'Treadstone' preview: Who is Colonel Shin and why is he being so secretive?
When it comes to ‘Treadstone’, everything is shrouded in layers and layers of mystery. But few characters in the show have managed to pique one’s curiosity like Colonel Shin (Lee Jong Hyuk) of North Korea.
Who is he?
From the show so far, we know that it was Colonel Shin who had planted the video game console with SoYun’s (Hyo-Joo Han’s) son, in order to “awaken” her. We know that it was SoYun’s husband who had turned in General Kwon (Tzi Ma) as a traitor that later led to his assassination; carried out, of course, by SoYun.
When SoYun arrives at Kwon’s place to murder him, he recognizes her and acknowledges that she was one of the best. It is easy to deduce that Kwon, who was mysteriously a part of Operation Treadstone, had a role to play in her enlistment and training. What is decidedly unclear, however, is who Colonel Shin is.
Personnel of considerably lower rank than the General, Colonel Shin not only knew of the sleeper “cicadas”, but also of Kwon’s involvement in the project. It is likely that he was an ambitious man who wanted to rise up the ranks fast. His intentions behind eliminating Kwon then becomes clearer. But then why take SoYun’s husband out for drinks in front of her child -- a child who could identify him as the one who gave him the console?
At the same time, if Shin knew of Kwon’s involvement, why did he wait for someone else to report him as a traitor to take him out? As a man in the North Korean military, would he not have had ample opportunities to carry out the hit covertly? What is likely, however, is that a ruthless man like Shin is not above using SoYun’s husband as leverage to make her carry more hitjobs.
Colonel Shin’s all-knowing, malice-ridden face hides many secrets. Maybe ‘The Berlin Proposal’ will shed more light.
'Treadstone' airs on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on the USA Network.