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Ambiguous premise with lackluster execution

When I came across Aema, I got pulled in by its female centered plot and the 80s aeshetic. I haven't seen many kdramas that address the topic of female exploitation in the film industry so I immediately decided to give Aema a try.

The first episodes were interesting enough to make me continue watching. Although I wouldn't describe the drama as a pure comedy, there were some funny moments which toned down the dark plot. The scene on episode 4 where Hee-ran pointed out at Kwak In-U how ridiculous the script for "Madame Aema" was had me roling on the floor. As the story went on, the series became more serious and I got more immersed in the cruelty of the film industry. Some elements were obviously presented in an unrealistic way and some behaviors were caricatures. But the overall message is more than clear.

The drama tackles various themes but ultimately, the heart of the series was the presentation of women's exploitation by the film industry in the 80s. Since they worked in a male dominated field (as if there are many women dominated fields in the first place), actresses were made to get stripped of their dignity, unless they wanted to fall into oblivion. They had to succumb to the producers' wishes and do as they were told to, pose as the trophies of rich patrons in extravagant banquets...In Hee-ran's words, women needed to become bitches in order to survive.

The acting was great, especially from the two main leads. It was the first time I watched anything with Lee Ha Nee and it certainly won't be the last. She was absolutely captivating and captured Hee-ran's bold character perfectly. She commanded the screen with her confidence and wild determination and shaped Hee-ran into a strong woman. But that wasn't all of it. Hee-ran might have hidden under the facade of a proud, bitchy actress but she carried too much shame and pain. After being exploited for years, she wanted to keep Ju-ae away from the claws of the film industry by pushing her away and belittling her. Although she appeared to care very little about her co-star, she truly wanted to do the best in order to protect her and she wouldn't hesitate to clash with the producer in order to do so.

Alongside the magnificent Lee Ha Nee, Bang Hyo-Rin delivered an equally excellent performance. Having a real rookie actress embody the role of a rookie actress was a bold move by the writers and Bang Hyo-Rin did not disappoint. Shin Ju-ae, a nightclub dancer, dreamt of escaping her life and becoming an actress like Hee-ran, whom she looked up to. Determined to achieve her goal and not let Hee-ran's dismissal to discourage her, Ju-ae (who was oblivious of the lengths of female exploitation), did everything she was told by the producers. She did her erotic scenes without questioning their purpose, she didn't care about her sexualization and she went as far as to help the producer film the provocative scenes without having to censor them and she was overall an obedient rookie actress, who wanted to achieve success through her first film.

The contrast between the two female leads was what made them clash in the first place. Ju-ae was willing to give up her dignity for the sake of the film and she remained naive to the dangers of the industry and the lengths a woman would cross in the name of fame. Because of her innocence, the producer sent her to entertain the government officials who would than the '88s Olympics, in order to gain their favor and make them allow the filming of the movie "Madame Aema". And this is the moment Ju-ae's fantasy about showbiz was shattered.

Hyo-rin portrayed Ju-ae's disgust and fear perfectly. I could tell just by her expressions how distressed Ju-ae was. The scene where she had to sit with the President made me want to puke. I liked how the tone of the series changed once Ju-ae got exposed to the cruelty of the film industry. It became darker and bolder. The scenes deliberately evoke discomfort and even though they didn't delve into more details, they presented the dark side of an industry that treated women like mere objects.

One aspect that I liked was how the series portrayed the differences between Koo Jung-ho and Kwak In-U, the producers of " Madame Aema". The first is an unapologetic misogynist, who doesn't hesitate to make bold sexist comments and who openly objectifies women while the latter, although tamer, hides his desires under a layer of artistry (because after all, even he thought according to his d*ck). It was interesting to see the subtle hypocrisy because even though they were different in terms of how they approached the movie and the eroticism it evoked, both of them were unable to take into consideration the point of view of the female characters. The power imbalance between them was interesting too, since In-U had to succumb to Jung-ho's wishes and allow his ideas to be bastardized in order for the film to become successful.

Ultimately, what defined Aema was the relationship between Hee-ran and Ju-ae. Although the two women did not start off on the right foot, they eventually bonded over their common experience of being paraded as common objects in order to satisfy powerful men's desires. After their encounter in the government's official's party, the two women grew closer. Ju-ae got to understand Hee-ran and the way she tried to protect her while Hee-ran understood that Ju-ae's hard life was what motivated her to become an actress, in an attempt to escape poverty. Their shared passion for acting and their common treatment shaped them into a powerful duo. I must add that the writers clearly intended to give a subtle queer tone in their relationship, which is evident from the scenes where Erika, portrayed by Hee-ran, protects Aema, portrayed by Ju-ae.

The production design of the drama was very good. The settings were rich and accurate enough and the outfits capture the retro vibes of the 80s. Under the vibrant and joyful colours, however, laid the dark world of the entertainment industry and no amount of extravagant dresses, hairstyles and makeup could hide it (as Ju-ae herself realised).

No matter how much one can try, you cannot turn a blind eye on the mistreatment of women in the series. Aema does not shy away from showing the lengths of abuse of power, sexism and objectification, which continue to happen even after all of these years. The drama really makes you wonder how far women were willing to go for the sake of fame and a life that promised them a rich and comfortable lifestyle. The catalyst of this tragedy was the death of Mi-na, Jung-ho's girlfriend who was a young actress in search for her own path in the industry. Although her role was small, it serves as the heavy reminder of what happens to many young actresses who wanted to become famous. Her mistreatment from the younger VIPs which resulted to her own death was by far one of the most uncomfortable and darker moments in Aema and it almost brought me in tears.

Although Aema's intentions were good, I must say that for a drama that wanted to bring attention to the darker side of the industry, it did it in a shallow way. I expected the writers to go into more depth about what is happening behind-the-scenes and go even more in-your-face. I think that they played it quite safe which is not necessarily bad but I'm afraid that by trying to balance the social commentary with some funnier and lighter bits, the message was kinda lost in translation. Either they should have gone all in or stick in subtlety.

I am also quite disappointed at the way the relationship between Hee-ran and Ju-ae was handled. Their bond is one of the most prominent elements, there is no doubt for that but the story should have highlighted it even more. Instead of having so many scenes between the male executives, the drama should have given more scenes between the two women in order to establish their bond and shared feelings even more. I'll be honest with you, it was clear that no woman was involved in the writing and directing of the series because unfortunately, the plot retained some male-cendric aspects that robbed us from seeing more of the women themselves. I would have also liked to see more of Hee-ran's character. She was very interesting to watch but I feel like I didn't get to see much of her feelings, especially concerning her exploitation and anger towards the patriarchal society.

