After thinking about it, the problem isn't necessarily that the movie wasn't as action packed as it was promised. Yes, I admit that I was expecting more action but I didn't mind that the movie wanted to follow a different approach. The problem is that the writing fell flat so their attempt to give more depth to the characters was shallow.
The film is barely 2 hours long and since the plot tackled many points, it was inevitable that not all would be fleshed out. But when you're trying to bring so much on the table, you should do so better. They wanted to portray Mantis as a ruthless assassin but they lso wanted to highlight his soft side for Jaeyi. They wanted to focus on Jaeyi and Hanul's relationship but they also wanted to showcase the politics and hierarchy in the crime world. They wanted to have comedy but they wanted some emotional scenes too. The writing and direction were not very clear and they felt quite messy at times.
I'm all for having action films that go beyond the action element and give depth to the characters. This is why I appreciated Gil Bok Soon's character in the first movie and this is why I was initially interested in Jaeyi and Hanul's dynamic. But Kill Bok Soon handled this aspect better compared to Mantis, which is why Mantis fell short.
I am kinda disappointed, not gonna lie. The story wasn't that engaging, even from early on I had a feeling that I wouldn't like the movie as much as I had expected. The characters left much to be desired, especially Hanul. The writers made his crush on Jaeyi his entire personality, we love yearners in this house but they need to have some other interesting aspects.
I also want to complain about Hanul's writing as Mantis. The film tried so hard to convince us that Mantis is supposed to be one of the top assassins in the crime world and yet I wasn't sold. Such a pity, I expected so much from Siwan's character based on the trailer but I was let down. At least his acting elevated him.
Like other people, I decided to watch this before watching Mantis first. It was entertaining and it's definitely a very nice action movie with a good casting and interesting story. I just think that the characterisation and the presentation of the character dynamics could have been explored more, especially Bok Soon's relationship with her daughter.
The ending of Episode 3's case was so satisfying. Listen, I totally understand that Lee Sang Hyun committed a crime by kidnapping and theatening the mayor but I also heavily sympathize with him. His brother died because those in power cared more about money than people's health. He tried to advocate peacefully, he seeked justice by the book and no one listened to him. He had reached his limits, it's understandable why he went so far.
In a more realistic scenario, he would have been jailed and yet it would still be uncertain whether the Mayor and the other people involved in the project would have paid for their mistake. Why should the wronged be punished and not those who committed the mistake and abused their power? I was so happy to see that Shin helped him and his mother to leave. Even though they might not have gotten a direct apology (I haven't watched episode 4 yet so I don't know if more will happen), at least they can try and live a better live now, away from the country that took their beloved one.
Netflix is doing a shitty job with the promotion. They have posted so many teasers and they even posted behind-the-scenes content before the actual release. Thank God I haven't watched anything besides the first teasers and the main trailer, why do they spoil so much?
I have watched the first two episodes and so far, my expectations have been met (and even exceeded). The plot might seem typical but it's been handled well. The pacing is good, although there are some subplots here and there (the police team, the other drug dealers etc), they do not spoil the flow and add more interest. I'm very curious to see how they'll affect the main plot and how they'll become integrated.
The actors are good, they haven't gotten many opportunities to showcase many different emotions but they stand their ground. It's my first Lee Young Ae drama and she is good, she portrays accurately her role and captures Eun Soo's fear and determination. Kim Young Kwang is once again captivating to see and I am very drawn by his character because it seems like he won't be a villain like in Evilive or Trigger.
A bonus I didn't expect was the comedy, it's subtle but it makes the drama more light-hearted (it still maintains its dark premise of course).
Thank God Eun Soo and the doctors prevented the husband's suicide attempt instead of standing there doing nothing like in other series or movies, I'm sick and tired when this happens.
I totally understand why some people may dislike the husband for his actions but I think we should consider his point of view too. He's terminally ill and his health deteriorated. He wanted to provide for his family and he was reckless with his loans and investments but like an ordinary citizen, he falsely believed he could earn more money. He feels remorse for his actions, even though it's late to correct his mistake and he feels like a burden now, especially since he needs urgent treatment. I'm not saying that people should like him, I also do not approve of his actions but he is not a jerk like some people have said.
I'm gonna be honest: although I still enjoy the drama, the writing definitely feels lackluster at these episodes. The first ones were perfect, I really liked how they established the dynamics between the characters and how their personalities unfolded. But now the writing feels weak, especially when it comes to the secondary characters. I would have also liked to see some other themes to get explored but I want to wait for the final episodes to air in order to elaborate any further on that matter.
For now, the drama falls into the 8-8.5 category. If the last episodes are strong enough, it could be a 9 but only if the writing is strong.
I am kinda scared about the direction the series has taken. Gender issues are a very taboo topic and having the copycat killer being transgender can end up really badly if the writers haven't handled it well. I really hope that the wrap will be smooth and fleshed out.
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The film is barely 2 hours long and since the plot tackled many points, it was inevitable that not all would be fleshed out. But when you're trying to bring so much on the table, you should do so better. They wanted to portray Mantis as a ruthless assassin but they lso wanted to highlight his soft side for Jaeyi. They wanted to focus on Jaeyi and Hanul's relationship but they also wanted to showcase the politics and hierarchy in the crime world. They wanted to have comedy but they wanted some emotional scenes too. The writing and direction were not very clear and they felt quite messy at times.
I'm all for having action films that go beyond the action element and give depth to the characters. This is why I appreciated Gil Bok Soon's character in the first movie and this is why I was initially interested in Jaeyi and Hanul's dynamic. But Kill Bok Soon handled this aspect better compared to Mantis, which is why Mantis fell short.
I also want to complain about Hanul's writing as Mantis. The film tried so hard to convince us that Mantis is supposed to be one of the top assassins in the crime world and yet I wasn't sold. Such a pity, I expected so much from Siwan's character based on the trailer but I was let down. At least his acting elevated him.
In a more realistic scenario, he would have been jailed and yet it would still be uncertain whether the Mayor and the other people involved in the project would have paid for their mistake. Why should the wronged be punished and not those who committed the mistake and abused their power? I was so happy to see that Shin helped him and his mother to leave. Even though they might not have gotten a direct apology (I haven't watched episode 4 yet so I don't know if more will happen), at least they can try and live a better live now, away from the country that took their beloved one.
The actors are good, they haven't gotten many opportunities to showcase many different emotions but they stand their ground. It's my first Lee Young Ae drama and she is good, she portrays accurately her role and captures Eun Soo's fear and determination. Kim Young Kwang is once again captivating to see and I am very drawn by his character because it seems like he won't be a villain like in Evilive or Trigger.
A bonus I didn't expect was the comedy, it's subtle but it makes the drama more light-hearted (it still maintains its dark premise of course).
For now, the drama falls into the 8-8.5 category. If the last episodes are strong enough, it could be a 9 but only if the writing is strong.