Vincenzo

After having this in my cw list for almost 6 months now, I finally managed to finish this. That doesn't necessarily mean that it was boring. Quite the opposite, even though I still have my issues with some things.

If there's one thing the drama has in common with Italy, it's the fact that it ripes like a good wine. The start was okay but never knocked me off my socks, and therefore paused it for awhile. After some time I continued, and suddenly I was carried away by it. It's one of the few dramas that actually get better with the second half.

It's an old trope, trying to fight against a big corrupt company, revealing all the evil deeds, discover more corruption and so on. It's pretty exhausting, I don't even know why I always watch that stuff. It's no different with this one, yet I felt pretty entertained at the end. And that's because of this unique cast and very well written characters - not just one or two but a huge bunch of those. And because of the balance between good and evil. It was mostly 70/30 for the good ones, but the villains' counterattacks had deeper impacts, if only for a short while. I also loved those posing entries whenever Vincenzo's group was about to attack. I never felt more satisfied then watching their stunts being successful.

Managing such a large group of supportive characters is probably not that easy, but the drama still pulled it off somehow. And that without a detailed background story for everyone. There was always enough information of each of them to draw enough of a 3D image while the respective actors and actresses did the rest in bringing them to life. The result is a fantastic and highly entertaining side cast that carries a big part of the story. And I'm just talking about the residents Vincenzo gets aquainted with.

The villains in this experience slow but impressive character changes throughout the story - they either become darker or have a change of heart. Except for one. I don't mind that though because he was who he was, there was never a hint that he would change, and that was more than enough for me.

I don't think that everyone needs some kind of development whatsoever. If the character is written well enough, I only care whether he or she acts in-character, because that alone can be fun as hell if done right. For example the female lead. She does have some huge development jump in the early episodes after a certain incident, but after that she gets her stand and never budges. I must praise the actress here, because damn, she got the most natural performance I've seen in a long time. It was pure enjoyment watching her very being, her charisma was electrifying.

SJK aka Vincenzo... Well, well. I liked his performance, no question. He did a decent job and I enjoyed his scenes alot, and there are even one or two scenes which he played out quite impressively. But in the end I never felt a real Mafioso vibe around him. No matter how many seemingly cold-blooded, yet passionate scenes they put him into. I don't even blame the accent. I know it wasn't the best. Espescially since he played someone who grew up in Italy, it wasn't convincing. I don't speak the language but I'm quite familiar with it, so I hear the difference. But I never blame foreign accents in kdramas. I'm already pleased when I see that they try. I just think that his ~Italian aura lacked alot. It was missing density and didn't feel as intimidating as it should have.

Nevertheless, one of the few dramas, I enjoyed alot because the WHOLE cast was outstanding (excluding the few foreigners who appear one of two times).

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Vincenzo -- Another TvN drama that doesn't really land the ending

Hi everyone,
This is my first kdrama review on this site, so please be nice!
Vincenzo is the kind of drama that I find to be a pattern with TvN shows -- it promises a lot but it doesn't deliver what it says it will. The writer does a great job of building the hype, but kills it on their own with a few mistakes. I'd like to emphasize that these weren't a dealbreaker for me necessarily since I finished the entire series, but they did definitely make the show a drag.

Downsides to this Drama: (Only 3 y'all, don't wanna bore you! 😜)
[1] The rich man with an infinite amount of money
A classic K-drama stereotype. The heroine in need of money and the hot, rich guy who has a bottomless bank account and they're madly in love. This is one of those tropes that is funny at first because of how ridiculous it is, but in Vincenzo, it's pretty much the driving force behind the plot. In almost every episode, Vincenzo is showing off his wealth and yes the actor does make it look cool at first, it gets boring to watch towards the end. Love the actor, not a fan of this character.

[2] Villians that never change their evil-doing patterns
This is a less commonly seen trope in kdramas, which I normally find exciting and fun. The bad guy tries something, he fails in front of the hero, so he comes up with something even more sinister that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In Vincenzo, there's an attempt to do that but it often falls short. Vincenzo gives the villian a run for his money, something pretty cool to watch, but not as fun when a single character is basically driving the plot alone.