The premise of Aema was very ambiguous and I deeply respect the messages it wanted to convey. The problem is that because of its length (6 episodes only), the execution lacked depth. I feel like we saw everything from the surface instead of getting a deeper view of the matter. And to be frank, the pacing did not do much favour to the story. Had the drama been longer, I'm afraid that I wouldn't have finished it as quickly as I did.

Last but not least, I feel that the ending did not give a satisfactory conclusion. It felt a little bit rushed and it left some issues unfinished. It's unclear whether Hee-ran can work on her next project or not and it's a pity we didn't get to see more of the public's opinion about the expose of the male producers.

All in all, I'm happy for giving Aema a try. It was not a masterpiece but it was a good attempt to bring more attention to the cruelty of the entertainment industry. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and although the drama itself did not become a favourite of mine, the issues it addressed deeply moved me and brought much food for thought.

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All's fair in war and pottery

I came across Low Life by accident and the plot piqued my interest. After reading some comments that claimed that it was really underrated, I decided to give it a try just to check by myself if it's truly underrated. And oh boy, was I in for a hectic journey!

Low Life's plot is not that groundbreaking. We have a bunch of characters who want to get their hands on some old pottery. Everyone wants to use it for their own benefit but eventually, all of them are made to work together in order to achieve their goal. And while on paper this plot might not sound that interesting, the way the series got crafted manages to present it in a way that makes you want to continue watching.

The story is taking place in '70s and just by watching the first episode, I almost felt like I had time travelled. Throughout the whole series, I was getting immersed by the visuals and the settings. Everything was done so meticulously, it's clear that a great effort was put to the production and the result is more than stunning. The clothes, the settings, the hairstyles, the props, everything was as accurate as possible, capturing the vintage vibe of the times accurately enough. I love myself a series with good visuals and Low Life was certainly a joy to look at.

The score was equally good. The soundtrack from the intro is stuck in my mind. The soundtrack was used effectively in order to create the proper atmosphere. Cheerful and charming when the scenes were lighter, mysterious and intimidating when the plot required a darker tone. I even got some western vibes and overall, the soundtrack matched perfectly with the gangsterish nature of the plot.

What I did not expect from Low Life was its subtle and black humour. It certainly cannot be described as a comedy but the series had surprisingly many good comedic moments under its sleeve. The gimmicks of the characters and their interactions were so funny at times, it's not your typical in-your-face humour but the subtlety was perfect for me. It really helped that the funnier parts did not feel forced at all. While some of the characters' actions and dialogues lifted the mood, it all came naturally.

While the built-up was slow, after the sixth episode the twists kept incoming. Bombshells got dropped, backstabbings kept taking place... The plot became hectic in a very entertaining way, I just had to sit back and see all this mess unfold before my eyes. The slow pacing was necessary in order to establish the ground of the story and the characters but once it was done, everything started to shatter. It was mildly amusing to see how the tables turned and I was very curious about the fate of the characters and the story.

What made Low Life so interesting was the characterisation. The drama is a classic example of an ensemble series. You have the main character, Heedong, but every character mattered and everyone played their role in the hunt for pottery. On the first episodes, more and more people got introduced and eventually, all of them became integrated into this journey. Personally, I had no issue following the different subplots and stories but I can understand why some people found the new additions confusing.

I want to warn you: if you are not ready to watch a story full of morally grey, corrupted people, who will hesitate to do nothing in order to achieve their goals, Low Life might no be for you. There are barely any characters whom I could describe as "good". And yet...I couldn't help but root for some of them. Yes, they did many evil things but once I got to learn more of them, I started thinking more about their circumstances and motives.

The characters' interactions and different relationships was one of the best parts of the story. I had a blast watching these dirty and corrupted people join forces in order to dig up more pottery. There were many funny moments among the crew and at parts, it was as if I was watching a bunch of teenagers. I almost wished that they would work together as a genuine team instead of trying to get on each other's throat. The tensions were very high and I just had to wait and see when things would escalate.

The story did a great job at revealing the connections between the characters. Instead of giving all the information at once, we got small montages of their backstories at the beginning of most episodes and by the end, it made sense why so many people got involved in this pottery adventure. All of these people found themselves tied to this mess either because of their own choice or other external forces. At one point, it was so funny to see how many people became interested in the ancient pottery and one could only guess how this would end.

The chairwoman, Yang Jung-Sook, was one of my most favourite characters and one of the most complex ones. The more I learned about her, the more conflicted I became. While I didn't support all of her actions, I could sympathize with her and understand where she came from. She started from the bottom and she wanted to reach the top. She felt suffocated by her husband's control and she wanted to gain more power. On the surface, she appeared as a cold woman but when she let her mask slip, I could see a woman in need for love and validation, eager to prove her worth in a world commanded by men of power. I take my hat off Im Soo-Jung, whose excellent portrayal brought the character to life. Meticulous, manipulative and alluring, she commanded the screen and I couldn't take my eyes off her when she appeared.

I also found myself rooting for Heedong, the main character. While he was anything but vicious, he grew up with messed up morals due to his involvement in his uncle's dirty businesses. Throughout the whole story, we see how he grows more and more distant from the world he previously knew. He lived a dirty and low life but his ethics were not shattered altogether. Yang Se-Jong did a great job at portraying Heedong's character, his facial expressions and body language conveyed Heedong's conflicted feelings and he was really good in the dramatic scenes where he had to express Heedong's pain and anger.

And of course I cannot ignore Ryu Seung-Ryong, who played Gwan-Seok, Heedong's uncle. He was perfect as a gangster who does dirty jobs for a living and it was so amusing watching him manipulate the other characters for his own benefit. He is far from being described as a likeable character but I had a blast observing his maneuvers and how he made the rest of his crew follow his orders. He was clever but money hungry and he proved many times that he wouldn't hesitate to go to great lengths in order to get more cash - even if he had to paint his hands with blood.

Low Life was much more than a mere adventure drama. Amidst the chaos, the betrayals and the search for the treasure, the series tackles various heavy themes. There is subtle commentary regarding class and gender differences. The characters themselves come from different backgrounds. Ultimately, it's these differences that shaped them and their decisions. However, there were some traits that they had in common: greed and ambition. Greed for more money and power and ambition for a better future. Everyone looked out for themselves and the force that kept driving them was none other than money. Just like Squid Game, Low Life is another kdrama that demonstrated the great lengths people will go to in order to gain financial prosperity.

