This review may contain spoilers
Good potential marred by poor scripting and character development
WARNING: This review does contain a fair amount of spoilers, and is meant for people who have watched the drama and are here to commiserate.First off, Vincenzo is not a bad drama. It is well produced, entertaining and the cast is sufficiently charismatic enough to make one feel invested. But it always feels like you’re waiting for that Great Plot Moment to happen, rather than actually getting said Great Plot Moment.
Make no mistake, this is not for lack of trying on the scriptwriter’s part. In fact, often it feels as though the drama is trying to serve up an entire buffet of iconic screen moments - a la romantic sit ups from Secret Garden that people will reference for years to come - rather than to tell an actual story. The basic bones of the plot has the potential to go quite deep, and being constantly offered this sort of shallow entertainment instead of something more substantial left the bad taste of dissatisfaction after every episode.
To begin with, we had an infallible hero pitted against a one-dimensional villain.
Vincenzo is a Mary-Sue. His plans never fail. He knows everyone who is anyone. Everybody loves him (except of course, the baddies). He always manages to light his iconic lighter on the first attempt. He also gets hit by a truck and makes a complete recovery, without so much as needing physiotherapy or even recovery time after waking up. He escapes an entire intelligence organisation (make that two intelligence organisations) continuously throughout the show, AND to top if off, he kills off side characters in the same offhand way as the villains but never ever faces any kind of consequence for it. Clearly, god's favour - that being the scriptwriter - rests on him.
On the other hand, poor Tacyeon received no such blessings. Jang Joon Woo is portrayed as an absolute villain. He is violent, self-serving and psychotic. He has no redeeming qualities, no deep motivations for his actions, no sad backstory to humanise him. He is simply there to be the villain. Even his cute puppy love for Hong Cha Young is ephemeral, serving no plot purpose except possibly comedy and 2PM fan service. It appears that Chaka-nim did not love him enough to make him an actual person. Chaka-nim used him simply to drive the plot forward and give the audience a 100% pure unadulterated evil character to hate.
Next, the themes of the drama were not properly developed.
With the hero and the villain being such polar opposites, there is no meaningful way to explore the theme of good and evil — a theme one would fully expect from a show such as this. Both Vincenzo and Jang Joon Woo are bad guys, so what makes us root for one over the other? What, exactly, is good and what is evil? These are the thoughts that the drama should have provoked in the audience. More deliberate side-by-side lining up of these two characters, muddying up the lines between them would have made for a more compelling story. Yes the drama does frequently drop reminders that Vincenzo is no angel, but still expects us to love and adore him all the same, as shown by the ensemble cast.
Similarly, so much more could have been done with Hong Cha Young. Her motivations and character development in the drama are vague, to say the least. She has no clear growth arc. She initially appears motivated by revenge, but her father’s death is quickly forgotten once it has served its purpose of bringing her and Vincenzo together. Does she change as the story progresses? Does she become more like those she is trying to destroy? Does she grow into fully inheriting her father’s legacy as the “Last Straw”? We don’t know because, like Jang Joon Woo, she is there merely to serve the plot and the romance. It is such a waste because she is perfectly positioned to explore how a person might become evil, sort of like a possible origin story suggesting how the male leads might have ended up being who they are. She would also have been a much more suitable adversary to Choi Myung Hee, driven as she is by personal revenge, as well as possibly being the younger version of Choi Myung Hee had the drama made use of that potential direction. Which, as with so many other opportunities, it didn’t.
Finally, a note about the drama’s presentation of violence.
Watching Vincenzo, I felt uncomfortable with the way the drama handled violence and gangsterism. It was not Jang Joon Woo’s rampage scenes that bothered me, even though those were graphic. Those were clearly portrayed as wrong and undesirable. It was the way the drama permitted its heroic couple to casually kill off side characters with no reprimand or consequence. Vincenzo and Hong Cha Young engage in their own share of violence, either directly or indirectly, killing off those they wish to seek vengeance on, who are in their way, or who have outlived their usefulness, but their position as heroes is never once questioned. They continue to enjoy the adulation of all the ‘good people’ in the drama and, by extension, that of the audience too. I understand that this is a show about pitting a lesser evil against a greater evil, and the writers wanted to highlight the morally ambiguous aspect of Vincenzo, but they definitely have double standards for Vincenzo and Jang Joon Woo’s equally criminal, and equally selfishly motivated acts, presenting Jang Joon Woo’s crimes as abominable while excusing Vincenzo’s deeds. This, more so than the actual violence itself, makes me feel that the drama fully deserves its M18 rating on Netflix.
