Anais

Another thriller that continues to put South Korea as the best producer of thrillers currently.

South Korea excels in producing original thrillers. Now, the first episode is always critical - for me - in order to know the tone, the rhythm and the show as a whole. Insider from its first episode was so good.

It tells the story of a judicial trainee named Kim Yo Han. After going undercover for an investigation, Kim Yo Han experiences a crisis, and end up in prison.

Insider really did it for me. And although the premise is deja vu, with a man - smart and good/naive - finds himself in a bad situation where he will suffer because of the richest essentially - in general a secret organization - and that he will become more than what he was in order to survive, a powerful adversary, Insider had this vulnerability which brings a difference to this show.

Yo Han will suffer, a lot, and I'm not talking about two episodes at most but many episodes where he endures low blows, attacks, ruthless manipulations and the loss of loved ones. And I think the series really did show how a person who starts off smart and resourceful, given a harsh environment to survive, can become powerful. I mean, the man endures a lot, jail and without giving too much away, the people who hold the power, are cruel to him.

I think the show brings an interesting angle on the legal and political state of the country, as a character says "A prosecutor could kill a person in broad daylight with the population around, and walk away without problem", here we see that institutions are intertwined with politics, shenanigans are endless, no one trusts each other, everyone threatens each other. The show also highlights how much money can buy you a lot in the world, so much so that you can control a country or government. And above all, that no one is irreplaceable, everyone no matter how high and sure of their usefulness can be thrown away and someone will take their place, which also shows a terrible ambition and this hunger for power that it gives people - in these professions - who are very quick to be vile and without humanity.

To talk about the show, we follow Yo Han's growth for a while, his evolution especially as he goes through all his difficulties and his strategies, we also see that no one can be trusted no matter how friendly they appear, the investigation for the truth advances slowly but surely with each episode, and they end in cliffhanger especially towards the end of the series. Now, I've binge-watched the show from the first episodes to the 14th, and then I had to wait for the last two episodes as they aired. And it was hard, because the suspense is there. Especially since the first episode, from the first scene which showcases a chase with Yo Han then we have to go back a year, so this scene made me question a lot, how will it happen ?
The side characters are brilliant and really versatile with good backstories, I found some familiar faces I've seen in thrillers, it was nice to see them playing other characters. The plot as a hole is really done well, because in the end, we don't know what the main character wants except his revenge, but how far he will go and how far can he ?
The end is ... hopeful for those who enjoyed the series as I have, if there is to be a second season, honestly I wouldn't mind because this series is very addictive.

As for Yo Han, so the actor, Kang Ha Neul, is really brilliant, he manages to show a character who toughens up but remains very human, and who has his vulnerabilities, I love his duality. Frankly, it's very good acting. This series reminded me in certain aspects of "The Veil" on the other hand, Yo Han as the main character with a vengeance, really pulled off the emotional side for me, whereas although Namkoong Min is a very good actor, he was quite robotic and less natural to show the range of his character.
Kang Ha Neul really did a good job, his character shows a lot of realism, I hope to see him again soon in an ambitious thriller series.

So I recommend this series for those who are stingy with thrillers who have investigations, about revenge with interesting and charismatic characters, political plots without being boring, on the other hand, I say it right away, there is no romance, and very few comedic moments - or none - it depends on people's humor.

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Perfect Match: A Series That Lost Its Spark

This is essentially the story of a mother trying to marry off each of her many daughters to the right partner.

In my opinion, a lot of the backlash stems from the male leads not being as engaging and compelling as the audience had hoped for.

The issue is that Chai An and Kangning, the two main characters we are introduced to first, are the focus in the beginning. We get to know them, see their love develop, etc. However, after episode 10, they disappear to make room for a new couple, which the audience feels little connection to. Instead, viewers want to continue following Chai An and Kangning’s married life.

Splitting the series into arcs, rather than focusing on just one couple with supporting characters, was a risky choice. A series like New Life Begins also introduced multiple couples but maintained a central couple whose growth we followed, and that proved to be the best approach.

