Twelve

THE TWELVE! (But really, eight plus one)

DISCLAIMER, I decided to edit this review to provide more thought on my initial blunt one.

If you enjoy the superhero genre, hard hitting action scenes, with a hint of mythology... a comedy, a tale of ill-fated lovers... product placement - well, then Twelve is somewhat for you!

One quick PRO, before all the CONS below - they chose a good cast.

To start, Twelve is a drama that ultimately fails to deliver on a basic plot. There is no end, middle or even a proper beginning to Twelve. The overarching goal remains unclear, even after viewing all 8 episodes. And, this is mainly due to the choice they made to omit most of the story. I kid you not, most of the tale is hidden from you. You are introduced to many flashbacks, but they are not at all linear - in most cases, they tell part of a part of the story (it sounds better than it actually is).

Secondly, the story is convoluted and filled with tiresome subplots. As mentioned above, the story recalls many parts of the story - at all odd times. Information that would have made sense three episodes ago, are introduced late. All the while, new characters and concepts are introduced, without any supportive context - so you, as the audience - are often left reaching.

Thirdly, Its characters are inconsistent in their capabilities, and motivations. Somewhat related to what was mentioned above, characters are - in a word, confusing. This may be highlighted by the confusing narrative, but there are moments where you are left wondering - why is that? what is that? or - is that how that works? Nothing is explained in its entirety (again, partially due to the poor pacing), but even when things are explained - they don't remain consistent.

Lastly, the product placement... In a tale so poorly executed - whether it be the writing, special effects or shot choice - they did an amazing job for its sponsors (?) Action scenes? yeah, I remember some. Dramatic acting? Sure. But the product placement - absolutely unforgettable. They design it not to be - and, that's no joke. They specifically chose moments where characters are "out of world" - almost fourth wall breaking - speaking a dialogue, one could only find in a commercial.

This was a story about angels and all I remember is the coffee candy.

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A MESS

If I'll have to summarize this drama in one word, that would be MESS.

When I saw people posting about Twelve, I was initially very intrigued. The concept of the zodiac angels living like humans while trying to regain their powers was very interesting and unique. I love fantasy and mythology so I decided to watch the drama from the day it started airing.

Looking back at it, I almost want to laugh at my excitement and curiosity.

The first two episodes were lukewarm to say the least. The plot didn't seem as interesting as I had expected and the characterisation wasn't engaging enough for me to care about the characters. Still, I decided to remain optimistic. It was only the beginning and the story needed more time to unfold properly. Although Twelve didn't have the strongest beginning, I still had hopes because the story had some interesting traits and I believed that as the series would go by, it would improve.

Alas, the show just went downhill and crashed harder than the Titanic.

The first red flag which indicated that this would be an unpleasant journey was the fighting scenes. Let me tell you that when I watched Tae San fighting these thugs for the first time, I was baffled. Messy choreography. Weird angles. Tacky editing. I felt like I was watching a project made by amateurs and let me tell you that I've seen fanmade videos on YouTube about different franchises that put Twelve to shame.

When you describe your drama as action heavy, one would expect something better than these chops of fighting scenes. There were times when it was so painfully obvious that the actors did not hit each other, it was honestly so laughable how unconvincing it was. And don't get me started on the bad guys getting beaten one by one, waiting for their turn patiently instead of attacking together.

The direction and production added more salt to the wound. There were times when I almost wondered if the showrunners were mocking us and if I was part of a social experiment. At least that would made a more interesting plot than the one we had. I am confident that all the budget went to the actors and the rest received dust. There's no other way to explain what I saw on my screen.

First and foremost, the costumes they showed in the flashbacks were absolutely tragic. For a fantasy series, they didn't even bother try out more effort and creativity in the clothes. I've seen cosplayers with much better attires and with clothes that do not look like cheap Shein products. The armors were so bad, the clothes were so mismatched and the wigs were so comical to look at. During some more serious scenes I just couldn't take the characters seriously because of the way they looked. The most prominent example is the scene where the 8 angels mourn the death of the other four. Aside from the bad editing, I couldn't bring myself to care and instead of focusing on the heaviness of this moment, I had to surpass my laughter every time the camera would focus on one of the Angels in these ridiculous costumes. The CGI, albeit not horrible in some parts, left some things to be desired. O Gwi's wings could have definitely be better, they looked bizarre sometimes, especially when he used them to fight.