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This review may contain spoilers
Horrible Overrated
I constantly see this show being hyped up but honestly I don’t think it’s that good?The female lead is underdeveloped, she’s supposedly a top lawyer defending a company with plenty of dirt to be dug up (meaning you’d have to be very good at your job to keep them from losing the case), and yet she’s constantly relying on Vincenzo. Everything being done is all Vincenzo Vincenzo Vincenzo. Who made the plan? Vincenzo. Who is the key player for said plan? Vincenzo. Etc. She should’ve been given more opportunities to actually do something because she was a useless character that didn’t live up to her background. Not to mention she’s honestly a questionable character. Like she knew what Babel was doing and yet she didn’t care to do shit until it affected her personally (her dad being killed). Like…?
Moving on from her, the main enemies (Vincenzo and Jun Woo) are not at all an even match. Vincenzo overpowers the villains wayyy too much. He’s constantly planning ahead and is seemingly immortal (literally how is it that hard to kill a single person) while the villains are set up to be so tough and yet they’re really not all that? Honestly they’re stupid. For example, Vincenzo’s mom. They see that Vincenzo, who has yet to be really personally affected by them but is still set on destroying them, is a real threat and that he has a weak old mom who he loves. And what do they do? They killed her, giving him even more motivation to destroy them. The smart move would’ve been to have kidnapped her and controlled him using her. And despite how obviously weaker they are compared to Vincenzo it still took him so long to destroy them. Like??? Realistically it really should’ve taken him a week, max. Especially given he wasnt even going in accordance to the law, he just ended up killing them which he could’ve easily done before.
As for the side characters, I get that they’re for comedic purposes but they’re so useless and unrealistic. Useless because they served no purpose to the plot that couldn’t have easily been given to a different character who already has purpose. And unrealistic because what are the chances that a bunch of secretly amazing fighters just happen to live together?
And as for Han Seo, I have no particular problem with his character, if anything he’s probably the best written one, but his death was so cheap. Like I get you want something with an emotional impact to make the show more memorable, but you could at least make his death useful. His death served no purpose to the plot, could’ve been easily avoided, and created a hole in Vincenzo’s character (as in, he’s supposedly some mastermind and yet instead of grabbing the gun and shooting Jun Woo, which would’ve saved Han Seo, he goes to Cha Young which was useless).
But that’s just my opinion, feel free to disagree.
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It's a "no" from me, dawg.
My lover had said to me that this drama is too good, he said he liked it so much that I have to watch it with him cus he said he would rewatch it all over again.I found this very hard to watch.
In the beginning, I thought I was gonna watch a super serious Korean Drama due to reading the synopsis, later to find out I was watching a drama extremely filled with comedy.
There were sooo many scenarios where I felt things were a little too impossible to be approached or overcome. Not a fan of extremely fictional scripts that were too unrealistic.
Actors & actresses were actually really good when it comes to them acting seriously like: genuinely sad, genuinely scared, annoying or even scary.
I just couldn't really take the comedy parts so well, cus it felt like it was trying too hard to be funny.
My lover was saddened I didn't enjoy the drama, but this is just my honest opinion.
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Not what I expected... let down
Maybe I am too hard or too demanding but I expected more from this drama.I am a fan of #mafia storylines book-addict for that matter... and after all the books and research about this topic that i have done I feel let down. I mean it was well performed for a korean because as an itilian mobster it was not accurate enough. They sugarcoated too much, the characters development was a huge mess on some of them like Hong Cha-young or Vincenzo himself. If a character was one way in the beginning why did you make it seem like they were abducted by aliens that perdormed a lobotomy on them, e.g. Mrs. Hong how someone so materialistic and cheap could suddenly undergo a complete personality transformation... her character was too annoying and too nosy which devaluated the storyline from my personal pov.
The best job was done by Taechyun, his interpretation was superb, like i really was scared in some of his scenes, a lot more than with Vincenzo (the "mobster").
The storyline was underdeveloped and too long for only a few interesting episodes, they dragged the end for too long and then the most interesting part was too rushed and sloppily closed.
Another thing that was a overdid was the neighbours from the Geumga Plaza, sometimes they focused too much on them for my liking and there wasn't anything interesting to see...
The romance was truly the worst part 📢📢
NO CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE ML AND FL!!!
Song Joon Ki had more chemistry with the other male leads and supporting cast than with Mrs. Jeon. Not trying to be anti or anything, I am just saying the truth from my personal perspective. There were a few awkward moments between them that they could have saved us from...
Summarising it, too much expectations that were not reached and too much melo for a "thriller/crime" drama.
Hope this review is helpful for you. 💕😝😊
P.S: Don't hate or impose over those with different opinions like myself in this case... let's all be respectful and mature.
P.S. II: Thanks for all the comments (goog ones, let's not leave bad comments, please).
