Anais
A fairly layback and typical revenge drama.
Let's face it. This series is entertaining and contains all the elements for an audience to enjoy, namely friendships, love, suspense and mystery, with a little violence and action.It is the ideal recipe to attract us as consumer but it is not innovative.
It's the typical kind of series that tells about revenge, or rather tells about a person's search for the murderer of a family member. Here, the setting is school, so nothing new either. I mean we have a lot of series, which have become a trend where a murder happens at school and the students have to find the killer among their classmates, knowing that they all have secrets.
Here, however I find that some characters were lacking, whether of overall presence, or secrets or even real revenge. Like, "Revenge of Others" is actually just one revenge.
I found that there was a more accentuated aspect of violence, like students who wouldn't hesitate to torture or badly hurt another student, even the idea of death didn't seem to be really taboo.
On the other hand, our female lead, Ok Chan Mi, seemed somewhat very naive and impulsive. She seemed to suspect people purely on speculation and act as if they were facts, when there was no proof.
I like that they incorporated the idea that Ok Chan Mi's twin brother was not such a good guy.
The last two episodes felt lacking, it's really hard to have series with satisfying endings.
In the end, it's entertaining but not groundbreaking, it's a typical series in its genre that will appeal to many people without bringing anything fundamentally new.
So, good production, acting, dark tones, but yeah, typical.
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Getting lost in the success of the series.
To be honest, I'm a little disappointed with this second season. What made the first season a different series from the typical corny action dramas was the emotion.In season one, we discovered characters that were brought together by tragedy, they were all emotionally damaged, with trauma, it was raw.
Here we can't say that there were a lot of emotional elements on the side of the characters. They were just going through the motions from case to case, it's a very listless pace. Their characters didn't deepen but on the contrary became much more caricatural and superficial like in these series — which as I said are very corny.
I don't know, I was expecting something more gritty and dark, something that would held my breath but it fell flat.
The antagonist doesn't have much screentime, barely one or two scenes per episode sometimes not even at all, even after his reveal. Also, I wanted more intensity but our protagonists foil their plan easily, there was nothing much to expect as the script seemed predictable.
The comic element was much more present — also the product placements.
This season felt easy and predictable, just ... there. I don't think it was a good follow-up from the first season. When the first episode ended with a mysterious sniper, I was super pumped but in the end it didn't lead to much, the characters didn't evolve. I had renewed hope with the club storyline but it was very boring there too, the antagonists really didn't pick up that they had even enemies. It was so uneventful and lackluster.
Overall a disappointment. I don't know if it's due to the popularity of the series who didn't bother to try harder, but I expected better. I'm not saying it's all bad, the scenes are well done, the production, especially the stunts.
If there is season 3, I expect more but given the success of the series I think they will double down again on the cheesy and comedy aspect.
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An intense prologue that does what the webtoon did not do.
The series revolves around high school stories of bullying. This is an untold story from the webtoon "Weak Hero" which delves into the backstory of Gray aka Shi Eun in this series.In the webtoon, we move on quite quickly from what pushes Gray to become such an antisocial and harsher character. The series took the time to create an atmosphere around the characters and connections which will prove to be their downfall.
The perspective is centered around Shi Eun and his friends or enemies. Shi Eun is a very antisocial character who does not bond with young people his age, nor does he seek companionship or recognition from others. There is an emptiness in his eyes which is so well embodied by the actor Jihoon that the other characters find themselves destabilized or even frightened.
The series is remarkably violent (psychological violence, group violence and bullying, abuse, mistreatment and domestic violence), and striking as in the first introductory scene of the series. This kind of production works, we find ourselves flabbergasted by certain actions that it becomes addictive.
I find myself touched by the friendship shared between Shi Eun and Soo Ho, which will be the basis of everything, especially in season 2. It revolves around appreciation, respecting each other's boundaries, support and protection. A real bromance, and this is another aspect of the series that delights.
Park Jihoon did such a great job portraying Shi Eun, especially in the later episodes, where he opens up more facially. His character is going through a lot and his expressions show that. And Choi Hyun Wook too, playing Soo Ho did such a good job, this is the first time I've met this actor as a main cast, and I'm now a fan.
Between these two and Beom Seok, a friendship was born, and it was heartwarming to witness at the beginning. The series shows the extent of Beom Seok's trauma and how he responds to it. In the webtoon, he is presented as a vain character without much depth who just does bad things out of jealousy, here they offered more depth to his character, to the point where our hearts ache for him.
The series is very human and offers a kind of striking realism. This is just a prequel to the main story, which will explain the whys and wherefores concerning Shi Eun in the next season.
