This review may contain spoilers
A blockbuster among Disney+ Series. Action driven, yet luckily with subtle character portraits, too
"Moving" is about people with superpowers. “Moving” tells the stories of a variety of people with such superpowers. These superpowers definitely belong to the realm of fantasy. However, it´s nothing like the 'Marvel' universe, because despite all the action spectacle that "Moving" has to offer, this Disney+ production (based on a successful South Korean webtoon) remains true to the KDrama habitus, that life takes place in the area BETWEEN black and white. It's about shades of gray. Nobody is exclusively good or evil. Well, almost nobody...“Moving” takes aim at South Korea’s intelligence policy. The KCIA, which became the ANSP and was eventually called the NIS. The connections with the USA and the difficult relationship with North Korea come into play. Difficult, because even within the framework of an official sunshine policy, distrust and hostility are always maintained in the background.
The South Korean secret service has been part of the international elite since the KCIA was founded. The superpowers of the protagonists may be symbolic of this. The name of the secret service has changed several times, as has its official focus. However, this does not mean that the entire workforce can be replaced...
“Moving” finds its balance between political thriller, action thriller and emotionally differentiated Korean habitus. The trick: the tough agents become humanly tangible because they are also parents, worried about their children. And then another trick: the children have inherited their parents' super-powers, but have not (yet) undergone any agent programming. They are children, still relatively naive, pubescent, too...
Worlds collide. The worlds of those, who behind the curtain want to move the world in their favor (for the sake of so called bigger picture and a safer world), the worlds of those executives, more or less blindly obedient (Black Ops) agents who are needed to succeed with their missions, and the world of those, who actually make this world worth living - people with their ordinary families and social relationships.
“Moving” has 20 episodes. Numerous character and relationship portraits are drawn, all of which are somehow intertwined - the old and the young, yesterday and today. And finally altogether now for a tomorrow free from deadly intelligence agency demands.
“Moving” is, first and foremost, a KDrama with a top-class casting that aims to offer streaming delight at the highest international level. “Moving” is explicitly seen as a kind of blockbuster among Disney+ series productions - with a correspondingly hefty budget. As such, the series has entered the streaming market in a self-assured manner and immediately achieved remarkable success worldwide...
However, for my personal taste, this KDrama comes across as a bit too action driven and brutal - with those superpowerful men and women, who (despite their deadly wounds) keep bouncing back again and again and again... I might have dropped it, if not for this variety of subtle and affectionate character portraits, that make a great part of the story, too.
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one word: perfect.
I'm not someone who particularly enjoys the action genre, I always thought it was kind of "boring." So I dropped Moving at first, assuming it was just another typical action K-drama.But I was wrong.
It far exceeded my expectations.
Moving might just be the best K-drama I've ever seen. From the characters, their development, to the storyline—everything was incredibly engaging.
Even though I occasionally skipped a few minutes during the backstories of the former agents (like Juwon, Mihyun, Doosik, etc.), I still thoroughly enjoyed the drama.
Everyone should watch Moving at least once in their lifetime.
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Solid storyline and solid acting
First thing first, i want to appreciate the acting in this drama. Of course i know it would be good because most of them are senior and A-list actors, but i also want to give a big applaud to the young actors. Younjung, dong ha and do hoon really nailed their characters here, the acting was solid. I don't even see any 'gap' when they act with the senior actors and i think that's a good thing. They don't overreact or doing too much with their face expression, and the reaction from one dialogue to another is flawless, because to act is to react.The directing in this drama is fantastic, and the plot is very well written imo, it doesn't lost it focus by adding too much romance, it just right.
One of my favorite scene is when hee soo fighting the girls with mud all over her body, the acting, the details, and directing there was *chef kiss*. Go younjung once again convincing me that she's a good actress and can take any roles that given to her.
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A Superpowered Story with Heartfelt Humanity
Moving is an exhilarating and deeply touching series that transcends the typical superhero narrative. While it offers gripping action sequences and supernatural intrigue, its strongest moments come from its focus on family, sacrifice, and the bonds between parents and children. The pacing balances high-stakes battles with tender emotional beats, keeping you hooked from start to finish.The cast shines—whether it’s the nuanced vulnerability of the students discovering their powers or the gravitas brought by their parents, every performance feels grounded and sincere. What sets Moving apart is how it reminds us that even in a world of extraordinary abilities, it’s the love, choices, and struggles of ordinary life that resonate the most.
