Chapeau to a character-driven story
Many people enjoyed this one the same way I did, and I'm glad it did. Sometimes a hype can mislead you, but sometimes it can also display its actual value.While trying to pick a hopefully good drama from that never ending list, this wouldn't have been my next choice if it wasn't for a recommendation of a dear friend. Someone who I'd consider one of the most critical watchers here on MDL. Even though my rating is highly likely more generous than hers, we do feel the same about a bunch of dramas when we actually hit a jackpot. Flower of Evil falls into that category.
Someone once told me that if you start to dream in a language you're currently learning, then you really begin to understand it.
In a way this drama is a language on its own, and it wants to tell a very sensitive and shocking story. A story, that made me dream about. I wasn't able to let go of the characters even after going to bed. The tension already tied me down after switching off the television. And I can't remember the details about the dream but I do remember the strange feeling after waking up the next day. My feelings were caught up in all these circumstances, and the more I got to know, the more invested I became.
The drama has so many strong treats, that I can't decide which one I should mention first. The main leads? The supporting cast? The acting? The writing?
Starting the drama, the first thing you notice is one of the most adorable married couples you've ever seen in the dramaworld, only completed with one the most precious little daughters out there. At first sight they look perfect. Too perfect actually. And as the plot summary already reveals, there's something you can't see right away. Something that starts to tear down those perfectly built walls from within. Being experienced with alot of crime tropes, I knew there was something fishy about that dark past, they wanted to sell me. Seriously, how far would a drama go with making the main lead the bad guy? That question constantly followed me while my suspicions changed all the time.
The script was fabulous in overthrowing my theories over and over again, only to make me realize that I was wrong from the very beginning. There were plot twists I'd never dreamt of. However in the later episodes I became quite suspicious of alot of scenes. But the precise draft of the plot kept my confidence high that everything would play out comprehensible.
No doubt, Lee Joon Gi pulled a big one here. I don't want to exaggerate but his performance was brilliant. The characters' writing was so detailed that I as a viewer was able to understand his whole nature even before he himself knew his true colors. Moon Chae Won was the perfect counterpart to disclose all the given layers, designed by a well balanced push and pull of both of them. I rooted for her character as well as I did for her husband. At some point though she kinda disappointed me, but... I guess that's what you call human nature. So, despite that one situation, I was glad that Do Hyun Soo (LJG) didn't let me down during that time. If he did, I would have questioned the whole concept of his character.
The villain was a league of its own. I don't want to give away too much, so let me just say, what an astonishing display of 'antisocial disorder' this was. My inner profiler screamed 'what a warped mind to study!'.
The side actors supported the story big time, thanks to a neatless writing and a well selected cast. Hyun Soo's sister Hae Soo, Reporter Kim and Hyun Soo's step parents got enough background story to become tangible pieces who you could relate with (whether you liked them in the end or not).
The members of the police force weren't given that much background, but each member made a perceptible contribution to push the plot forward. Usually I don't give much credit to police officers in dramas, because they keep messing up in unbelievable ways. These guys however, I can make an exception with a clear conscience. Their actions were always reasonable and well thought-out. Even though you don't know much about them, you could feel the teamwork and trust that was built over the years. I could accept their decisions, for better or worse. The few character treats they were given were used well enough to make them not look like brainless drama puppets.
Somewhere in the middle I realized that this was not the first drama with Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won working together. 'Criminal Minds' were another one, a drama I was highly disappointed with because it felt cold and lacked empathy. While that one proved once more that if a script sucks, the best actors can't save it either, Flower of Evil confirmed that great writing can pitch its actors to another level.
Thank you, Flower of Evil, for giving me such a delicious watch and such a remarkable and catchy OST (my next earworm indeed).
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So so good
Not only was this a great thriller but it was a wonderful touching love story.The acting, characters, casting (the young HyunSo and his father looked so like Lee Joon Gi), music, plot - all brilliant. All the ‘goodies’ were likeable and the villains were perfectly villainous.
The only niggle was that I’d like to have seen the whole ‘family’ eating together like HaeSo wanted.
Watch it if you haven’t. The only reason my rewatch value isn’t 10 is because I have so much other stuff to watch and won’t have time to watch again😆
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Must Watch
I was on the edge of my seat and I was shocked with the stories. OMG it's a must see. The acting was great and the stories had me guessing and I was wrong on most but shocked. if you haven't seen Flower Of Evil, I recommend it 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍Was this review helpful to you?
Highly Recommended!!!