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A love story that failed to triumph in the face of poor editing.
I know that the series is a spin-off of "Until We Meet Again" which I purposefully didn't watch because the actors except Boun and Prem didn't make me want to, so I waited patiently to have the full story centered on them. My main problem is that the show was all over the place. Not only did the "side" stories of the two other gay couples take up a good half of each episode, leaving just the other half for the main couple, but in addition, I feel that their relationship here was not developed, I even felt that overall they didn't seem to know how to write their story.So mainly, I'm annoyed with the writers. I know they have to link the series so the other couples have to get some visibility, but my god that's encroaching on the main couple and their story.
And then like I said, their relationship progresses so slowly and only through random moments, it pains me to say it but it was lackluster and bland.
I expected more, and saw that the actors did everything they could with their acting, which isn't bad by the way, their characters are even endearing and as an audience you want to root for them, but I really felt they were let down by the writers who just shot different scenes and patched it up hoping it held up.
So overall, maybe I'll go against the opinion of many fans, but it felt rushed and badly written, I would have liked better for them because they are good actors.
Do I recommend, of course. This series is still enjoyable but honestly I admit I hoped for more. Now that this chapter is closed, I hope they can move to better scripts and series.
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Humanity's hurdles.
We enter season 2 with a lot of differences from the first season.Firstly all around the budget, there is more use of CGI because of the increase of monsters, the sets are vast and in different locations which opens for more exploration and the number of characters, the cast has expanded exponentially.
Second, the group finds itself separated. Hyun Soo is riding alone with Sang Wook in his wake, little happens on their side in the first part of the season aside from Hyun Soo having an existential fight with himself, seeing monsters who are still human getting killed and humans themselves who are victims of monsters, he does not know where to stand and how to consider himself.
For others, they desperately try to reach a safe heaven but only end up in dangerous places.
As for Yi Kyung, she struggles to find her husband, and finds herself confronted with a terrible situation and reality.
I won't talk about the rest of the season, which is really more exciting in terms of storyline, although I hate that some major characters were missing from few episodes and Hyun Soo wasn't featured as much as he should have.
I have to say that overall, I felt something was lacking from this season, it felt like I was watching a transition, this season felt like appetizer that prepares for the main course (season 3), we had quite a lot of action scenes, but the pace was rather stale. However, I do have to say, strangely the series had a lot of depth and emotion. They made us feel for both humans and monsters alike, while also hating them, that was masterfully executed. Quite a few characters encounter a tragic destiny, people we had become attached to, the series is crueler in this aspect.
If I had to summarize this season, I would say that despite the action in a sense it is more slow-paced and has more emotional depth to take us through a journey of hardships where humanity is the center of it all.
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A series ruined by poor writing.
It's about Choi In Ha, an idealistic reporter who suffers from a condition known as “Pinocchio syndrome,” which makes her break out into hiccups whenever she tells a lie. She befriended very young Choi Dal Po, a young kid with a mysterious past whose shabby appearance masks his true eloquence and sharp memory. The newbie reporters pursue justice as they try to discover themselves in the process.My major problem with shows like this that are nearly a decade old, is that they're not daring enough.
The thing is, it's full of potential, and it could be so compelling to an audience if only it wasn't so cheesy and full of good feelings. It's not captivating enough for a revenge and romance drama. The cast is good, no doubt about the skills, but why did they make Ki Jae Myung, a murderer, showcased with so much consideration. He basically told his brother, Ki Ha Myung "I kill people", and our main character's reaction is not outright shock or disgust, but more a kind of pity for his brother. Nah, the script is without evidence really lackluster.
For me, they should have done more mystery around Jae Myung and his on-going revenge, whether it was more dark, secret, thrilling with even more terrible scenes. Because it would make the flashbacks and even the scenes with his brother more heartwrenching. They should have made Ha Myung colder, even more principled, more firm and determined. Ha Myung should have noticed with more horror that his brother was killing people. As for Seo Beom Jo, he was just full annoying and they blatantly romanticize the fact that he stalked Choi In Ha. If you want to make him a stalker, then make an effort to make him represent what he is, and give the audience anxiety, and not try to soften us up to his behavior, which obviously isn't romantic.
When I see this, it's just pure potential wasted.
And honestly, it got boring halfway through the series, and still what kept me going until then was seeing how the two brothers were going to be reunited. But pretty quickly, Jae Myung is put aside, and appears from time to time in the visiting room. Teasing a whole brother relationship just to have that, big sigh.
