Vincenzo (2021)

Impeccable Series--Nearly Ruined by Writer Park Jae Bum!

I’m not sure how many times I have to repeat myself. I’m a writer of eight novels, and one of the most basic elements of writing is that you never sacrifice character for the sake of the plot. In other words, you don’t make a character do something that goes against the character in order to make the plot work. And writer Park Jae Bum makes a very rookie mistake in Episode 19 that carries over into Episode 20.

For the most part, Vincenzo is an impeccable series that is nearly flawless until those terrible 20-25 minutes—the end of Episode 19 and into Episode 20. We are extremely fortunate that this doesn’t ruin the series. As I said in the series “Mad For Each Other,” if you ruin the ending of a series, you destroy the series itself.

Vincenzo is a character on par with Jason Bourne or dare I say it—Batman (the comic character, not the live-action depictions) in which he’s like a grandmaster chess player. He’s always two or three moves ahead of his enemies. He’s also a master of assessing a situation and making the smart choice, not to mention his nearly infallible ability to predict what will happen next based on his enemies’ last move.

Choi Myung Hee has just arranged for herself to take the fall for Jang Han Seok. Despite the fact that we know why she’s doing it, it should be equally obvious to a character like Vincenzo. And yet, neither he nor Hong Cha Young can see the obvious: that it’s to get Jang Han Seok out of prison. That was rookie mistake #1 by Park Jae Bum

Jang Han Seok has abducted Hong Cha Young and Vincenzo is purposely brought to Jang Han Seok’s house in order to kill him. During the ensuing struggle as Jang Han Seok’s brother—Jang Han Seo—jumps him. Rather than helping Jang Han Seo subdue Jang Han Seok—who has a gun—Vincenzo rushes to free Hong Cha Young instead. Vincenzo would never do that. He would realize that the best way to keep Hong Cha Young’s safety—as well as Jang Han Seo—is to help Jang Han Seo take out Jang Han Seok. Now, if in the ensuing struggle, Jang Han Seok manages to escape, that’s all right. But I sighed with disgust when Vincenzo rushes over to Hong Cha Young instead. He would know that the best way to protect her would be to disable and take out Jang Han Seok. That was awful. And again, it’s something Vincenzo would never do. It goes against the intelligence and nature of the character himself.

Things briefly go from bad to worse as Vincenzo, who is now tending to the wounded Hong Cha Young, is literally watching the two brothers struggle with the gun—and only a few feet away—he still doesn’t rush to help Jang Han Seo. He sits and watches. Again, I was rolling my eyes with disgust at how ridiculous the entire scenario played out. It was obvious that they wanted Jang Han Seok to escape to set up the showdown for the rest of Episode 20.

As I said, the series was running smoothly, for the most part. Aside from some inconsistencies from the residents of the plaza and their fighting abilities as they go from an inability to fight to suddenly being experts, even though the so-called boxing winner can’t even throw a punch mirroring an actual boxer (a true boxer would know how!) the series runs like a fine oiled machine.

One more small issue--which most movies and shows take extreme liberties--is moving the gold bars. We see the bars being put into a piano, taken around in pockets and bags, sometimes 3-4 bars at a time. Gold bars weigh over 27 pounds each! (12.4 kilograms). While it made for some funny moments, it was highly unrealistic.

It's difficult to pen down the actual genre of this series, which often plays out like a black comedy and then transitions into a drama-thriller and then back again. I’ve marveled at the Koreans’ ability to fluctuate and do it seamlessly. It speaks to the genius of their writers, despite Park Jae Bum’s lapse in judgment and writing ability.

Vincenzo is a Korean-Italian consigliere—essentially one of the highest ranks in the mafia aside from the head man himself. He makes no apologies for his methods of dealing with those who would prey upon the weak and the helpless, and he brings his own sense of “justice” to bear against anyone—from lowly thugs to those sitting in power, bathed in corruption. Little do these people in power know who or what they are up against, nor do they realize what Vincenzo is capable of until it’s too late. It’s like watching very good chess players who think they can hold their own—finally meeting their match against a grandmaster. Vincenzo easily exposes their inabilities, and they find out soon enough that Vincenzo isn’t someone who makes idle threats. He means to do exactly what he says he’ll do. Jang Han Seok and his nasty den of lieutenants look at Vincenzo and laugh as though he’s just some character in a movie. But he outplays them and outdoes them at every turn.

“24”’s Jack Bauer—a special field agent for the Counter-terrorist unit once tells a panel of senators, “It’s sad that we live in a world where someone like me is necessary to do what needs to be done.” Vincenzo is of the same ilk. The higher-ups in corporations and political machinations believe they are all but untouchable and that they can do whatever they want. Someone like Vincenzo is able to prove to them just how wrong they are. But it also takes someone like Vincenzo to deal with them in complete and unforgiving ways.

I have always marveled at characters who are smart. I love Jason Bourne because of his ability to outthink his opponents. Batman is the same. And Vincenzo has those same qualities. Oh, he can fight and hold his own, but it’s his wits that make him formidable and such an iconic character. Song Joong Ki masterfully plays Vincenzo—who at times—seems light and almost playful, and other times as an absolutely scary opponent you would never dare cross if you understood him and what he’s capable of doing. He doesn’t play Vincenzo as a simple thug. And despite his background, Vincenzo becomes attached to the people of the plaza and will do whatever it takes to protect them. He calls himself a “villain” and yes, he often comes across that way, but he’s essentially a good man who simply finds himself using terrible methods to get the job done. Much like Jack Bauer, as I stated above.

The entire cast was nothing short of fantastic, and if it had not been for the major letdown of those 20-25 minutes, this series would have easily been a “10” for me. But, alas, those minutes put a big dent into a story that was running along so smoothly and so effortlessly. It’s just too bad that the ball was dropped temporarily. Still, it doesn’t torpedo the series, and it’s definitely worth a look. It’s not as great or as tautly written as “My Name” or “Stranger” but it’s most certainly good enough.

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