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This review may contain spoilers
Not for everyone
Okay, so this is a super unpopular opinion it seems — but I did not enjoy Vincenzo. Yes, Song Joong-Ki is pretty. Yes, the cinematography was beautiful. I even came to like Hong Cha Young's extra behaviour at some point. But the plot??? The side characters???My biggest gripe was with the story. So many parts simply made no sense at all. I understand that the over-the-top ridiculousness was part of the "fun" to some people. Personally, I hated how the show could go from sublime coolness (like the vineyard, ending of ep 4, or even the demise of our Wusang trio... talk about WOW) to bonkers slapstick moments. I can see how this contrast may add levity to a drama that might otherwise be too heavy, but it felt like a lot of bloated filler. It honestly ruined a lot of the immersion for me. The episodes could be so much tighter without so much time spent on the Geumga Plaza crew (who never became endearing to me, unfortunately). How plausible is it that they're all from such crazy athletic backgrounds too, and can take down professional goons so seamlessly? I could've also done completely without all the NIS stuff, zumba, etc. I didn't even like Inzaghi all that much, although I did like the symbolism related to him + Jang Han Seok at the end. At a higher level, I will give points to the broad direction of the story though. I am glad Vincenzo's character did not fundamentally change throughout the story though, and that the ending remained dark but neatly tied up. Vincenzo is an anti-hero through-and-through, and it's good that the writers stuck to their guns there. The "corn salad" joke was fairly endearing. Also, you have to give them some props for the horseback riding fan-service and the callback to it at the end. Hah!
Still, I will commend this show for its social commentary on corrupt structures in Korea and beyond. It does show the interplay between government / corporate / legal realms well. The OST was fitting and gorgeous, and varied enough to not give me PTSD like "We All Lie" from SKY Castle. And you can tell it was a high-budget production with great CGI and cinematography. Oh, and did I mention Song Joong-Ki is pretty yet? Worth reiterating in case you're willing to watch just for that.
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Overrated : Plot and Character Inconsistencies with great Cinematography and good OST
I'm always fond of Mafia related stories, shows and movies and to say that I have great expectations for this series is definitely not an understatement. When I watched the trailer of this show, I was blown away with the acting and cinematography until I eventually watched the series and somehow my view of the show albeit slowly changed...The Pros of the series are definitely the cinematography, acting and OST... The actors / actresses did their best in portraying their characters well.. The soundtracks are also good and I'm definitely loving the songs...
What really fell through for me was the plot and illogicality of the characters.
The story got really really REALLY draggy too.. There were a lot of scenes for me that were unnecessary like you know the feeling that you're just watching some fillers before you get to the main point of the story.. That's exactly what they did with Vincenzo.. For me, the show could have just ended with only 16 episodes or even 12 episodes because each episode has more than an hour of running time... The 20 episodes is just too much..
Aside from the plot, the villain in the story got downplayed... Like really downplayed..
After watching a lot of crime thriller kdramas that have psychopathic killers, Vincenzo has one of the most unique villain in all of the shows that I've watched and I'm sad as well as disappointed that they didn't use the full potential of the character. The villain in the story was described to be cunning as well as a genius with his eccentricity and someone who is SUPPOSED TO BE ON PAR with Vincenzo, yet they made his character underwhelming in a way that if I summed up all the scenes that the villain did, he didn't have any scenes that justified his character because Vincenzo always won and like everything seems to be pretty convenient for the main character etc... The show really favored the hero to the point that it had me questioning a lot about what was even the relevance of the villain being on par with Vincenzo but not even having a chance to shine.. This really frustrated me... If you're going to make a series with a premise like this, it should be balanced... The wasted potential of the villain's character got me facepalming to no end.. Even the main character (Vincenzo) had a lot of out of character moments... **sigh**
The female lead also has a sassy character but the way they introduced her was just so bad and it annoyed me... It felt like she was over reacting too much or trying too hard and it wasn't even funny.. Although, I'm glad that her character had some improvements in the end...
I also find the Geumga Plaza residents to be annoying.. I find some of their scenes to be irrelevant... This would probably the show which I will comment that it has too many side characters that the show definitely does not need.. While the Geumga Plaza residents are a source of comic relief, I find it to be awkward in this show.. Like it doesn't fit the whole Vincenzo thing...
Another thing is that I understand that this show is a slap stick comedy with a sprinkle of mafia.. but seriously though, the mafia thing here is just mehhh... Not even a MAFIA genre in all honesty.... They sugarcoated the mafia tag here and if you're looking for a serious show.. then this would be not your taste.. The comedy, action and seriousness of this show is not balanced well... Too much comedy in a show that started off in a serious and bad ass note...
And also, an important thing that we must also consider in the series is the fact that there were some scenes (the homophobia and misinterpretation of a gay character) that happened in the show that left a bad taste to the LGBT+ community. The fact that this issues weren't even addressed well disappointed me. In our society today where media is a powerful outlet, viewers can be easily influenced by what they see or hear and I find it to be disappointing that yes this show is popular however, it failed to address or give respect or even importance to the LGBT+ community.
