‘Karma’ (2025) Netflix Series Review - A Riveting Tale of Fate and Consequence

Karma is a masterfully woven thriller that unspools over two interconnected timelines, separated by a mere 15 days, yet entangled in a web of secrets, deception, and retribution. The series opens in the present, where a burn victim is rushed to the hospital after surviving a fire in an abandoned building. Though the doctors fight to save his life, his face remains permanently scarred, hinting at a dark and turbulent past that led him here. The narrative then rewinds to two weeks earlier, setting the stage for the gripping chain of events that culminate in this tragic fate.

The show introduces five of its six key players in the past timeline, including Hee-jun, known as the Debtor, a man drowning in financial woes. Desperate to clear his dues to a ruthless loan shark, he concocts a chilling scheme involving his father’s life insurance payout. His plan? To stage an accident that ensures a lucrative claim. Enlisting the help of his morally ambiguous coworker Gil-ryong, Hee-jun sets his sinister ploy into motion. However, things spiral out of control when the police inform him that his father’s body has been buried—implying foul play instead of an accident. Now, Hee-jun finds himself in an even more precarious situation, as the primary suspect in a murder investigation.

Elsewhere, two seemingly unconnected individuals, Glasses (Kwang-soo) and Yu-jeong (Seung-yeon), are driving late at night when they inadvertently hit Hee-jun’s father. Under the influence of alcohol, Glasses panics and makes a rash decision to bury the body deep in the mountains. But their misfortune doesn’t end there—an unwitting bystander, the Witness (Hae-soo), has seen it all. In a desperate attempt to silence him, Glasses abducts the Witness, only to make an unexpected move: instead of eliminating him, he turns him into an accomplice. However, the Witness has his own plans, leveraging his knowledge to extort Glasses, further tangling the web of betrayal.

The true brilliance of Karma lies in its intricate storytelling, where every revelation recontextualizes past events, constantly shifting the audience’s perception. Just as the dust begins to settle, the sixth and final key player, Ju-yeon (Min-a), enters the picture in the present timeline. Without revealing too much, her role cements the fates of these characters in a way that is both shocking and deeply satisfying, raising the stakes to unprecedented levels.

More than just a revenge drama, Karma is a haunting exploration of consequences. The show doesn’t just punish its characters—it forces them to confront the repercussions of their own moral failings. Il-heung, serving as both writer and director, crafts a tense, intelligent narrative brimming with unexpected twists, razor-sharp dialogue, and an unrelenting sense of suspense. Every episode oscillates between moments of eerie quiet and sudden, brutal intensity, making for an exhilarating viewing experience. With its tight pacing, complex character arcs, and a finale that ties every loose end with chilling precision, Karma proves itself to be an absolute must-watch.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times