The lack of a powerful and epic OST was another element that failed to elevate the emotional impact of Twelve. You need a good soundtrack in order to create emotions and Twelve failed to provide us with anything memorable. I'm currently watching The Untamed so I feel spoiled because every episode cause euphoria in my ears so the discrepancy between this and Twelve is very funny. There is a scene where Tae San opens Hellmouth and the background music is a hip hop track. What are we even trying to do?

When we're talking about fantasy, the visuals play a fundamental role in order to establish your setting and magic system. But I was willing to cut them some slack. Some fantasy series might not have the best effects but at least they offer an interesting script.

In Twelve's case, the story was even worse.

When you're making a drama with 8 episodes, one would expect more straightforward storytelling. With short dramas, you cannot afford to waste time. But it's clear that the budget was cut short because neither the story nor the characters delivered what was promised.

It's a serious crime to create a fantasy universe and put barely any effort to expand it. We are thrusted into this world as if we have any prior knowledge about it. Aside from the small intro from Episode 1 and some information via poor dialogues and awkward flashbacks, we never really get to learn many significant things regarding the Angels and God. And what about the Angel's identities? I had to read the description of the actors from my drama list in order to understand which Angel represented each animal. Aside from the most obvious ones (Tiger, Pig, Monkey, Snake, Dragon) the rest weren't that clear. Had I not read the information, I would be stuck trying to figure out the animals Mal Sook and Jwi Dol were supposed to be.

Aside from the poor world-building, I'm still trying to understand the reason why the series was called Twelve when four angels remained dead for the most part. If you wanted to create a series about the twelve zodiac signs, you should at least give information about all the angels and integrate them into the story. Had we seen more of the four angels and how they contributed to humanity's safety, it would have made more sense and it would have added more depth in the dynamic among the Angels. Such thing never happened and instead we basically got deceived.

The structure of the story killed every remaining possibilities of development. Everything felt so hectic and not in a good way. The pacing was painfully slow, sometimes it was as if time had stopped. I have no problem with slow-paced dramas, some of my most favourite series are actually slow-paced (Beyond Evil, Through The Darkness, Black Out). However, in these shows the pacing was necessary in order to explore the characters and the story and prepare for the built-up. In Twelve, that simply never happened. There was no deeper exploration regarding the characters, the story remained monotonous and the payoff was definitely not worth it.

The editing contributed to the amateur image of the show. Was there even an editor in the first place? I seriously doubt that. They left so many unnecessary moments uncut. Some scenes dragged so much, they felt like they lasted for hours and hours. Give me one reason why it was necessary, according to the director, to show every single Angel's reaction when something significant happened.

The four angels die? Zoom into every Angel's face and show their reactions. One by one.

Tae San arrives during a dangerous situation? Make each Angel exclaim "Tae San". One.by.one.

The Angels are fighting enemies or getting beaten? Show them fighting. ONE.BY.ONE.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA!? At one point I started taking guesses about the order of the Angels' appearances! Moments like these are the reason why the pacing was so off. We wasted too much time in insignificant scenes instead of using it for more meaningful storytelling.

The usage of flashbacks killed even the few hyped moments in the series. They were so random and the majority of them did not even contribute anything to the plot. Instead of using them meticulously in order to give further information without ruining the pacing, the writers put them in the most bizarre moments. For example, Episode 3 ends with a flashback which came after.a.supposedly.dramatic.moment. They could have chosen to end the episode then but nope, they had to ruin the mood with this good-for-nothing throwback.

I cringed so hard when the series tried to become comedic. It was so painful to witness all of these attempts to add some funny elements. As if it wasn't enough to sit through this wannabe epic fantasy tale, they tortured me with poorly written humor too. Let me tell you that I laughed harder at the scenes the writers did not intend to make funny. I wasn't like with them, I was laughing AT them.