As for the actors, Lee Jong Suk, who plays Ha Myung was once again the most engaging, his acting is always good, whether it was in his relationship with his father, his brother and Choi In Ha, he has just the right emotions and knows how to interpret them to make the audience feel. Choi In Ha's character wasn't used very much, I'd just say she didn't stand out, but it's the same for the rest of the cast, they just did enough with barely decent writing.
Honestly, I wouldn't say it's an essential series to watch but for me following Lee Jong Suk's career, it's a show worth watching if you're a fan, he's great in it. Otherwise, you can skip it.
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Hard to connect completely with the story.
The series is basically about Ha Dong Soo, a man who has been deprived of a part of his body by organ hunters and becomes 'connected' with a person who has received an organ transplant. He soon realizes the man who has his stolen eye is a serial killer.Well, it seems that people have mixed reviews on this series, and I am a bit in this case.
The summary of the series is a good sales speech, and I must say that I really liked the idea.
I'm a huge fan of thrillers, so this series is perfect for me in principle, and honestly I've found my interest to climb as the episodes go by. The overall story is very simple, and above all we can predict the relationships of certain characters a little, on those of Ha Dong Soo and Oh Jin Seop (the serial killer), or Ha Dong Soo and Choi I Rang. And in that sense, I still think it was interesting.
The problem with this series is that it is bland. Just like the main character, Ha Dong Soo. He spends his time suffering and just running and getting angry. He was basically acting like an angry, self-righteous kid who didn't know what to do with himself. And unfortunately, I expected more charisma, something from his character as someone who can regenerate and who is immortal.
In contrast, Choi I Rang, also a "Connect" had more flavor. I see some people didn't like her character for their own reasons, but I think her character was really good. She just had "it", this thing that makes a character interesting, she was mysterious, knew how to fight and protect herself, she knew how to protect her family, she is unpredictable and fearless. Exactly what I would have wanted for our male character.
As for Oh Jin Seop, the serial killer, I must say that his performance is not amazing, it is neither good nor bad, it is just in the same range as the serial killer interpretations that we have in general, same with his arc throughout the season. The aspect that I liked however is his M.O. That of making his victims a unique piece of art that is beautiful, it was really well done.
I must say that for the plot, it's essentially the characters running around, trying to meet and find each other. There isn't really insane element to expect. I liked the regeneration scenes of the "Connect" though.
However, it's the last episode that intrigues me the most. Obviously they hinted that this was all originally an experiment by scientists - let's act surprised - but obviously with this ending it's hinted that more might be uncovered if a season 2 happens. And for me, the most intriguing part is to see what will happen to Oh Jin Seop, is it possible to become a “Connect” ? A “Connect” which is a serial killer, well that would be damn interesting for the sequel especially to see the interactions between Oh Jin Seop and Ha Dong Soo.
I would summarize this series as an appetizer, and the teaser for a sequel would really be the main course.
So I do recommend this series overall, but it's not the not-to-miss type, it's good enough for a sci-fi thriller and promising for the future.
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Heavy is The Head That Wears The Crown.
It turns out that "Six Flying Dragons" is the story of the founding of the Joseon dynasty, and especially of Yi Bang Won who will be the third king but also the one who will participate in the establishment of this new country.Now, coincidentally, I saw just before "My Country : New Age" which is based on the same historical period, with the same characters, except that it is centered around two warriors, their friendship and their vision for the country, so one of them, Hwi, will end up alongside Yi Bang Won, who is not the central character there, in his conquest of power.
In "Six Flying Dragons" however, the series focuses entirely on Yi Bang Won, his childhood, how he helped his father the most among his brothers to obtain the throne, the decisions he made that changed the course of history, his ambitions and his vision for his country.
Especially since the series is spread over 50 episodes, and although it remains fiction, nevertheless, a lot of historical events are discussed and historical figures are represented.
Now, this series was made in 2015, so I remain indulgent, I pass on the more than modest OST, on certain average special effects, on certain cheesy shots, and few scenes and plots which were not necessary.
Well, the first three or four episodes are a bit all over the place, and by that I mean, we're let loose in what seems like a major moment that will define the destinies and paths of our characters, and yet, the dramatic moments left me unmoved, plots and strategies are a bit easy ?
The only thing that I can treasure is a certain realism about human nature that is addressed even during these first episodes, such as war, good and evil, justice, power, dignity and shame. I like that our characters don't naively tell us "I'm a good person", but that there are many layers to the human nature, and that our young character understands that being "good" sometimes requires letting the evil thrive while justice sometimes requires being evil to do good.