There were a lot of questions that weren't even answered well.. I've always been curious of the past of the main character and although they used flashbacks for Vincenzo's past but it's technically not enough.. It would have been better if there was an episode or even 2 episodes in which we really got to see how he grew up in Italy, eventually meeting his "father", joining the Casanno family and becoming the legal adviser of the family...
Furthermore, it would have been better if they also showed the back story of the Babel Siblings - how Han Seok became an eccentric psychopath, how his brother put up with the expectations of the family and what did their father felt or do at that time. These would have been more interesting to see rather than those unnecessary or irrelevant scenes in the series...
In conclusion, Vincenzo had an epic beginning with the main character starting of the story in a bad ass way but in the end the inconsistencies of the plot and characters got the best of it.. This is entirely my opinion so I won't be discouraging people to watch it.. but I just want to say that kdrama writers should try to improve in writing their characters and plot.. We need female leads that are not just supporting characters.. We need main characters and plots that are consistent / logical... And lastly, we need villains that are on par with the hero because with that, it will leave an even deeper impact or impression with the audience / viewers..
P.S. I'm not hating the show.. This is just my opinion and I won't discourage people to watch this show..
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DEXTER/GAME OF THRONES MEETS KDRAMA WORLD !!??
This show left me extremely frustrated and ultimately disappointed. A part of me does not understand the massive appeal and praise it is getting let alone the insane ratings on this website. Another part of me knows exactly why it has attracted the audience's attention or why it will be remembered for a long time. When I started this show I could see the vast potential it held, but bit by bit my hopes went down the drain as the season progressed. My analysis stems from personal preferences and conscious/subconscious biases, so I hope you keep that in mind as you read ahead (though I've tried to be as objective as possible). Before I get into with my criticisms let me highlight what I enjoyed about the show.What Worked???
1) Interesting Characters: The show boasts of a huge cast. Various types of characters from all walks of life have been utilized to push ahead the larger plot. I particularly enjoyed the antagonists of the show. The uniqueness to them, their thought process, weaknesses, character profile and interests made the story worth watching.
2) Stylish Aesthetics: The makers definitely kept in mind all the style requirements of the script. Just like the Bond movies, this series required showcasing luxurious and sharp cinematic geography. Not only did they pay attention to the wardrobe requirements (especially of Song Joong Ki) but also celebrating the narrative spectacle. The makers did a good job of consistently visually enticing while making every facet of the story larger than life, which eventually made the show enjoyable (to some extent).
3) Fascinating Idea: The core concept of Vincezo rests on the idea that “only one shade of evil can sabotage the other shade of evil in the quest for justice”. This notion has been used in many movies or dramas across the world, especially in the context of vigilante justice. But what was interesting was a Kdrama flirting with the world of Italian mafia to execute this idea. Even though the story is primarily based on Seoul and on the nexus between corporate sector, politics, judiciary, criminals and law enforcing officers, it did borrow elements of mafia practices to enrich the story.
4) Quality Acting: As usual, kdramas seldom disappoint in this section. Everyone did an adequate job in portraying their characters. Song Joong Ki was able to skillfully steer the show based on his performance (considering the whole plot revolved around him). Jeon Yeo Bin was refreshing in her portrayal of a quirky yet intelligent lawyer. However as I said, the antagonists of the show were the ones that left a formidable impact on the viewers. Ok Taec Yeon was absolutely stellar as a sassy yet scarily eccentric psychopath (who would’ve thought he is capable to demonstrating such evilness with so much conviction). Kwak Dong Yeon has only been improving with every project he has undertaken, so I have huge hopes for his future. And finally, Kim Yeo Jin was brilliant at making me hate her character’s sheer guts to execute whatever she did in the show.
What did not work???
1) Genre Mix-Match Gone Wrong: Now we all know that kdramas are excellent at mixing various genres and presenting a hard hitting story without losing its essence. However, this was not the case in this show. The dark element of this show was higher than any average mainstream kdrama. Bloodshed and gruesome deaths were a key element of the story. But the constant jump between intense scenes and comic elements diluted this seriousness. Now of course this was a conscious decision to lighten the mood of the show for the audience, but honestly it did more damage to the narration and atmospherics. This cracked the illusion of the world the show was trying so hard to build. And the makers did this throughout the series. This deteriorated my interest in the story and I felt least invested in the fate of the characters. The romantic element was still bearable because it was between two mature adults and was not over done. Their chemistry was natural, believable and sat in tandem with their character growth.