During the whole series, Gwan-Seok repeated at Heedong that money can do anything. And we see that at the end when the chairman gets released from prison. Power and money are the catalysts in society and all the characters realise that. Desperate for more, they kept getting involve in the search for pottery and their desperation drove them to heisty and even paranoid actions. Even when they had chances to save their lives, they would always return to the pottery because they believed they could be saved by the money it would bring.

But was this all worth it? That's the real question. Sure, money and good status are very beneficial and they can certainly improve your life. But when does the hunt for more cash become too much? When do the lines between survival and greed start to blur? The drama raises some interesting questions and by putting you in the characters' shoes, it makes you wonder if you would have behaved any differently.

In the end, all of that was for nothing. Think about the tower of Babel. All of these characters poured so much effort in the search of pottery. Money, equipment, human power. They bought, bribed, deceived, stole, killed. They built their own "tower" just to make it crumble and shatter because of their own ambition and greed. As the saying says, "he who grasps too much, grasps little".

I enjoyed Low Life so much more than I expected. That being said, I admit that there were some moments when my interest loosened and sometimes, the pacing became slower than I liked. But that wasn't a big issue. My main issue was the ending. Many side characters did not get a proper conclusion and the writers did not tie up all loose ends. I understand that they probably wanted to leave a possibility for a second season but there's a difference between a proper ending and a rushed one.

Overall, Low Life was one of the most chaotic kdramas I've watched so far in the best way possible. I really feel sad for its lack of popularity among international fans and I hope that more people will catch up. Granted, it's not the typical style of a kdrama but more people should give it a try.

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Good action scenes cannot make up for lackluster story and characterization

Before I'll elaborate any further on this drama, keep in mind that this is NOT a spoiler free review. Proceed with caution. Also, I want to apologize in advance for my poor English, it's not my first language so I'm sorry if I repeat myself or if my opinion is not clear. Feel free to ask any questions.

I got introduced to Kim Nam-Gil in Through The Darkness, which became one of my most favourite kdramas, while I first saw Kim Young-Kwang in Evilive (which I haven't finished but I'll watch it again). Both of them were great in their series so when I learned that they would be the main leads to a new thriller, you can imagine my excitement.

I LOVE thrillers. Give me a good and gripping plot with well-written characters and my money is yours. The premise of Trigger, albeit common and not that groundbreaking, caught my interest immediately. As someone who lives in a gun-free country (Greece), I cannot even fathom what would happen if people got handed guns like sweets. I was very curious to see how the series would explore this matter and based on what I had heard, I expected an intense action-packed thriller, with psychological and philosophical aspects.

Alas, I soon realized that I should had lowered my expectations.

First of all, the plot as a whole was A MESS. We have the main story between the main leads, Lee Do and Moon Baek and then other subplots that are connected to the whole gun flood. Which is totally logical. They needed to show different people who chose to "pull the trigger" under different circumstances. A mentally unstable student, a man charged with sexual assault, a wronged mother, a bullied kid, gangsters...But the problem is that due to the changes regarding the settings and the characters, the pacing became inconsistent. One moment, your attention would be focused on these characters and then the story would shift to that character, then another etc.

At one point, all of that felt pointless. The most unnecessary subplot was definitely the one regarding the gangsters, who found themselves tied to the organization that provided the guns. Too much screen time was wasted on them when they could have used for more efficient parts of the story or better character development. Because of the many different stories and characters, most of the mini arcs fell rather flat and the characters' emotions and struggles were explored in a superficial way.

The best subplots were the one with the mother (Oh Kyeong-Suk) who sought justice for her dead son, the bullied kid (Park Gyu-jin) who wanted to defend himself against his bullies and Lee Do's chief (Cho Hyun-Sik) who wanted to avenge his daughter who had committed suicide because of scammers. I actually cared about these people and I caught myself thinking about how emotions and difficult circumstances can influence our judgement.

The action scenes were one of the better parts of the series. The fighting sequences were intense and fun to watch, watching Lee Do and Moon Baek fighting and shooting was really entertaining and I had a blast. On episode 6 (one of the best by the way), the school shooting part had me at the edge of my seat. I was so anxious to see what would happen.

But good action scenes cannot make up for a lackluster story. Yes, it was cool seeing Lee Do soloing all of these criminals and thugs but I wanted something more. I wanted more exploration regarding people's psychology and despair which leads them to violence. I wanted to see more of the ethical aspects regarding guns and their use for self-defense and justice. At the drama, Lee Do got suspended for killing the sexual offender, even though he did it in order to defend other police officers. And yet we never saw how that affected the public's opinion. It would be a great opportunity to see the common mind being divided into two categories, the ones defending his action because he is a police officer and he had to kill a criminal and the others who would see that as an act of power. But that never happened.

Another aspect that was flat was the characterisation. The main leads were obviously the characters we spend more time with and yet even them were underutilized. And I say that as someone who overall enjoyed watching them (either as a duo or separately). Both actors did a great job at portraying them, Kim Nam-Gil conveyed Lee Do's soft yet ruthless character while Kim Young-Kwang killed it with Moon Baek. The acting saved the characters for me because the writing, on the other hand, was disappointing.

Lee Do was pretty complex. As a child, he saw his family getting killed and later, he had the chance to kill the murderer by pulling the trigger of a gun. But Cho Hyun-Sik stopped him. That event played a tool on his character and shaped his own ideology. When he served in the military as a sniper, the weight of the people he had killed haunted him and he joined the police as a detective to help the public without having to use a gun (I'm not going to comment on that). But in the drama he had to use a gun to take another life (the sex offender's) in order to save another one. His actions came in contrast to his believes but the series barely touched his inner conflict and it didn't explore his trauma that much. At the end, Moon Baek called him out for that and that was it. In addition, I don't think that his trauma was handled that great. In Through The Darkness, Nam-Gil's character had more depth and we saw how his traumatic experiences and the weight of dealing with all of these criminals got the best of him. In Trigger, we didn't get to see it a lot. His character remains complex but on a surface level mostly.

Speaking of Lee Do, I'm sorry but his plot armour became too ridiculous. I could excuse the fact that common citizens like the mentally ill student or the sex offender couldn't hit him with weapons. I could excuse him being able to take down whole groups of thugs who were armed with knives. But taking down Moon Baek's guards who held guns while recovering from his injuries? Having people shoot at him from many places without hitting him not even once? Unbelievable. And yes, this is an action series we're talking about, of course realism is not the priority here. But so many things were over the top to the point I couldn't take them seriously.