Now, I find myself feeling detached and uninterested in the new couples and their arcs in Perfect Match. It just doesn’t have the same appeal, and the disappointment of not being able to follow the original couple actively has taken away from my enjoyment of the rest. I truly believe this format was a mistake, and that's ultimately why I dropped the series – out of boredom.

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Underrated, Unrelenting, Unmissable

The story revolves around a young man named Seo Dong Ju. He's a director and the right-hand man, essentially the jack-of-all-trades, for Cha Gang Cheon, the chairman of the powerful Daesan Group. In fact, he’s likely the chairman’s favorite person.

However, without realizing it, Seo Dong Ju gets involved with Cha Gang Cheon’s daughter, who later abandons him to marry the nephew of Yeom Jang Seon, another influential figure who is closely aligned with Cha Gang Cheon. This makes Seo Dong Ju a threat in their eyes. In response, he reveals that he had secretly embezzled money from a fund without their knowledge.

He tricks Yeom Jang Seon into sparing his life by promising to recover the stolen money and disappear. The plan works, so well, in fact, that Yeom Jang Seon later attempts to have him killed through Heo Il Do, Daesan Group’s director and Cha Gang Cheon’s son-in-law.

The twist? When Seo Dong Ju is “killed”, he takes with him the access codes to the secret bank funds, codes that only he knows. When his enemies realize this, they are in disarray. Eventually though, they discover that Seo Dong Ju is actually alive. What follows is a thrilling manhunt as they race to find him, while Seo Dong Ju begins uncovering pieces of his past. Along the way, he struggles to distinguish between friend and foe, caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

I have to say, the script, the writing, everything, was exceptionally well done. Even the soundtrack, which usually doesn’t stand out to me, was genuinely enjoyable.

What really made the show was the characters. Take Cha Gang Cheon, for example, a sympathetic grandfather figure who’s genuinely endearing, yet also a money-hungry old geezer that can be ruthless. Then there’s Heo Il Do, who initially seems like the clear-cut villain. He constantly makes terrible choices, but you can see the toll it takes on him. Coming from a humble background, he clawed his way up through sheer ambition. He desperately wants to see his plans succeed, but he just… can’t. He’s hated Seo Dong Ju from the beginning, envy and jealousy, but somewhere along the way, as his hunger for power consumed him, he began to feel something more complicated for Seo Dong Ju, and began to express guilt.

The characters truly are the heart of this series. One moment you hate them, the next you sympathize. The only real exception is Yeom Jang Seon, who remains a one-dimensional villain, irredeemable and hateful through and through. I find it interesting because it highlights how Yeom Jang Seon, who exhibits psychopathic tendencies and lacks empathy to the extent that he's comfortable harming his own family, cannot grasp the emotional weight of someone hurting their children or parents. This inability to understand empathy makes him incapable of predicting the actions of those who do feel it, turning his emotional detachment into a weakness rather than a strength.

I honestly don't understand the low ratings, maybe it's because of the cliffhanger at the end? While it may not be the most outstanding series, it's a solid thriller. The story keeps you engaged with twists and revelations right up until the very end, maintaining a good pace throughout. Personally, I hope Park Hyung Sik takes on more thriller roles, I think he was excellent in this one.

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Women of Strength: A Journey Through Love, and Sacrifice

The story centers around He Wei Fang, a young woman who marries into the Liu family in an arranged union, hoping to save her mother from a terminal illness. Unfortunately, despite her sacrifice, her mother passes away, leaving He Wei Fang stuck in a loveless marriage with Liu Chang, who remains cold and indifferent toward her due to his love for another woman. On top of this, her in-laws are cruel, draining her of both money and inheritance, including sentimental belongings.

The plot takes a turn when the royal princess, Liu Chang's lost love, appears at the Liu residence, accompanied by Jiang Chang Yang, a high-ranking officer close to the Emperor. He Wei Fang, disillusioned with her marriage, seizes the opportunity to seek a divorce. With Jiang Chang Yang's constant support, she begins to escape the grip of her in-laws and her husband's newfound affection for her. Slowly but surely, He Wei Fang starts to regain control of her life, reclaiming her inheritance and her freedom, all while enduring numerous hardships.

