Every bite. Same taste.
Food analogy: Well garnished Jajjangmyeon, where every slurp is equal. From start to end, (might not like the first bite due to improper mixing, thats upto ur taste)I have a problem within myself, i tend to be
disappointed with endings. If we notice the flow of energy, they didn't leave us on high...showing Vincenzo n Hong cha young's kids or leave us on low, showing the yearning to meet Vincenzo.. It left us on a neutral note, Showing his life will go on and we can't guess how it will be. So, I couldn't ask for more.
Despite having first 3 slow episode, this drama will keep you hooked and at the edge of your seat. Bored in lockdown? Watch Vincenzo. Now that it is complete you can binge and forget about ur problems for a day or two.
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BEST. DRAMA. EVER
This drama is not getting enough hype. Cannot believe it didn’t get more noms for awards. (Only best actor nom). The MUSIC ! The DIRECTION! The special way some scenes are shot. 😚 Un freakin believable. What a roller coaster ride this show is 💋🇮🇹 AND what a great comedic actress Jeon Yeo-been is. Oh My God! She is brilliant. I will watch this drama over and over again. I am begging for a complete soundtrack❗️ ALL THE MUSIC. Not just the main songs but music even from scenes that the songs have no words and it’s just playing behind the sceneWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Exceeded The Standards of a Korean Drama
The way I’m SHOOK by this is unbelievable.Everything about this was a chef’s kiss.
The Cast was SO PERFECT! Most importantly everything in this drama was balanced. Comedy, Romance, Suspense, Thriller, Action, Bromance (what we crave)- everything was extremely well balanced.
This drama has exceeded the standards of a Korean drama. This is international level y’all.
Cast: The cast was so perfect. Each and every character ROCKED their role and nobody could’ve done it better than them. I was a little concerned about Tacyeon cause he is a cutie and the role of the villain seems new but like damn that man was perfect. I’ve seen many joon ki dramas and I know his capability, but the way he impressed me here is INSANE!
Overall: I really recommend this to EVERYONE. No matter what genre your into you will come to love this. It’s a high quality drama made with utmost care. I really respect this dram. Majorly impressed!
*Major Spoilers Ahead*
I was mad they killed Han Seo, but it was realistic. I can understand why they killed my sweetheart cause it seemed really realistic.
The End: I was honestly very surprised by the end (in a good way) I am highly impressed by the way it ended cause it seemed the best. No matter what people wanted they did not kill the image of Mafia Vincenzo Cassano. No matter how much he loves our little miss Hong, he did not forget his principle and his identity of a mafia and I’m impressed. This IS how a mafia would realistically choose. This HIGH KEY seemed like I was watching a high end Italian drama. I am so impressed and I honestly recommend this to everyone!
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A series from the bad guy's point of view?? I eat this sh*t up
First things first: I'm Italian, so watching Vincenzo for me has been... an experience XDI loved this series. Despite the (expected) stereotypes about Italians and the mafia, I could thoroughfully enjoy it.
What I love the most about this series is that the main character is a villain. He is a bad guy, a criminal, a guy who knows that he doesn't deserve Heaven or redemption, who is aware of his being bad and doesn't act like he wants to redeem himself.
The series doesn't hide or try to soften the fact that Vincenzo is a criminal, and I loved it. Up to the very end, you don't get some cheesy message like "yeah I did bad things, but for the right reasons because I believe in justice". That's just bulls*it, you won't find any "legal" justice here.
Don't get me wrong, Vincenzo is far from being unlikeable. In fact, he's very much likeable and you can't help rooting for him even when he does 'bad' things. But as you watch, in some remote part of your brain a voice says "wow, this guy is ruthless". And yet you can't help but fall in love with him for so many reasons.
Song Joongki in this drama is simply Oscar-worthy. And I loved how they managed to use the whole cast well despite having so many characters. I really grew fond of every single character.
Chapeau at the whole team behind this drama because they made 20 episodes of 90 minutes each (each episode is like a movie basically) and yet I never felt bored for one minute while watching it. It's pure entertainment! I wouldn't rewatch just because it's really really long, but who knows! I might rewatch my fave episodes in a month's time. There are many great epic moments in this!
Last thing I want to say is: Moonlovers should have had this kind of ending. It was that easy to give it a happy ending. Thank you Vincenzo for giving me my happy pill!
Ps: despite this drama not really romanticizing Italian mafia, I also think they painted a way too 'cheerful' picture of it. And unfortunately there are no charming guys like Song Joongki, so remember: MAFIA IS BAD!
