This review may contain spoilers
This show has what other K-drama doesn't have!
After Evillive, I've seen the trend of shorter drama, which I really like, coz it means1. No unnecessary flashback or draggy story of ML past, just enough to give context
2. No filter scenes or cringey romance that only makes thriller more complicated than exciting
3. No "save me" princess FL in it
It's a pure 100% thriller, focusing on plot, story, action, this is how thriller should be done!!
I really love the pairing of Jiyong-Kang ok! Kang ok is like a big kid, so funny to watch. If you're pissed by FL in 1st episode like I do, stay on. She turned out to be a real crazy bitch you'll come to love for her bad-ass-ness!
I also love how Jo Heon in the end, and it's funny how he is like a korean hulk in this show lol...
All the casts come together to play their part, leading to a mega ending, its very impressive!
The ending is also unexpected, very well-done, although I am also sad when Seon Wook died, but at same time I am touched by his love for his friend and I believe this is what he'd have wanted as well, to protect and support Vigilante, right till the end.
This is cherry on the cake. Ji Yoing is SO handsome! It makes it easy to watch
It's really one of my favorite show where I don't have to fast forward at all!
The only thing is....my personal though is that such dark hero concept is sth that I would be happy in a fictional world only. In reality, I still think no murder can be justified
That aside, go and watch the show.
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Vigilante was intense from start to finish!
Vigilante is an intense, high-stakes drama that grips you from the first episode and rarely lets go. The premise—seven strangers banding together to take justice into their own hands—is as intriguing as it sounds, and the execution is sleek and emotionally layered.Each character brings depth, pain, and purpose to the vigilante group, with standout performances that elevate the tension and complexity. The action scenes are well-choreographed, and the noir-inspired visuals give it a cinematic edge. There’s a strong psychological undercurrent too, as each member’s past is slowly peeled back, revealing how deeply their lives are intertwined.
Where the drama falters slightly is in pacing—midway through, the momentum dips a bit as subplots expand. Still, the emotional payoff and final twist make the journey worthwhile. It’s not perfect, but it’s bold, stylish, and memorable.
Pros:
✔ Unique team dynamic with layered backstories
✔ Strong visuals and action choreography
✔ Gripping psychological themes
✔ Emotional arcs that resonate
Cons:
✘ Some uneven pacing mid-series
✘ A few underdeveloped side villains
Side note: Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers out there. You deserve to be loved and protected, always. 💐
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A common man's take on Justice
An adrenaline rush, Vigilante stands as one of the better originals Disney+ has put out this year. Not a single second of the K-drama is never really wasted on filler or unnecessary scenes.Although not exactly an innovative premise, Vigilante is still worth a watch: if not for the expertly choreographed fight scenes and masterful cinematography, then probably to reflect on the judicial system and what it truly stands for.
The acting was decent and the action was good which was based more on suspense and violence. The story was great. The characters were diverse and interesting l, although the message delivery could have been more impactful.
My Rating : 7/10
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Fantastic acting
The story was definitely a bit weak. It started out strong, but eventually became a bit cliche. There was also not enough character development for each side character, probably due to the short runtime.However, the acting was PHENOMENAL.
Nam Jo-hyuk absolutely killed it as the titular vigilante. I wanted more from Miryeo - I would have preferred at least one flashback scene, and more on our Sidekick. It seems that the majority of their character points were added towards the last 10 minutes, like Miryeo’s story about her dad, or the supposed ‘Chairman’ mentioned by the Sidekick.
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Afraid of Blood? Don't Watch!
I swear, if you are afraid of blood, don't watch the Korean drama "Vigilante". Many sadistic scenes are presented, such as criminals being strangled with chains, a herd of pigs tearing apart the bodies of living humans who are tied up, the necks of people (still alive) being sliced with grinding knives, and many more.What is the director's reason for presenting it? Because death, blood and violence always attract attention. Remember the story of the massacre at the Colosseum which made Ancient Romans flock to watch?
In the modern age, boxing matches that leave boxers bleeding and bruised are very popular. Meanwhile at the grassroots, people like cockfighting and fighting until one of the fighters is injured or dies.
Not surprisingly, a study found that around 90% of high-grossing films feature scenes of main characters involved in violence.
I watched the Korean drama "Vigilante" because this drama was played by Nam Joo-Hyuk. A tall, handsome actor, whose last appearance I saw was in the Korean drama "Twenty Five Twenty One". It feels like it's been a long time.
And like the previous drama, Nam Joo-Hyuk's acting never disappoints. Moreover, his partner is Lee Joon-Hyuk, an actor who often plays antagonists.
In the Korean drama "Vigilante", Lee Joon-Hyuk as Jo Gang-Ok is a refreshing drama with a dark nuance and "smells" of rancid blood.
In contrast to Kim Ji-Yong (Nam Joo-Hyuk), who is cold and quiet, the character of the rich man, Jo Gang-Ok, appears sloppy and often carries his own karep.
Choi Mi-Ryeo, the journalist, is a balancing character between the two. So that viewers can enjoy the Korean drama "Vigilante" which tells the story of a student facing a big criminal, more comfortably.
