It's a practical world out there
LIKEThe suspense between Jung Min, Brother and Ji Ahn
The history between Jin Man and Pasin
The actions where I need to watch on tv and not laptop or phone or I cannot fully enjoy - completed this drama in a day as I was so glued to my couch
DISLIKE
Too little episodes - season two please
MUSIC
Nothing to my liking
REWATCH VALUE
Someday probably would re-watch
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A Thrilling Surprise That Redefines the Genre
When I started A Shop for Killers, I had no idea what I was getting into. From the title alone, I imagined a run-of-the-mill battle royale scenario—maybe people trapped in a shopping mall, fighting for survival. But what I got was something far more innovative and gripping.The series masterfully combines its intense storyline with outstanding technical elements. The use of music is nothing short of incredible, amplifying every emotion and heightening the suspense at just the right moments. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the sound design, and it pays off in spades.
The cinematography is another standout aspect. The creative camera shots add a layer of visual storytelling that keeps you hooked from episode to episode. While there’s a minor slip-up with the ropes in Episode 3—a noticeable rookie mistake—it’s easy to overlook given the overall quality of the production.
By the end of Season 1, I was completely hooked and eagerly anticipating Season 2. If it can match—or even surpass—the brilliance of the first season, we’re in for an unforgettable ride.
A Shop for Killers is a must-watch for anyone who loves a fresh, creative take on thrillers. It’s intense, stylish, and leaves you craving more.
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What more do you need?
This was the single greatest piece of cinematography I have watched since 2024. Ok maybe not to that point but still a great nonetheless. Really loved the way the story was told while we went back and fort from past to present and how throughout the show, the story was being detangled with details.Something I love about action show is when you have some good fight choreography. The fighting scenes were so delicious and you could see that each punch and throw were put there to tell the story.
Screaming and gagging at the last episode. Best.
Where is the second season?
Where is Lee Dong Wook's Oscar?
Why was So Min Hye such a queen?
Anyways, this is going straight to my favorite list.
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This review may contain spoilers
What makes a good killer?
A Shop for Killers is a very unique take on the contract killer plotline. It was a show that I was very excited to start, especially as a fan of Lee Dongwook, and it was very entertaining all the way through. However, I felt like there were a few parts of the show that felt off. The first bit will be free of spoilers, so I'll mark where they start.The opening scene of the show has Jeong Jian, our protagonist, getting shot at in her home. A very striking opening scene that had me excited to see both what happens next and how we got there. However, it's the latter that I have to complain about. This show jumps back and forth a LOT between the present and the past. Jian has an uncle, Jeong Jinman, who seems to be up to some shady business. These jumps to the past allow us to understand what exactly that shady business is, and how it concerns her. However, it is very non-linear in its storytelling. I think the one thing that bothered me the most about this wasn't the fact that we kept jumping between times, but the fact that they replayed scenes we had seen before so many times to orient the viewer in the timeline, but it was just excessive and unnecessary most of the time. The replayed scenes were so much longer than they needed to be, especially because this is an 8 episode series. If you've forgotten THAT much of the show when it's so short, it's probably because you weren't paying attention.
Another fault brought about by this non-linear storytelling was the fact that the viewer didn't get to learn the truth alongside Jian, but rather knew before her. You learn very early on about Jinman's career as a contract killer, but you have to watch a confused and scared Jian learn this WAY later than you do, at which point it doesn't pack the same punch. I will say though, watching Jian go through so many emotions in the span of just a few days is an incredible watch, and the actress did a great job portraying her.
**Spoilers start here**
My last and biggest issue with this show was the ending. What a copout! You get to watch Jian go through all this internal turmoil of should I kill or should I not, how could I ever run this business, etc. just for all that to go out the window because Jinman is ALIVE?? The entire story could have been avoided. You could argue that that's what makes Jian such a tragic character, but I thought that leaving the storyline right before they introduced Jinman at the end would have been a perfectly fine ending - a young girl, left to figure out the world with no one on her side. Could Jian become a killer like Jinman? Does she have what it takes, or is she only fueled by the rage that her parents' and uncle's death caused? I guess these questions don't really matter, because she doesn't need to be on her own anymore!