And now the characters. Oh boy, where to begin? To put it frankly: I gave zero f*cks about them. It appears that the writers would take it for granted that the viewers would sympathize with the Angels simply because they were the good guys who had been wronged by humans. Surprise surprise, this is not enough. When the writers do not bother to put any effort in the characterisation, I am not obligated to side with the heroes. I couldn't bring myself to feel anything about these people. They didn't even have proper personalities. Some of them had interesting traits but they were never utilized. A pity if you ask me, especially since they are supposed to represent the zodiac signs so there were many opportunities to incorporate that in their personalities.

Among the Angels, the one who was highlighted a lot was Tae San, portrayed by Ma Song Seok. Which makes sense considering he was involved in the writing process too. Too bad he couldn't invest in his character. Tae San was supposed to be this sympathetic leader who has fallen into depression after the tragedies he has experienced and yet I couldn't bring myself to care. Not in the slightest. The writing of his character was so messy, instead of coming across as badass and yet vulnerable, he became comedic. Instead of having so many scenes about him or his interactions with the grandma, the screen time should have been shared among the rest of the Angels in order to flesh out their characters just a little bit.

The story tried very hard to convince me that the Angels are a family. I'm sorry but I was never sold. Whether it was the acting or writing, the chemistry among the Angels was bland and barely existant. They never gave me the vibe of a family that tried to stick together and help each other. It was like watching a bunch of coworkers. Instead of showcasing their bond more through actions, the writers tried to sell it via poorly written scenes. The worst part was the scenes with the characters having discussions while eating. They failed so much to capture the domestic feeling.

The only characters which managed to capture my interest even a little were Won Seung, Mirr and O Gwi. Won Seung was fun to look at and I was curious to see if his character would have been explored more considering he was marketed as one of the main ones (spoiler alert: he didn't receive any development). Mirr and O Gwi seemed to have interesting backstories and I wanted to learn more about them. But of course the poor writing had to ruin everything.

Can someone give me one good explanation about why Mirr was written as such a weak Angel? She was supposed to be the only one to retain her powers and yet she struggled more against the bad guys. I swear to God, for the majority of the series she was either sleeping or she was a damsel in distress. Shebarelt had any personality. I feel sad for sounding so harsh but unfortunately this is the plain truth.

O Gwi was one of the biggest letdowns. I tried to remain hopeful and believe that we would see more of him but once again, I was deceived. It's so funny how hard they tried to market him as the main threat for the Angels, only for him to barely have any significant scenes in the first episodes and then be turned into a wannabe misunderstood antihero. There were so many layers that could have been explored but clearly the writers did not care. We learned almost NOTHING regarding his backstory and his motives were presented in such a superficial way.

When the plot is not plotting, what is the best solution in order to make it more interesting? You guessed it: romance. And which characters did the writers decide to pair together? Of course the heroine with the villain, Mirr and O Gwi. The problem is that when you're writing romance, you ought to make it believable. I'm sorry but Mirr and O Gwi gotta be one of the most fraud couples in the history of kdramas. They barely had any meaningful interactions. The one kiss we got cannot even be described as a proper kiss with the way it was filmed. Tell me, why should I care about them and their story when the writers did not bother to explore it? "Oh, but you don't understand, it's a tragic love story and they wanted to be together even though everything was against them and..." AND NOTHING. You cannot write a romance in such a shallow way and expect me to care. You are not writing tropes. You are writing a love story. We never learned how they met each other. We never saw them interacting as a proper couple. We got a shitty montage of some of their happy moments as if it came straight out from a fan made YouTube video from the 2010s. And last but not least regarding this subplot: I apologize, but the actors did not have chemistry. I'm sure that both Park Hyung Sik and Lee Joo Bin are good actors but they were unable to sell the chemistry between them. Their interactions seemed so wooden. I know that this is partially fault of the writing but something was off with the actors too.

I feel so grateful for not being a fan of any of the actors prior watching the series. Had I been a fan, I would have built higher expectations regarding their screen time and characters, whereas I went blindly into the series and spared myself from a bigger disappointment. I am desperate to learn about the actors' paycheck. Did they read the script before signing up for it? Were they happy with the final results? If I were them, I would have stormed out the setting the moment they'd make me wear one of these poor excuses of wigs. It's such a pity that their talent got wasted in this mess of a show.