If you want a series that thrills with action but stays with you because of its heart, Moving is a must-watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
A very good drama, so close to being amazing
Is Moving a good drama? For sure.Is it worth watching? Definitely.
Is it a 10/10? Sadly no.
But it could have been.
I only started watching Moving almost a year after its first episode aired. I didn't really know anything about it except for the fact that it was a very popular drama in 2023. That was it. I didn't know anything about the storyline, or even what genre it is.
Still, my expectations were high. Due to all the hype, I was sure I'd probably binge all 20 episodes in a week or so. Instead, the first few episodes felt very slow to me. I just didn't get the appeal. Sure, I liked the characters (it's basically impossible not to to start smiling anytime Bongseok shows up on screen cause he is just too adorable), but the story just didn't pull me in.
At first, I was blaming this to the fact that I haven't been into action dramas in a long time. Sure, I was a big fan of Heroes when they started airing almost 20 years ago (which Moving felt very similar to) and liked other "supernatural" shows like Smallville (yes, I'm *that* old) or LOST.
It wasn't until episode 8 when Dooshik first shows up & we watch him meeting Mihyun that I said to myself "OK, now I get. I love this." Those were two spectacular episodes that were unfortunately followed up by 2 mediocre ones. Don't get me wrong - I liked seeing Joowon's backstory, how he met his wife and became a member of the Black team. It just felt too dragged out.
Soon I realized that the whole drama was like that. It just kept going up and down again and again. There was one episode that was good and you got really into it, but then it was followed by another one that you were itching for it to end. With so many characters it just felt like the writers didn't know how to pace the show and include the details of the side characters in a way that didn't bring the entire drama down a notch.
Fight scenes were another problem. There were just too many of them and they were much too long. When you see Joowon get stabbed, hit or shot at for the 1000th time, it just seems like too much. I constantly found myself skipping ahead.
I like how they humanized "the enemy" by showing how and why the North Korean unit came to be, but it just felt a bit sloppy. They sprinkled in the crumbs of how most of the North Korean soldiers didn't really believe in their mission, but at the same time they were fighting both the adults and the kids to get the files and do what they were told.
To top it all off, the ending felt rushed. Why did Bongseok go in hiding all of a sudden? Why did the North Korean soldier get a nice & heartwarming scene of how he basically got "adopted" by Joowon & Heesoo, but the Doosik, Mihyun & Bongseok family reunion felt so underwhelming?
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So I would give this series massive points… for effort.
A Disney+ superhero kdrama that's getting a lot of buzz right now. Alright, is it any good then?It has some interesting ideas, and some pretty neat action beats, but it's disjointed. Too many characters. They try to give a complex backstory to each of them and so it becomes quite bloated due to that.
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Stunts - 70/100 | Like I said above, points for effort. I like that they were really trying here. A bit frustrating to watch the action in this because some of the action is really inspired, but other parts aren't. Lots of CGI. Some of it good, some of it bad.
Narrative - 61/100 | The first half of this show was great to be honest. Really interesting. In the second half though, it stumbles and loses its way by going in a sort of Anthology-lite direction and it loses all narrative momentum.
Fight Choreography - 75/100 | Earlier episodes that weren't so CGI-heavy were the best. Overall it's quite violent.
Enjoyment - 63/100 | You'd think all the episodes focusing on introducing various characters would culminate into something great when all the separate plot points merged, however it simply doesn't. The last episodes felt a bit cheap, forced, and nonsensical. Some individual episodes were great though, like the one focusing on the resilient dad played by Ryu Seung Ryong.
And the ones focusing on Han Hyo-joo, who is simply amazing in this. Same for Zo In-sung playing her husband. Their chemistry is off the charts.
