Cruel City

Ah, the name fits well, it truly is a cruel city!

For like the first 8 episodes, I wasn't really that into it, and it might seem stupid to say that I overall enjoyed it if I needed 8 episodes to get into it, but that might just be a side effect of watching too many dramas. The plot felt very familiar and didn't stand out for the first 8 episodes, but it did pique my interest more once the romance sparked. What can I say—while I do enjoy my crime/mystery/noir shows, a good romance is what keeps me watching.

While overall, in the end, I do find this to be a good drama and recommend it, I have some criticisms.

Most importantly—Ji Hyung-min. What a frustrating, one-dimensional, rigid character. Such a contrast (in a negative way) to the more nuanced character that Shi-hyun was, although he could be frustrating at times too. This whole undercover cop thing was great in the sense of exploring the nuances that go into this morally grey area of undercover cops. But bro, Hyung-min sending his own undercover cop in without any training was just ridiculous. Ain't no way someone without ANY training can just do undercover shit, and he just let her (Soo-min) do it and then acted all self-righteous. For a main character, he was too frustrating.

Jin Sook was truly a GOAT. With each episode, I loved her character more and more—I think she is my favorite character in this one.

Overall, this drama has crazy good reviews, but I don't find it to be the masterpiece that people say it is. However, I would recommend it. It also very much reminds me of The Worst of Evil—same energy, and the names of these dramas really fit the stories. They show how fucked up this undercover cop thing can get. At the end of the day, we are just people dealing with other people, and it's very morally complicated. I enjoy this aspect very much.

Great OST.

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Prelude to Worst of Evil

I have so much to say about this drama I'm about to explode. But im afraid if my review is too long, you won't read it.

So I'll just sum up the facts first.
- definitely watch this drama
- the plot, however convoluted it was, did not detract from the overall experience of the show.
- excellent range of characters with development and none with skippable scenes

Now for all my opinions. Kdramas from 10-15 years ago, for some reason always give me early 90s American drama vibes. From the choppy cinematography, to the sometimes night time soap opera dramatics.

HC was a classic example of this filming style. The action scenes were fun but almost to the point of funny because you can easily see the choreography and sometimes hear the sound dept add in the "smack" sounds.

The most dramatic scenes, I could see the actors giving their all, but sometimes that was the problem. The "acting" part was a little too obvious. (super cringe crying face from Docs Son)

These are not complaints tho. This is just the type of style youre getting. The actors mostly gave excellent performances. The character of Ji Hyung Min was sooo well acted imo. Safari and Hyun Soo were villains you definitely rooted for.

The amount of betrayal in the show is staggering, so it's hard to believe the overall message I took from it in the end was about loyalty, friendship, and love. You will cry unless you're, ahem, Heartless.

If you have watched the more recent drama "The Worst of Evil", id say HC walked so WoE could run. If you haven't seen either, watch HC first. It's a classic old timey feel without a lot cheesy kdrama-isms (fisheye kisses, office Karaoke, cherry blossoms)

Then watch WoE. I don't want to debate as to which is better. WoE just proved that HC could have been done even better in 16 episodes. I do think it had one too many twists.

And my final thoughts-
This was a gorgeous cast, my goodness. Lee Jae Yoon in those plain white tees had me salivating. Yoon Hyun Min has never looked better and he is beautiful in EVERYTHING.
Jung Kyoung-Ho, glistening and brooding, could only rank 3rd against this tough competition but he was still deathly charming

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I am feeling drowsy right now.. u know why??
BECAUSE I MARATHON THIS SHOW FOR 3 DAYS!!!!
I think this is the most intense k-drama that i have ever seen that keep me on the edge of my seat.
The cliff-hanger is killing me, i need to stop watching in the middle of the episode in order to rest, if not i would continue watching it..

This is such an under-rated drama compare to other over-hyped dramas, but the quality is better than some other dramas. The story is so dark and very twisted, you don't even know who is the bad guy and the good guy anymore, the line becomes blur in reality in drug cartel's world. It comes to the point that if we have the same interest and purpose we become allies, even though we are actually enemies.. and so on.. something like that. But somehow i don't understand and cannot follow up with the story and i am left with some questions.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Sometimes I will get lost in thoughts and I cannot catch up with so many Information that jammed into my brain. I need to repeat scenes to understand the story better. It's unexpected but i give a 8.5 for the story because some of information becomes repetitive with so many undercover agents revealed. Don't understand why the director assigned so many undercover agents, and they chased each other while doing the drug business? It becomes odd and confusing. The twist is also too much i think, so it makes me confused, but the intensity is real.