The series powerfully portrays the struggles women face in a society where status and men hold all the power. Through He Wei Fang's journey, we see her resilience and the importance of female solidarity. Her ex-husband, Liu Chang, also suffers under the royal princess's obsessive love, becoming a complex character who transforms into someone vengeful and dark. Jiang Chang Yang, on the other hand, stands as a green flag, providing He Wei Fang the space and support to find herself, never pressuring her but always there when needed.

With many unresolved threads, the first season leaves viewers eagerly anticipating the next one. He Wei Fang's adopted brother, the royal family's internal struggles, and the intricate relationships between the emperor, concubines, and Liu Chang all promise to make the second season even more captivating. The romance, though slow-paced, is grounded in realism, and the characters—both protagonists and antagonists—are well-developed, making the show feel more like a serious drama rather than a typical idol drama.

In summary, this is a series that impressed me with its depth and emotional nuance. It combines elements of survival, sacrifice, and slow-burn romance, offering a story that's both enjoyable and thought-provoking. The first season sets a strong foundation, and I'm eager to see where it goes next.

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The Ultimate Sacrifice.

I didn't know what to name this review to bring together all of my feelings after finishing this series but I think the ultimate sacrifice says it all.

I picked up this series at random, it had been on my watchlist for a long time but for some reason I never got to it. After a series drought, seeing Jang Ki Yong in the cast, knowing that he is also in that of an upcoming thriller, I became curious.

I have to say that in a sense the story and execution is a bit clumsy, and surreal but so tragic.

The story revolves around Kim Soo Hyun, a young man who has been trained since childhood to kill by a hitman, prior to that, he has no memory of his past life and knows nothing beyond the fact that his biological father wanted him dead and that he was in an orphanage. We then follow Kim Soo Hyun on the road to discovering his past while he is guided by a mysterious client to kill powerful men who all seem linked by the management of the said orphanage years ago. After each murder, he receives a photo from his client which supposedly will help him discover who he is.

Do Hyun Jin is the other person we are acquainted with. She is a young woman who was adopted at a young age into a very rich and powerful family, and decided to become a police officer. She finds herself on the trail of Kim Soo Hyun when his serial killings become apparent.

The two of them also come to know each other randomly, and quickly discover that they are linked to the same orphanage, and even that they were childhood friends. Kim Soo Hyun is the infamous "number 88", a number that brings dread to the most powerful while sweet memories to Do Hyun Jin.

The story devolves into a web of connection between the past and present, the persecutors and victims. Kim Soo Hyun is not only trying to discover his past but to make right by his friends and those who continue to suffer under the yoke of the antagonists.

Kim Soo Hyun is a cold and quiet character, he never smiles, and he only speaks in a few words. It’s a great performance offered by Jang Ki Yong, because Kim Soo Hyun says very little but his looks and locked emotions say a lot. He can be the most caring guy in the world one moment and a cold killer the next. What I liked throughout this series was that I was virtually not afraid for him. He was very capable and intelligent, as he said, others may make mistakes, but not him, and in the end ; I can say that on his road to revenge he didn't make a mistake. I really like this character for what he brings.

The ending is more than tragic, but honestly I couldn't see him spending his life in prison, or even running. So I think the ultimate sacrifice he made for the children fits the character.

As for the other characters, I found myself having affection for them, especially Kang Seul Gi and Philip Ahn, who infiltrated my heart without me seeing it, they were annoying but endearing, a bit like siblings that we unwillingly to keep close but that we love regardless. I even warmed up to Do Hyun Jin who was quite obnoxious at first but turned out to be a nice addition.

I must say that one thing that the series succeeds in is the cruelty and realism of the unfolding of certain events and the fate of certain characters. Generally, in other series, when a character is in danger, they are somehow saved by the protagonist who miraculously arrives at the scene in time. Here, this is not the case. The protagonist is not omnipotent, he is not a superhero, and people including children are killed mercilessly because no one knew in time.

Despite the sweet moments and slow pace, this remains a fairly dark thriller overall that deals with tough subjects. I recommend the series without hesitation, entertaining and terrible at the same time, with a satisfactory in a sense.

