Netflix looks to get your heart racing in more ways than one with its newest Korean drama, 100 Days of Deception. With a first episode currently streaming and the rest dropping on a weekly basis, this historical spy romance title looks to build tension over time as it tells the story of a pickpocket (Lee Ga-kyung) and an interpreter (Park Jin-young) who are unexpectedly roped into a plot of international espionage. Set in the colonial capital of Seoul, Gyeongseong, during Japanese occupation, the show depicts life-altering relationships, secrets, and dangers during the fight for Korean independence.

Opening Shot: We see a reel of old, black-and-white footage featuring various everyday people, places, and happenings in Imperial Japanese Army-occupied Gyeongseong.

The Gist: It’s the Spring of 1932, and change is afoot in Gyeongseong. In 1910, Japan annexed the Korean Empire, establishing the Japanese Government-General of Joseon and dubbing the Gyeongseong district as their new colonial capital, “Keijo.” In 1919, the March First Movement saw millions of Koreans protest occupation and mobilize for independence, but ended tragically with Japanese law enforcement killing thousands of people, arresting tens of thousands, and burning buildings, leaving many people struggling, homeless, and orphaned in their wake.

One such victim is Lee Ga-kyung (Kim You-jung), a spunky young woman who lives in an impoverished community of young pickpockets trying to meet daily quotas in return for the bare minimum to survive. Not only is Ga-kyung a prolific pickpocket, but she’s also one of the few who can read and write thanks to her younger years working as a live-in maid at a missionary, where she learned to speak English. With the help of her friend, rickshaw driver Lee No-ma (Hong Sa-bin), Ga-kyung uses her Korean, Japanese, and English skills and quick mind to steal and con her way into enough money to achieve her dream of moving to America. But when a higher-profile robbery goes awry, Ga-kyung becomes unintentionally entangled with Government-General interpreter Sato Hideo (Park Jin-young) and the anti-Japanese independence group, Gugukdan.

Meanwhile, Gugukdan sniper So-ran (Kim Hyun-joo) joins Korean-American media correspondent Yoo Philip (Lee Moo-saeng) in Gyeongseong to use their marriage of convenience as a cover for an operation to assassinate newly appointed Inspector-General Sato Shinichi (Jin Seon-kyu). It’s personal for So-ran, who wants revenge for her daughter’s brutal death in 1919, and she’s more than willing to die for it. Sato also has surprising enemies in his own inner circle: his interpreter, Suzuki (Kim Do-hyun), and adopted son, Hideo. Although he presents to the world as Japanese, Hideo was a young Korean pickpocket whose failed attempt to rob Sato changed the trajectory of his life forever. All of their stories come together on the night So-ran plans to kill Sato, as unforeseen interferences from Hideo, Ga-kyung, and an unknown gunman leads So-ran to recruit Ga-kyung to spy on the Government-General for 100 days.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? K-drama fans might find some major parallels with the acclaimed 2018 historical romance series Mr. Sunshine. The multilingual moments and Korean-Japanese conflict may also recall parts of Apple TV+ series Pachinko.

Our Take: 100 Days of Deception immediately pulls viewers in with compelling characters and deep political tension steeped in real history, weaving storylines together in a way that had me on the edge of my seat for most of the first episode. The actors continually impressed me as they delivered lines in Korean, Japanese, and sometimes even English, all while convincingly portraying the anguish, rage, and hope of a suppressed population willing to risk everything for what they believe in. Time flies by as each main character’s story carries its own intrigue, drama, and action until it all culminates in the final sequence that brings them all together in a way that generally makes sense.

As you may have gathered from “The Gist” above, a lot is going on, and it can potentially get confusing if you get lost in the various characters’ secrets and pasts or if you have no context of Korea and Japan’s history. The entry of the second gunman at the end also slightly confused me, but I’m trusting that the next episode will add more clarity. Even then, the good far outweighs the bad, and the first episode sets up plenty to keep you coming back for more. From enticing tropes like a relationship of convenience, enemies to lovers, and found family, to two differing potential romances that are poised to tug at the heartstrings, to a genuine respect paid towards an important time in Korean history, there’s a lot to make this series feel worthy of your time and attention.

Performance Worth Watching: With a versatility that sees her sell crafty and goofy as much as warm and sincere, Kim You-jung truly lights up the screen as Lee Ga-kyung.

Parting Shot: Threatened at gunpoint by a mysterious assailant, Ga-kyung whispers “assassination” in English to Hideo as she desperately implores him to help her.

Our Call: From intrigue to romance to important actual history, 100 Days of Deception brings a lot to the table that makes it feel worth a watch for anyone willing to ride out the various twists, turns, and hour-long episodes. STREAM IT!

Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.