This review may contain spoilers
Did I just watch a true-to-life movie series?
I. StoryOverall, the story was great. The number of twists and turn, unexpected revelations, the high level political game, and the multiple layers, made this series one of the best crime drama of this decade ('10s). However, it failed closing the story properly.
In the last episode (16th), it was obvious it was rushed. There was no direction. Everything the series built up from episodes 1 to 15 disappeared. It started awesome, then became great, good, and ended poorly.
It is common among creative writers to have an open-ended story but in this case the ending was not an open-ending, no, it was a cliffhanger intended to be a premise for a guaranteed Season 2. If the intention was to have an open-ending, it should have ended with them driving to the airport. Everything else after that scene killed what made it great.
I still give it 8 out of 10 stars for the story regardless of the disaster after the "driving to the airport scene". I also applaud the writers and director for not inserting romantic scenes just because their lead female is well-known for it.
II. Acting
Suzy did well in portraying an intelligence officer. This was a big change from her usual romantic roles and I wasn't expecting she can pull it off. Yet, in the first two episodes, she already shone in her role, that's a sure sign of a talented actress.
The acting of the other actors were superb. I usually see them in dramas about family and relationships, seeing them portray political and intelligence roles was refreshing and in they owned the characters they portrayed in series.
Together, the acting were too believable I kept thinking I was watching a fictionalised true story. The characters were too real, all thanks to their acting and synergy.
III. Production
Did I just watch a 16-episode (16-hour) movie? It was clear they spent money on Vagabond to get it all right. But in the last episode the explosions were very bad. This was the other reason why I said earlier that anything after the "driving to the airport" scene should not have been included.
IV. Overall score
All things considered. I give it a rating of 8 out of 10 stars. The superb acting and quality production were what pulled it up, and for avoiding creating romantic scenes just because they have a great romantic-genre actress as a female lead.
A series I'll watch again in the future but not the scenes I mentioned earlier.
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Complete waste of time
Vagabond is okay. It's a typical action/thriller series: explosions, gunfights, scheming and corruption at the highest level of government. I actually liked vagabond for the most part, until i reached the end. The ending left a bad taste in my mouth for many reasons but the most obvious is that it was a disgusting cliffhanger. I like my k dramas tied up neatly with a bow on top by the end. This show left so many loose ends and plot holes. It is a show withoit a conclusion. In the description of this show on netflix, it says basically that a stuntman and govt agent team up to uncover corruption when his nephew "disappears". They should make a correction, he doesn't disappear - he dies. I don't believe i would have watched this if i had known that going in. But i still decided to give it a chance, and for the majority of the show i enjoyed it. They introduce heavy themes of grief and revenge. Words cannot express how completely unsatisfying it is that none of this was resolved. They could have wrapped this up in 4 additional episodes, and it would have a completely different reception. Instead, no revenge is served, the baddie is still on top, the MCs are not reunited, etc. This show was produced in 2019 and it is now 2024 with no second season on the horizon. Not even a whisper of a 2nd season. So no, i can't recommend this drama unless you like colossal wastes of time. I feel cheated and it is irresponsible to make a show with a 2nd season in mind unless that has been confirmed. Dont waste your time -trust me when i say game of thrones ended better than this.Was this review helpful to you?
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Like a Hollywood production in Soutk Korea
This drama is like a Hollywood production that, due to political correctness and several anti-government theories, was transferred to Korea without any concern for cultural or political realities. The drama is shot with a lot of panache and splendor - too much for my taste. It's nice that the action takes place in different places in the world, but it's a pity that the creators treated really different cultures very neglectfully. The idea for the story and ML - funny. Really, South Korea is not the US and moving Hollywood production to the other hemisphere without any adjustment is not for me. I watched this drama as an experiment, besides, I have a weakness for actors playing the main roles, and this drama made me feel bad. The scene when the Korean SWAT in downtown Seoul on a magically empty street starts shooting Korean citizens in broad daylight was the decisive moment for me, when I couldn't stand the drama's quirks anymore.Was this review helpful to you?
I didn't like the series a lot
The story didn't attract my attention. I wanted the drama to end faster so that I could start the next drama (happy I started Kill me Heal me and I loved it with all my heart!!).The acting was awesome, but the plot was confusing. There were a lot of plot twists and tens of characters (I don't liked dramas that have multiple characters. I just seem to confuse all of them together , oohhh and the names are so hard to memorize).
The drama just didn't feel right, maybe because there were a lot of political aspects to this drama and not a lot of things that are interesting at my age (17).
(the ending was so confusing as well, it even made me think I closed the tab in the middle of the drama).
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Vagabond
Perfect action type of drama. There are sad scenes, annoying villains, a little bit of comedy and a little bit of romance (personally I wished there was a little more). Lee Seung Gi and Bae Suzy's chemistry was on point. The only thing which is almost always point out is the ending. For many people open ending was the worst decision, personally it does not bother me. Also many people want second season, if there will be I will be happy, do not get me wrong, being satisfied with ending does no mean I do not want to watch more about charcters, although I am not sure if we will ever get next season.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the most underrated Dramas in my opinion
I know this drama did well with numbers , but yet i feel like its not that popular among the kdrama community somehow.. probably because there isn’t much drama and a female lead who falls and then the male lead catch her and stare at each other for a long ass 5 mins. This drama is amazing in terms of action .. like legit so impressive , the plot the ways the events are going .. everything is fantastic. The cast is also on point .. like tbf i’ve never seen Suzy not matching with anyone. Anyway im so mad that they kept this on hold like this I really need a second season Asap. I have been away from Kdrama for a bit so if u know that they made one and i missed it, please let me know i beg youWas this review helpful to you?