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We need more developed BL Korean.

This kind of series makes me impatient for the BL industry in South Korea. The characters have so much chemistry, and there could be a real in-depth story and relationship with more long lasting episodes.

I'll make it short, it's a cute series that would have been perfect with more time, the themes could have been more developed but I think for the time and budget it had, it's nice.

The only downside is that obviously it's a bit cliché with the characters who dare to be together only years later when they meet again, and we didn't even had a kiss — which is terrible because the characters had really chemistry.

Anyway, good mini BL series.

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Enjoyable series.

I really liked this series. I'm not going to lie, there were times I skipped some scenes because they were too boring - for me - and the acting wasn't phenomenal, but it's a good show.

There is humor, love, several storylines - simple, action, lots of friendships. And if the acting of the actors were not incredible, their characters were endearing.

I sincerely think that this series would benefit from having a second season. We followed our characters during their entry, their training, over their college years, now I would like to see what they give as cops. I would also like more depth to their characters, and more complex storylines.

I really think the show scould be elevated further to its full potential.

Anyway, I would say that this series has everything you can look for in a typical K-drama, with a good production, good dialogues, good scenes whether fighting or character interactions.

The series was not that intense, mostly light-hearted. I sincerely hope for another season to raise the level of this good start that this season has given us.

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A little disappointed.

The story picks up a little later where we left off, except that we realize that Han Ji Woo just left leaving a letter, disappearing for over a year and leaving behind a confused Kang Seo Joon.

I'm disappointed because I didn't expect this kind of script. I know the story has to tell something but honestly, I wanted a sequel to discover more about the couple, their relationship, I find myself not only having more scenes where they argue and throw harsh words at each other, specially Han Ji Woo, rather than a storyline that deepens their beautiful relationship.

At one point they also lost me in their chemistry which seemed more awkward at times (during the flashbacks). Speaking of flashbacks I was a bit confused how they introduced them, not very smooth for the audience.

It's such a shame that this sequel was more about Kang Seo Joon running after a reluctant Han Ji Woo to even consider him properly, rather than giving them a proper story.

So, really disappointed with this sequel and also a little with the actors who may have lacked chemistry at one point.

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Very much entertaining.

It's basically the story of Park Changho, a lawyer who is, we can say it, a loser in his job. He is a talkative person and, because of this people call him Big Mouth. He is involved in a murder case and he is somehow accused of being the criminal genius Big Mouse. Due to this, Park Changho ends up in jail.
Meanwhile, Go Miho who is Park Changho’s wife attempts to clear her husband's name.

I'll be honest here, I must say that this kind of show is really great to follow when they are airing, because not only despite the wait it's so much fun to try to guess who is the mysterious antagonist, but it's great to exchange so positively on MDL, week after week with those who like me followed the series. I love that this series managed to make us ask every week who Big Mouse is instead of us being able to guess it easily.

Big Mouth is more light-hearted type of thriller, there definitively more a family and romance theme even though they don't take much space, the production had rather intense tones while having also darker tones.

As for history itself, I think it is separated into two distinct parts.
The first where our protagonists meet, the situation and mysteries unfold, we learn more about Big Mouse. Then, there is the second part, where Big Mouse is revealed and the events accelerate for the conclusion with the development of several storylines at the same time.

I must say that there were a little criticism for part two coming from some viewers and I think it comes from the revelation of Big Mouse. The thing is, we are tricked by the show several times thinking that a character is Big Mouse when they are not, thus when the real Big Mouse appeared, people have continued to theorize on who is Big Mouse even afterward because for them, the revelation was disappointing, they couldn't believe it.
I'm going to be honest, in terms of script writing, the Big Mouse that we have revealed does make sense. On the other hand, in terms of character, I expected someone more charismatic to be honest. And this is where I realized that the series ultimately was not about "Who" is Big Mouse, but how it will link with Park Changho.
The series made us understand, and this from the start, that Big Mouse in truth is replacable, everyone could be Big Mouse, what is more interesting is how we go from there and how our main character blends in all of this. I don't want to give spoilers, but we quickly understand how the series will evolve after the revelation of Big Mouse.