2) Glorification of Vigilante Justice: Picking up arms, practicing violent means, breaking laws and challenging the system is the core element of vigilante justice themed movies/dramas. I am not a hard line critic of this genre however this depends on the shade of darkness the protagonist brings on the screen. If I have to simply put it, Vincezo Cassano is a man no normal person would want to be associated with, no matter what. His character reminded me of Dexter and to some extent the brutality seen in game of thrones (of course not as prevalent as GOT). As a protagonist he shocked me on various levels. Throughout the show I felt troubled to understand what I feel for him. His moral compass was highly questionable to say the least. But in the show the kind of respect and admiration he enjoyed made me uncomfortable. His principles that guided him into taking someone’s life were nothing more than self justification, which were unfortunately validated by people around him. But what was worse was that there was no sense of accountability or repentance seen in his actions once the whole chase ended. Vincezo was never held accountable for his actions whatsoever, which begs the question how is he lesser evil than the antagonists? If the villains portrayed a black spectrum then Vincezo was maybe charcoal coal grey at the risk of turning black. The line that differentiated him from these people was painfully very thin (or nonexistent by ep 20). These factors made me question him as the protagonist of this show and hence I was never able to cheer for him wholeheartedly.
3) Mockery of Logic: The world building in this show was almost juvenile. An entire intelligence organization overlooked a mafia member’s activity in the country especially when he has been very nosy in the business of the so called prominent people of the city. The one guy who was given the responsibility to look into this matter eventually ends up being his biggest fan boy. Furthermore, the chief of such a powerful agency becomes a pawn in his larger plan to bring the bad guys down. The Interpol was easily convinced by him to let him do what he wants because he has a knack of making offers that no one can refuse (pun intended). The justice system is a joke, as they can be easily toyed by Vincezo to get what he wants. There is no outsmarting him and every government organization with the best infrastructure, resources and communication network can be used by him for his goal or undermined by him to get what he wants. This was tad bit too much for me to swallow. I have seen many action movies/dramas where the protagonist has to be presented as a heroic crusader for justice. But the makers have to sell these facts convincingly. After a point everything seemed silly.
All in all Vincezo is memorable for frivolous factors like some punchy dialogues, glamorous wardrobe, visual appeal and beautiful aesthetics. But beyond that the show lost its core essence after first few episodes. It lacked depth and genuine insight into the purpose of their characters and their actions. According to me this is an overrated show which will continue to be popular and recommended to kdrama newbies for years. However it failed to woo me.
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This series is bonkers on so many levels, and I love it so damn much for it.
I don't write reviews but I wanted to at least for my favorite drama and Vincenzo has a special place in my heart <3FYI: THIS IS LONG. Like reeeally long. I'm just dumping my love letter for the show here because amidst all the negative reviews & misjudgement, I wanna voice my appreciation since rarely do I love a show so much I wish for amnesia to experience it all over again.
Vincenzo is an eventful, fast-paced dark comedy and a rollercoaster ride of a drama that had me at the edge of my seat anticipating or dreading what's next to come, crying of either laughter or sadness, or simply wanting to applaud at the sheer audacity of its plot (happened a lot). While there's an abundance of corruption, broken bones and back and forth between protagonists and antagonists, there's also a large chunk of comedy and lightheartedness. Add in some romance & just the right amount of emotional depth and you have a perfect mix. I myself didn't find the start slow at all. It's true that in episode 4, things truly pick up - with one of the best twists I've ever seen in a show - but the beginning is just as fun and crucial in setting up the story, as Hong Yu-chan is a central character in laying the foundation for Vincenzo's and Cha-young's motivation to take on the fight against Babel. Afterwards, it's pure entertainment. Overall, the story constantly keeps you busy and there's barely a dull moment as lots of twists & turns keep it interesting. The ending is nothing short of the definition of cathartic and shows once again that this drama, no matter its funny exterior, isn't afraid to go skin-crawlingly dark with its approach on retribution and justice.
You just can't wait to find out what shenanigans the characters will be up to next, and when you do find out, it's a joy to watch. Many of the schemes that Vincenzo, Cha-young and the tenants pull against Babel range from absolute tomfoolery to well-thought-out, meticulous plans. The scenarios are yes, over the top, but at the same time ironically believable and more importantly, fun! You can tell how much fun the writer, actors and production team had with this project; tons of creative choices feel like they were handled with some sense of wild abandon, which might as well be the secret as to why it's such an entertaining show. Considering all the improv, this rings quite true. Many of the characters' mannerisms, quirks and some entire scenes were completely adlibbed (and after consuming copious amounts of BTS content, I can genuinely confirm this). It's something I really loved about the show, and which tells you just how well the cast and director collaborated. It also results in a series forming its own unique character, which I think worked really well with Vincenzo.
