Sarann55
UK
I'm not sure how to go about reviewing this, so this may descend into a ramble but I'll try to keep it short. If there is one and only one reason to watch this it is JiSung's performance which is simply outstanding. There are not enough superlatives. I read that this drama nearly broke him , and frankly I can see why. At times his pain is farrowing to watch,
The writers seem to have done an excellent job of delineating someone whose life has disintegrated and with it, almost, his mind, and they should be congratulated. However there are many weaknesses in the plot - the villain has NO redeeming qualities at ALL, and no charm either. ALL the inmates of Jisung's cell are lovely cuddly blokes just waiting there to go straight - not even any real tension between them in those cramped quarters. No.
There are 18 eps of villainous success before a final denouement in the last few moment. The Korean legal and prison system appear to be a colossal waste of time. Everyone is falling over themselves to prostrate themselves for gain - with no shame- and apparently no one actually monitoring the services.
Watching the catalog of more and more crimes mounting up became frankly tiring - they were so predictable too, and that was boring.
Nearly every character apart from JiSung was pretty weakly written - almost caricatures, though many of them were actually quite fondly defined.
The kids were well played but experienced child actors, and the chemistry between them and their adults was good - the grown ups looked as if they actually enjoyed the children - mostly they managed to avoid the saccharine infancy that sickens me.
I found JiSung mesmerising in this, and I rewatched it solely for his performance. Some lovely character actors too, including familiar faces, and they were fun, but this is ALL about JiSoo.
Only a phrase or two about the music. The word Trowel comes to mind. Or Shovel. Too heavy, too loud, and in your face, ramping up tension that should not need it - and very little variation in how tension is created - volume and drummish pace. You now, sometimes silence is more impactful? Not much of that here. But hey, that's just me. And this series is not so new so maybe this aspect is dated. But ... no.
The writers seem to have done an excellent job of delineating someone whose life has disintegrated and with it, almost, his mind, and they should be congratulated. However there are many weaknesses in the plot - the villain has NO redeeming qualities at ALL, and no charm either. ALL the inmates of Jisung's cell are lovely cuddly blokes just waiting there to go straight - not even any real tension between them in those cramped quarters. No.
There are 18 eps of villainous success before a final denouement in the last few moment. The Korean legal and prison system appear to be a colossal waste of time. Everyone is falling over themselves to prostrate themselves for gain - with no shame- and apparently no one actually monitoring the services.
Watching the catalog of more and more crimes mounting up became frankly tiring - they were so predictable too, and that was boring.
Nearly every character apart from JiSung was pretty weakly written - almost caricatures, though many of them were actually quite fondly defined.
The kids were well played but experienced child actors, and the chemistry between them and their adults was good - the grown ups looked as if they actually enjoyed the children - mostly they managed to avoid the saccharine infancy that sickens me.
I found JiSung mesmerising in this, and I rewatched it solely for his performance. Some lovely character actors too, including familiar faces, and they were fun, but this is ALL about JiSoo.
Only a phrase or two about the music. The word Trowel comes to mind. Or Shovel. Too heavy, too loud, and in your face, ramping up tension that should not need it - and very little variation in how tension is created - volume and drummish pace. You now, sometimes silence is more impactful? Not much of that here. But hey, that's just me. And this series is not so new so maybe this aspect is dated. But ... no.
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