Vagabond: Double Lives, Deadly Lies
🔹 What would you do if the only way to survive in your world was to live as someone you're not?🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes
✨When truth is concealed by power, the only way to resist is to risk everything that defines you boldly.
📕 Overview
🔹 16 episodes, action/spy/thriller/crime
🔹 Lee Seung Gi plays Cha Dal Geon, a stuntman whose nephew dies in a plane crash. Driven by grief, he sets out to uncover the truth.
🔹 Bae Suzy as Go Hae Ri: an NIS agent who struggles to balance her sense of duty with her loyalty.
🔹 The story begins with tragedy as Cha Dal Geon's nephew dies in a mysterious plane crash, driving him to uncover the surrounding corruption.
🔹 At the time of this review, I have completed this drama
🌸 How It Felt Watching
🔹 The opening immediately immerses you in themes of grief, mystery, and danger within the first few episodes.
🔹 Watching it was intense and suspenseful, with a cinematic quality and moments filled with raw emotion.
🔹 Themes: grief, corruption, justice, identity, sacrifice.
🔹 Despite the story getting messy toward the end, the action and the pairing of Lee Seung Gi and Suzy kept me engaged.
✨ Cast & Performances
🔹 Lee Seung Gi, portraying Cha Dal Geon, convincingly delivers action, showcasing a blend of vulnerability and rage.
🔹 Bae Suzy's Go Hae Ri felt real to me, with her determination as an agent balanced by moments of doubt that showed her human side.
🔹 Supporting cast: strong villains and government figures keep the tension alive, although some side roles feel underdeveloped.
🎶 OST 🎶
🔹 "Good All Days" by Lee Chan Sol
🔹 "Fallen Star" by Elaine
🔹 "Breaking Dawn" by I'LL
🔹 "Hello My Lover" by No Jeong Hun
🎞️ Production Style
🔹 The atmosphere evokes a globe-trotting spy film set in Morocco, Portugal, and Seoul.
🔹 The costumes and sets highlight agent uniforms, modern offices, and international locations.
🔹 The pacing remained gripping for me, even as the twists piled up and stretched believability.
☕ Tea Notes
🔹 What worked: blockbuster action, Lee Seung Gi's dedicated lead role, Suzy's strong presence, and the constant suspense.
🔹 What did not: there were several logic gaps, and the ending felt unresolved.
🔹 Would I rewatch? Yes
☕ SpillTheDramaTea's Rating: 9/10
🌿 Tea Scale: Rich brew worth savoring
✏️ As SpillTheDramaTea, it felt like a thrilling roller coaster ride full of twists, turns, and unexpected thrills!
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However, there are so many different people involved in the conspiracy that it can be overwhelming. It was sometimes difficult to track how much time had passed. Sometimes events were occurring concurrently, but sometimes we'd be going back in time, flashbacks came into play every once in a while, and then other times days had passed? Towards the end, I especially felt more aware of plot holes, recklessness, and ridiculousness. I would have also liked to see more depth and layers for many characters. Overall though, very entertaining. I hope there's a second season to complete the story. The last episode didn't feel like a final episode at all but more like an American mid-season/winter finale.
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"die hard" korean version
No way - just NO WAY - imagine this is a realistic story. This drama is packed with heroes and tremendous fights for justice, to the point i couldnt care less. Even the President is portrayed as being corrupt and spineless, which is a daring shot!If you wanna see a civilian fighting against all government and presidency and succeeding in it, while having time for romance too, this is the one for you. Totally crazy, right? Still there are a lot of good-looking actors, so bear with it... Lets just pretend we believe it! (wink wink*)
Nice watch, despite dragging a lot with all the political plots.
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Besides the unsatisfactory ending to "season 1" of Vagabond...
I actually ate up this drama! I like the plot, the actors, and the OST! OST was beautiful and well orchestrated. The actors were well selected and portrayed their characters well. The plot was quick paced, action packed, and interesting. While I wasn't expecting the HUGE plot twist in the end of season 1, it *did* make sense (they play enough flashbacks to justify that it *was* planned).
Something I would like to mention though - I didn't find myself tearing up with the actors. The OST really helped build the scenes, but I don't think that the grief-stricken scenes were filmed in the best fashion. Not to say that they weren't sad, but I honestly don't think they were filmed in a way to extract the most emotion from the audience and get us choked up, which I would have really liked.
I think my impression of season 1 will significantly improve if a season 2 releases that effectively ties up all loose ends. Until then, I will caution viewers against watching this drama simply for the lack of conclusion. I look forward to a season 2!
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Can't wait for Season 2
This is my first time writing a review for a TV series. I ended this drama back in 2020. Just now watched it again. I loved each and everything about this drama. Everything about this drama is really intriguing. If you are a fan of Suspense and Mystery with action, this drama is perfect for you. Kudos to all the people involved in this. I can't wait for Season 2. I hope they start filming it as soon as possible and hope it lives up to the expectations. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻Was this review helpful to you?