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An easy-to-watch drama
This drama for sure deserves recognition. This amazing cast truly knows how to deliver some incredible characters. The constant plot-twists compels you into watching the next episode. Everything is on point and you cannot help but fall for the charm of these actors. The only thing that prevents this from being a masterpiece is the comedy, without the humor, it would have been a real thriller to count on. Even so, the comedy still makes it easy to watch and prevents it from becoming too serious, and I believe some may prefer it that way since it gives more personality to the characters. The romance isn't a big part of it all but it must be the most natural and best displayed romance I have ever seen on-screen in dramas. It doesn't come off as forced and you cannot help but love them together.Was this review helpful to you?
Not you ordinary mafia show
Sick of reading people’s comments about it is too comical to be a mafia show. that is what’s interesting about it, its not your average mafia show. I read a comment saying that you dont get emotional attachment to vincenzo and you cant tell what is in his mind, that is the whole point! Vincenzo’s character lack emotions and more rationally unemotional, everything is calculated and it gets interesting when he is caught off guard because you tjink did he know its gonna happen or did he expect that to happen kinda as because he doesnt show you much emotion, til... episode 16, thats what it wants you to feel, in the beginning of the series that there are hints that he wants out of the mafia life and always believes that you pay for your sins, he treats his enemies accordingly. People need to understand that the mafia is not just about brutal murders and killings, they have a code they have to follow, only when it is broken that shit happens hence what you see on media’s portrayal of mafia. Now after episode 16 i cant wait how this progresses. Vincenzo’s group has very good chemistry and kinda makes you feel like a little family, it is like he unconsciously made a korean mafia in the plaza! The villains are perfect, the acting is superb, their facial expressions says a lot, i really commend song joong ki how his eyes, little facial movements tries to say a lot and not at the same time as he is meant to portray a unemotional character.Was this review helpful to you?
Consistent (lack of) quality
I forced myself to watch the entirety of 20 episodes and want to advise you this: If there's something positive to say about this drama, it's that its overall quality stays very consistent throughout. Hence, if you like the first episodes, you also will like the rest, but if you don't - drop it and don't look back.I can see the high production value that went into this. Visuals, music and acting were stellar. Additionally, even knowing not much about South Korean society, the social commentary got across. The main plot was brutal, but thrilling, the antagonist's moves making you wonder what means they would use next to counter their opponent.
This drama tried to have it all - exhilarating action, grippingly brutal violence, comedy to lighten the mood and romance as well as emotional backstories to engage the heart. However, I found the tonal shifts to be too harsh to allow for setting a general atmosphere, the mixture a stack of blocks rather than a neatly fitted puzzle piece.
Characterisations didn't go beyond the cardboard cutouts needed for the plot, which made it almost impossible for me to care about any of them. Character development can't be found except for one side character. Even with Vincenzo staying the morally grey antagonist who doesn't waver in his principles, we should have seen him further grow into these. Characters were too consistent, proof that the plot's events didn't have the impact they should have had.
Here, the violence's brutality meant to shock viewers did not match the lack of f*s the characters gave about what happened to them.
Where the initial setting could have offered a lot of tacit, well-orchestrated moves of two antagonists outsmarting each other on their way towards a bigger goal, the plot ended up being entirely repetitive and only secondarily caters to the main purpose. If I had to summarise what happened in the course of 20 episodes, it could easily fit onto one page.
I won't even elaborate on the ton of convenient coincidences and the characters' almost superpowers that, again, weren't learned but already installed in them from the beginning. Nobody in this series improved their skills or mindset, they all magically had them, because they were needed by the plot.
All the Geumga Plaza fillers annoyed me. Their characters felt like caricatures of the archetype they were meant to represent.
Almost everything had some sort of overexaggeration to it. The comedy and characters as well as the overall plotline.
Together with the hidden side quest plot stretching it out for 20 episodes, watching felt like a huge waste of my time, the enjoyment of seeing each party counteract each other's moves a weak payoff for the time invested.
I've been told various times now that the whole drama is a metaphor, mocking classical Hollywood and K-drama tropes. But with that goal, you either make it hilarious and over the top entirely as an open parody, or draw in the viewers to only at the end confront them with their own gullibility. The mixture of both really threw off my brain every time I wanted to begin getting into it.
If you watch for entertainment purposes only and like the dynamics of the first episodes, absolutely start watching. I certainly couldn't stop overlooking this drama's flaws enough to see them as anything but faulty production choices.
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not for everyone
I just finished watching 'Vincenzo' and I have to say, it was...fine. It was a solid, middle-of-the-road drama that didn't really blow me away, but didn't disappoint me either. Unfortunately, it did kind of bore me at times.The cast was good, with Song Joong-ki and Jeon Yeo-been delivering decent performances. Song Joong-ki was charming as always, but I felt like he was playing a similar character to his previous roles. He had great chemistry with Jeon Yeo-been, though, and their romance was sweet. Jeon Yeo-been was a highlight for me, she brought a lot of energy and charm to her character. I also appreciated how the supporting cast added depth to the story.