I pity shi hyun, really pity his life, but he is such a strong character... and i instantly admire his character in cruel city.. It's hard to not sympathized with him and his gang.

I need to warn you that this is not a romance drama, there is no romance at all, maybe only 1% romance of all 20 episodes..

Actor especially jung kyung-ho is very brilliant, his acting is flawless like i really can truly feel how he feels.. His pain, his struggle hmmm.. the rest of the cast are also wonderful.. I like all female characters in this show, they are strong. They are not cry-baby female who needs people to defend them. I put 8 for re-watch coz i think i need to watch it again in order to understand it better. Hmm coz after i finished watching this drama, i feel blank and i kind of forget about this drama although when i watched it i cannot stop... It seems that this drama failed to left a mark in my heart hahaha.

Music is dark, intense and can build up tense and suspense.

The ending is good, as expected, but after credit?? What does it mean? I don't understand it at all. That is the only issue i have, the ending.. i mean why after credit i see doc's son standing and calling someone...hmmph... It's only 2 seconds and there is no explanation, i hate it, it could be a 10 haha. I really hope that if he died then he died clearly.. if he lives, there is a scene where he is really alive...

Anyway, recommended drama to watch if u like thriller, dark drama...

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`~Contiene spoilers `~

El Dorama es majestuoso, en el mismo encontrarás acción, drama, romance y VENGANZA, te quedarás sorprendida con tanta acción, con escenas tan buenas, las cuales no estamos acostumbradas a ver en un Drama.

Las actuaciones, fueron fuuuuu, me he quedado sin palabras, pero empecemos uno por uno.

Jung Kyung Ho, Ajhussi, Gangs Ajhussi, Jung Shi Hyun, Shi Hyun, Shi Hyun Oppa, ver a este hombre interpretar tan excepcional papel, me ha dejado con la boca abierta, porque Shi Hyun es un hombre sin expresión, no tiene la necesidad de sonreírte porque igual te enamorarás de él, pero Jung Kyung Ho, es mi hermoso tontito, el cual yo vi en Smile, You ¿En realidad es el mismo? Oh por Dios, Sí, es el mismo, y eso es lo que más me encantó, en Smile You era el oppa miedoso, el oppa enamorado, sonriente, ingenuo, pero aquí en Hearless City, es Nuestro Gangs Ajhussi, el hombre que mata a diestra y siniestra pero que a la vez defiende a las personas que ama, el hombre que está metido en problemas hasta los muñones, pero igual te hace amarlo, majestual Jung Kyung Ho que GRAN INTERPRETACIÓN.

Nam Gyu Ri, es una chica hermosa, la cual conocí en 49 days, me encantó su interpretación, pero aquí se salto la barda, su interpretación es única, porque la vemos como la hermanita “Te llevo la contraria en todo”, pero después se vuelve esa mujer que es capaz de vender droga con tal de encontrar al Doctor, su interpretación fue buena, pero no sobresale a nuestro Ajhussi.

Jin Sook, esta ahjumma, me ha encantado, su ambición es tan grande, su amor fue tan grande… que crió a un niño que no era suyo, se vendía para darle de comer a ese niño, que ahora no ve más con un niño, sino como un hombre, hombre al cual ama, no como madre, sino como mujer.

Safari, comprendí cada pensamiento, cada sentimiento, él amaba a Jin Sook, amaba a Paksa, era su hijo, ese hijo que nunca tuvo, pero al cual le dio todo su amor, Safari, realmente lo consideraba de su sangre y por eso lo abandonó para que no siguiera sus caminos, este personaje me pareció tan humano, me encantó, lo amé, me fascinaba como hablaba este hombre. En serio que lo amé.

Y por último tenemos a Nuestro Soo, ese hermanito travieso, que daba todo por Paksa, era para amarlo, su actuación me encantó, porque todo lo hacía por su hermano del alma, TODO. Bueno hasta aquí me quedó con la evaluación de los personajes porque los otros no me parecen relativamente tan importantes.

Obviamente sí ya llegaste a este punto es porque también estás llorando como yo, en realidad yo me esperaba este final, lo esperaba era más que obvio que alguien tenía que morir, pero en ¿Realidad Paksa murió? Para mí sí, obviamente se murió, sí todos estaban llorando.