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This review may contain spoilers
Moving was different than I expected, in many interesting ways. The beginning of the show is much more of a teen drama, focusing on the younger characters, their abilities, and relationships. While some of the younger characters were endearing, once the story shifted more to the parents I was way more invested. Some of teen characters didn’t feel fully developed and the plot lines could feel a little boring. The parent storylines were all so well done and the show surprised me by having such great love stories. All of their storylines were a little heartbreaking but it was so beautiful to see that they would do anything for their children. Mi-hyun was a real standout character. The show took a character that was a mother who didn’t have the powers of physical strength like a lot of the others, and made her one of the most badass characters. Mi-hyun was cunning, perceptive, intelligent, and did not hesitate to take out anyone who threatened her family. The romance between her and Du-sik was one of the best parts of the show. Their romance felt quiet and realistic but you could really feel their connection. The romance with Ju-won and his wife I haven’t seen talked about nearly as much and I think I loved their story just as much. I honestly would’ve watched an entire show about any of the parents.
The action sequences were a lot of fun to watch, especially a lot of the later ones where there are so many different powers. Some of the fight choreography was wild, especially with Du-sik and his flying abilities. It didn’t feel like all of the backstory made sense at times and it wasn’t clear if the show was planning to get to those things later or if they were just plotholes. The show seems like it really needs another season and it would be unsatisfying if it doesn’t get one.
I think that while I enjoyed most of the show quite a lot, my biggest issue was with the pacing. The show felt a bit boring at the beginning, then it switched to a lot of flashbacks, and then it felt like they tried to fit all of the conflict and resolutions into a couple episodes. The rush at the end to tie everything together made it so that some parts felt out of nowhere and others were unsatisfying because there was so little time for them. I rarely think this about shows but if they wanted to try and do this much with the plot, it could’ve benefitted from being longer. It would’ve given more time to develop the huge cast of characters as well.
It seemed like they were really setting things up for another season, so it’s hopeful that a lot of questions will be answered! I would love another season and to see all of these characters interacting with each other again.
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Super powers, but not for kids (18+)
March 2024This story started really well. I loved the characters, was captivated and felt the balance between the every day and violent action, was good.
However, as the episodes progressed, that changed and the violence intensified more and more.
Episode 11 was my breaking point. I actually had to skip through a fight scene, purely because it was way too relentless. This is something I very rarely ever do, for any reason.
The younger characters and the actors that portrayed them, were fabulous. I felt invested in their wellbeing and especially loved Bong-seok and Hee-soo, the former having the cutest smile and sweetest personality.
The adult characters and actors were not a broad mix. They were either goodies or baddies, even though that was actually dependent on perspective.
The story flits, a lot, between various key events in the past and present, from the lives of each of the characters. Sometimes I found this waring. For the depth of the stories from the past, I actually think the drama would have been better being told chronologically. Each time I got into an event, its time period and its characters, it would switch again.
There are some really vile officials in this and human life appears to hold little value for any of them. There is also High School bullying, which is ignored by other students (through fear I hoped to myself, not apathy) and ineffective teachers who dealt with it appallingly. It made my blood boil and, honestly, I'm sick and tired of seeing it, even if it was part of some plan. Name calling, a bit of pushing and shoving, is one thing, but the level I see in so many K-dramas, that has no recourse, or the wrong party gets blamed, and punished, is too much. It's inappropriate in stories with a modern setting, too.
There is also misogyny; plus one character is actually called 'Idiot', a lot, with even his episode titled that. The character wasn't an idiot. I found that offensive, to be honest and was unhappily surprised by it. A big no-no for me, again, this being a drama in a modern setting (fantasy or not; that's irrelevant).
Now and then the plot also went a little askew, because I don't think the writer knew a way around that, or simply got lost.
There were lovely, light and funny scenes, but as said, not enough of them later on. Prolonged violence and threat, with no let-up, is not my thing, it turns out.
However, I liked the idea of the story. The lack of choice or power, to not follow the orders or bidding of others, shown to be felt by both sides, was a bit different. I loved the cast and the soundtrack too. It had a high budget feel and the SFX were very good.
I thought the ending as a whole was OK; the happenings of S1 were tied up and I enjoyed the pre-credits closing scenes (more follow after the credits, too ).