And now, Moon Daek. A wasted potential of a villain. He had a tough childhood: being raised from people involved in child trafficking, having his eye ripped off, getting sent to US only to end up at the hands of another child trafficking organization...Of course he would want to seek revenge and it's logical that he grew up to believe that violence is the key for justice and vengeance. But the way he was written was superficial.

For the majority of the series, he was either behaving like an energetic puppy (before his reveal) and then he settled at serving face and smugness. Which was fine by me, I still enjoyed him but I wanted more. We saw that he is meticulous and dangerous but his character wasn't given more depth. If anything, the way he explained his motive was ridiculous which again, makes sense, his sense of justice is kinda ridiculous in the first place but since he was supposed to mirror Lee Do, he should have been written better. After the reveal, the writing for his character felt lazy.

The ending was just all over the place. In the last two episodes everything was happening too fast and the final climax was not a satisfactory pay-off after all of this buildup. Some of the side characters were not provided a good conclusion either. Like, what happened with Gyu-jin and his bullies? Was Oh Kyeong-Suk arrested for killing the politician? The ending was wrapped up too roughly and at this point, I really hope that a second season will be made.

Even though the premise of a society where everyone can get to hold a gun is not groundbreaking, the questions that arise about this matter could be great food for thought. To what extent can people have the freedom of self-defense and how much does it require to be pushed off their limits in order to snap? The series tried to explore these themes but it did it very superficially. Instead of focusing on the action, it should have focused more on the political and psychological part. The first two episodes had this direction and the rest should have been the same. We wasted too much time on side characters, of "telling and not showing" and in the end, I don't think that the goal was achieved.

All in all, I do not regret watching Trigger. It's by no means a terrible drama and I would strongly recommend it to fans of action and thrillers. But if you expect a deeper exploration of guns violence and justice, you might be disappointed. I think that a second season is possible to happen since the organization responsible for the guns trafficking is still on-going and since we didn't actually see Moon Baek get killed. So let's hope for that because that ending was not worth it.

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A gripping gangster noir

Ever since I finished Squid Game, I've been planning to dig into Lee Jung Jae's filmography. New World was a film that I found very intriguing, with a plot that shared some similarities with The Merciless, one of my favourite Korean movies, so I went into it without a second thought.

In this movie, we have an undercover cop, Lee Ja Sung, who had been selected as a mole by Kang Hyung-Chul, the captain of National Police Agency. For a decade, Lee Ja Sung had been working with Jung Chung, the second-in-command of the crime organization "Goldmoon". Jung-Chung is very trustful of Lee Ja Sung and the two men have developed a close relationship throughout the years. After the death of the first crime boss for " Goldmoon", Jung-Chung and his rival, Lee Joong-Goo, fight for the position. Captain Kang enacts the operation "New World" in order to stop Jung Chung and Goldmoon and Lee Ja Sung, who's still working for him, finds himself be torn between his job as a police officer and his relationship with Jung Chung.

The first half was intriguing and it put me right into the world of police and crime. Even though there were some things I didn't understand at first concerning the hierarchy among the crime leaders and the operation, the more I watched, the more I understood. The film focuses to establish the politics of the gangster world while highlighting the ethical dilemma of Ja Sung.

The cinematography and production design were memorable and deserve every praise. I liked the usage of close-ups during some of the dialogues, they enhanced the characters' emotion and the tension between them. The moody colours and blue hues added to the grim atmosphere and the rain scenes contributed to the dramatic feeling, without becoming cliche.

The acting was amazing, all actors did a phenomenal job. Lee Jung Jae was excellent as Lee Ja-Sung. He encapsulated the character's inner turmoil perfectly. He literally spoke with his eyes and facial expressions and even when he didn't utter a single word, I could tell what he was thinking. Ja-Sung was exhausted due to having his loyalties constantly be divided and throughout the whole movie, it was clear that he had to choose a side. Jung Jae portrayed Ja-Sung's frustration so convincingly to the point I could put myself in his shoes. He switched from a collected and down-to-earth gangster to a desperate police officer who just wants to put an end to his mission effortlessly and his moral journey had me hooked.

Jung-min was captivating as Jung-Chung, he owned the role of a gangster boss and I even found myself rooting for him. He was carefree, boisterous, calculating and he clearly cared about Ja Sung. Even though he didn't get to have too many dramatic scenes, Jung-min absolutely delivered when it was required. From the tone of his voice to his body language, he expressed Jung Chung's fondness of Ja Sung, leaving no room for question regarding his trust for him.

This was my first time watching Choi Min-sik in any form of media and it certainly won't be my last. He was very good as Kang Hyung-Chul. His character was very morally grey and he portrayed his complexity accurately. Hyung-Chul's intentions were good but his actions were very questionable and by the end of the film, I secretly hoped that his attempt to take down Jung-Chung wouldn't succeed. Yeah, wrong move from me to not support the seemingly good guys, what can I say, I might be a gangster at heart. The thing is, Captain Kang himself acknowledged how questionable his plan was. He was aware of the fact that "New World" endangered the police officers who worked for him and he knew that he had to play dirty in order to put an end to Goldmoon. As it was stated in the film, sacrifices must be made to win the war. But to what extent?

I wish I could find the right words to properly describe the beauty of the soundtrack. Even if you're not planning to watch the movie, do yourself a favor and just go and listen to it. Soothing, moving, with melancholic undertones, the soundtrack made me immerse myself in the characters' emotions. I got lost in the sad piano compositions, trying to guess how I would act if I were in Ja-Sung's position. Would I do my duty as a servant of the law or would I protect the man whom I called brother? The music conveys the hopeless tone of the film and the moral conflict of Ja-Sung and no viewer should feel indifferent about it, no matter if they liked the movie or not.

For a film that centered around the crime world, New World didn't rely on action in order to create climactic and intense scenes. The exploration of politics, the dialogues and the interesting characters were enough to "make up" for the lack of fighting scenes one would expect from a movie like this. Yet violence still made a prominent presence. After all, the underworld is dangerous and dark. There were the usual clash scenes among the gangster groups and some more bloody sequences but overall, the creative team relied more on the psychological aspects in order to create emotions.