This series is a "general public" thriller, although there are many elements of thrillers, it is still the genre that can be enjoyed by everyone and very entertaining. Now, the entertaining side is double-edged because clearly, that reduces realism.
There are so many scenes which are well played but which are purely fiction. While the series like "Through The Darkness" released this year, may be come across as less "entertaining", but it is a dark thriller filled with realism, it is not for all audiences. Same for "Insider", who by the way, has a lot of similarity with Big Mouth in the storyline, and the series is much more violent, with the inclusion of striking scenes of realism. These are thrillers that are not targeted or made for all audiences, I think Big Mouth is made for everyone despite certain scenes, and therefore its very entertaining aspect.

If I had to talk about the series, I would say that this one of the most captivating series of this year, we have been hooked from the start to the end, the writers did an excellent job to make us theorize during several episodes the hidden identity of a criminal, and not to mention the side storylines.
So I think that with Insider, Through the Darkness, King of Pigs, this might be among the best thriller series I saw this year - so far, maybe not the number one spot - but my opinion is biased by the fact that I like dark thrillers - but this series is definitely not to be missed.

Now, the acting et characters. Park Chang Ho is typically a character that will evolves quite quickly - maybe a bit too quickly for my taste, the evolution of his character is really entertaining though and it's one of the best highlights during the first episodes, we certainly don't get bored.
I want to mention Lee Jong Suk's acting, it's an actor that amazes me the more I discover him, and his roles are really varied in general. Here, his versatility was really incredible, he was able to show us many sides to his character, which I really enjoyed.

Also, I would like to mention Im Yoona, and although she didn't have as much depth as Lee Jong Suk, she managed to shine, and for once, I didn't dislike the female lead, she was able to be both strong and vulnerable, she was loyal, fierce and her character is really solid and consistent throughout the series, she supported Lee Jong Suk's character really well.

As for the rest of the cast, we have everything, endearing, captivating, detestable, funny, evil characters. No one, even the minor roles let us indifferent, we either love or hate them, but they are making us react to them.

Also, this series managed to make me hate characters that I loved at the beginning, and make me love characters that I hated at first, which to be honest is rare because I usually get dead set on my opinion on the characters. First examples, Jihoon and Doha. Jihoon is quite detestable at the beginning, and I must say that in truth, after a little hindsight, he was not that bad, just very determined. As for Doha, he is a fascinating character, and I didn't like to hate him in the end but he showed, I think the most change and complexity than all the characters in the series, even more than Park Changho.

Lastly, for part 2, because as I said, instead of revealing mysteries, the series created others plots, which at that time I thought was in preparation for season 2 or additional episodes, but no. So the only negative criticism I have is about the last two episodes. They wrapped up things poorly and quickly while the series was so well crafted until this point. The end was done in a matter of minutes, also they introduced the possibility for another character but in the end, he never made apparition nor given any time which is odd, so a lot of side plots are left in the wind. Plus, the stories of brillant characters ended badly while it had so much potential.

Do I recommend ? Yes, I think those who enjoy thrillers with few romance and comedic moments, while still keeping a violent aspect - do not mistake this series for a light-hearted funny drama either - then this is for you. I must say that the plots and mysteries are really good, from episodes to episodes, as I said we do not get bored and we want more.
It is still enjoyable to watch for those like me, who lean more towards thrillers without romance or comedy, with solid script and realism, you can watch it, it's good.

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Death will save our humanity.

I don't write reviews for movies in general, but I really wanted to talk about this one.

The subject that it touches is that of our humanity. If humans ever arrive with technologies to prevent the inevitable - death - from happening, what are we left with ? Insatiable desires for more money, power, in short, an endless life to take possessions but give nothing. Humans are already so self-destructive, the only thing that is certain is death, if we take it out of the equation, it's the worst we could do to our specie.
Also, as the subject of the death of humans is approached, so is that of being worthy of being saved. Do we deserve it ?
In the end, all humans die, whether from disease, accidents, or by other humans, that is a certainty. But what makes a person more worthy to be saved, and should we save those who are designated as worthy, because nowadays we treat everyone, but especially those who don't deserve it too.