So these first episodes, which were essentially a flashback in time, were really to lay the foundations of the story - a little awkwardly - which explains why certain characters will become what they become.
I have to say that although unlike "My Country : New Age" I didn't get attached to the characters, they were all enjoyable in their own way, even the antagonists but they didn't get much out of me except few laughs.
The portrayal of some characters rubs me the wrong way, like Boon Yi who in the very first episodes come across as a strong and passionate young woman, only after a while she spent more than half of the series with tears in the eyes in each scene that is annoying. Whether it was in moments of intensity, joy or whatever, she always had tears in her eye.
Yi Seong Gye, too, who still has that somewhat silly and bewildered expression, as if he were a simpleton. And honestly, the reality of his character is unenviable, he was only decisive with a bow in his hand, the rest of the time he spent avoiding any sort of responsibility, hesitating at crucial moments and begging for political strategies because he didn't understand anything, honestly the writers didn't do him any favors by writing him like that.
So, besides those two, I have to say the acting is good overall, but not outstanding.
As for Yi Bang Won, unfortunately, I expected more from his character because the actor has potential. Throughout the series, there were moments when it looked like a child throwing a tantrum, and then the actor's acting was predictable, his delivery of his lines repetitive, his expressions limited to angry tears or a serious and intimidating face. But honestly, the fact that he plays Yi Bang Won, such an important character who is decisive, hides his lack of overall skills, and honestly he is the one I enjoyed the most. Yi Bang Won remain the highlight of the show because of his apparent intensity and complexity.
Also, the character strategies weren't the best, but enough to keep us interested. I would have liked better sets on the other hand, I don't know anything about the budget of the series, but the king's room was a room so small that six people were the maximum, and the more the throne room where they met also seemed small and not really the image of a palace. The sets were very limited, and the costumes although beautiful, they were very basic.
Now, I don't want to say just the negative, so I would say the story is actually the most interesting part of the show, to follow a historical figure as he grows and goes on, as he becomes who he must be, it was really thrilling.
Now, I know this series is probably one of the most popular for a Korean historical drama, and that's kind of disappointing, because I'm like, that's the best South Korea can do when they excel everywhere elsewhere, but nevertheless, as I said, we have to remember that it was done in 2015.
Today, if this series was produced, it would surely have more sets and costumes, violence and fight scenes, more developed plots and more complex characters.
In the end, I'm not going to lie, I fully enjoyed this series despite its shortcomings, so I recommend, on the other hand, this kind of series does not compete with "Nirvana in Fire" or "Rise of the Phoenixes" which are two superb Chinese series.
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A drama that contains a bit of everything but that has aged badly.
It's the story of Seo Jung Hoo who is a special kind of night courier, known only as "Healer" by his clients. His latest job leads him to a second-rate tabloid writer, Chae Young Shin, and the successful reporter, Kim Moon Ho. He begins to uncover the mystery of his own shared past with the two reporters, thus putting them all in danger.This series is a lot praised, and I understand why in the sense that it brings together all the elements of the typical K-Drama. There is comedy, romance, action and suspense, so it is a mix that brings together a lot of people.
And even if we have emotional scenes, and the antagonists always do what the antagonists do, basically bad things, I must say that the drama is really light-hearted and very much cheesy.
Now, I don't mind the fact that it is a series that has been shot in this direction, precisely with the desire to give a light-hearted series for everyone and that also, it is a series that dates from 2014.
I believe that for its genre, and people who love the combination of all these, this kind of series is really good.
My perspective is influenced by the fact that when I look at an action thriller, I expect better, darker and raw, I expect realism. And this is entirely personal, that does not influence the fact that this series is good, but just not my style. "Vagabond" is the same kind of series in the spirit, but to me "Vagabond" did so much better while they had the same elements of romance, comedy and mystery.
This series rather approaches the subject with sometimes incredible scenes, endearing or slightly annoying characters who lack realism, where Seo Jung Hoo, the male lead would have almost supernatural skills at this stage.
I am not a fan of romance, but some series manage to convince me, here unfortunately it was not the case. Not that the two actors were not good, I just didn't felt it.
I would also like to point out the songs and OSTs. I think it's really the only thing that objectively lacks this series. They had a truly light/happy sounding song/instrumental playing in the background while the main lead fought or had intense scenes. It really spoiled the impact of it.
And then I'm not even talking about this English song, which started playing as soon as the two actors (Chae Yeong Shin and Seo Jung Hoo) thought of each other, or had flashbacks, or some random moments. The "Promise me this is forever" really did get on my nerves, it was so cheesy. Also, admittingly I skipped several scenes, specially toward the end, to me this series could have been done with less episodes.