[3] Romance is subtext
Now, I know I'll get some bad rep for this one. Yes, I know the main point of this show isn't romance, but I mean, the writer was being rather stingy with his romantic moments here. I mean, even a little bit more would've been good by me. It's really cute in some parts, but so many things get left unsaid that you just keep wishing they'd added a little more to the dialouge in the emotional scenes. Not the worst, but I'll live.

Upsides to this Drama:
[1] Side characters that live in your head rent free.
This show is one of those where you get attached to the side characters without meaning to. You laugh more when they're on screen, and you really want to see them get their happy ending. The writer does a great job at creating this fuzzy feeling of family among people who really couldn't be more different. Awesome.

[2] No goody-two-shoes good guys here.
Vincenzo isn't afraid to break some rules, and neither is Chae-young. They're tough, they play dirty when they know they're going to lose, but they do it with elegance. Not to mention, a badass power couple fighting crime together? Sign me up!

[3] Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Every villian in this show gets what they deserve twofold, part of a somewhat gruesome but also weirdly satisfying ending. It's a bit much, but at the same time fits the vibe of the show. It'll surprise you for sure, I know it surprised me.

Overall:
Vincenzo is definitely a show with its flaws, but I wouldn't say it's an awful one so it's a 7/10 from me. The music gets a 7, the acting gets an 8 (because of the good chemistry). If you're okay with some very in-your-face and over the top cliches, like rich-man-with-infinite-amount-of-money, go right ahead. Just let yourself laugh it off, even when the show's being a bit much. It's not the most serious show, but it will make a statement. That being said, I'm more of a romance woman myself, so rewatch value is gotta be a 6/10 for me.

Hope this helps someone! Have a great day y'all.

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Honestly after 4 or episodes it was so nerve-wracking to watch, there were too much tension that made me become disinterested for next episodes. Cinematography, acting and lead's chemistry was the things that made me continue to watch but in the end they weren't enough. I really wanted to watch some romance because of their chemistry was so great but unfortunately it was wasted. Other thing that made me become disinterested to show were the tenants. There were many memorable scenes (especially funny scenes were very enjoyable for me.) and catchwords. However, i find it overrated and i had to push myself to watch after few episodes.

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not what I expected...

I don't usually write reviews but I had to for this one. I've heard a lot of people calling this wasted potential and I have to agree...

The show started off great with the first episode. It had this cool but quirky vibe to it that had me immediately hooked. I looked forward to the next episode every week (watched it while it was ongoing). The cast seemed great as well. Joongi and Yeobeen as well as the villains, played their characters very well. I obviously had high expectations bc of this.

I think my main problem has to do with the progression of the plot. Halfway through the plot starts feeling rushed and repetitive. I believe this is why the characters didn't have any room to develop either. A lot of what was happening felt kinda forced or "out of place". The initial purpose of the story felt lost as well.

Things I especially wish they would've done differently:
1. Chayoung's story
I think they moved on a little too fast with her overall story. Her relationship with her father and her morally questionable choices as a lawyer is what made her feel super refreshing (specially as a female character). I feel like we didn't get to properly see her mourn over her father or how that transitioned into her seeking revenge. I also expected to see more of the "enemies to lovers" trope between her and Vincenzo.

2. Hanseo and Vincenzo
I thought them teaming up was actually perfect but the timing was kinda off (which happens a lot throughout the show). We didn't get to see them develop a PROPER brother-like love, which is why it felt somewhat forced. It's a shame considering how much bigger the emotional impact would've been.

Despite the disappointment, the show still had some great things. I think Vincenzo himself was a great character and his dilemma with the mafia and killing people was portrayed well.
I also loved Choi Myunghee as a villain. Instead of making up a redemption story they chose to show that she did what she did bc she was simply evil and greedy.

I think I had too high expectations and watching it while it was ongoing made me analyze it a little more than I probably should have. So I would still recommend it to people who are just looking for something fun to watch!!