In the end, there is not necessarily an answer, I know that human beings will one day arrive at a stage where in some way we will become immortal, just as I know that one day we will populate our solar system and even our galaxy, it may not be for now, or in a hundred years, but it will come. Well, if our planet Earth has not left us before because of our relentless destruction of it.
Human beings are going to die out, one way or another, just like our galaxy is going to die. It's written in the universe and life, death is part of it, and even if humans manage not to kill each other and survive the death of planet Earth, our hope will die in this solar system.

Now, it may seem tragic, but I think we've done enough, we'll discover enough, our existence in the history of space is nothing but a drop. And I find it reassuring, it all started in silence, and it will all end in silence, and if other species ever come to live long after humans, let's just hope that their intelligence won't be a path to self-destruction too.

Anyway, this movie is one of many on the subject, and I'm glad it helps get people thinking. Immortality in human hands would mean our end, and that I am sure of it. But I know the human greed, and we'll achieve immortality but not invincibility, we will die among ourselves, if that's not ironic.

Well, good movie, the production is pretty good, the characters too and the story benefits from a good script.

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Filler drama

It's the story of a group of people who find themselves working together two years after a suspicious airplane crash took place. Choi Kang Woo created his own investigation team, after he lost his wife and son in the accident. He and his team meet Kim Min Joon, a genius former swindler whose brother was also a victim of the crash.

Now, overall the series was nice, I have to say that it actually started off very slow, and even though I wasn't super entertained by the story, I think it's not bad. The story is pretty basic actually, we've seen it before, it's the typical trope of people banding together to uncover the truth behind a tragic incident that ultimately has to deal with powerful people using their power to make money regardless of the victims. Here, the only change is that we have the insurance aspect.

So afterwards, I don't think anyone will be amazed by the story, but they did an overall good job.

I saw a review called Woo Do Hwan a "show-stealer" and I can only agree on that. This actor, whom I have seen now in a few series and different roles, is truly a talent of his generation. Not only for me he is the one who made the show interesting, but all the scenes in which he appears are just really good. The character Choi Kang Woo, who is the grieving father and husband, is supposed to appeal to my empathy but I haven't once felt like I connected to his character. While the only time Kim Min Joon, Woo Do Hwan's character, cried, I had tears in my eyes. He had quite a mischievous character played, I could see his eyes fill with mischief, sometimes he was bold and cold, sometimes touching, sometimes funny, he was everything.
It's to say the contrast, a young actor, so I want to mention that here it was only his second main role in a series manages to touch the viewer while a veteran actor does not even make me smile.

Now, I don't want to slander Yoo Ji Tae, but he's not a fabulous actor to begin with, I've seen him in a few other series, and no matter the role, he always seems the same to me. His tears are just overrated, his character here is basically dumb as he gets out-smarted by Woo Do Hwan most of the time. For his role, I expected him to live up to Woo Do Hwan who shone. I don't know if it's the script, but even Woo Do Hwan managed to shine in it, so I'd say it's really the actor who is the problem.
However, don't take my words as saying he sucked into it, I'd just say he was pretty decent, he was there to be there, to fulfill his role, it's just that his acting wasn't good enough to rival that of his co-star Woo Do Hwan.

As for the other characters, I would say that Ryu Hwa Young was written and performed with some depth, and even though we don't get to dig deep into her character, she does shine the most after Woo Do Hwan, which is a surprise for me because female leads tend to be annoying. She shows several layers, and I would have liked her to be explored more as there was so much potential.
As for Kim Hye Sung and Jo Jae Yoon's characters, they were there typically for the comic relief moments, they didn't bring much else, but their characters were enjoyable for what little light they got.

I won't drag this out any longer, but if I had to sum up this show, it's kind of a filler after a show that's been very intense, it was long and to be honest I skipped several scenes but it's got a bit of everything - comedy, action, emotion and drama, a bit romantic echo - it's pretty basic and enjoyable for the most part. The production is good, the script correct and Woo Do Hwan was THE highlight.