New World is certainly a well-made movie, one that deserves its praises. But while I really enjoyed it, some of its flaws outweighed the positive elements and as a result, I didn't forge strong feelings for the film as a whole. While the first part did a good job at introducing the characters and establishing their dynamics and the setting, I found the second half lackluster in terms of pacing and engagement. I do not want to delve into spoilers so I'll settle by saying that there were parts that didn't hold my attention and after a particular death, the third act felt slower.

I mentioned above that the film did not involve many action scenes and to be frank, judging from the few fighting sequences we got, it was for the best. They were too messy and poorly choreographed, especially the elevator scene which had me almost roll my eyes. I know that these are petty comments and obviously I did not judge the quality of the film from these few scenes but as someone who enjoys action scenes, I prefer my fight scenes to make sense and be made with more attention.

One of the most lackluster aspects and the one that left me kinda underwhelmed was the exploration of the relationship between Ja-Sung and Jung-Chung. Although the actors made it clear how close they were and the film tried to highlight it, I must say that even when I was finished with the movie, I had a slight feeling of indifference. I was aware of the emotional bonds that tied them together but at the same time, I wasn't that connected. Obviously I understood the depth of their friendship and how much trust Jung-Chung put in Ja-Sung but I really wish we had gotten more scenes between them to properly establish their bond. I think that we got to see more of Jung-Chung caring for Ja-Sung while Ja-Sung was a little bit sidelined. The post credit scene between them felt (to me) like a poor attempt to give insight into their shared past and closeness that the rest of the film robbed us from. It would have been for the best if they had more scenes together or if the creators had included more flashbacks to empathize their history.

Watching New World made me appreciate The Merciless even more in terms of how it handled the relationship between Jae-Ho and Hyun-Soo. Granted, the films were different in terms of plot. While New World centered around the orchestration of the operation and the events that led to it, The Merciless highlights the history between Jae-Ho and Hyun-Soo, from the moment they met to the end. But I think that New World could have still given more depth into Ja-Sung and Jung-Chung's friendship, especially considering that it lasted for almost a decade and played a crucial part in the operation.

With all things considered, New World was a gripping movie, one that I'm very glad for having watched. The plot might not be groundbreaking but the writing, the cinematography, the score and the acting define it as a magnetic, bold gangster drama. It's the type of movie I might find myself revisiting in the future and, who knows? Maybe a rewatch will make me appreciate it even more than I did now.

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Emotional and wholesome

I decided to watch Navillera in order to take a break from all of the thrillers I've been watching back-to-back and let me tell you that I didn't expect to love it as much as I did! I love stories about old people, found family and dreams so when I read the synopsis I knew right from the spot that this drama would be perfect for me.

If someone starts watching this series expecting to learn more about ballet, they might be left disappointed. While ballet remains one of the central forces in the series, the drama doesn't go into technical details. Ballet is only the cherry at the top of the cake. The story is much more complex and its beauty lies in the many layers that unfold as the episodes and the characters progressed.

I knew that Navillera would be emotional but I did not expect to cry in.every.single.episode. Seriously, I cannot recall a single episode that was unable to make me cry or tear up. When I cried at Lee Gyo Seok's death on Episode 1, I just knew that this drama wouldn't give me a break. And I was correct. Navillera was an emotional roller-coaster in the best and worst way possible. I would laugh at one scene and some scenes later I would bawl my eyes out until my eyes became red and my face a mess. Happiness, relief, hope, anguish, anger, fear, anxiety, sadness...These are just a few of the emotions I can name in order to show what I felt while watching Navillera. I find it really hard to properly convey in words the impact this drama had on me and if I sound too dramatic, keep in mind that my words can hardly portray half of the truth.

Deokchul's story touched my heart. Park In Hwan did a phenomenal job in this role, he put his heart and soul into his performance and he conveyed Deokchul's complexity beautifully. I understand that having a 70 years old main lead who wants to learn ballet is not the most interesting premise for some kdrama watchers but the story is much more than that. Deokchul never got the chance to follow his dreams. Having been raised according to the male standards of his times, he couldn't pursue ballet and discouraged by his father, he abandoned his dreams. Throughout his whole life, Deokchul did his best to provide for his family with, be good at his job and be a good husband and father. He never asked for more and he always put his loved ones' needs above his own. He didn't complain or shift the blame to his family and he kept his head up, even during the hard times. He was always a giver - never a taker. So could blame him when for once in his life, he decided to do something for himself?

I was so excited about Deokchul's journey in ballet. From the very first episode, I was rooting for him so hard, I felt like I was the one trying to achieve a long lost dream. The first episodes were really a headache to me, I was so angry at his family's disapproval and reactions (although as the series developed, they got good developement). They never took into consideration his own feelings, they only cared about the general public consensus and how that could affect their own image. I was so happy to see that Deokchul's will did not shatter and with the help of Chaerok, he didn't give up.

One thing that I anticipated after some hints here and there and yet still affected me deeply was Deokchul's alzheimer illness. It hit too close to home because my maternal grandmothers had developed Alzheimer and died because of that. I remember the developement of her illness, how she gradually started becoming more absent-minded or how she would forget something and we would have to remind her. Sometimes I had to correct her and she would insist that her memory was nt wrong. During the pandemic and lockdown, her situation deteriorated and once the lockdown was over and we could visit her again, it was so painful to see how far away she seemed. Even when she would sit with the family, it was as if she was in her own world, staring at the blank space or not steering a conversation. I could tell that her illness had taken a tool on everyone, especially my mom. It was so devastating to see her cling to the short moments when my grandma could communicate without difficulty. I too lived for them. I stayed by her side, encouraging her to tell me stories of her past (stories I had heard about) or telling me about her daily activities as I filled her in on my own life. As her illness got worse and worse, I couldn't look at her without tearing up and without reminscing about our happier memories. Watching Deokchul deal with Alzheimer made me get deja vu. My eyes would turn into waterfalls and memories would be pulled up. Deokchul reminded me so much of my grandma. When he felt guilty about forgetting things, it was as if i could see her feeling ashamed of forgetting something or even us. The scenes when his family discovered about his illness wrecked me, I couldn't stop crying and be reminded of my own family who had to get used to our new reality and accept that grandma couldn't be cured, so we would have to do our best and take care of her.