As for the acting. Park Min Young, who performs Chae Yeong Shin was the best for me. Generally, especially in this kind of drama, I prefer male lead, but here I must say that she was the highlight. She was strong and sometimes vulnerable, relatable, funny and kind.
Yoo Ji Tae, played Kim Moon Ho, and this actor that I have seen in several series has still failed to convince me. His acting is barely decent, the only things he shows are to smug face or angry tears. His roles are different but in the end, I always have the impression of seeing the same character in each of these series.
Ji Chang Wook, played Seo Jung Hoo. It is very rare that a male lead does not win first place in my top, and I would not say that it is because of bad acting because it is false, he showed several layers, but I cannot help but being disappointed because I was waiting for more. I'm going to watch others of his series, and I hope that I will find this missing thing to his acting there, but overall he did a good job.
If I had to summarize this series, I recommend it for people who love romances, comedy, action, a very interesting storyline with mysteries to discover. The acting is decent and overall, it's good - nothing more.
On the other hand, for people like me who do not like romances, or series supposedly thrillers but who in reality are more in the category "mystery and action", because it was not a thriller let's be honest, I do not recommend.
I saw the series to see it until the end because I wanted to know how it will end but honestly, if I would have known, I would not have watched it.
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A love story in a gritty and promising backdrop.
Okay, I have to say that this series was interesting in many ways, and I like the direction the recent BL series are going.To begin with, it's the story of Black and White who are twins with a powerful connection, but when their parents divorce, they are separated completely with a different parent, for fifteen years.
But everything changes when White returns to Thailand after having lived around the world, he is then contacted by Tod, a childhood friend who tells him that Black is in a coma following a violent attack.
White then decides to appropriate Black's life to discover, without anyone knowing, who is the traitor who put Black in a coma. He then discovers that his twin brother lives a very special life, in a gang, and that he is not what he thought.
I must say that I was very entertained by the series, the story already is not common, and even if I guessed the traitor very quickly, I liked to follow the development of the story.
The overall production was very good, we are far from these very polished series with perfect houses, perfect schools, no, here the sets made the story believable, the garage, the warehouses, the universities, the streets, the sets contribute really to make the story more raw and real.
The aesthetic tones of the series are rather dark, it gives a more mature impression and far from the light-hearted series, and thank goodness, because it is consistent with the story told.
As for the story itself, I have to say that I liked that the art students discussing the arts, law students discussing and debating about the law, I like that it was coherent.
This series covers several themes around law and justice in Thailand, the power and influence of the rich who use their privileges to sit on the laws and citizens of the country, LGBTQ + rights. It was really a very politically oriented series for Thailand but also resonates in every society around the world, regardless of culture.
I also liked that the story was interesting and intense without the need to use toxic plots, the partners did not use violence between them, they were respectful, there was no kissing or even sexual relationship without consent or the influence of alcohol, they were tender and wild at the same time, proof that you can do both.
The two young women on this show were a far cry from the seedy clichés these shows generally categorize them into, but they were mature, understanding, strong and knew what they wanted for themselves.
Shout out also to Nuch, the only transgender woman on the show, who instead of embodying the usual fangirl cliches in the shows, was someone who clearly had better things to do than pine for other people's relationships, she often displayed her knowledge in her chosen fields and I love that she fought for LGBTQ+ rights.
I liked that our protagonists had the desire to fight for their country, their society and their citizens.
On the other hand, I wouldn't lie, the very smooth execution had some skipable moments.
Just as the parents of Black and White only have very brief appearances, then we don't see them at all, it makes you wonder if they care about their children.
About the second gay couple, they weren't just there to fill the void like in other series, but had their own evolution and story, of which these two characters had a lot of chemistry and good acting.
I wouldn't say they've outdone the main couple, but they definitely have potential, and I think a series centered around them could be very popular given a good script.
Special mention to Gun Atthaphan Phunsawat, who played the role of the two brothers to perfection, embodying the different personalities smoothly and he really evolves with each new drama.
So it's a good series, not the best of all time, I've seen better, but very entertaining and interesting. To see.
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No dark deed goes unpunished.
Trigger warning, this is a series that contains scenes with heavy violence, bullying and abuse.This is the story of two men, one of whom, Kyung Min due to certain circumstances, finds himself remembering what he went through as victim of school bullying, he is a man who lives with the trauma of what happened to him and this triggers in him a thirst for revenge and retribution. So, mysterious serial killings begin to occur.
Meanwhile, Detective Jong Suk, childhood friend of Kyung Min, also a victim of school violence, finds himself linked to these revenge murders.