If they decide to make another series, I'd watch it; but I'll be hoping it won't be as intense and heavy going for lengthy periods, without a break, as this one was at times.
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This review may contain spoilers
Slow and typical for a superhero series
The pacing was so slow that it was hard to get through the entire series. The first couple of episodes are a Naruto-style set up, where it feels like we are stuck in the same fight for 30 episodes. By the time time the main story line started I was bored, and the build up to the finale felt predictable.I am only posting a review because I don't understand how it is rated so well on here. 9.1? For a standard superhero story? Sure this drama is absolute genius compared to the garbage Disney releases nowadays, but for a Korean drama it felt a little dry to me. It would be more fair for this to be rated 8.5.
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Superheroes full of action-packed
Finally had time to finish watching this—I’ve been wanting to see it for a while. I know this drama’s been out for some time, and I’m late to it. This isn’t your typical K-drama; it’s one of those unique and really good ones that you don’t get often in kdrama. The cast is amazing and the acting is excellent. It’s a superhero with supernatural power story , but at its heart, it’s about family love and how far parents will go to protect their loved ones from harm. There’s plenty of action and fight scenes. Just a warning: there are some graphic and bloody violent scenes. The final battle was so intense, it had me on the edge of my seat. Yes, I definitely recommend giving this drama a try!Was this review helpful to you?
ready for more of this
i love this and i'm late to the party. i like how each character is given so much context and are developed so well. even the 'villians' get a back story.they way they portrayed the ppl with powers was so beautiful, how they are labelled monsters for being different and being used for evil meanwhile the real monsters are the normal people, hiding amongst us. i'm also weak for connected characters/stories so all the connection between the characters brought me so much satisfaction. my favorite was our mom and dad, doosik and mihyun's story. bongseok and huisoo were cuties. i see how they are doing something similar to the mcu and safe to say i will be here to watch itWas this review helpful to you?
Simply outstanding
Moving was an absolute thrill from start to finish. It delivered a perfect balance of action, emotion, and storytelling, making it easily one of the best Korean dramas I've ever watched. The pacing was relentless, ensuring that there was never a dull moment. I only wish the episodes were longer than an hour—I enjoyed it so much that I’m already on a rewatch, something I rarely ever do.One of the highlights for me was the heartwarming friendship between Bong-seok and Hee-soo. Their interactions consistently brought a huge smile to my face, and their bond felt so natural and authentic. The teenage characters actually acted their age, which is refreshing to see in a high school-centered narrative. The actors did a phenomenal job portraying them with depth and sincerity.
The show took a thematic shift when the parents' backstories were introduced midway. While the pacing changed, I found myself loving this aspect even more than the teen drama elements at the beginning. The love stories of Kim Doo-shik and Mi-hyun, as well as Jang Ju-won and Hwang Ji-hee, were beautifully written and filled with palpable chemistry. Their relationships added layers of emotional depth to the show.
Guryongpo's backstory was another standout aspect. The way they did a deepdive into his backstory was great (I only wish they explored Kindooshik's backstory in the same way.) His character arc was compelling, and his fight scenes were an absolute spectacle—choreographed brilliantly with a touch of humor. The motel hallway fight scenes were reminiscent of *Oldboy*, and the final battles were just as epic. I had a huge smile on my face throughout the last two episodes, especially during Jang Ju-won and Jaeman’s fights. The background music during these action sequences was fantastic, enhancing the intensity and excitement. The overall OST was stellar and complemented the series beautifully.
At the beginning, the show incorporated heavy symbolism through colors in both dialogue and imagery to characterize the three main kids with superpowers—yellow for Bong-seok, orange for Hee-soo, and red for Gang-hoon/Jaeman. These colors were prominently displayed whenever their stories were explored, and while they added to the visual appeal, I had hoped for a deeper narrative significance beyond just aesthetic symbolism.
I saw some reviewers complaining about the graphics and VFX. I thought it was outstanding—I did not notice any wires or whatever. The VFX was very believable.
Moving delivered an incredibly satisfying experience, and I am beyond excited for Season 2!
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