The acting was not horrible. But it was poor because the writing itself was poor. The actors did not have many opportunities to showcase their range more and their performances came across as awkward. The delivery of some lines was unconvincing, it was as if the actors themselves couldn't feel the characters or the story. The only moment throughout the drama where an actor delivered a performance with some emotional impact was on Episode 6 when Won Seung mourned the death of a particular character. Kudos to Seo In Guk. The rest of the actors were unable to showcase their full potential but that is the fault of the script. Park Hyung Sik carried the character of O Gwi on his shoulders but even he wasn't enough to save this mess of a plot.

At sixth grade, me and two of my friends made a short film for an English project. Our amateur movie, filmed by my dad's phone and edited from a free computer app was more consistent and entertaining than Twelve. Whatever it was supposed to deliver, it simply didn't. I didn't want to drop it because I am the type of person who refuses to give up on series but I am so happy it was 8 episodes only. I am very sad that such an interesting concept got wasted on such a lackluster execution and I hope that none of my favourite actors will get to work with these writers and director.

A message to kdrama producers: good casting does not guarantee good writing and good numbers. Audiences are not as naive as you think. If they realise that what they're watching is poorly made, they will give up. That explains the reason why viewership plummeted after the first two episodes. May this be a lesson to everyone, viewers and creators.

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I don't understand the hate

It's overwhelming to see the hate coming in from reviews and comments about this show. I didn't watch any teasers and just read some articles prior to this being released, I'm not sure if that's one of the reasons why my take on this show is different than most. But then again, sometimes the majority are the quiet ones.

I admit that this show has a lot of room to improve on, specially in the fighting/action scenes. But the story and plot is very clear. It can be better, as there are times when the scene seems a bit weird or unnatural for intelligent angels who were supposed to take care of the world, but there are other series that have these weird, cringey scenes which deserves a fast-forward to the next scene.

The premise of angels that were supposed to take care of the world but got fed up to humans' evil ways that almost killed one of their own is a new take. Specially when these angels are lending money to thugs and gangs and enjoying beating them when collecting money. The action scenes could've used more effects to make it more realistic and enjoyable.

Overall, my take is bad fighting/action scenes which can be definitely done better. But the storytelling was done in a way that will pique your interest and would want you to continue watching. If season 2 comes into fruition based on the ending, I'll definitely watch it too.

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Twelve – A Cast-Driven Masterpiece in My Eyes?

I’ll be honest — I started watching Twelve mainly because of the cast, since I already knew and loved most of them. At first, I didn’t even care much about the storyline, but as the episodes went by, I realized this drama has something truly special. Now, it’s no exaggeration to say that Twelve has become one of my Top 10 K-dramas of all time. For me, it’s not about ratings or following the crowd — it’s about how much a drama touches me personally, and this one has given me laughter, thrills, and emotions in every episode. ❤️

The biggest highlight for me is absolutely Park Hyung-sik. His performance here is magnetic — filled with intensity, subtle emotions, and raw vulnerability that pull you right into his character. Every scene he’s in feels alive, and his ability to make you feel something with just a look is incredible. Then Lee Joo-bin, who absolutely shines with elegance, strength, and depth, the two create a synergy that is simply unforgettable. She is one of the most beautiful dynamics I’ve seen in recent K-dramas, and one of the huge reason why I’m completely obsessed. 🔥

But the brilliance doesn’t stop with them. Ma Dong-seok delivers his trademark powerhouse presence, grounding the story with intensity and heart. Seo In-guk lights up the screen with his unique charm and unpredictable energy, keeping things fresh and exciting. Kang Min-na adds warmth and balance, completing the ensemble perfectly and ensuring no role feels wasted. Each cast member contributes something vital, making the entire drama feel rich and well-rounded. 🌸

And this is where I stand firm: this review is my personal opinion. I know some people are giving it low ratings or nitpicking, but honestly, everyone experiences dramas differently. Just because others don’t see what I see doesn’t change how much I’ve loved Twelve. To me, it’s a cast-driven gem, with unforgettable performances and emotions that linger long after the episode ends. That’s the magic of K-dramas, and that’s why Twelve will stay with me forever. 💖And remember — this is coming from me, a guy who’s been completely obsessed with Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin) for 8 long years now. 🌌✨

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The expectations ruined it for others. I went in blind, and I actually enjoyed it.