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Slow paced drama with okayish acting , average light revenge drama

9 episodes down and I felt Vincenzo is nothing more than an average watch.The storyline is becoming more predictable lacking serious twists and they add all unnecessary details making it so slow paced. Its not easy to get a attachment to characters and doesn't offer a compelling watch.

a)Vincenzo uses a lot of forced comedy scenes which can be really enjoyed by some people but for some it hardly gave any laugh.Coming to episode 5 and 6,the comedy scenes itself became so predictable and then almost the humour tone turns into a substandard one.
b) Some ideas to tackle enemy were brilliant but the show don't show any specific revenge fire,no clever twists.
c) At the same time, some ideas looks really silly like tonsil scenes, a judge who doesn't wipes his after something sticky falls on his face( I think suit was enough to sting )- just for creating comedy.
Tat flower plot scenes was so predictable from the first look.
d) FL acting is average and has got a lot of room for improvement. She started strong but now she turned into an assistant role to hero, total mismatch to her topdog character of a famous law firm- kdrama cliche.

e) Some show off scenes of Song are really good but he is not that good in a dark hero role. Even now, viewers don't know what is in his mind. No emotional attachment.
f) Almost all father daughter scenes were poor and not emotionally or atleast comically involving.
g) FL walking style and dance - really funny
h)I think negative characters are performing good especially the villain and we can easily get that negative vibes from them.
i) Great potential for love angle.
j) leads chemistry also good.

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Patience is a virtue!

Acting/Cast
- The casts for this show were truly excellent and the characters were very well executed, that's the main highlight for you!
- It took quite some time (around half of the whole show) for me to feel attached to the characters mainly Geumga Plaza family, the second half of the show brought me to tears on several occasions as I felt the characters' struggle & sadness.
- Sense of humour is spot on most of the time, well at least for me.

Story/Plot
- The first half is the reason why I gave the story's rating of 6 out of 10, due to its lighter tone, slow & draggy.
- The first half of the show is significantly lighter than the second half, the tone gets darker and darker until the very last episode. Yes, the finale is the darkest one & I love it!
- Identity reveals in this show are no joke! Seriously, each of them made me paused, took a breather before continuing.
- People do back-stabbing as if it's their hobbies.

Music/OST
- Just MASTERPIECE, near perfection!

Rewatch value
- Not in the near future, maybe after a year or two. Not quite sure if I want to repeat the first half again, hence, patience is a virtue.

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I really enjoyed this show but...

this is not one where I will miss the characters. I might miss the quirkiness of the Plaza residents who lightened the mood when it got too dark. But, this is a seriously dark view of the world and there's just so much blood...

Song Joon Ki and Jeon Yeo Been were great in the lead roles, but I think Ok Taec Yeon stole the show. I don't think I can see him in anything else for a while. Han Seok was downright scary, all rage and unbridled emotions, as opposed to Vincenzo, who was cool and collected for most of the show.

Glad I watched the show, but I need a few light-hearted rom-coms to recover...

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Spettacolo molto bello con un uomo molto bello*

*That's with Google Translate, so forgive me if you're an Italian speaker.

Using my personal rating system of "loved," "liked," "meh," & "nah," this was mostly a “loved”.

I am writing this review after re-watching show from start to finish for the first time since it came out (which is when I watched it the first time).

Things I liked:
Characters. Vincenzo Cassano. I loved the complexity of the character. That he had moments of fear, loss, and humanity. I loved how well he was played by Song Joong Ki who, despite being known for his youthful appearance (I completely believed him as the twin teenagers in the Arthdal Chronicles), can also pay a ruthless bad@$$. I liked Hong Cha Young as well. I remember reading comments/reviews that some did not like her character, but I liked her better on the re-watch. She was outspoken, outgoing, irreverent, and brave. She was not this sweet, innocent female lead who fit all the tropes of a pure heart and soul. She, too, was a complexly written character. Ok Taec Yeon did an amazing job playing two sides of the same person. He did such a good job as a monster, I’m currently re-watching “Secret Royal Inspecter & Joy” just to see him play a nice person. Lol! And finally, Choi Myung Hee because this character broke all the tropes about evil women. She was horrible but it had nothing to do with her gender or jealousy. I liked the plaza residents, their different personalities, their quirks.