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Average but to see.

This is the story of Ji Na, a hotel employee who is tracking down her older sister’s disappearance and returns home where she finds herself surrounded by suspicious neighbors. Detective Min Soo will be the only one to believe in Ji Na's words and help her.

Well I have to say, I expected more. To start with the story, although we end up with similarities as in "Strangers from Hell", it was better handled. Already, we keep the mystery about the neighbors and their exact role in the disappearance of the sister, we know somehow that they are related and especially that they are weirdos, but the mystery remains total. On the other hand, what disappointed me was that the show didn't explore more about that, I mean, they kept the mystery but didn't really try to make us believe that one of them was actually responsible. Early on, we can see that some characters are just stupid and weird, and often problematic, but not the author of the disappearance, and that's a shame.

The thing is that I watched this series because I was promised a huge plot twist, despite the fact that I quickly understood who was behind the kidnapping, I continued to watch because precisely I was expecting a plot twist at the last minute and some elements didn't add knowing the responsable.
Now, we also have in the background, very briefly, the fact that there is a major reconstruction project, but as it is approached so few times, we even forget why it is there, and they mention it more at the end of the series to link new revelations to this.

Overall, the promised twist plot wasn't as sensational as they say, the story is overall quite slow despite some action scenes, like, we know they're investigating but we feel like we're stalling during the season whole. The characters did show good acting, even the side characters (not something amazing but good enough). And for the two main characters, we see that there is still a lot to explore, especially their bond, and honestly I think that's what keeps the series flowing, because without their interactions, the series would have been so boring.
The production of the series did keep the impression of watching a thriller, the tones are dark and sometimes even tragic, so for that they succeeded.

So I would say that this series is not extraordinary, their plot is predictable even if the series managed to end on a cliffhanger which makes us want at least to know the sequel (if there is one), the two characters where the highlight.

A lot of questions are left unanswered in this season and mysteries remain to be unraveled, and I'd probably watch season 2 just to find out where this all takes us, but overall, yeah, not ground-breaking whether it's in the story or the acting. I couldn't even tell if the show is character-driven or story-driven, both are just average.

So, I recommend, but prepare yourself for a rather slow pace and average story. I do hope the story step up next season.

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Interesting story on the Justice System

This is the story of Hyun Soo, an ordinary college student, suddenly becomes the primary suspect in a murder case. Shin Joong Han is the only lawyer willing to help Kim Hyun Soo.

I'll try to keep it as short as possible, but I enjoyed this story. It reflects the justice done by man-made laws, in reality, justice and truth, it is not what prevails, there will be things overlooked, people biased and half-truth.
It's really just telling two different stories about the events of a case, and the one that's better told wins the case.

Here, it was clearly seen that the prosecution wanted to paint Hyun Soo as the murderer at all costs, and at the same time, they overlooked other possibilities, which ended up coming back to bite them later during the trial and after.

Now, about the series, I must say that Kim Soo Hyun did an outstanding acting, he is really very talented. The overall story of a young man who found himself just doing what young people his age do, and later awoke to a nightmarish reality, and those bad choices out of fear painted him as the murderer in the eyes of law enforcement. I really liked this story, and Cha Seung Won too, who showed us a somewhat pathetic but determined, kind and supportive lawyer.
I was also surprised to see Kim Sung Gyu as an inmate, who although he is feared by all, takes under his wing Kim Soo Hyun and really helped him, he is a talented actor whom I discovered in "The King of Pigs" which is also a thriller that looks into the heavy bullying at school. I can't wait to immerse myself in "Kingdom" to discover him in another role.

Now, to stay in the story, I don't want to say too much more, but as for the production, I must say that the story holds up very surely, the tones/colors are dark and suits the heavier theme, it is presented with a lot of realism especially on the aspect of the Korean judicial system.
Honestly, it's not ground breaking but it would be a shame not to discover this mini-series which is very well done, and the characters very well acted whether from the accused to his family, the lawyers to the opposite side with the prosecution, the police.

I don't think it's a series that necessarily needs to be seen several times, but at least to be seen once.

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