Twelve

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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Disney’s 12 dwarfs fails again

Just like its twelve characters, this show is struggling with an identity crisis. It can’t decide if it wants to be a comedy, an action piece, or a suspense thriller. With such a large ensemble, the real challenge is developing each character and their relationships—and here, it falls short.

For once, I found myself rooting more for the antagonist than the leads. Ever since Crash Landing on You, many K-dramas seem stuck in a rut, especially under the growing influence of U.S. film studios. Some of my friends have already switched over to C-dramas for fresher storytelling.

Sorry Disney, but if you couldn’t save the Seven Dwarfs, there’s no saving these twelve disciples either

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Hope It Gets Better

Definitely a lackluster start. Three episodes in, and I’m already feeling somewhat disappointed. The dialogue is painfully weak, filled with unnecessary long pauses and awkward stares that add nothing to the story. There’s no real depth or rhythm to the conversations, which makes it hard to stay engaged. The editing doesn’t help either—it feels choppy and distracting. Each episode ends in a bizarre way, cutting off abruptly with an extended black screen before the credits roll and the closing song plays. Instead of feeling intentional or artistic, it just comes across as sloppy and poorly executed.

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another detailed review cause apparently i wasn't real with the other one!!

As a Park Hyung-sik fan, watching Twelve unfold over its first four episodes has been a thrilling ride. Seeing him step into his first villain role as O-gwi, the crow spirit, is both refreshing and spine-chilling. Hyung-sik commands the screen with a magnetic darkness—every glance and every calculated move feels unsettling, yet impossible to look away from. As someone used to his softer or heroic roles, this shift into villainy feels like a bold transformation that’s paying off.

The story itself leans heavily into fantasy, with the twelve zodiac angels being reassembled to combat a resurging evil. The world-building is rich and ambitious, offering flashes of grandeur as the angels juggle their double lives in Seoul. The action choreography stands out in bursts, and the contrast between their hidden identities and the supernatural battles helps keep things dynamic. However, the show hasn’t been without its flaws—early episodes suffer from a heavy dose of exposition, and the pacing at times feels slow, as if the drama is trying too hard to set up every character at once.

Among the ensemble, Ma Dong-seok’s Tae-san carries a quiet strength, while Seo In-guk’s playful yet sharp energy as Won-seung (the monkey) balances the darker tone. Other angels, like Mirr the dragon and Jwi-dol the rat, are intriguing but not yet fully fleshed out, hinting at storylines to come. Meanwhile, Tae-san’s bond with Geum-soon adds a rare, emotional warmth that cuts through the otherwise heavy mythos.

Episodes three and four deepen the stakes, with O-gwi hunting for mystical soul stones and Tae-san’s own vulnerabilities—like his reliance on medication—coming to the surface. The angels slowly regroup, making the tension between past sacrifices and present battles more palpable. Though some CGI effects and fight scenes feel a bit stiff, the overall atmosphere remains engaging.

From a fan’s perspective, the drama’s biggest draw is undoubtedly Hyung-sik’s performance. He doesn’t just play a villain—he embodies one, layering menace with charisma. Despite its rough edges, Twelve already feels like a milestone in his career. For me, that’s enough to stay invested, eager to see how O-gwi’s dark path collides with the angels’ struggle. So far, it’s a solid 8/10—with Hyung-sik’s chilling presence alone making it must-watch viewing.

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I looked at something that can't be explained.

In my opinion,
This drama is a bit disappointing, even though I gave it a 9.
Personally, I only liked the story concept and the semi-main antagonist
namely O Gwi, I expected the story to make more sense towards the end (but it didn't)
I don't even know who is what zodiac sign he is besides: tiger, pig and horse, I'm not even talking about dragon because at first I didn't even know it was Mi Reu
CGI, it was just weird, especially in the fight scenes
In my opinion, for O Gwi to be a better written character, he should have been the evil final boss i dont know
The writer didn't even bother to give the story any meaning
And why did he leave O Gwi's body dead at the end, right where the hell hole was sealed, why didn't they take him out of there.
MI Reu (the dragon) didn't do anything, it seems to me that she was paid just to be kidnapped
I thought she would be a person with a more evil purpose but I was wrong
I don't even know why the guy lived, I mean what exactly he wanted to do, conquer the world or destroy it, it didn't make sense
Not even the old woman! no offense

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gave nothing

such a waste of time and a star studded cast.
i was interested in this because of 12 zodiac/animal thing, i thought that characters will have skills/powers/habits similar to that habit but turns out they only have those powers for 1 episode. and the rest don't match the characteristics except for having a chubby guy play the pig.
almost nothing happens in all the episodes. all their backstory and present could have been done in one episode but very unnecessary things are added. i would even go far to say that the first few episodes are purely for the ads.
even the final battle doesn't even make sense. they left something for a s2 even then its nothing

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THE Biggest Disappointment of the Year……by far

I don’t like writing bad reviews, but like my headline says - worst by far. I’ve not rated a show so low before. It has to be exceptionally bad for me to not like it this much. The story was terrible and it could’ve been great. I love super hero esque shows and was very excited about a lot of the cast. But this was a dud from the beginning. The only reason I watched the entire show is because I love both Park Hyung Sik & Seo In Guk and a few of the female actors. I was really excited to see PHS play the bad guy and see how he could do, but this script didn’t help me know if he can or not because the script was so bad. He’s beautiful to look at even when the show sucks, but I really had thought this show would be very good. The only good things were a few good songs & PHS’s character’s wings were kind of cool. If I’d not had high expectations, it would probably not be so bad, but I’m finding a lot of shows (at least the handful I’ve watched) with Don Lee are all action and no substance. So disappointing. I wish PHS & SIG would do a different show together because I’d like to see them in something good to erase this disaster in my mind.

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Misleading and a letdown

I was super excited to start this drama as it has a great cast but was so very disappointed. Title is very misleading, it doesnt center around twelve zodiac angels. The main villain really isnt a villain which is obvious from beginning to end contrary to what previews push. It really could have been summed up into a 90 minute movie to eliminate most of the filler. It did not allow the cast to showcase their full potential. The action scenes with Seo In-Guk were probably the best parts of this drama. Park Hyung Sik really didnt get a chance to shine as the villain. So much pain fwlt by the rest of the angels for the lead zodiac, Tiger, to have a storyline. This could have been written better, there is so much potential but its just...lost.

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