I feel like many people don't understand it for what it essentially is and thus kind of miss the whole point of it. They claim it's bad for example due to its absurdist comedy which, of course, isn't everyone's cup of tea but that doesn't make it a bad drama, but a matter of preference. Without the jarring contrast of silliness and seriousness, Vincenzo wouldn't be what it's supposed to be. It's about relishing in the ridiculousness of it all and you have to be willing to do that in order for you to really enjoy it. So yes, this show is very contradictive and lots of people did not like or even hated that, but I loved it all the more. It's both parody and homage in the way it reminds of K-Drama, gangster movies and action comedies alike. It can be funny and satirical but also knows when to be badass or tense. And while it's true that the genre mix is blatant, it proves through an engaging script and characters that it's not really a parody after all.
In the end, it does have its own style and you do need to vibe with the writer's humor and/or his intentions, so it's natural that it might be too much for those with more traditional tastes or who don't see eye to eye with his execution and so on. But this show is unrealistic on purpose! The protagonist comes out on top all the time on purpose! I've read some say they liked the show but drew the line at a certain scene in episode 15 for being too unrealistic, which is funny considering it's a drama about a mafia lawyer who accidentally fights for justice while trying to get some gold bars out of a basement. It's bizarre, ridiculous and in-your-face on purpose! It is The Whole Point Of It All. When we get tired of the whole corrupt, capitalist hellhole that we live in, this show wants to offer some escapism and makes it fun while it's at it.
Vincenzo's character himself practically represents what the writer wanted to convey to the audience. Quite specific to South Korea but still widely applicable, it's an answer to the kind of feeling when watching the news and being angry at yet another corruption scandal, nasty politician or powerful figure/group that still reigns at the top and goes on about their unscrupulous business, and you sit there, not being able to do anything about it. In such moments we just want to see the worst of society be uncompromisingly punished for their actions, "whether it is legal or not", as Hong Yu-chan said.
An activist through and through, his character is proof that even the most righteous people can't do much more than just try their best, yet they too may harbor a desire to go beyond their own means to win. In a perfect world, it would have been him to fight tirelessly and successfully against the antagonists, but that sadly isn't the world we live in. Sometimes just "fighting the good fight" isn't enough, the efforts of the virtuous and pure are trampled on without remorse, and the corrupt system resembles an indestructible wall. And so we wish to see it collapse fully and without repercussions and we want to feel good about seeing that, want to feel vindicated in our desire to rid the world of The Powers That Be. Vincenzo wants to scratch exactly that itch, through an anti-hero without qualms or strict moral compass that hold him back in anything. He's the personification of what none of us can ever allow ourselves to be because in reality we've got laws and morals and couldn't ever justify what he does to be of actual reasoning. Thankfully this isn't reality! He allows us to live vicariously through his persona, who stops at nothing to deliver retribution – whether or not it's a viable solution to corruption & crime – and maybe leaves us a bit of romantic hope for a better future, albeit in his own darkly twisted way.
An interesting point that Song Joong-ki once made is how he found the audience's unwavering support of Vincenzo to be quite sad. So while this show isn't supposed to offer any solution, I think it offers an interesting observation; how easily, and maybe even desperately, we want to cling to outlandish and fictional escapism like this. How bad is our own reality, that we're able to cheer on even a character like Vincenzo with all his brazen, reckless vigilantism, and not even bat an eye - what does that say about us? The show makes us root for him all the way up til the end, then turns the mirror at us and literally and figuratively looks us in the eye. Yes, evil in its many forms is prevalent and vehement in our world and will always be, but what we choose to do with it is ultimately our choice. You might somewhat agree with the show's ideology – that when all else is lost, the only way to fight a monster is another monster – or strongly oppose it. Either way, by the end, you’ve likely understood the societal lamentations echoing through the narrative, and maybe even have felt a tiny bit of satisfaction and relief in watching Vincenzo be unapologetically himself. If not, chances are the intent of the drama may have eluded you.
Besides him, there's lots to be said about Hong Cha-young because people just don't seem to get her. It was intent for her to be "annoying" at the start & Jeon Yeo-been knew she'd get judged for that, yet she took on the role and made it her own. She nailed all her traits, from her weirdness, ambition and anger up to her loneliness and kind heart. Cha-young, like Vincenzo himself, hides her utmost vulnerabilities behind a razor-sharp gaze and only opens up to those she's truly comfortable with. Yet her soft side isn't a contradiction to her loud one at all; both are two sides of the same coin. She too doesn't compromise and is always the most unapologetic version of herself – a rarity in a world that deems types like her "too out there" or "too much", and she looks past such criticisms with but a glance and blows you a kiss while donning expensive sunglasses. If you paid attention, you'd know her character isn't one-dimensional. She's an amazing female lead and one of the most unique out there, fight me at 3 AM in a parking lot about this. Actually, you'll have to fight Vincenzo first.
