Credit: SBS
One of 2025’s most shocking dramas is on its way.
SBS’s new Friday–Saturday crime thriller The Mantis: Original Sin premieres September 5th and centers around a chilling premise: Twenty years after the capture of a brutal serial killer known as “The Mantis,” a series of copycat murders begins. To stop them, a detective is forced into an unthinkable partnership—with his estranged mother, the original Mantis herself.
Today, the series kicked off with an intense first table read, giving fans a glimpse at the explosive chemistry to come. Director Byun Young Joo and writer Lee Young Jong were joined by a powerhouse cast including Go Hyun Jung (as Jung I Shin), Jang Dong Yoon (as Cha Soo Yeol), Cho Seong Ha (as Choi Jung Ho), and Lee El (as Kim Na Hee).
Credit: SBS
Go Hyun Jung, playing the infamous serial killer, delivered a commanding performance from the very first line. Her portrayal of the twisted and enigmatic Jung I Shin balanced eerie sensuality with razor-sharp precision—showing a level of transformation that extended to her tone, gaze, and facial expressions.
Jang Dong Yoon also made a powerful impression. As detective Cha Soo Yeol, a man forced to team up with the very woman he has hated his entire life, Jang showed emotional depth and dynamic range—from searing rage to deep-seated pain.
What truly stood out, however, was the electric tension between Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon. As mother and son locked in a cat-and-mouse partnership, the two actors went beyond cliché portrayals of maternal love and instead brought a fierce psychological battle to the table—one driven by trauma, hatred, and a shared past soaked in blood.
Cho Seong Ha plays Choi Jung Ho, head of the violent crimes unit at the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, while Lee El joins the investigation as Kim Na Hee, a tenacious lead officer in the same division.
The table read was marked by relentless focus, raw emotion, and high energy. The cast dove into their roles without hesitation, creating a charged atmosphere that felt more like a live set than a rehearsal room.
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