Overall, it was a good show and an engaging watch. Besides some issue with the storytelling and the ending, it was very interesting to watch the plot unfold both in the past and present. Frankly, I think this could have have spanned two seasons, with one season being all about Jinman and one about Jian, but the back and forth didn't get too messy. Worth checking out if you like short and dark thrillers.
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It's a type of drama EVERYONE can watch !!
I have watched many dramas out of all them very few dramas keeps you hooked till the end. It literally kept me on my seat for whole day without fast forwarding a single second. Everyone has done there part so well that it needs an applause. The main female lead performed every aspect of her role well and kept the show interesting. I had a hunch that it will leave us at a cliffhanger for second season but it ended in completing the arc of the story. The second season or the main arc of the story will be worth watching as the first season satisfied me all the way through. If you love a suspenseful and action drama with a bit of comedy and strong male lead you will love this drama I assure you.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Lee Dong Wook has really good hair
Obviously LDW's hair is not the only thing glorious in this series. The action is nonstop and bloody, the men are fit, the villain is super nasty, and despite her tendency to take her time in reacting to a situation, Jeong Jian character is a badass. Just please stop being so slow, Jeong Jian!Jeong Jinman is a tsundere uncle although he seems to be a bit more human during his mercenary era, I don't really understand his real personality. A lot of flashbacks to explain the background of his bad blood with Bale, our horrible psychopathic villain, so be ready for it. Everything is crammed into 8 episodes which is fine and bingeable.
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This review may contain spoilers
Another great Disney+ action thriller!
I hadn't heard of this drama before but stumpled upon it while watching "Moving" on Disney+. Very glad I decided to watch, it was just what I needed right now.What I liked:
-Action is really really REALLY good in this drama. Knife fights, gunfights, drones, machine guns, explosions, murder robots; A shop for killers has it all and the action is mostly very well made and thrilling.
- Pacing is very tight and I wasn't bored at any point when watching the drama. A shop for killers has a quite interesting structure; the main plot in the present day takes place only in one location. However, there's multiplr long flashback sequences used to reveal the characters' backstories. The flashbacks weren't boring or annoying, quite the opposite, they were really interesting.
What I didn't like:
- Writing was quite messy at some points and some of the characters could have been written a lot better. I'm maybe just stupid but there were multiple situations where I had no idea why characters did what they did, the motivations were extremely confusing. The main villain Bale is also just a very onedimensional psychopath killer, and nothing else besides that. Other characters however were memorable and likable. ML and FL were both great and well acted. I really enjoyed Pasin and Minhye too (did she really die :| )
-There were many unanswered questions that definitely need to be addressed in a second season, otherwise this is quite disappointing. The entire Bale vs Jinman storyline wasn't resolved AT ALL. How did Jinman fake his death and why wasn't Bale involved in the present day plot in any way? This definitely needs a second season but I really doubt we are getting one, unfortunately.
- This is a common issue with pretty much all action K-dramas, but almost everything in this drama is extremely unrealistic. Even though the action was mostly great, I just had to laugh at how silly and unrealistic some of the scenes were. The storyline itself is definitely not down-to-earth or realistic either; it's VERY over-the-top almost throughout the drama. Didn't quite get into Vagabond- territory where protagonist survives a 1vs50 gunfight, but this drama was close to that at some point. Overall, these things didn't really annoy me in this drama, but I just wanted to mention them.
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A shop for killers is an excellent addition to Disney+ action K-drama catalogue, alongside "The worst of evil" and "Moving". The drama suffered from weak and messy writing at some points and I wasn't entirely satisfied with the open-ish ending either. However, the memorable characters and thrilling action sequences make this a must watch drama if you enjoy action!
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IF THRILLER IS YOUR GENRE SO YOU'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE.