And now, let's talk about Chaerok. Honestly, I liked him much more than I anticipated. Contrary to other reactions I've seen, I didn't get that annoyed by his reluctance to accept Deokchul as his student and manager. Chaerok, like Deokchul, was a pretty complex character who went through a lot. He had lost his mother, his father had been released from jail, his relationship with ballet, the one thing that kept him going, degenerated, he got injured...It's only logical that his behavior wouldn't be the best, especially towards Deokchul whom he viewed as an obstacle and as someone who would monitor his life. Chaerok showed many signs of depression at the beginning. He lived a monotonous life, he barely took care of his health and he lived for one thing: ballet. Chaerok wore the facade of a cold person, who was determined to become a professional ballet dancer. However, that would never be possible in his current state because his mental and physical issues would get the best of him. He had the talent but he was unable to soar - until Deokchul appeared on the picture.

Deokchul and Chaerok's relationship was always the heart of the series. I just adored their chemistry and seeing their relationship unfold really warmed my heart! It was so nice to see how both of them helped each other. Deokchul managed to break Chaerok's walls and shower him with the love and care he had been robbed off throughout his early life while Chaerok helped Deokchul gain confidence and encouraged him to stand up for his choice to learn ballet at the age of 70. They shared so many moments together. Some of them made me laugh (especially the ones when Deokchul would help Chaerok against his wish), some of them made me proud and some of them made me cry. The scene where he danced under the snow was so touching and when he and Deokchul finally got the chance to perform together I couldn't hold back my tears. These are two of the most profound moments in this drama and two scenes that will accompany me for a long time.

The rest of the characters were equally well-written and complex and I cannot resist sharing my thoughts about them. Characterization in general was one of the defining aspects in the series. I was so interested in each character's personal journey and separate growth. All of them, with one way or another, connected with Deokchul and Chaerok and by the end of the series, their conclusions were satisfying.

Choi Hae Nam: Deokchul's wife. I got so angry at her when she disapproved of Deokchul's interest in ballet and when she teared off his ballet outfit but she quickly became one of my most favourite characters. She too had been robbed off so much in order to bring up her children and throughout the series she was shown to care so much about her family. Although she tended to express her love in a tough way at times, it was evident that she was a loving wife, mother and grandma. She was there to comfort her family and she worried so much about their future. I adore how she and Deokchul adopted Chaerok and treated him like a grandson!

Shim Seong Suk: Deokchul's daughter. Her relationship with her husband was fun and it worked as a comedic relief at times. I felt so sad for her when she struggled with the fact that she couldn't birth a child but thankfully, her family was supportive of her. I loved how she was shown to be close with her mother and how supportive she was of her husband's political campaign.

Shim Seong San: Deokchul's eldest son. No one can deny that he is one of the least likeable characters. He appeared to be ignorant, he wanted to have the upper hand in his family, he cared more about his image without taking into consideration each others' feelings...And yet, the more we got to see of him, the more I sympathised with him. He was the eldest son of a poor family. He too, like Deokchul, grew up with a dream: to become a baseball player. But as the eldest, he was aware of his responsibilities and the financial difficulties his family faced. He had to sacrifice his dream in order to get a proper job and escape poverty. I know that his upbringing should not excuse his toxic behavior but that doesn't erase the fact that he was still a person who wanted the best for his family. He just didn't know how to do it properly. I found it realistic how he seemed to be the most conservative person in the family and the one who was highly influenced by South Korea's patriarchal standards and I like how his change was not sudden but was slowly build up. The scene when Deokchul brought him the baseball glove made me cry so much. It was a scene that highlighted their relationship and this is when Seong San fully realized how much Deokchul cared for him. He always took his family's love and help for granted and by the end, he became a better person, one who could give and not just take.

Shim Seong Gwan: Deokchul's youngest son. I was so invested in his story: a doctor who wants to resign after feeling guilty for the death of his patients and who wants to make a documentary for his patients. Even though he seemed nonchalant, he was a very caring person. Unlike his siblings, he was the only one who supported Deokchul's interest in ballet from the start because he knew what it was like to do something that you actually liked. His decision to make a documentary of his father instead of his patients moved me so much, it was clear how close he was to him and how much the news of his disease affected him. Jo Bok Rae did a great job portraying the pain of a child who tries to cope with the news that their father has Alzheimer. I also liked how close he was with his niece, he was the father figure she needed.

Eun Ho: Deokchul's granddaughter. She was very sweet and I found her really relatable. She craved her parents approval and support and instead of doing what she wanted to, she wanted to live according to the expectations that were put on her. When she finally snapped and poured her feelings to her father, I felt so sorry for her, she had been bottling up her emotions for so long and she finally had the courage to express them. Her relationship with Deokchul was so warm and tender, they cared so much for each one and every time they were together, my heart just melted.

Ho beom: Chaerok's former friend and teammate. I personally loved this character, he was more than just a bully and he had so many layers. It was painful to see how much he was affected his Chaerok's father's abuse and even though he wasn't justified to be angry at Chaerok, he was so sympathetic and he had every right to feel wronged. I was happy with how the writers handled this character and gave his a proper redemption instead of making him a cliche bully. And I was happier to see that Deokchul played a fundamental role in his change of heart.

Another element that I loved was the soundtrack. I find myself listening to some of the songs very often. It was soothing, emotional, powerful and yet so simple. It matched with the story and the characters. There were times when I just wanted to lay back, close my mind and let the music play. The makers did an excellent job utilizing the songs and make them fit in the proper scenes.

The drama tackles various themes: chasing your dreams, expectations from your family and yourself, family relationships, abuse, personal growth...And yet I think that each theme was handled with care and attention. I was afraid that the story would become too overpacked for my own liking with all of these characters, arcs and subplots taking place simultaneously but that wasn't the case. The series has so many important lessons and everyone can learn a thing or too by watching it. It shows the importance of not giving up and do what makes you the happiest. Deokchul could never become a proper dancer. That would be impossible. But he still wanted to try. He wanted to learn ballet and dance for just one time. Chaerok, on the other hand, had to postpone his participation in the competition due to his injury but he didn't quit. Thanks to Deokchul, he became more open and more cheerful. He went out of his shell and found beauy not only in ballet but life in general.

If I had to pinpoint a drawback, that would be the subplot with Chaerok's father. Aside from the fact that I found his scenes quite boring, I'm sorry but I do not agree with the way this subplot was handled. He was abusive towards his athletes and he made Chaerok feel pressured. We should have seen more of Chaerok's conflicted emotions about him. I also felt iffy with his confrontation with Ho Beom. Like, what do you mean you spanked your athlete because you didn't want him to ruin his leg due to his injury and therefore, you wanted to motivate him to become better? Thankfully not much time was wasted on that part of the story, I understand that it was important for Chaerok's personal development but I didn't like how the abuse was handled as something insignificant and something that could be ignored just because Chaerok's father apologized. Additionally, there were times when the pacing became a little bit incosistent but overall, nothing too bad.

