Crime Series Karma Outpaces Breaking Bad Season 1 on Netflix in Just 6 Episodes

Karma, a Korean crime series, is one of Netflix's notable crime works and, with just six episodes, has drawn the attention of many viewers. It earned an 83% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and has recorded more than 16 million views.

The Korean series Karma is one of the remarkable crime works of Netflix, which has managed to attract the attention of many audiences with only 6 episodes. With an 83% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and over 16 million views by June 2026, the series even surpassed the first season of Breaking Bad in terms of views in the first half of 2025.

The Karma series released in 2025 is a Korean crime thriller that tells the story of several characters; People who do not have a clear relationship with each other at first, but wrong decisions and unforeseen consequences lead them into a complex chain of events. With a non-linear narrative, this collection deals with the characters' adventures from different angles and gradually shows how each person's choices can change the lives of others.

According to the statistics published in the Collider article, the Karma series gained about 12.7 million views in the first half of 2025; A figure that was more than 11.4 million views of the first season of Breaking Bad. The collection has also recorded a total of 16.1 million views as of June 2026. However, comparing the number of views does not necessarily mean that one series is qualitatively superior to another, and the difference in publication time and the way statistics are calculated should also be taken into account.

The story begins with a horrifying incident: a badly burned man is rescued from a warehouse fire and taken to the hospital. After being rescued, he introduces himself as Park Jaeyoung; The name that follows the strange reaction of Dr. Lee Joo-yeon played by Shin Min-a.

The series then goes back to 15 days ago to find out what events have brought these people to such a point. At the center of the story is Jae-young played by Lee Hee-joon; A worker trapped under the burden of debt and facing the pressure of a dangerous usurer. Seeing no way out of his situation, he decides to arrange his father's death to receive the life insurance money. But his plan does not go as expected and its consequences quickly get out of control.

In the following, the story introduces other characters as well; From a hitman with personal motives to a swindling couple, a doctor trying to cover up a fatal mistake, and a witness whose presence can change the situation in an unexpected way. The narrative moves between different times and points of view and gradually reveals the relationship between these people.

One of the main features of Karma is that it does not divide its characters into two simple groups of heroes and villains. Each of them can be a victim in one situation and the cause of others' suffering and harm in another situation. This makes the consequences of their decisions seem more complicated than a typical crime story.

Of course, the structure of the collection may not be satisfactory for all audiences. Some storylines get more opportunity to pay off and others carry less weight. Also, the ending of the series does not necessarily provide simple and satisfactory answers to all questions. However, this same quality is in harmony with the collection's grim view of life and justice: the consequences of human actions are not always fair or predictable.

Ultimately, Karma is perfect for audiences who like serious crime dramas; Works that focus on human motivations, fear, pride, money, and survival instincts instead of relying on likable characters or easy answers. This collection shows how decisions that seem like a way out at the moment can set off a chain of irreversible consequences.

The Karma series was released on Netflix in 2025 and is available to the audience in 6 episodes.