I believe that the word of this story is : tragic. The drama touches on the origin of school violence and the bullying that pervades modern society.
The show doesn't spare our feelings as the subject is not treated and portrayed lightly. A lot surrounds the physical, sexual and mental abuses that these young children suffered, and all that, under the eye of teachers and parents who are aware and sometimes even participated in it.
I don't want to reveal what the plot contains, but know that I binge watch the show, it was captivating. The production and the script are excellent, the tones are dark and we follow each stories with impatience, especially when the flaskbacks occurs. It's very well executed, we discover new perpetuators and twists in each episode, it's quite the ride.
The series also touches on revenge, there are so many shows out there especially in the thrillers which use this subject, but it was really enticing here. Of course, we does dip into the dichotomy of justice with those who prefer the law of retaliation, including the reciprocity of crime and those who firmly believe that justice is done by laws.
Unfortunately, the human made laws are far from reflecting what one would like justice to be, and many take advantage of this flawed system and are never punished.
I could feel that terrible disbelief and despair coming from Kyung Min, when he was facing his abusers, and those people don't even remember what they did to those poor children or for them it was only "jokes" between children and that it was "good times".
Talking about the actors, I must say they did a phenomenal job, Kyung Min in his search for revenge, he wants to make things right "according" to what was supposed to happen twenty years ago, and Jong Suk who has buried what happened and refused to face it. Both actors gave us excellent performances.
It's a series that makes you think, I don't recommend if you're sensitive but for lovers of korean revenge thrillers and psychological crime, it's for you.
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A chronicle of an atypical killer.
The summary doesn't do this series justice. At first glance, you might think it's a series like "The Vigilante", with a dark protagonist who punishes criminals by playing a game of cat and mouse with the police. However, here I think that the way they went about it is really intriguing and original.It's about Lee Tang, a young man who doesn't really have any prospects in life. He is in a sort of slump, work part-time situation, lives in a small unsanitary apartment and receives little attention or consideration. He is typically the archetype of a "loser", and the characters around him make no secret of telling him about it. He will unwillingly become a murderer, and from there it will turn into a descent in hell where crimes will accumulate, cases, witnesses and he will be chased by the police. Plus a bigger game is being played behind the scenes with someone pulling the strings.
Now, keep in mind that this is a series with supernatural elements, and in this, inexplicably, he always finds himself getting away with it, without even wanting to. For example, during his first murder, he forgets the weapon at the crime scene but a dog retrieves it and takes it away before the cops arrive or the time when the dog licks the blood, and at the same time the prints he left which makes his DNA untraceable or a fly lands on the video camera preventing the police from seeing that he is holding a hammer. The chances of that ? It's hilarious how they interweave such a dark themed drama, with a protagonist who can't bear the weight of his actions yet always gets away thanks to "coincidences", it's like the universe is working in his favor.
It's not even a comedy series, I mean there's really no writing of characters made for comic relief, it's just tension and ambient darkness. It's a dark thriller, but in addition to being entertaining, it's not too much (like "Big Mouth"), it's realistic while keeping that supernatural flair. Emotionally we are not connected to the protagonist because it is clearly not that kind of series, apart from the pity we feel for the victims, it remains a fast-paced thriller which is engaging.
I really admire the writers and directors, honestly. If you had told me that a dark thriller could mix these elements while remaining credible, I wouldn't have believed you because I'm stingy with thrillers, I haven't come across one before. Speaking of the production, I want to add that the storytelling said through editing, like the superposition of scenes which enhances the action of the protagonist or his imagination, it is really a feast for the eyes or even the music which adds to the intensity like in a horror film. It reminds me a bit of "King of Pigs" in the way that the flashbacks add pace and suspense to the story.
I absolutely recommend this series, if you like thrillers, this is for you.
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Trying to change one's destiny isn't easy.
I haven't read the novel, so I came in totally blind. I know a lot of people had trouble understanding the plot, and while it's something some people abhor, for me it was a relief. I don't like it when the writers take viewers by the hand and serve them everything on a platter.Even as someone who hasn't read the novel, I picked up the story quickly. My best advice : don't focus on what you don't know, but on what you learn.
The story is about Ning'er, a young woman with endless ambition that drives her to crush everyone in her path to reach the highest position : Empress. Including Yan Lin, her childhood friend whom she betrays after his family is massacred. Once in power, unfortunately the Emperor fell ill and die. Taking this opportunity, Xie Wei (the royal tutor) and Yan Lin rebelled ─ for a reason not immediately revealed ─ and seized power from Ning'er's hands. Ning'er in a desperate attempt to save the only man she has ever loved, Zhang Zhe (a righteous scholar and official at the Minister of Justice), who has been imprisoned, she makes a deal with Xie Wei, to follow the Emperor in his death, committing suicide in exchange for Zhang Zhe's freedom.