Both are morally complex protagonists that don't fall into clichés and instead boast a healthy, respectful relationship. It's riveting to watch them go from strangers to partners in crime to genuine friends and self-proclaimed soulmates by the end. The moment they meet they complement each other, in their joint revenge (it helps they're both relentless opportunists) as in all other things. Their connection ran so deep, excessive skinship or dramatic confessions weren't needed. I'm biased, but they're the best example of "soulmates" I know. Despite what some dramas tell you, soulmates are born of choice, not fate and they made that choice for themselves. And above all, they're just fun to watch! They have some of the best chemistry between two leads I've ever seen and I've yet to find a pair I love just as much as them.
Them and the rest of the cast know how to act believably in even the most preposterous situations, another reason why I love this show so much: While it's very farcical, it stays grounded in the way characters react emotionally and accordingly to their goals or motivations. And so you can't help other than just cheer along with – or against them as they go through all of these ridiculous, unbelievable things. By the end, I got so attached that I just sat in disbelief as the end-credits ran and didn't want to believe it was really over. With any good story ending, you don't want to let go, want to spend more time in its world, but are instead left with a giant, bloody hole in your heart. Then again that should be par for the course.
Everyone has a drama that left a big impression on them and for me it was this crime-comedy about a Korean-Italian Mafia lawyer who has arson and murder on his daily schedule, yet is at his wit's end because of a pigeon on his windowsill. I sure didn't expect that, when watching episode 1 with the hope of trying to stay awake during nightshift (needless to say it woke me the fuck up), but the best shows come to you when you least expect it.
TLDR; Vincenzo has much to offer for those who want to be fully engrossed by a show, without sacrificing one genre for the other. But in no way does it play it safe, it 100% goes all in. And if you know how to have fun with TV, then it's definitely something you shouldn't miss!
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Did I miss something?
Okay, yet another unpopular opinion coming to this drama's reviews.The Pros: It was a fun ride between episode 3-15. The characters of Geumga Plaza were entertaining to watch as they interacted and grew as people. The humor honestly gave me some good chuckles and, although the humor is one of the more highly contested parts of this show, I honestly found it fine overall. The action was also engaging and the cinematography was simply stunning. But none of this could hold together a show that otherwise completely lacked reason and soul.
The Cons: The first red flag for me was the villain. The “twist” of who the true villain was in the early episodes made me go “why?” and I was never (literally never) able to take him seriously. The cat and mouse game between Babel and Vincenzo was exhaustingly repetitive. After the first couple of major deaths, everyone also seems surprisingly nonchalant about the absolute abnormal amount of dead people and near-death experiences they were constantly encountering. Vincenzo literally shoved someone out of the Geumga Plaza when that was an unthinkable act to do in the first few episodes and no one blinked an eye (Where do these dead bodies go?? Where is the government??? Where are the concerned citizens?????) Perhaps this is my own bias coming through, because I appreciate character driven dramas and I felt like there was an amazing cast of characters to grow. Alas, all the heart in the middle of the series had extinguished by the end to make way for "plot progression."
What really did me in was episode 17. I had rated this show as a 9 until episode 17. Following this episode I quickly dropped my rating to a 6. The episode broke everything for me. Characters were already starting to act out of character, but I was truly appalled when they killed the stuntman with the bomb. The worse part wasn't his death, it was the fact that all those lovable people I had come to adore in the Geumga Plaza had assisted in this crime and the LITERAL KCSI AGENT didn't give two shits that Vincenzo just killed a personal (in an entirely unnecessary and gruesome way nonetheless). What??? My thoughts of the show never recovered from this episode.
I swear, if Vincenzo's cast wasn't star-studded and the cinematography was slightly less beautiful this show would have gone down in Kdrama history as one of the worst. With all the hype, I left this show feeling disappointed and asking myself “did I miss something?”
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An unexpected drama that fell off halfway
When I read the summary for this drama, I really didn't wanna watch it but after seeing some rave reviews from my friends and also not having anything else to watch, I decided to give it a go.Overall, there were some "wtf" moments in this drama; an example is the rooftop scene when the group of pigeons just coincidentally helped Vincenzo when he was at a disadvantage. LOL? And the way that all the tenants, who came from an athletic background and even won championships were stuck in a place like Geumga Plaza was just very... coincidentally placed? I was really sad when Cha Yong's dad and Han Seo died, even though we've only seen the dad for a few beginning episodes but he made a very huge impact. Han Seo had the most character development but was sacrificed for our two leads (wowdidntseethatcoming). Also, does anyone else cringe when Vincenzo starts saying some Italian lines? Most of the time, the characters would be conversing about something important and he would randomly quote something from Italian; which would throw me off. Choi Myung Hee's satoori was so annoying (sorry) that I almost dropped this drama (yes it was until that extent).
I didn't care much about the Geumga Plaza tenants; tbh they were rather annoying than funny to me. Also, I think this drama would have been way better without the romance plot. I love Vincenzo & Cha Yong as individuals but unlike others, I don't really see the spark between them and would have loved it even more if they were just business partners.