The story was interesting enough, with some twists and turns that kept me engaged. But, I felt like it was a bit predictable and didn't have any major surprises. The pacing was a bit slow at times, and some episodes felt like they dragged on. I also felt like some plot points were resolved too easily or conveniently.
One thing that did stand out to me was the themes of social justice and corruption. I appreciated how the drama tackled these issues and shed light on the darker side of society. It was refreshing to see a drama take on these topics and not shy away from the harsh realities.
The cinematography was nice, with some pretty shots of Italy and Korea. But, I felt like the editing could have been better, some scenes felt disjointed and didn't flow well. Some of the action scenes were also a bit choppy and hard to follow.
The OST was fine, nothing really stood out to me. I didn't find myself humming any of the songs or feeling particularly moved by the music. It wasn't bad, just forgettable.
Overall, 'Vincenzo' was an okay watch for me, but it did kind of bore me at times. It didn't wow me, and I wouldn't watch it again. If you're looking for a light, easy watch with some nice scenery and a decent story, 'Vincenzo' might be up your alley. but,if your looking for something more complex. Thought-provoking, or emotionally resonant, you might want to look somewhere else
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Have you ever had a crazy dream you've never wanted to wake up from?
I've read some of the reviews to this series, but depending on your taste on things you like to watch than you'll know if you will enjoy this series or not. For example: if you enjoy movies like True Lies, MCU (both series and movies), Fast and Furious, James Bond movies, Treadstone, John Wick, Star Wars, etc., than you'll enjoy this series. Personally, I like to watch things that help me escape from my very hectic and stressful life, so shows and movies like Vincenzo, W, Memories of Alhambra, and the movies and shows already mentioned above really hit the spot. Plus, as a teacher, aunt, a niece, a cousin, a daughter, a sister and especially a mother, you don't want kids thinking things like this happen in real life. Nowadays, the graphics on these shows make things seem plausible. Not everyone, as well, are responsible and watch things first before allowing their kids to see things (or if it's suitable for their age) to take a moment after watching shows like this and explain things for them. For example: when the 1st movie of Fast and Furious came out there is a scene where Dom (Vin Diesel), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Mia (Jordana Brewster), and Vince (Matt Schulze) leave to rob a truck driver. In that scene, the car Letty is in (which if I'm remembering correctly) is a Honda. I, myself, being a daughter of a truck driver and being Puerto Rican (which lots of us have or have had own a Honda/Toyota/Mazda/Nissan) automatically knew it's not possible. Nevertheless, after the movie was released in theaters, I'm listening to the news and the anchors are reporting that some teens tried to imitate that scene. Since then, there has been a disclaimer to the Fast and Furious movies. FYI: Still to this day, my baby boy, who turned 20 this past September, when I see something, whether it's a commercial, show, movie, or anime I go to him and tell him "you know...this doesn't happen in real life, right?" He'll roll his eyes and tell me, "yes mom, I'm highly aware" and lets out a big sigh. And if it's a movie/show, like the Titanic that the event happened, but the storyline is fake, I let him know as well. The point to all this is that even though Vincenzo is a movie, the graphics are great, the actors, whether they the main characters, supporting characters, or just had minor scenes, they ALL did a Fantastic job. Plus, they didn't write the script, they are just performing it. Nevertheless, it's always good to get lost from reality for a bit. Whether you do it by going to church, reading a good book, going to the beach, going for a massage or spa day, or by turning on the television and enjoying the TV for a few. In this aspect, I believe Vincenzo is a MUST WATCH.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Dissenting opinion here
Please bear in mind that this is ONLY my opinion!The cinematography in this drama was fabulous, as was the music. Episode 1 started so strongly; I had high hopes for this show. Song Joong Ki and Ok Taec Yeon were both excellent. Plus, there was the advantage of a bunch of actors that I have loved in other works.
For me, this drama had a couple of problems. 1) First, so much bloodshed for the sake of bloodshed. Vincenzo is completely missing a moral compass, which made it hard for me to root for him in any capacity. Then, you have the upright citizens whose moral compasses go on the fritz or something and are willing to do whatever it takes for revenge. 2) The character was just all-around irritating. I kept waiting for her to get better, but no such luck. 3) I didn't feel the chemistry between the ML and FL. They would have been better to stick with the bromance.
But worst of all was the comedy. Don't get me wrong, the comedy was, for the most part, funny, and if the serious parts were less dark and violent, it might have worked well. However, it felt too much like the writers were trying to lighten up the heavy storyline and it felt contrived. The serious parts provided a lot of tension, but I kept being pulled out of the story by the comedy. So often, to me, this felt like a mash up of two diametrically opposed genres.