This is where it all begins, once she dies, she wakes up and discovers that she has traveled to the past. This time she decides to avoid making the same mistakes, to make amends and above all to renounce her thirst for power which destroyed her and those close to her before.
Unfortunately, this is where things get tricky, because she remembers past events, past relationships that haven't happened yet, and she has to change the future without herself being caught in the web of machinations of the Xue family, the royal family, the rebels, the Yan family, and above all, the terrifying Xie Wei.
The plot/story and production:
I'm rather divided. On the one hand, I think the background on which the story evolves has been really entertaining, it's an intense struggle for power and a terrible story of families being torn apart, leading to a terrible event 20 years ago that will set the revenge motivations of certain characters on a bloody path. I don't know how to describe the exact tone of this series, because there are truly terrible moments and great strategies that are however shown in a counterproductive way. I think it's more about the way it was filmed - close up, echo voice, slow-motion, bright colors, humor. I felt like I was watching a terrible scene unfold in the most light-hearted production. There was a clash. I think the drama would have benefited from a production similar to "Rise Of the Phoenixes", "The Rebel Princess" something more mature. But overall, the story is entertaining and engaging, I like following its progress and discovering the web of relationships between the characters, past and present.
Acting :
I think the standout here is inevitably Zhang Ling He, who played Xie Wei. This character is a ruthless snake whom the audience cannot help but root for. He is a complex character, who has suffered numerous traumas, but who possesses an iron determination and spirit of justice that nothing will deviate him from his trajectory. Bai Lu in the role of Ning'er did her job perfectly, and if she stands out less than Zhang Ling He, she is no less the star. I liked that she embodied a manipulative young woman in both her lives, who doesn't give in and reciprocates tenfold attacks on anyone who dared to go against her, even if her machinations are still not the best and sometimes likes to bite her in the ass, so to speak. All the secondary characters were up to the task and convincing, I wanted to slap the antagonists myself and hug the poor characters who suffered. The dynamics of several characters are amazing and touching to discover, especially I liked the interactions between Xie Wei and the Yan family, father and son.
Romance :
If romance is not in your face, it is still very present, but for someone like me who isn't into such dramas, I was not bothered. I even found myself rooting for couples. I'll try to keep it short, but in her former life, Ning'er had three men in her life. Yan Lin, her childhood friend whom she was promised to but never loved and betrayed, Zhang Zhe whose good nature she admired and ended up loving, and the Emperor (where virtually nothing of this relationship will be shown in flashbacks or in the current timeline) that she never liked and used as a stepping stone. Among all this, Xie Wei was a rather distant and abstract presence to Ning'er, she was terrified of this man in the past, and for a good part of the series in the present timeline, she continues to be as she can't understand him. It goes without saying that in the present timeline, she has the same suitors except that the emperor is replaced by Xie Wei this time. The love story between her and Xie Wei is one of the biggest slow burns I've witnessed, while they both have quite a few moments throughout the series, they are overshadowed by the fact that Ning'er is terrified of Xie Wei and she likes Zhang Zhe. It took them up until the very last episodes after the 30th to start seeing him as someone she cares about. And I can't say that the set up was ideal, Xie Wei is demanding, and often takes what he wants without tenderness. I didn't like him forcibly kissing her the first time, even though there were extenuating circumstances due to his dementia, nor all the times he was physically harsh with her. It's not romantic. But Xie Wei is a bad guy, was never portrayed in any other way, at least that. From what I know, in the novel, he and Yan Lin are much more brutal so the writers have toned down in the series even if some of it is slightly implied from the little clues if we know what to look for.
However, I was 100% sold by their chemistry from the second they interacted, but beware it's really a slow burn, who just not cute and full of rainbows.
Overall, I liked this drama, it solidified my opinion that Zhang Ling He is made for more ambiguous and complex roles than the one-dimensional do-gooder. His acting really shined here. The story was entertaining, honestly, a good series.
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A movie more emotional than expected.
I won't go into details but it was a good movie overall. I liked the production even though nothing was ground-breaking, and I must say that I followed the action and the intense moments with a bored eye.I think what makes it a good movie is the acting of Lee Jong Suk and Cha Eun Woo, who play brothers in it. Without their relationship, the tragic choices and impacts due to it, I wouldn't have been so engaged. Their story really elevates the plot, I went from pretty bored to crying in minutes.
