So Ji-sub Turns a Vengeful Hero in Noir Action Drama ‘Mercy for None’

So Ji-sub in an action drama is all I could ask for, given how I love his portrayals, especially when he’s playing those dark and gritty roles. His subsequent drama, Mercy for None, puts him at the center of a noir action story as a vengeful hero overwhelmed with fury and seeking revenge, and things are only about to get wilder (or hotter, I believe) as the drama sneak peek reveals that So has taken matters into his own hands.

With a filmography full of experience and success, So Ji-sub keeps showing the actor’s range and depth in his roles, effortlessly switching across genres and character types. Whether as a brooding, troubled man or a charismatic hero, So Ji-sub’s performances have this intensity and emotional nuance that never fail to impress.

In Mercy for None, he has a savage side on display, this guy who’s consumed by vengeance. Its first glimpse foreshadows the narrative’s gritty and gripping quality, as So’s character gone rogue in his mission hints at the raw emotional power and cinematic thrills that will surely unfold on screen.

The Choi Sung-eun-directed drama, based on the O Se-hyung-written webtoon Plaza Wars: Mercy for None, centers on Nam Gi-jun (So Ji-sub), an ex-gangster known for his prowess within the underworld. He had a key role in his gang’s explosive growth. However, Gi-jun gave up all to steer clear of fighting with his brother Gi-seok (Lee Jun-hyuk) after he joined the rival gang and advanced in status.

In the present, more than a decade later, Gi-jun leads a quiet life working as a drink distributor. The plot twists when Gi-seok dies unexpectedly—bringing Gi-jun’s repressed brutality to the surface as he resolves to exact revenge on whoever killed his brother and returns to the crime world.

Mercy for None also includes Heo Jun-ho, Ahn Kil-kang, Tiger Lee, Gong Myoung, Choo Young-woo, Jo Han-chul, and Cha Seung-won in the cast of characters. The series blends the rawness of noir, the depth and complexity of a man engulfed in inner struggle and revenge, and the gritty realism of the action genre, making it notably intriguing.

As I mentioned earlier, So Ji-sub expresses subtle, complex emotions in a way that deftly captures the psychological anguish and emotional weight of his characters. And this time, as he explores the realm of noir and action within the world of crime, his upcoming role in Mercy for None manifests his ever-evolving acting genius. The drama will be available for streaming on Netflix and is scheduled for release in the second quarter of this year.