama isn't everyone's comfort zone.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay2020

Korean thriller with romantic core and genuine psychological depth. Seo Ye-ji and Kim Soo-hyun deliver nuanced performances, and the show balances dark themes with levity without ever feeling flippant about mental illness.

But Slower burn than Suspicious Partner. Deals explicitly with trauma and psychiatric illness—not light viewing, and the pacing won't suit anyone wanting pure propulsion.

Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul Ho2016

Courtroom comedy-drama with the same scrappy energy and workplace camaraderie. Lighter fare that finds humor in legal procedure without sacrificing genuine stakes or character development.

But Less romantic subplot means if that's your draw, you'll feel the absence. Also harder to find with reliable subtitles outside major streaming platforms.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Suspicious Partner

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Grumpy Old Men1993

Both pivot on the revelation that two people who seem to dislike each other are exactly what each other needs. The central emotional engine is identical: irritation transforming into trust.

Might seem absurd as a pairing, but both are fundamentally about antagonists forced into proximity who discover they *like* each other. The rhythm of bickering-to-tenderness is identical. Funny, crude, utterly warm. A masterclass in chemistry between leads.

But Ancient, aggressively American, no thriller elements whatsoever. If you need suspense or a young cast, this will feel like a genre punishment. Also plays for laughs from a very different era.

Healer2014

Mystery-thriller with real danger beneath the romance. Ji Chang-wook plays a very different role here—darker, more damaged—but the cat-and-mouse plotting and the way it commits to genuine threat will feel familiar in the best way.

But More brutal in tone; if you're here for levity, this will feel like a tonal whiplash. Also from a different era of Korean TV, so the production values show.

Crash Landing on You2019

Beloved romantic comedy-thriller with Korean and North Korean leads thrown together by circumstance. Gorgeous cinematography, genuine laughs, real danger, and a couple with authentic chemistry that justifies the time investment.

But Length—16 episodes—and some will find the North Korean storyline distracting from the romance. Comedy doesn't always land if political humor isn't your language.

Voice2017

Procedural thriller about a sound engineer and detective hunting a serial killer. Tense, focused, and smartly structured. If you want the darker side of Korean legal-thriller with no romantic padding, this delivers pure suspense.

But Unrelentingly grim. There's almost no humor or lightness, and it can feel repetitive across its two seasons. Not the show to watch for warmth.

Search: WWW2019

Legal and corporate thriller with strong ensemble chemistry and real stakes. Lighter than most on this list but still committed to plotting. Great if you want workplace dynamics without the murder-of-the-week formula.

But More cerebral and less concerned with character romance. If emotional investment in a central couple matters, you might find it cold or scattered.

Chief Kim2017

Workplace comedy-thriller about an accountant navigating corporate corruption. Sharp writing, genuine humor, and Namkoong Min is a joy. Similar energy to Suspicious Partner but anchored by a different kind of protagonist entirely.

But Less thriller, more comedy—if you're chasing the suspense, this leans too hard into the workplace caper. Also resolves faster and doesn't sustain tension the same way.

The Time Tunnel1966

Thriller about a detective who emerges from a sealed tunnel after 30 years. Time-travel premise with genuine mystery and strong procedural momentum. Committed to its premise in ways that feel fresh for the genre.

But The central conceit is high-concept in ways that strain credibility for some viewers. Also quite dark—less romance, more hard-boiled despair.

The Devil Judge2021

Both structure their cases around impossible questions—how do you prove something when the evidence itself is corrupted? Both respect the courtroom as a place where the truth matters and people's lives hang in the balance.

Korean thriller with darker edge and genuine dystopian stakes. Complex plotting, a morally ambiguous protagonist, and willingness to go to places Suspicious Partner never ventures. If you loved the legal procedural part, this takes it seriously.

But No romance subplot whatsoever—this is pure thriller. Bleak, cynical about institutions, and demands you sit with moral discomfort. Very different emotional temperature from Suspicious Partner.

MINDHUNTER2017

Both understand that the real thriller is watching smart people think their way through a problem. Both respect the intelligence of their audience and trust them to follow complex reasoning without constant action.

Procedural thriller about FBI profilers in the 1970s hunting serial killers. Forensic, methodical, and building suspense through psychology rather than plot twists. Slow-burn brilliance if you prefer investigation and character work to romantic hijinks.

But No levity. No romance. Glacially paced by modern standards—episodes earn their length through dialogue and implication rather than incident. Also American and period-specific in ways that require patience.