Pros
Overall plot is well-developed. In each episodes you will understand why things happen the way they are. You just have to pay attention to details in order to appreciate it more.
Clap-clap-clap for the writers and directors. They give me a really hard time figuring out who is the real antagonist. When I find myself hating Choi Yoo Jin then I will find myself hating more Park Kwan Soo and feeling sympathetic towards Madam Choi instead. When I find myself liking Chairman Choi but I ended up hating him most. You will also hate Assemblyman Jang but you will realize what kind of father he is. This drama is a push and pull of emotions.
Thumbs-up to Choi Yoo Jin’s character. IMO, she’s the one who shines most among all the characters. You’ll get confuse if you’ll hate her or understand her. But in the end, you will want to embrace her for she is just a girl wanting to be love by people around her. Assemblyman Jang, what a horrible father and politician he is - that’s my first impression. But then, give him chance to prove himself in this drama. Chairman Choi and Assemblyman Park, beware - don’t be tricked by these two.
Anna/Kim Yuna, I’m actually expecting a lot from her and she didn’t disappoint me. She’s good but not at her best.
Kim Je Ha/Ji Chang Wook, you never fail to surprise me. You’re really at your best when it comes to fighting and acting. Je Ha and Anna do have chemistry and I like them both but I don’t ship with them.
By the way, get ready to see the hotness of Ji Chang Wook. I think, he puts extra effort to build his body more for this drama.
Cons
There’s only one thing I hate about this drama. Why writers and directors? As in why did you make Kim Je Ha a superman? Not literally but IMHO, no normal person can fight alone a load of enemies if he is badly injured and ill.
Even if it is because of his adrenalin rush, I still couldn’t see it realistic. I almost want to skip that scene but thankfully I’m not a kind of viewer who will skip an episode because I don’t want to comment onto something I didn’t watch as a whole.
I’m not an action-drama fanatic. In all honesty, I gave this drama a chance because of Ji Chang Wook and it's worth it.
Should you want to go away for the meantime in your cliché romance-comedy drama, why not give this drama a chance? I can’t say that it’s a breath of fresh air but expect something rational enough.
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Ji Chang Wook is good at playing action roles and doesn't fail as Kim Je Ha. He has a way of pulling you in to a character regardless of the story line. I was fully invested in his happiness. I like Yoona, but I didn't feel for Anna like I thought I would. I'm not sure if that was her acting or the writing. I was more worried for her through Je Ha's character. Song Yoon Ah as Choi Yoo Jin stole the show. I seriously didn't know if I loved her, pitied her or just hated her. She and Jo Sung Ha as Jang Se Joon are just excellent veteran actors.
The music is fine.
I won't rewatch this.
If you like revenge dramas, then this one is for you.
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Dislike:
- I didn't like how the story was written. Not much progress is seen in the drama. The things that is unanswered remain unanswered till the last episode. Nothing impact had been done to the bad guys till the last episode.
- I didn't like their love story, it is like sooo rushing. Suddenly a kiss scene occured. No emotional build up. The ending too! (Maybe is my personal preference XP)
Like:
- I like their acting. Especially Choi Yoo Jin (the second lead). Her acting is really really good. I really wanted to smack her at times and I feel pity at the same time.
- I like the action scenes. They really put SOOOOO much effort in the action scenes. Almost every episode their is an action scenes and all those scenes really seems very cool and real. Appreciate their effort. Maybe because they focus more on these action scenes causing the storyline to be not that fascinate.
In conclusion, to those who like to watch cool cool action dramas, you guys can have a try! :))
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Only thing that kind of bothered me was how quick the love story went about. It had weak emotional build up yet the romantic scenes were so cute and heart warming, if only there was a little more emotional depth. But I live for romance and all the cute little scenes between Im Yoona and Ji Changwook made up for the little lack of emotional connection between them.
I absolutely loved Im Yoona, Ji Changwook and especially Song Yoona. Song Yoona depicted the antagonist so well, I could truly feel the character's pain which is why I was routing for her. That's very rare to be favoring the antagonist, so Song Yoona was a success. Im Yoona was incredible as well, it shocked me. I found myself crying every time she was, her acting made everything seem so real. Ji Changwook as the bad but good guy had already swept me off my feet. Overall, it was so heart wrenching, I truly enjoyed it.
If you want something heart wrenching but full of action this is definitely the show for you. I absolutely loved it.