One of the most rewatchable dramas, you won't get tired of watching and you'll feel that deep emotion everytime.have watched it a few times and yet still wanting for more. Hope this is season but no. The ML emotionless yet you can feel that love towards FM even though he himself doesn't feel the emotion. Esp. how ML acts towards his wife and daughter its heart warming and the pain fear and desperation He feels everytime hes about to get caught by his wife. This Kdrama made me cry not once not twice but several times already. That hallucination the ML has and how the FL save him from it, is satisfying. All in all just watch this drama for a better understanding of what I am saying. 😅
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Thrilling all the way to the end
My favorite type of Kdrama series are those that are in the thriller / mystery genre. I have watched ‘Stranger 1 + 2s’, ‘Whisper’, ‘Misty’ and many others but ‘Flower of Evil’ took the cake. I found it gripping, exhilarating and sometimes so tense that it was hard to watch. The acting was the best part. I was blow away by all actors in their delivery. Even subtle and nuanced interactions between characters still managed to delivery such heat and intensity.Sure there were some aspects of the plot that require suspension of disbelief but that is why it is a drama and not a documentary. No one said the storyline was based on true events.
After Flower of Evil, I am going to find it very hard to find another Kdrama mystery that had me gripped from start to finish.
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pure genious
at first i was sceptical about this tv show, but i must say, i was very wrong. This show has it all, it is just genious! i love everything about it; story, ost, actors.. you are on the edge of your seat through the whole show and it just keeps getting more complicated and more brilliant. the main actor is too good, i have watched his shows before, but this is his best work yet! his portray of a complicated individual and his emotions is just out of this world, i cried and felt empathy watching his character. i love it so much, it was an amazing experienceWas this review helpful to you?
A drama packed to the brim with exciting and nail-biting storytelling.
For someone who usually shies away from thriller-tagged dramas, I was hooked from the get-go. The story itself is quite fast-paced with each episode brimming with important details and clues (we were shocked as to how “long” each episode felt because of this).With an easy-to-follow narrative, each plotline is revealed and weaved intricately keeping you on the edge of your seat. You find yourself submerging into each of the characters and the decisions they make.
One of my negatives in this drama is the final episode. Even though it serves as a contrast to the other episodes, it isn’t entirely necessary.
In conclusion, I am so disappointed I took this long to watch it, so if you’re thinking about whether to watch it or not too, do yourself the favour and don’t delay. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
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masterpiece.
this drama is everything people say it is. it deserves the hype it got and deserves the high ratings.i have no words for the acting performance of both leads. it was so natural, mature & touching.
every thing that i didn't like about the drama (which is very few that's not even worth mentioning) was so irrelevante when compared to the high quality narrative, performances & plots.
and wow. SO MANY PLOTS. you may think that you've got everything figured out, but you don't.
it's one of my all-time favorite dramas (the first one in this on going list).
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How many mentally disordered people you'll get in this drama ? Try to guess !
This is quite an original thriller with an addictive plot very well directed with amazing actors.Every episode starts with a flashback that helps to understand the plot and main characters' personnalities and emotions. There is indeed a psychopath but also people with traumas and mental or social disorders... this make the all drama quite interesting.
The main love story is just very touching and emotional and you really don't know how it will end.
Lee Jong Gi is just wow wow wow !
I highly recommand this drama for the stroyline, the actors, the OST and fhe emotions you will go through watching it !
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No child should pay for the sins of his father.
This was such a great show and such a fascinating, compelling story.** Having a whole cast of wonderful characters, preformed by great actors and actresses and an absolutely adorable child actress as well as great music OST and visual cinematography, made it an excellent experience.
** The dialogues were so mesmerizing. Lee Joon-gi as usual never disappoints with his portrayal of his role regardless of genre. Superb acting even in the start where he had to express no emotions, Moon Chae Won was a really compatible female lead for the show. Both are superb actors and had such excellent on-screen chemistry and their relationship is a key theme throughout.
You could feel the hard-work that everyone involved in this project put into making this masterpiece. It is a rollercoaster ride that one may not want to miss.
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A crime thriller done right
Lee Joon-gi acts his heart out as a psychotic man on the run who doubles as a loving family man. Moon Chae-won plays his wife, a detective in charge of catching his original identity. The first episode will get you hooked and there's twist after twist in this cinematographic experience. But the writing is cohesive without seeming forced and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very start.The natural chemistry between the leads has a lived-in feel to it, believably portraying a couple together for 14 years with none of the usual Kdrama mushiness. The OST has only 3 songs but has elements of intrigue as well as the tenderness of a loving family.
There is one twist that I thought was too coincidental, which I think we can forgive. This is the writer, Yoo Jung-hee's first long form Kdrama and I'm looking forward to her delivering more amazing stories!
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This review may contain spoilers
Unexpectedly SO GOOD!!
Firstly, this is my first drama watching something with Lee Jun Ki. Totes worth, best decision hands down. I'm now in love with him.Secondly, this is my first ever post because I felt the need to sign up and thank Netflix for having this drama available.
Thirdly, PROS: (SPOILERS)
- Pace - perfect. Nothing dragged on.
- Storyline - perfect, edge of my seat at the end of each episode.
- Acting: superb. 1000/10.
- The FL saves the ML many times.
- The evil character really pissed me off so bad so thank god, he only started having a story towards the end and then died.
Lastly, CONS:
-That damn amnesia at the end.
In conclusion, this drama was PERFECT. Literally perfect!
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