I watched with zero expectations because I hadn’t seen the cast or trailer beforehand. I think that’s why I ended up liking it so much.

All the people who hate it probably had a different vision for what the drama should be, so they could only judge it against that.

I really liked the comedic aspect . I think they did a great job mixing action and comedy. I watched it in just two days and stayed interested from start to finish.

The elite casting choices were chef’s kiss. I was never a huge fan of Hyung Sik before, but I actually loved him in this. The story could have been executed a bit better in some parts, but overall, the idea and experience were really enjoyable. I’d definitely love another season.

P.S. Don’t mind all the hate it gets. Just don’t go in with sky-high expectations, and you’ll probably enjoy it too.

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Star Power Can’t Save Twelve From Becoming a Black Hole of Boredom

Did… did they just blow the entire budget on the actors’ fees and leave nothing for production or writing? Because I’m genuinely flabbergasted at how Twelve managed to fumble so catastrophically when its premise practically wrote itself.

This is a high fantasy Kdrama about the twelve Chinese Zodiac signs living as humans to battle a literal devil, played by none other than Park Hyung-sik. Let me repeat that: Park Hyung-sik, with all his charisma and range, is cast as the ultimate villain — and somehow the show still manages to be mind-numbingly dull. That’s not just wasted potential; that’s malpractice.

On paper, this premise should be unstoppable. It’s epic. It’s mythic. It’s the kind of setup that demands spectacle, rich worldbuilding, and pulse-quickening stakes. Instead, what we get is the narrative equivalent of lukewarm soup: bland, watery, and inexplicably boring.

And boring is the biggest crime of all.

Fantasy doesn’t have the luxury of being dull. Slice-of-life dramas can coast on vibes; fantasy needs momentum and awe. Twelve delivers neither. Two episodes in, and I’m not even remotely hooked. That’s a red flag for an 8-episode series, when you’ve already burned 25% of your runtime and still can’t convince me to care, it’s over.

The pain stings sharper because of the star-studded cast. You don’t assemble names like this and then wrap it in what feels like a film student’s summer project. That’s the vibe here: all the gloss of big casting announcements, but the execution of something thrown together on a shoestring, hoping the actors’ charisma alone would carry it. It’s jarring, like watching A-list actors perform Shakespeare in a high school gym with folding chairs for props.

Even the supposed central hook (Zodiac warriors versus the Devil) feels smothered under bad pacing and directionless storytelling. When your audience is asking by episode two, “Wait, are we getting pranked?” you’ve lost the plot. Literally.

I went into Twelve hyped, expecting a late-summer action fantasy to sink my teeth into. Instead, I’m left gnawing on disappointment. The production feels cheap, the writing lifeless, and the direction uninspired. It’s the uncanny valley of K-dramas: all the big pieces are there, but the soul is missing.

To put it bluntly, Twelve is such a mess it somehow made The 8th Show look like Citizen Kane. And that’s saying something, because The 8th Show was my first and only 1/10 drama. Yet compared to this, even The 8th Show feels like it at least tried to be something. Twelve is just… there. A hollow shell of what could have been, a drama so devoid of energy it manages to turn Park Hyung-sik’s devil into a snore.

If the devil in Twelve is supposed to represent ultimate evil, then maybe the real villain here is X+U Studio, for daring to waste this cast, this premise, and my time.

Final verdict: Twelve is proof that not all star-studded fantasies are worth chasing. Sometimes, the constellation is nothing but burned-out stars.