Wtf wtf wtf, was that. it was hell of a ride. Loved this series so much I'm literally speechless. I was on the edge while watching this series i was biting my nails they made me sp nervous. I didn't have higher expectations but boy they proved me wrong. My girl minhye i love you so much I'm a fan of strong female characters she was everything A star A diva hands down you're a star of thos series.Was this review helpful to you?
A masterpiece
I have no words to explain how much I loved this drama. It is my all time favourite and an absolute work of art. The soundtrack was perfect and I still listen to some songs sometimes. I cared so much for the characters and I love how complicated and morally grey they could be and I would still love them. This drama made my heart feel full, it made me sob, it made me smile and laugh and everything in between and I so wish it was possible to forget it all and watch it again because it was an absolutely brilliant masterpiece and I cannot recommend it enough!Was this review helpful to you?
An action drama released without a proper story.
The drama is just a bunch of action that makes no progress. From the beginning and as per the details of the drama, it was about a 21 year old FL who is somehow targeted by killers possessing high tech ammunition like machine guns, sniper, drone killing machines, gas grenades, etc. FL is apparently targeted because of her relationship with uncle ML. Her uncle trains her to survive but let me tell you his training isn't really gruesome survival training, it is at most a self defense class that may work on a burglar or a car jack situation, but not on killers who been doing killing as profession with high artillery at their aid. Also during all this training he never tells FL why he is making her do this and what his actual job is. He disguises himself as normal business person while makes FL train for her own protection. And all that time not once FL asks her uncle aka ML what is all this or even get curious about him. Half the brain cells lost there itselfThe whole four episodes is all about FL being attacked with no clear explanations other than she is ML's niece and if they kill her they will get money. It also shows ML is rich and very powerful enough but at the same time it doesn't make any sense he leaves her niece all alone on pretext she is code green and a code green will be protected by the ML organization he created but only one woman shows up to protect FL. And this woman only comes to protect FL after hearing killers gun shot instead of being with FL from the beginning when she had chance and also explain why this is happening to her and what is all the killing situation is about.
Nobody till 4th episode (the drama is only 8ep) don't explain to FL why everyone is trying to get her killed. They managed to drag this story till 4th episode. His uncle owns a secret artillery shop, FL should be killed to get money. But why, why must she be killed, why the ML is not around to protect her. Till 4th episode no clarity. Ok maybe I thought they are trying to build suspense, but till 4th episode showing no progress in any other ways is not called suspense. It is more like there isn't much story.
The drama is too slow for an 8 episodes. Only three things happened, ML goes off radar, killers try to kill FL, FL still trying to survive. There is no actual progressive conversation that makes you understand the whole point of this drama and every character action. Even the action scenes are not really well choreographed and planned.
It's almost like writers are thinking if we show an action drama with bunch of big guns, drones and killing machines and have a story that tries makes sense but at same time no actual strong storyline people would just watch because full on guns kind of action dramas are rare. And also ML is a class A actor, so people would definitely watch for him.
As of now when it comes to big action dramas, moving did the best when it comes to making sense of story. I don't understand why people are saying this is good as moving when it is not even close. Moving is very realistic written for a super hero action world and writer clearly shows audience what is going with story, why everything is happening to them. But this doesn't.
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M.A.S.T.E.R.P.I.E.C.E
this drama is a masterpiece, wau lee dong wok is such a talented actor, this role suits him perfectly, I love every single part of his niece, she is also amazing, this drama definitely deserves 10/10, I hope there will be a second season, I watched all of Lee Dong Wok's and I liked them all, he never disappoints with his drama, as a gangster in this drama he showed incredible talent, this is the best thriller, action for me, this year, wow, I'm glad that I watched this drama after a long hesitation, it's the first time I see ye lee dong wok there is none romance, I usually don't watch such dramas without romance, but this one is the best for me, I wish for this kind of seasonWas this review helpful to you?
Best Action!
Honestly, the best action I have seen in a while. There are a total of eight episodes packed with stories and action. Not a single moment is wasted on chitter-chatter, the story unfolds and explains the questions that may come up as the stories are introduced.The characters are well-developed and actors played a role in making their characters more lively.
This drama is a binge-worthy drama!
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