The next review can be read here: https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2024/03/vigilante-takut-darah-jangan-nonton.html
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This review may contain spoilers
Vigilante is just Healer after a bad breakup
When this drama dropped, I thought I was in for another Healer-style ride—rooting for a morally gray hero who doles out justice with flair. The setup had me intrigued, but here’s the catch: I wasn’t sure if I wanted an anti-hero whose methods made me squirm. Yes, the system is broken, yes, the law sucks, but do I really want to cheer for a guy who rewrites morality with his fists? Jury’s still out.Still, this drama is a wild ride. The pacing is relentless—in the best way possible. With only eight episodes, there’s no room for filler or unnecessary meandering; it’s like downing an espresso shot laced with adrenaline. The characters are also surprisingly multi-dimensional. Lee Jun Hyuk, in particular, floored me. After seeing him play mild, boy-next-door types in Love Scout, I never imagined him turning in such a gloriously unhinged performance. He steals every scene, veering between chaos and magnetism.
Where the drama stumbles is in its moral tightrope walk. Ji Yong isn’t Batman-lite—he’s more Venom-adjacent, and I’m not exactly a Venom apologist. The show constantly asks you to root for him while he spirals deeper into blood-soaked justice, and I kept asking myself: when does applause turn into condemnation? Reform beats revenge, but Vigilante doesn’t always agree.
And then there’s the final straw: the unnecessary sacrifice of Ji Yong’s friend. I started out wanting him to stay untouchable, but by the finale I was torn—either he should’ve been caught, or the one who died should’ve lived. Instead, we got an ending that felt both cheap and sequel-baiting. Still, if you’re after a fast-paced, morally messy thrill ride, Vigilante delivers in spades. Just don’t expect to walk away with clean hands.
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It was just alright
Honestly, I was expecting more from this. I was kind of bored the whole time and nothing really seemed "surprising" to me. It felt like there was a lack of build-up and drama. Like I didn't feel like I really cared about the characters enough to get emotionally involved. Maybe the reason that I didn't really love it was because I'm not a huge fan of police shows, but either way,, it was boring. The fight scenes seemed flat... I can't explain how. Maybe because I wasn't super emotionally involved. I thought the actors were pretty good though. The plot could have been better, very predictable (they literally told us how it was gonna end). Honestly, I didn't even have a favorite character, which is very important!!!!!!! The music was very good though, better than most action shows. I don't think you would find anything new of value in a rewatch, I would only rewatch if I found any of the characters particularly hot (which I didn't).In all, I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of the characters. I think they needed more backstory and reasons for me to care about them. The timing of the show was actually pretty good, along with the acting, but the writing and plot left something to be desired. I did appreciate how many fight scenes and action there was, despite not particularly loving any of the action scenes. I don't recommend it to anyone except for people who really really love police shows.
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THAT WAS SATISFYING!!
Vigilante was such a thrilling ride!! I enjoyed every bit of it. It's always good to watch dramas that fight against the corrupted system & this provided such a satisfaction. The plot was so good and the action scenes were so satisfying to watch!!Loved how it started off with Jiyong alone but slowly we built up a gang with our fan, the reporter and finally even the cop joined us and they all protected him because they knew that someone had to fight against the system atleast that way
Nam Joo Hyuk nailed his role as Jiyong & all the actors did a great job!! The ending showed that one man can't changed the system that easily & the corruption won't stop but Jiyong and the gang will also not stop fighting against it so we NEED another season with all 4 of them working together and fighting corruption
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I love Nam Joo hyuk's characters.
Overall Is a very good action drama but I found it a bit slow at some points..Thei main character developmemt Is executed perfectly but I didn't like the way it's too superficial about the characters and makes it hard to connect to them, even the main lead, we barely know their story.
It's very entartaining to watch but nothing special in my opinion like all that reviews I saw.
The acting is great tho, Nam Joo Hyuk is such a good actor, he never misses. And Dare I say his finest role, very differenti from what we were used to see usually with him but he nailed it as always.
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I LOVED IT!
I watched "Vigilante" because of Nam Joo Hyuk (I adored him in "Twenty-Five Twenty-One and Start-Up" )I love the fact it only had 8 episodes (16 is too long for me).
I loved the story and the actors even though a little heavy on the violence side and no romance whatsoever, but I still enjoyed it
However the ending I wasn't of fan of, but then I read they are supposed to be doing a Season 2 (if that happens, then I'm ok with the ending).
For me, it was awesome!
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Aspects for S2
ACTINGI've no complains over the acting of the whole crew. They succeeded to pass the feelings correctly and hold the emotionless mask during the action. I was surprised by the acting of Nam Joo Hyuk, cause I just had completed watching him on Weightlifting Lifting Fairy which was a romcom. So the change of a romance to an action drama was in an insanely correct order. The fighting scenes were good. No guns were used, just raw hands or small equipment which made the fight even more intense. The music was so so good. Especially the ending themes.
PLOT
It was interesting to watch a drama based on this big philosophical question that bothers the human society. The feelings are so loud that you can't choose objectively which side to take as a viewer. The scenes were well adapted by the camera. The quality was pretty good. Ofc many things are unrealistic. The whole story telling would've stopped way sooner irl. Its so sad that the innocent are always the victim in any case. Tbh, it got a little tiring while approaching the end. Although, bc of the ep legth, its still manageable and worth watching.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
I have to admit that even though I don't agree with that kind of life concept, taking the law in our hands, this show was so worth it. The feeling of the constant rage over the unfair laws that rule our countries/world is so real. The dirt that covers our society is invisible when its right in front of us. But taking this decision, committing crimes to deal with a small amount of criminals, will it change something or just promote that taking the law in our hands to solve the unfairness is correct when it's the opposite?
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