Copycat Killer (TV series)

Copycat Killer (模仿犯) is a Taiwanese crime thriller series that was released on Netflix on March 31, 2023. Set in 1990s Taipei, the series stars Wu Kang-ren as a prosecutor trying to track down a serial killer.^[1][2] The series was adapted from the 2001 novel The Copycat by Japanese writer Miyuki Miyabe.^[3]

Copycat Killer
模仿犯
Genre	Crime thriller
Based on	The Copycat by Miyuki Miyabe
Starring	Wu Kang-ren
Country of origin	Taiwan
Original language	Mandarin
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	10
Production
Editor	Shieh Meng-ju
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	March 31, 2023 (2023-03-31)

Synopsis

In 1990s Taipei, prosecutor Kuo Hsiao-chi tries to track down a serial killer named "Noh".^[1][2]

Cast

• Wu Kang-ren as Kuo Hsiao-chi
• Tsung-Hua Tou as Shang-Yong Lin
• Cammy Chiang as Yen-Jhen Lu
• Chia-Yen Ko
• Fandy Fan
• Ruby Lin as Ya-Cih Yao

Critical reception

Cinema Express' Mrinal Rajaram gave the series 3.5 stars out of 5, praising the "multifaceted" exploration of its theme, but noting that the series was too drawn out.^[4] Decider's Joel Keller criticised the meandering plotlines in the first episode, noting that it made the story difficult to follow.^[5] South China Morning Post's James Marsh praised the performances, calling Wu "perfectly cast as the white knight prosecutor".^[6]

Copycat Killer won four awards at the 58th Golden Bell Awards including "Most Popular Drama Series".^[3]

References

1. Lim Ruey Yan (April 12, 2023). "Copycat Killer is first Taiwan series on Netflix's Global Top 10 chart for non-English television". The Straits Times. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
2. Staff writer, with CNA (April 24, 2023). "Taiwanese thriller show makes Netflix's top list". Taipei Times. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
3. Staff Writer, with CNA (October 23, 2023). "58th Golden Bell Awards sees four-way tie". Taipei Times. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
4. Rajaram, Mrinal (April 3, 2023). "Copycat Killer Series Review: A layered series about violence and the long arm of the law". Cinema Express. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
5. Keller, Joel (March 31, 2023). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Copycat Killer' On Netflix, A Thriller About A Serial Killer Playing Games With Cops, Prosecutors And The Media". Decider. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
6. Marsh, James (March 29, 2023). "Netflix drama Copycat Killer: Taiwanese whodunit about a media-savvy murderer, starring Wu Kang-ren, Alice Ko and Ruby Lin, keeps viewers guessing". South China Morning Post. Retrieved November 28, 2023.