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Editing a Mess, Wigs a Bigger Mess

the story itself isn't terrible, but the execution is a mess... the editing feels rookie, the structure is all over the place, and there are wayyyy too many random characters for such a short show. it legit feels like i got dropped straight into season 3 with zero buildup or character development...how am i supposed to care about anyone?

im on episode 6 and will finish it (it's not bad enough to drop), but what a wasted opportunity...

side note: Park Hyung Sik saved this for me, he fits his character well (and is also not too bad on the eyes😋). I think hes story alone would have worked better.... but I doubt we're getting a spin off now 😫

side side note: i really cant get over the wigs! awfullIII... do better lol

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Wasted potential

Twelve was the first drama that i decided to follow real time after having joined the kdrama bandwagon in nov-dec last year. I liked PSH from Dr. Slump and also Ma Dong-seok's involvement got me really hyped. I did like the theme of eastern zodiacs and the universe they intended to build with it... but unfortunately it doesn't land. The show lacks in direction and screen presence of actors required for a fantasy. IMHO that is the biggest flaw. The writing with repeated scenes and dialogues does not really establish any real connect with any of the characters. The ritual stuff they do appear cartoonish, the character of Samin is a bore, repeated fight scenes drag out. Writers couldn't get the viewers to root for any of the characters incl Tae-san. I was fascinated by PSH's look but that's that... he serves looks but has hardly done anything substantial yet. Maybe i'll simply watch an uncut of his scenes much later :/ I feel bad for the actors for they deserved better with a hyped up show but unfortunately, it is what it is.

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Twelve: Don Lee’s Panda Boxing Disaster”

I went into Twelve with decent expectations—especially with Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok) in the cast—but what I got was utter disappointment. The drama introduces angels who are supposed to be millions of years old, yet they’re written and treated like children. Their so-called leader, Teasan (played by Don Lee), comes across less like a wise, timeless being and more like a man-child stuck in a repetitive tantrum cycle. His main “power” seems to be clumsy boxing sequences that look more like a panda swaying without music than a battle-hardened immortal.

What bothered me most is the lack of trust or maturity within the angelic team. If they’ve existed for millions of years, you’d expect wisdom, teamwork, and perspective. Instead, Teasan runs a one-man show, constantly undermining his own team as if nothing has been learned over the eons. This isn’t leadership—it’s babysitting. Worse, Teasan is portrayed like a greedy loan shark, hoarding cash and acting more like a villainous moneylender than a celestial being. Heroes storing wads of money like mob bosses? What kind of “angel” is that supposed to be?

The writing really fumbles with morality. Teasan even kills a boy he raised himself—how is that heroic in any way? The supposed “hero side” feels more like a gang of bullies than protectors of humanity.

On Sung Dong-il’s Character

If there’s one character who defined wasted potential in Twelve, it’s Sung Dong-il’s. Why cast such an amazing, seasoned actor only to reduce him to a garbage-talking sideshow? His entire role feels like filler—just eating up screen time with endless rambling and zero contribution. It’s “sunset acting” at its worst, where an old veteran is thrown in not to shine but to babble.

And let’s talk about that ridiculous “magic stick.” It literally looks like a dual-sided toy you’d expect from a shady shop, not a divine weapon. He waves it around like it’s bedtime routine, and then what? A few seconds of half-baked magic that fizzles out in under two minutes. All the other angels lose their powers, yet this guy keeps his gimmicky stick of doom? Who thought this was good writing?

Instead of being a powerful immortal, Sung Dong-il’s character ends up as comic relief that isn’t funny, a magician whose tricks flop instantly, and a total waste of one of Korea’s most reliable actors.

On the flip side, Park Hyung-sik, cast as the villain, is the only shining element of the show. By episode 5, he feels like the true protagonist—a betrayed underdog whose girlfriend was stolen by Teasan (yes, the same “hero” played by Don Lee). To make it worse, the girlfriend’s memories are wiped, forcing her into a relationship with this old, selfish man Teasan (Ma Dong Seok)
That tragic setup makes Park Hyung-sik’s character infinitely more sympathetic than the so-called heroes, who come across more like the real villains.

In the end, Twelve feels like a wasted premise. Instead of exploring the depth of beings who’ve lived for millions of years, we got immature writing, an unlikable hero team, and a lead actor wasted on a role that reduced him to a caricature.

Final Rating: 1/10 (and that’s being generous)

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