So, I would say, the movie is pretty basic, not really something that we haven't before, but it's the emotion and the acting of certain characters that did it all.
I do recommend, first for Cha Eun Woo fans where he shows his potential for more tragic and complex scripts in the future, and overall Lee Jong Suk's performance is top-notch as always.
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A beautiful story of friendship.
It is the story of two friends in a time of political tension who find themselves at aiming their swords against one another due to differences in opinion about their country.Seo Hwi is a warrior. His life devolves into a hellish existence, but he still holds a smile. Nam Sun Ho is smart and a talented figure. He wants to pass the military service examination. Due to a corruption scandal involving his father, Nam Sun Ho loses his dream. Making things worse, he comes into conflict with Seo Hwi over a misunderstanding.
I entered this drama a bit skeptical, to be honest I like Korean productions above all, especially thrillers, on the other hand, there is one thing that I watch the least, it is historical drama productions because China is really top-notch in this (despite censorship), so I tend to watch theirs rather than others in general.
Now, what attracted me the most in this story was the marketed bromance between the two main characters, I like well-made friendships between male characters. However, I was afraid for a while that the romance would take over, and especially that Han Hee Jae, the female lead, would find herself between the two and give us another badly done version of a love triangle.
And honestly, I'm glad that wasn't the case, not only is the friendship of the two male leads central to the story, but the romance doesn't take up much space, to the point that the writers would even been able to refrain from adding it because it brought nothing.
Now, Han Hee Jae got her role, her back story, her character is midly interesting so I think overall she brought a bit, but hey, not only was the romance not necessary, but she's also one of the only ones characters from the main cast that didn't measure up to the others.
As for our two lead males, I must say that their story is fascinating, despite the misunderstandings, the lies, the half-truths, they really have the kind of incredible friendship. The number of times they fought for each other, protecting each other at the risk of their lives despite swearing the opposite. I think one of the phrases sum up pretty well their relationship, they are like the sun and the moon. The opposite of one and the other, but inseparable despite all the trials.
Really, their friendship was the highlight.
Yang Se Jong is playing Seo Hwi, he's an actor I discovered in the thriller "Duel" and I still remember his superb performance, his role here was really emotional and versatile, he showed so many layers to his character that I'm really glad he got that role.
As for Woo Do Hwan, who plays the role of Nam Sun Ho, I saw him in "The King : Eternal Monarch" which to me was such a waste of his potential, he is made for lead roles and complex characters, like here. I believe he was the most complex character of all, he also sacrificed a lot, being in the shadows to support and save Seo Hwi time after time.
For the rest of the cast, I'm happy to see Jang Hyuk as Prince Yi Bang Won again, I discovered him in "Voice" in a superb role of sensitivity but his role in "Tell Me What You Saw" left me disappointed, I'm really happy to have rediscovered him here because he's a good actor. The rest of the actors did a good job, we hated those who should be and appreciate those who should too. I really got attached to some of them.
Now, for the production, I was afraid to end up with the kind of light-hearted drama like "Hwarang" which honestly makes me dislike Korean historical dramas. Such was my surprise to see that it was very well shot, the tones are correct for this kind of intense drama. The fight scenes are very well choreographed, the sets are superb and the costumes are really beautiful.
As for the script, I must say that it was a bit long, yet each episode was at most 1 hour 20 minutes long, and with sixteen of them. I think I would have liked the plot to evolve more quickly or add more meaningful scenes, or have some removed, and I understand that emotionally we follow the journey of the characters and how they got to a certain point, but it's slow sometimes. But I liked the political plots, although they weren't that much impressive and developped, it was entertaining to keep the tension going. I've seen people say it was the best historical drama of 2019, I seem a correct assumption for Korean ones.
However, one thing that bothered me was that the injuries didn't make sense. The number of times the male leads got pierced by swords and should have died, only to find themselves running ten minutes later and fighting, while Seo Hwi's sister, Seo Yeon, she is also pierced but she dies and so many other characters too. It's just annoying that the realism was not extended on this aspect while they did a good job with the rest overall.
The end was good, I like that it's somehow a happy one, and a sad one. I think our characters had endured so much that they were "exhausted" with life, especially Nam Sun Ho, the ending just feels right and realistic.
So, I recommend for sure, it's really a series to see and re-see, the OST also especially "River Flower" was the best to me. It's really character-driven, with a solid overall story that helps support this incredible cast, the friendship of the two leads was the highlight, especially to show that love in a friendship is sometimes just enough and stronger than anything.
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