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Fantastic female antagonist
The reason you should give this a watch is for an outstanding female antagonist unlike anyone you have ever seen before. Song Yoon Ah who played Choi Yoo Jin is truly remarkable and her character has so much depth that she deservedly outshines everyone in this drama and beyond. I couldn't help but empathize with her throughout the story due to her emotive acting and was constantly rooting for her even though she was the main antagonist.Things I liked:
- Best female antagonist (unbelievably, she wasn't even nominated for Best Actress at Baeksang Art Awards)
- Fast paced screenplay
- Good action choreography (over the top but enjoyable)
Things I didn't like:
- Few implausible events in the plot
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Story 8/10
What i like?
- The redeeming heroic and sacrificial scenes of Yoojin and Assembyman Jang! This actually wrapped up neatly the somehow loose story of K2.
- the non-stop-adrenaline-rush action scenes especially of JCW!
What I do not like?
- the loose writing, I am actually waiting on the "revenge" plot of Jeha but to my surprised that becames so lame! I dont even know what is Jeha upto? The story turned out to be a bodyguard protecting a damsel in distress plot which is far from its iniital premises!
- writernim introducing various and new plots almost every episodes that makes it more obvious that there is no solid plot line!
- rushed, overly acted, cheesy romance (although I know romance is needed, but I hope they did not spend so much time sacrificing the most important character dvelopment and story plot)
Acting/Cast 9/10
What I like?
- JCW as Jeha as I have said JCW just breathe in a new life to the awesome and beautiful character of Jeha. His looks aura and charisma just add up to the total Jeha character! His acting as a soldier, mercenary, a laborer, a bodyguard are just beautifully executed and acted! Jeha is JCW and JCW is Jeha! He owns the character! Although, at some point the character may seems flat, but I guess it is not JCW's fault, it is more of the writing. I must say the character was underdeveloped until the drama ends! Just the same, because of JCW's acting prowess, he just perfectly executed enough to satisfy us until the finale.
- SYA as Yoojin, the QUEEN OF DRAMA! She is the ultimate heroine/villainess rolled in one! She is brilliant, smart and intelligent! As Yoojin, she is evil but also a victim! She can make everyone her pawn. She can kill a person just by lifting her fingers. But she never felt loved eversince even by her father! Yes, people around her are loyal to her but only to a certain extent! She is a person in need of love and affection! But she also need to be punished for her wrong doings which are a lot. The writer neatly give the punishmen she deserves at the end which is satisfying, redeeming and heroic!
Others support also did their job well! All the actors and characters lived up to the expectations in terms of acting.
Music ( 8/10) - the OST's are just adequate to make the emotions more moving. I dont like though the chanting background music.
Rewatch Value (7/10) - if there are scenes I would like to rewatch it would all be the scenes with SYA and JCW! Man, they are explosive, romantic or not, they are just palpable!
Overall, even if this show has numerous flaws, I would still want to recommend this to fans who loves action and JCW!!!
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Overall,it was a good run. No boring episodes. Good action scenes, and the cast did a great job. I ignored a lot of details that's why I found it good.
PS. Don't compare it to Healer too much. (as healer is perfection)
PS.2. Choi yoo jin is now literally my favorite "evil?" character. I didn't actually view her as evil, so I'm not sure what to call her. She was THE BOSS!! Admirable "clap"!!
PS.3. Ji Chang Wook is love, Ji Chang Wook is life.
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Some people were disappointed by the drama, I can understand. That's action, politic, and finally, romance is more a background. But, the story, about politic, was just, so interesting.
I know that my mark is high, sorry... I put a 10 everytime I feel happy all the time of the drama. So, watch other review too, I'm not objective.
Ps : MUSICS ARE THE TOP
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This show is called K2 for a reason. It’s all about Ji Chang Wook’s role and everyone else is sort of useless. It really shows in Episode 13 when Ji Chang Wook is working hard and using his brains and the politicians are shaking hands and his girlfriend is lying in bed watching TV, and the secret agents are peeling beans in the kitchen.
The drama takes a while to get interesting. It’s a gentle and subtle sort of story but it stays with you and the big moments are big moments. I like the sort of strange premise of bad guys getting beaten by other bad guys and then taken care of by the good guys.
It’s really interesting to see how Je Ha can sympathise with Madame even while knowing how perfectly evil she is and how he can be nice to her while even knowing the full extent of her selfishness. And he hides his contempt well and he sees so clearly right through her.
Je Ha – male lead
I've only seen Ji Chang Wook in Healer. Je Ha has more confidence than Jung Hoo from Healer. I think Je Ha’s attitude was really great. He was always useful, always willing, yet always in control.
“He’s not a hunting dog. He’s a wolf.”
JCW’s character is both action and brains. You gotta love that. One of the skills of Koreans is getting into the heart of the matter. They really know how to hit a bad guy where it hurts.