The OST was good. The acting were A+++++++. But, I wouldn't rewatch it cause the episodes are long and a bit over-the-top for me.
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Wasted Potential
Fair warning.. this is gonna be an unpopular take, but here’s my two cents.The biggest flaw with the show is the story and how it progresses. The original concept for the show is good. A ruthless consigliere from Italy comes to Korea to reclaim a hidden vault of gold. The first episode is killer, and it’s what originally hooked me, but the entire plot quickly devolves into cheap thrills. The plot points are predictable and there is a complete lack of character motivation. The original character motivations that the show introduces fly out the window. There are so many character decisions that don’t make sense. The show depicts the characters to abide by a certain set of principles and suddenly those same characters renege on those same ideals. A small example if you will: Hong Cha-Yong was introduced to be greedy and with somewhat loose morals, yet she drew a hard line on violence. The moment she meets Vincenzo, violence is now suddenly justified in her eyes. In another instance, Vincenzo is shown to carefully and methodically think himself out of difficult traps. But when plot armor is needed, he suddenly becomes the dumb protagonist that barges in without a second thought.
Unfortunately, the show’s problems don’t end here...
In my eyes the most controversial aspect of the show is the comedy. It’s completely and utterly absurd. The comedy doesn’t feel natural at all. It’s as if the characters know they’re in a drama and are making gags at that fact. It’s incredibly hit or miss. I won’t lie and say nothing lands. Some of the jokes are solid and had me chuckling out loud, but out of the 20 episodes this was far and few in between. The general outline of the plot is pretty gritty and intense, and out of nowhere the comic relief kicks in and it falls flat so often. It’s incredibly jarring and pulls you out of the show immediately.
The casting is excellent. Song Joong-Gi is excellent in his role. His kinda scrawny stature had me questioning how ruthless he can appear, but he completely convinced me. A+ performance. Jeon Yeo-Bin is charming and does justice to her character. The real limitation is the writing for her character. I think she did as well as she could have given her script. Without revealing any plot points, there are side characters that had interesting potential that, unfortunately, was not realized.
Final thoughts:
At the time of me writing this review, the show is rated at 9/10. This is grossly over valued in my opinion. No chance this is the same quality as shows like Flower of Evil or Stranger. This show is best described as wasted potential. The writers went hard into slapstick comedy mixed with extremely intense crime drama, and the two genres did not mix.. at all. There were seriously good merits in sticking with either or, but the mix killed it for me. I watched this weekly so it was bearable. Not entirely sure how bingeworthy it is, but I can say I won’t be rewatching this.
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Vinchenjo Quassano is *chef's kiss* - [update: the drama is a cathartic experience you won't forget]
If you are looking for a comedic, thrilling, creative, and oddly-satisfying drama to brighten your weekend, then Vincenzo is it!STORY: If you liked dramas like The Fiery Priest or Chief Kim, then you will love the plot, characters, action, dialogues, and style of story-telling here. It's absurd, wacky, funny, but also very serious in its themes of crime, corruption, revenge, and justice. There is a good-mix of lovable characters and crazy evil villains (the main bad-guy is perhaps the biggest surprise, definitely takes the crown for the most iconic villain reveal!). The plot twists, comedic timing, chemistry between characters, and anti-hero vibes are immaculate. Also, so many great one-liners!!
CAST: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Ok Taecyeon, need I say more? With such a star-studded main and supporting cast, I think that should be enough to urge you to watch! All the actors and actresses are perfect in their respective roles and bring the characters to life. Vincenzo and Hong Cha Young have chaotic energy as partners and I'm all for it (I also ship them so much!!). SJK's Italian rants leave you mesmerized and laughing, and JYB's unique take on the quirky, eccentric female lead will leave you dying for more! And Taecyeon's acting as a ditsy, lovable English-speaking intern is (almost*) the best thing ever!
MUSIC: Thrilling, catchy, exciting. I love the vibrancy of the OST and the Italian/opera-inspired music that plays whenever something funny happens (especially when poor Vincenzo is suffering LOL).
RE-WATCH: The drama isn't even over yet and I already rewatch episodes, so there you go!!
If you haven't started watching this yet, what are you doing?! This drama is the highlight of my weekend, and now that we're nearly half-way in, I've been itching to write a review. So far, I am loving every minute of the drama, so I had to share my thoughts!
EDIT 5/3/21: Just finished the drama and I stand by everything I said 6 weeks ago! Vincenzo is a masterpiece and I dig the message at the end. The cinematography and production quality are absolutely top-notch. The entire cast and crew were absolutely wonderful and let's just say... there are bad villains, and once in a while, there are good villains too. A special shoutout to my precious baby Jang Han Seo. Excuse me while I go cry and feel empty for days now that the drama is over. What a cathartic experience.
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