Other things: I liked the moments of fear, tension interspersed with tragedy but also love and humor (even slapstick) because real life is that way. There are times when we are crying because we’re laughing so hard and then crying because of sorrow. I also liked the tension—I had a hard time predicting what would be coming up in the plot. For example, I did NOT predict who would become the main antagonist in the show. Usually, if I questioned a plot point (for example, when Vincenzo goes to threaten the CEO with a gun, I could not figure out why he just didn’t shoot him—it was so out of character for him to hold a gun on somebody and then talk…but the next episode explained it all) it would all be revealed later and would make sense—some inconsistencies aside.

Set/music/styling. This was well done many times throughout the show. The first scenes of VC in the vineyard and then defending himself against assassination were gold. When he first defended the Plaza residents. When he was riding that horse…(though I did which they had gotten him a pair of tighter pants—not even from the aesthetic sense, but from a horseback riding perspective, he was going to have some serious chafing…).

Things I did not like so much:
Motivation. Those were not always fleshed out well. I mean, why was Babel Group ALWAYS so horrible!? It was like their mission statement was “do as much evil as possible even if doing legitimate business might actually be more profitable in the long run…”. They were actively killing off their own employees and test subjects—that just does not make sense from a business standpoint. Even though I liked the fact that Choi Myung Hee’s gender was not usually made an issue in the show, I did not understand why she was such a terrible person. It was not entirely clear why she disliked the FL on first sight nor why she always chose killing people off as the best option. The way they introduced her in the beginning, she seemed like she would be a sympathetic character, but then once she got to Wusan, the gloves came off (but they imply she was the hitman-by-proxy when she worked for the gov’t, too). The evil main lead and evil female lead just kept doing stupid things to piss VC off. They SAW the pictures of what he’d done in Italy, why on earth did they think that would not happen to them!? (And why did CMH always scream in terror every time she was threatened--like she had not wrought such on others!? And does no one in South Korea own a washing machine of their own?)

Inconsistencies, unrealities. The pigeon rescue was a bit much…cute, but beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. Why was VC always using civilians!? He was a mafia consigliere, even if he did not have the same level of connections in SK, why would he ever trust these serious jobs to civilians!? I get that is how they included the Plaza residents in the story, but it did not make sense from a logical point of view—especially when they wrote VC’s character to be so brilliant. And how did all the Plaza residents turn out to be professional fighters!?--I felt like they threw that in there at the last minute with zero logical set up in the plot beforehand.

Violence. It was bit too much, for me personally, especially towards the end. It made it hard to like VC’s character fully since he was capable of such ‘creativity’. They try to explain it away, but still, for me, personally, that was one of my dislikes of the show.

Conclusion. All inconsistencies aside, I pretty much loved this show. I would recommend it if you like k-drama thrillers and/or Song Joong Ki. :D

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Characterwise, the mains are way too eccentric

(Watched it around 2 months ago, but i still remember the impression) || I actually liked the overall story but what I couldn't stand from this drama is the female lead. I know comedy is one of this drama's genre but the TOO eccentric characteristic of the main leads (SJK and JYB) sometimes made me cringe and failed to feel the drama. From what i saw, the comics seemed to be forced ESPECIALLY the FL. She's a good actress, i know, but maybe the writer didnt do good at creating the character that it had flaws here and there. Taecyeon is for sure another eccentric lead too, but to me he made it better than the two, and it suits him (all the rages and comics, i just loved itt). To sum it up, to me it needs more seriousness(?). I gave the acting an 8 thanks to Tacyeon, I could've given a 6.5 if he didnt do good there. || They did a great job for the cinematography, plot, etc tho, but it lacked characteristic creation that i could say it's kinda o V e R r A t E d. 이상입니다.

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So much hype but all wasted

When i saw the adv and rating for this drama i was shocked then i went to watch this , when reached in the middle of the drama it does not impressed me personally there is no new improvements in story plot and director is only focus on evil character as well as hero and funny scenes etc. We don't know what is happening at last episodes like something is going on parallelly we know it, at first they said it is thriller and comedy , action! We can only see these two rather thriller. Only suspense part is that villan is the colleague of heroine at office so that is all nothing else is there! Why name it as thriller then, and only few scenes stands for me remaining either pulling off the episodes etc.

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