I love how ruthless JCW is.
If Yoo Jin insults him with her petty ways he takes it up a level.
There’s nothing more satisfying than getting under the bad guy’s skin.
I'm not one for political thrillers. But this one reeled me right in. The characters are chilling.
I really loved Je Ha's snarky language, “your unsolicited concern” and “So all you people need to do is pray that I get through each and every day alive, no matter what” hahahah
He doesn’t let anyone step on him. And it’s interesting how verbal he is with getting what he wants. He’s not a “hit first talk later” kind of guy.
With his relationship with Yoo Jin, I think he also sees a bit of himself in her. The way she fights so hard and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to survive.
Ji Chang Wook is so good at being badass and vulnerable in a heart beat. I like how Je Ha is confident of his own value.
He’s actually pretty tough in the romance and I liked that. He doesn’t give a lot when he doesn’t want to. He’s confident with the way he handles Anna.
Anna – female lead
Yoona kind of gets the short end of the stick. Her role is not very exciting at all. All she does is cry and scream and tremble. I think her appeal for Je Ha is that he has found a creature who is more forlorn and bizarre than him. I liked that he had compassion for her, that he was interested in her. It was cute.
She was kind of like his pet. Like a tamagochi. When she went all prickly it was satisfying to see her being won over by Je Ha’s chivalry. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the relationship between her and Je Ha but Ji Chang Wook has got so much chemistry, I shouldn’t have worried. Just a word from Je Ha, and Anna starts thinking of other people instead of just herself and it’s really nice how she applies her revelation straight away.
I really liked that he talked some sense into her. He called her a cry baby hahaha.
I really like that even though the mother was the victim, the drama didn’t sugar coat her personality and her flaws. Anna knew to remember her fully and not just as the perfect dead mother.
When Anna starts interacting with people, it’s actually really fun.
Anna’s character is pretty weak but she was pretty damn useful and quick in a fight.
There’s a surprising amount of equality in the relationship.
Yoo Jin
“I’ve never betrayed anyone who’s never betrayed me before.”
I like that Madame Yoo Jin is so seldom sincere that the people around her can’t even detect her vulnerable moments because they think she’s just up to something.
“She’s the type to not shed blood in public even when she’s been shot!”
I was worried about her being annoying, but I kind of rooted for her as well. I liked the way she was calculating and how if someone made her uncomfortable she would make them uncomfortable right back.
In a way, I thought it would be more fun if she was more cold, and we later got to see her break. But, I guess it’s alright that she has a lot of observable pain right from the start.
I really like the filming when Madam calls Je Ha “K2” before the mission. I loved how the drama showed that Madame cared about Je Ha.
“If you find yourself in a situation that’s too dangerous, it’s ok to come back.”
I like how the plot came down to the two siblings.
I also liked how Choi Yoo Jin’s scary relationship with her husband progressed.
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But as for the drama as a whole?
It was a mixed bag.
Some things just didn't work. There were many plot inconsistencies and things revealed near the end (I just finished the last episode a few minutes ago...) that weren't explained enough or were kind of rushed. I feel like the whole story could have been fleshed out more. Also, you have to take a lot of what happens with a grain of salt. Dramaland is very strong in this drama. K2 should not have been capable of what he was capable of, especially near the end.
There are too many little inconsistencies and faults that I can't remember them all. I'd have to watch the show again and write them all down. I won't do that though. You'll just have to see for yourself.
By far, the first 5-6 episodes were the best out of the entire show. After that it went downhill most of the time with a few bumps here and there. I mean, it wasn't that bad, but nothing beats those first few episodes. They sucked me in immediately.
The characters were okay, but like I said before with the plot inconsistencies, they apply to the characters too. Near the end I really wasn't sure what some of these characters were about. Also, the relationship between the two leads never moved my heart. It felt misplaced. The transition needed to be done better.
There were a few cheesy moments here and there as well. The end was weird too. I felt like some of the reactions these people had to things were backwards and they need to get checked out by doctors.
The action scenes were fantastic! Though sometimes even those didn't make sense. A lot of the times guns weren't used when they were within reach and I'm pretty sure it was just a plot device to help out K2. But other than that the fighting was just breath-taking.
The music was amazing! I want to download the soundtrack as soon as possible.
Overall, it wasn't a bad show. If you are watching it for the same reason I did, Ji Chang Wook, you'll be pleased. If not, you might just want to concentrate on the action and music and not question what's going on. If you don't want to do either of those two things, at least check out the soundtrack and pass on the show. The soundtrack is at least worth listening to.
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