Al igual que Soo… ¿Por qué mataron a Soo? Era tan lindo, créanme que lloré…

Bueno el final fue… un poco acelerado, fue un poco ¿En serio? Siempre los malos ganan, en serio Paksa tenía que morir… pero ya resucitando a Paksa, esta fue mi parte favorita del Dorama, cuando la ahjumma felicita a nuestro Paksa por haber cumplido sus sueños y haberse convertido en “alguien”, en un policía, lloré también con esta escena porque nuestro Paksa, rompió en llanto como un bebé.

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Cruel City definitely has merits – it's seductive in its dark and elegant atmosphere, with a very well-defined noir aesthetic. The central themes revolve around morality, loyalty, identity, and the unstable hierarchies that crumble in this corrupt environment between crime and the police. There's a clear attempt to study how these people are corroded by the very roles they occupy, showing how the underworld devours convictions, bonds, and even the notion of who each person is. In this sense, the main relationships (Doctor's Son, Lee Jin Sook, and Safari; Kim Hyeon Soo and Doctor's Son; Doctor's Son, Lee Jin Sook, and Min Hong Ki) are well-developed, have depth, and truly carry narrative weight. As the ending approaches, we truly feel the impact of each of their demise. The world presented is not just violent; it's a territory where everyone has already lost something essential before the story even begins.

However, as the narrative progresses, it becomes clear how fragile the structure is due to repetitive plot twists—at a certain point, almost all the criminals are revealed to be police infiltrators, which dilutes the tension and impoverishes the dramatic fabric. The characters' decisions are almost always the worst possible, and no one seems capable of having a direct conversation to resolve basic problems. Added to this is the exhaustive repetition of the same situations: the criminals going after the main cast, capturing one of them, and at the last moment someone appears to save them, only for the cycle to repeat itself again and again. This redundancy gives the impression that the script is trying to artificially stretch the story. Another point that few notice, but which reveals glaring inconsistencies: it's surreal how wanted criminals, both by the police and by other criminals, circulate freely through the city as if they were ordinary citizens; always relaxed, never pursued, almost as if the underworld only exists when the plot needs it.

In the initial episodes, it's also problematic how the character Ji Hyeong Min appears almost like Superman: infallible, with impeccable instincts, and always showing up at the right moment. In several scenes, when he wasn't present, it became clear that he had no real use in moving the plot forward; he only becomes important when he starts being used by or assisting the Doctor's Son. Before that, he's just an unbearable character, artificially exaggerated.

The villains, in general, are generic and unmemorable, with the exception of Min Hong Ki, who, however, ends up wasted due to poor and poorly explored motivations, being reduced to a character who gets lost for silly reasons.

And then we arrive at the point I wanted to make: the Doctor's Son's relationship with Yoon Soo Min. Before that, however, it's necessary to comment on the initial stupidity of having Soo Min have a romantic interest in Ji Hyeong Min in a forced attempt at a love triangle. Fortunately, this doesn't go any further, but even so, it shouldn't have even been started; The most appropriate thing would be for Soo Min to feel respect for him, nothing more than that. Returning to the bond between Doctor's Son and Soo Min: in terms of relationships, this is the weakest link in the drama, not due to a lack of potential, but because of the hasty and poorly constructed narrative decisions. Their relationship should function as a kind of emotional escape, a breath of fresh air within the chaos of the underworld that engulfs them. It required slow, gradual, intimate development, more shared moments, more meaningful silence, more building of closeness so that, when the inevitable conflict arose, the impact would be more emotionally impactful. But this doesn't happen. Everything is rushed, shallow, and devoid of the intensity that the premise demanded. Thus, what could have been the most powerful bond in the drama ends up becoming its weakest point.

As pure entertainment, it works. Some action or violence scenes are terribly done; the worst is when Kim Eun Soo tries to strangle Busan—that's a bad joke. Jung Kyung Ho didn't fit the character; his demeanor is too androgynous, too delicate. The role would have suited Lee Joon Gi, Lee Jong Suk, or another actor with a more badass style much better.

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Definitivamente, Cruel City possui méritos - é sedutor pela atmosfera sombria e elegante, com uma estética noir muito bem definida. Os temas centrais se articulam em torno da moralidade, da lealdade, da identidade e das hierarquias instáveis que se desmoronam nesse ambiente corrompido entre o crime e a polícia. Há uma tentativa clara de estudar como essas pessoas são corroídas pelos próprios papéis que ocupam, mostrando como o submundo devora convicções, vínculos e até mesmo a noção de quem cada um é. Nesse sentido, as relações principais (Doctor’s Son, Lee Jin Sook e Safari; Kim Hyeon Soo e Doctor’s Son; Doctor’s Son, Lee Jin Sook e Min Hong Ki) são bem trabalhadas, possuem profundidade e realmente carregam peso narrativo. Conforme o desfecho se aproxima, sentimos de fato o impacto do fim de cada um deles. O mundo apresentado não é apenas violento; é um território onde todos já perderam algo essencial antes mesmo de a história começar.

