disappointed
Despite a strong start in episode 1 & 2, giving us an introduction to the lead couple and their relationship and kidnapping, the next 4 - 5 episodes were a bit difficult to stay focused.
Whether the director intended to portray the lead couple with a flat and distant chemistry I’m not sure but to me they never seemed to be a plausible couple that were once in love with a strong partnership who are now dealing with marital problems. However the tension in their marriage was evident. A lot of the scenes were slow and short focusing mainly on past and current conflicts in the hospital workplace and dealing with the kidnapping. It was if we were given short glimpses rather than the story unfolding. Some of it didn’t flow logically.
There were a few holes in the story line / direction. The most annoying one being the police, even when they knew what the kidnapper looked like, didn’t seem to be out chasing him. The uncovering of the who and the reason behind the kidnapping wasn’t done by police only Dr Kang.
The storyline is compelling and the acting superb. Kim Dae Mung is one scary evil man and manic. Namkoong Min (The Husband) is brilliant deadpan face - Slowly watching and observing. Lee Seol was also very convincing as the kidnapped wife but her support for Kang Tae Ju after the kidnapping didn’t fit with the backstory and character (spoilt rich daddy’s girl) revealed.
I thought the true mastermind behind the kidnapping was obvious right from the beginning. But was wrong he was only an accomplice. The real evil mastermind besides the rogue psychotic kidnapper isn’t apparent until episode 11. Maybe it is the fact that K Dramas keep repeating the same old troupes that many will fail into the trap of jumping to early conclusions.
The backstory of the couple (Dr Kang Tae Ju and Dr Ko Se Yun) was explained slowly with full detail kept until episode 11. The backstory of other characters was revealed later in episode 9 plus and somewhat lacking this for me made watching the drama frustrating. This meant that the motives behind the supporting characters (apart from the obvious greed) didn’t explain the level of violence and brutality or even justify the kidnapping. The criminals were absolutely psychotic and the conspiracy and the masterminds were overdone. Support characters (in the hospital) with suggestive attraction and petty jealousy didn’t add to the suspense. The police were predictably incompetent.
While the story and action did move at a reasonable pace after episode 8, excessive time was spent on repeated memory flash backs. The middle episodes especially were slow and repetitive. The connection between the mastermind and accomplices was unclear until episode 9, by which time I was tired of the repeat conflict between criminals and Dr Kang Tae Ju. These additional interactions and poorly judged actions by Dr Kang just drew out a story that was getting old and boring.
The drama could have been 10 episodes and enjoyable without repetition of mistakes, lack of judgement and repeated mistakes, a tighter script, and less people being unnecessarily part of the background conspiracy.
Whether the director intended to portray the lead couple with a flat and distant chemistry I’m not sure but to me they never seemed to be a plausible couple that were once in love with a strong partnership who are now dealing with marital problems. However the tension in their marriage was evident. A lot of the scenes were slow and short focusing mainly on past and current conflicts in the hospital workplace and dealing with the kidnapping. It was if we were given short glimpses rather than the story unfolding. Some of it didn’t flow logically.
There were a few holes in the story line / direction. The most annoying one being the police, even when they knew what the kidnapper looked like, didn’t seem to be out chasing him. The uncovering of the who and the reason behind the kidnapping wasn’t done by police only Dr Kang.
The storyline is compelling and the acting superb. Kim Dae Mung is one scary evil man and manic. Namkoong Min (The Husband) is brilliant deadpan face - Slowly watching and observing. Lee Seol was also very convincing as the kidnapped wife but her support for Kang Tae Ju after the kidnapping didn’t fit with the backstory and character (spoilt rich daddy’s girl) revealed.
I thought the true mastermind behind the kidnapping was obvious right from the beginning. But was wrong he was only an accomplice. The real evil mastermind besides the rogue psychotic kidnapper isn’t apparent until episode 11. Maybe it is the fact that K Dramas keep repeating the same old troupes that many will fail into the trap of jumping to early conclusions.
The backstory of the couple (Dr Kang Tae Ju and Dr Ko Se Yun) was explained slowly with full detail kept until episode 11. The backstory of other characters was revealed later in episode 9 plus and somewhat lacking this for me made watching the drama frustrating. This meant that the motives behind the supporting characters (apart from the obvious greed) didn’t explain the level of violence and brutality or even justify the kidnapping. The criminals were absolutely psychotic and the conspiracy and the masterminds were overdone. Support characters (in the hospital) with suggestive attraction and petty jealousy didn’t add to the suspense. The police were predictably incompetent.
While the story and action did move at a reasonable pace after episode 8, excessive time was spent on repeated memory flash backs. The middle episodes especially were slow and repetitive. The connection between the mastermind and accomplices was unclear until episode 9, by which time I was tired of the repeat conflict between criminals and Dr Kang Tae Ju. These additional interactions and poorly judged actions by Dr Kang just drew out a story that was getting old and boring.
The drama could have been 10 episodes and enjoyable without repetition of mistakes, lack of judgement and repeated mistakes, a tighter script, and less people being unnecessarily part of the background conspiracy.
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