My review is to remind me of what I watched and what I thought, not to change anyone's mind, so please don't come at me with hate.
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Throw away the logic, let the pigeons in.
It was refreshing to see how they truly did not give a damn about realism and logic to such a ridiculous extent, but because of that, this drama had no business having 20 episodes, each 1 hour and 20 minutes long.Realistically speaking, the whole plot would perfectly fit into a 2 hour movie. Instead, we’ve got around 28 hours of Vincenzo being cool finding a way to fight Babel, said “way” getting killed, Vincezno finding another way to fight Babel, that then gets killed… you get the idea. Strangely, even with this painful repetitiveness, I was not exactly bored for most of the watch time. True, I did watch the whole drama at 1.25x speed, but I enjoyed the experience quite a lot.
Surprisingly brutal, a few times reminding me more of a Saw movie, and not a k-drama comedy about a mafia. Not sure how, but this vicious take mixed well with the dumb jokes and plot points. The only time I felt like the show failed at mixing different moods was the way they handled Cha Young’s motivation to join the fight - that bit made me feel slightly uncomfortable and was not the best start to the series.
Song Joong Ki as Vincenzo Cassano was the selling point of the show, and for me, the performance was so strong, I did not even need more from the drama to keep watching. He is just really fine, and when he goes into full boss mode, I could not care less about the plot. Sometimes, this is all I need to keep me entertained.
Then we have Hong Cha Young played by Jeon Yeo Been. Love the actress, struggled with the character, especially in the first half. Her comedic vibe has been just too strong for me to like. Slowly she became less cartoonish, and more like a relatable human being - that’s when I started to appreciate her more.
I am truly not the biggest fan of Ok Taec Yeon as an actor. Has been a fan of his since his debut in 2PM, he is born to be an entertainer, but I was not even once convinced by his acting. Yet, I loved him as Jang Jun Woo. Don’t know if it’s just one lucky role for him, or he is starting to feel more comfortable in his acting, but I bought him as Jun Woo completely.
Some side characters and performances that caught my attention were: Kwak Dong Yeon as Jang Han Seo, Choi Deok Moon as Tak Hong Shik, Kim Yoon Hye as Seo Mi Ri and Im Chul Soo as Ahn Ki Seok. Not to forget Kim Sung Cheol for whom I have quite a soft spot.
I could feel all the money spent on the production leaking through my screen. Top notch might be an understatement. When you know the production team did not shy from spending money? When the soundtrack has 67 tracks - all of extremely high quality.
Still, the writing was just… empty? It serves amazing entertainment, and that’s it. There was no depth, no emotional attachment, no well developed plot. I’m still trying to figure out how the decision to make it into such a long drama was made. I can imagine the writer, director and the production team sitting in the bar, after quite a few bottles, brainstorming with ideas of a similar quality to “but imagine this: lizard people were behind it all along”. Some plot points were so outside of the box I was truly impressed with the creativity.
Overall, perfect brainless drama for some fun, light watch. Watching this as my neurons were being fried by Covid was a perfect choice and I don’t think any other drama could accompany me through that hell as well as Vincenzo did.
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Came for Ok Taec Yeon, stayed for Master Hemp Lee!
Had not seen this prior to watching "Secret Royal Inspector & Joy". In fact, I'd avoided this like the plague because it looked like an attempt at Eurocentrism. I'm not wrong.So, firstly, for any viewer who wants to watch something that makes sense—don't watch this. You've been warned. This series tries to make a plot but has no intention on sticking to it whatsoever. If nothing else, one phrase should tell how ridiculous it is—deus ex machina by pigeon. Yup. One conflict of the series was solved by inexplicable divine intervention of the pigeon variety.
That aside, if you're looking for some comedic relief... maybe I'd recommend this. I didn't expect Master Lee, from Alchemy of Souls, to be here and seriously, he saved it for me. His character was really the one who saves the day, and even Vincenzo, on several occasions and he is funny AF.
I'm not even going to waste time on analysing the plot and characters except to say that, for the backstories of the characters, it is impossible for all of them to need someone to fight for them. And the plot, like I said, is non-existent. All the characters do not behave as per their profile. The situations are BS, at best. And the constant grandstanding, when the protags aren't even in a winning position, is just a cheap and desperate attempt to detract from the fact that there's no plot or development in there at all. At all.
Would I recommend this? ... If you like Master Hemp Lee, sure thing, go for it. It was a pity he wasn't shown in more frames but he did make the show worth it for me. Do not enter if you're looking for anything logical though, nevermind substantial.
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