As cerebral shows come, this one is absolutely top notch.
In the tradition of Stranger, this is a show whose characters are exceptionally competent with the one major difference being their character.
Those who have good character seek to make the world a better place, while those lacking character seek power.
Although the story is heady and complex, it's not merely for complexity's sake. It's to show that this is a realistic world with real stakes for those in ivory towers and those working with their hands in the dirt.
Korean culture at times struggles with hopelessness, but Numbers is rife with hope that nothing is impossible even in the face of evil, and that good, competent people can overcome evil.
The maturity and working out of relationships at such a high level is something I've hardly witnessed before on television, especially in contrast to the faux drama that can become repetitive sometimes.
There is virtually nothing redundant in this show. We watch the characters with their special personalities make the choices that define them in order to overcome the odds and find themselves in the process.
Only watch this show if you want superb story telling, because you're not going to get anything else from it.