Navillera is an ode on life. We might not live in a utopia where we can do whatever we want, we should at least try to do the things we love the most. We should try to spend our time with people who care about us. We should learn to value ourselves and not try to please others. And we should never stop dreaming and always try to soar.

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One of the funniest movies I've watched

I love comedies. Comedies is the genre I grew up with. In my country (Greece) we have many popular comedy series so I grew up watching them. As I grew older, I watched more movies and series and I can confidently say that Extreme Job is one of the funniest comedies I've watched so far.

The plot is not groundbreaking but it was so entertaining. A bunch of incompetent detectives who want to catch a criminal and prove their worth? Sign me in! I always find myself enjoying these type of stories of people who are desperate to prove their worth so I was obviously rooting for the team, no matter how many mistakes they would make. I went into this film pretty blindly so imagine my surprise when I saw that they bought a chicken restaurant in order to keep track on the criminal, Lee Moo bae.

The first half was mostly focused on the squad's attempts to open the restaurant and keep their cover as chicken restaurant owners. There were so many funny scenes and I admit that watching them cook these chickens made me salivate and crave some. They did a great job at making them look so delicious. The second half focused more on the criminals and how the squad tried to arrest them and it was equally exciting and funny to watch. Although the pacing became a little bit slower in the middle, the movie never lost my attention and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

As someone who is immersed in the world of kdramas, I must say that sometimes, korean jokes do not land, at least to me. I might chuckle a little but usually, I do not find myself enjoying them that much. However, that wasn't the case with Extreme Job. I laughed so hard while watching this movie to the point my abs got hurt. If you do not feel like doing cardio, this is a great exercise. Of course there were some bits that weren't as funny as other but overal the humor was pretty clever and the jokes were well-thought. The actors did a great job elevating the comedic parts. This is a big pet peeve of mine when it comes to comedies: many actors came across as awkward because their actions and the way they act does not seem natural and convincing. In Extreme Job, every actor did a great job with their roles. Each one of the squad members had their distinquish traits and running gags and the actors owned them. On top of that, their chemistry was excellent and the timing of the humor was to-the-point.

I was familiar with Ryu Seung-Ryong from Low Life, Lee Honey from Aema, Jin Sun-Kyu from Through The Darkness and Aema and Shin Ha-Kyun from Beyond Evil and Evilive. I admit that the actors I looked forward to see the most were Shin Ha-Kyun, whom I loved in Beyond Evil and Sun-Kyu who delivered some excellent performancies in Through the Darkness and Aema, in which he portrayed two very different characters. But all actors did an excellent job as I already mentioned. Seung-Ryong matched perfectly with the tired yet fierce of Chief Go, Lee Honey was captivating yet hilarious as Detective Jang, Lee Dong-Hwi as Detective Young-Ho made me pity him so much for being the voice of reason and Gong-Myung was charming and yet so funny playing the rookie detective Jae-Hoon.

And as for Ha-Kyun, oh my God, I have no words. Aside from the fact I was always at risk of having a cardiac arrest because of his styling and aura, he was amazing as the villain. it's my first time watching him in this type of role and if any casting directors are reading this review by any chance, I beg you, cast him in more roles where he's unapologetically evil! He was charming yet dangerous, funny yet mischievous. He carried the character with confidence and charm and despite his limited screen time, he stole the show.

I really enjoyed the characterisation in this movie. I connected with the team very quickly and at times, I wished I could be part of their little family - for this is what they were. I appreciate that the writers showed their bond through various scenes, although they would bicker and disagree with each other about the methods they should use in order to catch Moo Bae, they clearly cared about each other and did their best to work as a whole. I especially adored how exasperated Chief Go was while he was trying to guide the members, he gave off the vibes of a tired dad (I mean, he was already a dad of a teenage girl but he had to watch over four overgrown children). The chemistry between Detective Jang and Detective Ma was also really funny, their love-hate dynamic did not feel forced at all and despite them fighting or arguing, they clearly matched each other freak, as was shown in some occasions.

Aside from the good humor, the movie also had great action scenes. The fight choreographies were thrilling to watch (Twelve, take some notes how to direct proper fight scenes), they weren't many of them at the first half but the final climax was more than a satisfying pay-off. I keep rewatching them, I can't get tired of them. I also appreciate that they made made the fighting sequences believable by having the main characters getting injured instead of being these almighty superheroes who cannot receive a single scratch.

The soundrack matched perfectly with the comedic yet intense tone of the film. It had many humorous tones yet it added more tension when the film required it. A nice detail i noticed was the parts that resembled chicken noises, kudos to the people involved!

My only complaint (which still doesn't undermine my experience) is that I would have liked it if the writers had explored more the feelings of the team regarding their treatment from their supperiors. Once they got the taste of money and success after the restaurant flourished, they seemed to finally feel content with being good at something and receiving appreciation for that. We especially saw that with the Chief who was finally able to provide for his family. I think the writers could have utilised this aspect some more, it would be a good opportunity to add more depth in the characters and the story. There was an attempt to create a more serious tone but we quickly went back to the comedy.

Nevertheless, I had such a great time watching Extreme Job, it's one of the films I'll go back to when I'm in need of a good laugh. I strongly recommend it to those who seek something light-hearted to watch and if you love comedies, you might love this one too!

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A devastating and beautiful anti-war film about friendship

Ever since I watched Squid Game and Beyond Evil, I've become a big fan of Lee Byung-Hun and Shin Hakyun respectively and I've been digging up their filmographies. Imagine my surprise when I saw that not only they played in the same movie but Song Kang-Ho, another actor whom I came to respect after Parasite, was one of the main leads too. And guess what, the film was directed by none other than Park Chan-Wook!

Just to clarify some things: apart from my general knowledge of the conflict between North and South Korea, I am not very educated on this subject. If any parts of my review are worded controversially or do not reflect reality, please inform me.

I went into this movie pretty blindy. The only thing I knew from the blurb was that it was about an on-going investigation about the death of two North Korean soldiers by a South Korean. I initially expected to watch a political crime thriller which would play with my mind, making me guess whether Lee Soo-Hyeok had done the murder or not. But I got much more than that. For this movie was not a simple a political crime thriller. It was about a forbidden friendship and how war ruined it.

