The Uncanny Counter is one of the greatest K-dramas to have ever been released. If you haven't watched a single episode, we're here to guide you through the show starting with The Uncanny Counter's Counters.
Through this article, we'll be discussing what a Counter is, what their powers are, and what makes them so special. Keep reading so you can know more about this group of unlikely demon hunters.
What Is a Counter?
In the show, a Counter was once a normal person who met a tragic accident and is in a coma. They are chosen by the Yung spirits for a chance to live again as a demon-hunting person with supernatural power.
When they're not chasing evil spirits, Counters are great at selling noodles.
The Yung is the boundary between the world of the living and the afterlife. They are able to communicate with the Counters when the latter goes off to sleep.
Once they accept the offer for a second chance, their physical bodies wake up from the coma. But unknown to the rest of the world, they have actually partnered up with a Yung spirit.
After waking up from a coma, they develop thick, curly hair along with their supernatural powers. They use these powers to look for evil spirits and exorcise them from the human host they have possessed.
Once they are able to do this, the evil spirit gets sent to where he belongs and the human souls he previously murdered are finally able to crossover through the Yung.
Counters are prohibited from misusing their powers on human affairs. Otherwise, they face getting expelled and go back to their comatose state.
What Makes So Mun a Special Counter?
As previously explained, Counters get picked by Yung spirits when they are in a coma. This is the only time they are able to partner with these humans and give them a second chance at life.
So when So Mun (played by Jo Byeong-kyu) became a Counter, it shocked everyone, including the spirits in Yung. This is because So Mun was a conscious young man when Wi-gen (played by Moon Sook) chose him.
Despite this, however, So Mun is crippled by a car crash. This same car crash is how he lost his parents when he was a young boy.
When So Mun was chosen to be a Counter, he was reluctant about it at first. But his new role grew on him, especially when he got to meet his colleague, Do Ha-na (played by Kim Se-jeong).
As the show progresses, So Mun's abilities as a Counter also improve. And soon, he is one of the only few Counters who are able to summon a territory.
How Many Counters Are There in The Uncanny Counter?
In The Uncanny Counter Season 1, we learned about the Counters in the fictional city of Jungjin. They are composed of four individuals with extraordinary powers to help them catch evil spirits.
Before So Mun became a Counter, there was actually a different member of the team, Cheol-jung (played by Sung Ji-ru). Unfortunately, he was killed by a level 3 spirit.
Shortly after, Wi-gen chose So-mun and the team became four again.
The Jungjin team is composed of So Mun, Ha-na, Ga Mo-tak (played by Yoo Jun-sang), and Mae-ok (played by Yeom Hye-ran). Their powers include:
- So Mun - Psychokinesis, can summon a territory at will
- Mo-tak - Super strength, short-range psychometry
- Ha-na - Super strength, psychometry, reads memories
- Mae-ok - Healing
All four also have the ability to wipe a person's memory of their encounter.
In the second season, they requested a fifth member to be added to their team. Na Jeok-bong (played by Yoo In-soo) is the newest member to be part of the Counters.
They also have another team member, Choi Jang-mul (played by Ahn Suk-hwan). Jang-mul is said to be a retired Counter who was able to keep his powers and responsibilities. He is said to be the first Counter of Korea.
But more than that, Jang-mul is a rich chaebol in South Korea who is able to support the Counters' expenses and needs. We often see him throughout the series as he drives around the younger Counters in different cars.
As we learned in The Uncanny Counter Season 2, however, there is actually another team of Counters – the China Counters, who are composed of four team members with the same abilities.
Are Counters Invincible When They Fight an Evil Spirit?
Despite their superhuman strengths and abilities, Counters do not become invincible when they are fighting against evil spirits.
When a territory opens up in the area where they are, their powers intensify.
But even then, they can also still be defeated by an evil spirit when they are caught off guard. This is what happened with their previous member, Cheol-jung, who tried to fight a level 3 evil spirit alone.
In the first season, the evil spirit who killed Cheol-jung said that his soul was the most delicious thing he ever had.
In Season 2, we also learn that the Counters get hunted by the evil spirits themselves. When a level three spirit absorbs the soul of a Counter, it absorbs his powers too.
And now, the Counters have to face their new enemy, the triad of evil spirits that killed off the China team. This group is led by Pil-kwang (played by Kang Ki-young).
You can watch the two seasons of The Uncanny Counter on Netflix. Keep an eye out for more K-drama content by following our dedicated Netflix Facebook Page!
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