This review may contain spoilers
Good casting, but ruined by screenwriter
I went into this drama with high expectations because I’ve seen the cast in other works, and I know they’re talented actors. Styling, makeup, and filming locations all showed that this was not a low-budget production — I’d even guess it was A-tier in terms of budget. Even the main premise had real potential; with stronger writing, it could have been a very engaging historical/action story.Unfortunately, the script drags everything down. The writing feels lazy, relying on clichés and forcing “smart” characters to make out-of-character, illogical decisions just to move the plot along. The tone also lacks consistency: it begins as a straightforward historical/action drama, then suddenly throws in wuxia elements — only to abandon them as if they never existed. Conflicts and rivalries between characters are painted too superficially; the script never allows viewers to process or explore them but instead pushes forward with whatever direction the writer wants.
If this had been a low-budget production, I would honestly be impressed with what they managed to achieve. But since this is clearly a big-budget drama that was positioned to be a hit, the poor, inconsistent script feels all the more disappointing.
I also wasn’t a fan of the romance subplot. Because the leads grew up together, their relationship feels more like siblings than lovers. Honestly, the series might have been stronger without romance at all.
By episode 13, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The beginning had potential, but the story lost steam fast. The final wedding scene was cute — though mostly thanks to the “peacock detective,” who remained one of the more enjoyable parts of the drama.
Overall, The Wanted Detective had good actors, good production values, and an interesting premise, but it was wasted on poor writing and failed to live up to the expectations set by its scale.
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