Porém, à medida que a narrativa avança, percebe-se como a estrutura se torna frágil pelas reviravoltas repetitivas — em determinado ponto, quase todos os bandidos revelam-se infiltrados da polícia, o que dilui a tensão e empobrece o tecido dramático. As decisões dos personagens são quase sempre as piores possíveis, e ninguém parece capaz de ter uma conversa direta para resolver problemas básicos. Soma-se a isso a repetição exaustiva das mesmas situações: os bandidos indo atrás do elenco principal, capturando um deles, e no último momento alguém aparece para salvar, apenas para o ciclo se repetir de novo e de novo. Essa redundância passa a impressão de que o roteiro tenta esticar a história artificialmente. Outro ponto que poucos percebem, mas que revelam inconsistências gritantes: é surreal como criminosos procurados, tanto pela polícia quanto por outros bandidos, circulam tranquilamente pela cidade como se fossem cidadãos comuns; sempre relaxados, nunca perseguidos, quase como se o submundo só existisse quando a trama precisa dele.

Nos episódios iniciais, também é problemático como o personagem Ji Hyeong Min surge quase como um Superman: infalível, com instinto impecável e sempre surgindo no momento certo. Em vários trechos, quando ele não aparecia, tornava-se perceptível que ele não tinha utilidade real para mover a trama, só passa a ser importante quando começa a ser usado ou auxiliar o Doctor’s Son. Antes disso, é apenas um personagem insuportável, artificialmente engrandecido.

Os vilões, de modo geral, são genéricos e pouco memoráveis, com exceção de Min Hong Ki, que, no entanto, acaba desperdiçado por motivações pobres e mal exploradas, sendo reduzido a um personagem que se perde por razões tolas.

E então chegamos ao ponto que eu queria: a relação do Doctor’s Son com Yoon Soo Min. Antes disso, porém, é preciso comentar a estupidez inicial de fazer a Soo Min ter interesse romântico no Ji Hyeong Min numa tentativa forçada de triângulo amoroso. Felizmente, isso não vai adiante, mas ainda assim não deveria sequer ter sido iniciado; o máximo adequado seria a Soo Min nutrir respeito por ele, nada além disso. Voltando ao vínculo entre Doctor’s Son e Soo Min: no quesito relacional, esse é o laço mais fraco do dorama, não por falta de potencial, mas pelas decisões precipitadas e mal construídas da narrativa. A relação deles deveria funcionar como uma espécie de fuga emocional, um respiro dentro do caos do submundo que os engole. Exigia um desenvolvimento lento, gradual, íntimo, mais momentos compartilhados, mais silêncio significativo, mais construção de proximidade para que, quando o conflito inevitável surgisse, o impacto fosse emocionalmente mais impactante. Mas isso não acontece. Tudo é acelerado, raso e desprovido da intensidade que a proposta pedia. Assim, aquilo que poderia ter sido o vínculo mais poderoso do dorama acaba se tornando o seu ponto mais frágil.

Como puro entretenimento funciona. Algumas cenas de ação ou violência são pessimamente feitas, a pior delas é quando a Kim Eun Soo tenta enforcar o Busan, aquilo é uma piada de mau gosto. Jung Kyung Ho não combinou com o personagem, o jeito dele é muito andrógeno, muito delicado. O papel cairia muito melhor no Lee Joon Gi, Lee Jong Suk ou outro ator com o estilo mais foda.

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I fell in love with these two amazing actors—Jung Kyung-ho and Lee Jae-yoon—because of this drama. It’s truly one of the best I’ve watched over the years, and it fits my preferred genre perfectly. By the time I watched this, I was already hooked on crime, thriller, action, and noir K-dramas—but this one took my usual expectations and raised them to a whole new level. At first, it felt very dark, especially with the scenes being shown, and I found it a bit confusing. But that’s exactly what pulled me in from the start. This was one of those dramas I stayed up late for, the kind that makes your heart race as you watch. I didn’t even know which side to root for because both leads were so compelling in their own way. The world depicted here felt so real yet terrifying—a place you could believe exists, but would never want to enter. I also loved how it constantly kept me thinking. I would be so sure I knew what was going to happen, only to be proven wrong by another clever twist. The plot turns were smart, and every reveal kept me on edge. It’s a solid, well-crafted drama that I still recommend, even after all these years.

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