What initially started as a mystery thriller, quickly changed into a completely different route. The moment the story focused on the flashbacks, my attention shifted immediately. I applaud this choice for the direction of the film. Jumping from the present to the past and then going back to the present not only made me connect with the characters even more but added more salt to the wound once the final conflict took place.

Four soldiers, two nations. Kyeong-Pil and Woo-Jin from North Korea, Soo-Hyeok and Sung-Shik from South Korea. Four men divided by war. Four men divided by borders, politics or something more simple, like a line. And yet, among these soldiers, a friendship managed to bloom. Despite their differences, they helped each other, laughed with each other, joked with each other - and even saved each other. The middle section of the movie was devoted to them and their bond and I am being very serious when I say that they could have added three more hours about their interactions and meet-ups and I still would want more.

When the story went back in time and I saw how Kyeong-Pil and Woo-Jin had saved the life of Soo-Hyeok, I felt numb because I realised that what I was going to witness would be the downfall of a doomed friendship. It was so bittersweet for me to watch the friendship among these four men unfold before my eyes. Distrust and pity made way for respect, respect made way for trust and trust made way for fondness. It was so bizarre to watch these adults who had been training to kill and serve their country act like younglings and make immature jokes with people whom they considered as enemies until very recently. I laughed and on the inside I cried. At one point, I was delusional enough to hope that the outcome would be different. But alas, that was never the case.

This was the first Park Chan-Wook movie I watched and it was a grand introduction to his filmography. The cinematography and direction of the movie elevated the atmosphere and highlighted the bond between the four men. One of the most painful things in the movie was the amount of parallels and foreshadowings. Soo-Hyeok's quote about bravery that he learned from Kyeong-Pil. Woojin's drawings. Kyeong-Pil's last whistle. Park Chan-Wook pulled at my heartstrings and I was unable to do anything else besides watching the beauty and tragedy unfold before my eyes.

If I had to think of any "faults", I would say that the scenes with the investigation team were my least favourites. They didn't add much and they toned down the emotional atmosphere. There was an important historical piece of information that added more context and depth into the conflict between South and North Korea but it was delivered with poor English and the actor did not put the required amount of emotions in his performance to highlight how significant this information was. Thankfully, the movie didn't have many scenes with the investigation team so my overall experience was not affected.

The last shot is by far one of the most heartbreaking moments I've ever witnessed in a movie. Throughout the last half hour, I had been crying my eyes out but the last shot was my final straw for I became a mess. The ending was powerful, emotional and with it arose a big " what if".

Joint Security Area is a desperate plea for unity between North and South Korea. An emotional anti-war film that everyone should watch. A painful reminder that whole borders and politics can seperate us, people can still find form close bonds with each other, defying those differences. Beauty mingled with tragedy and the result was this palpable political thriller that will continue to haunt me for a very long time. I kid you not when I say that I am a different person after watching this movie. I can't stop thinking about it and every time I bring back in my mind the friendship between the characters, tears gather in my eyes.

"What's important in battle isn't speed. It's carrying yourself with composure and bravery. That's everything"

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Underwhelming thriller mostly saved by Siwan's acting

Very interesting thriller with an interesting, albeit common prose. In our times, when access to someone else's information can be achieved easily, it's terrifying to imagine what would happen if one monitored my whole life through my phone.

The first half was very interesting, I was very curious to learn about the stalker's identity and purpose and it was so scary to watch him monitoring Na-mi's steps. But after the first half, the movie became kinda boring to me. Although I still wanted to see how he would be caught and how Na-mi would solve her problem, the plot became predictable and lost its spark. Some of the characters' actions were so silly, it was clear that their purpose was to pace the way for the story's development but couldn't it been done more conveniently? The third act wasn't that dramatic and the ending was kinda anticlimactic.

There were many themes that could have been explored more but the movie didn't delve into them. I expected more commentary regarding the loss of human connections and the way people rely on their phones. It was brought up sometimes in a subtle way but it wasn't enough to highlight this message, which the movie intended to. Yes, it's clear how dangerous online activity can be but I wanted something more. Instead of telling and not showing, it was little telling and little showing.

Si-Wan's performance was the best, he was absolutely captivating as Oh Jun-yeong. His body language, the tone of his voice, his gaze, his demeanor. He knew how to embody his character and he made me feel sick yet unable to take my eyes off my screen when he appeared. It was a pity that the movie didn't do more with his character. I know that some villains do bad actions for the sake of it and that I shouldn't expect every villain to have a sob story but I still wanted to see more of him. He felt one-dimensional which is a pity because there were many layers to explore.

The rest of the characters were decent but not spectacular. Na-mi was good, I really liked Chun Woo-Hee's performance, but oh God, some of her decisions just pissed me off so bad. For example, how could she seriously trust a guy she met a few times over her best friend whom she has known for years!?

All in all, Unlocked was a gripping yet lackluster thriller. It hold my attention for the most part but it's not the best out there. I do not regret watching it and if you're new to korean cinema, it could be a decent option.

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Started of strong but fell flat

I am hooked by korean thrillers ever since I watched Beyond Evil and one day, I came across Vigilante. Since I am a huge fan of stories that explore the matter of justice vs self-appointed law enforce, I decided to watch it, especially since I had seen some people calling it underrated.

While I overall enjoyed the series, I think that there was room for more developement. I am aware of the fact that it's based on a webtoon and since I haven't read it, I will assume that it was overal a faithful adaptation.

The plot was interesting, I liked the exploration of corruption, abuse of power and the fight for justice. It's just that even though it was quite short, it dragged, especially towards the end. The first episodes were the best imo and I think the series should have focused more in the moral battle of law vs taking the matters in your own hands. I would have loved to see more psychological battles between the characters, especially between Jiyong and Heon. The first episodes focused more on the psychological and ethical aspects while the rest focused more on the action. Which was not bad but it didn't allow the series to go more into depth about its themes. Plus, the fights in the last episodes were kinda funny, the plot armor was going crazy for the main characters. So many thugs and no one could beat them?

The characters were interesting but I believe that some of them could have been explored more. Jiyong was definitely the most fleshed out character and I would have loved to see more of his battle between bad vs evil. Jo heon was fun and cool and I liked his dialogues with Jiyong. However, I felt like I desired more once I finished the series, yes, we got to see him reconsider his own believes which was good but I think he came across as a little bit one dimensional at times and the series relied a lot on the gimmick about his size and power. Still a very cool character though. As for the rest, I really liked Choi Mi Ryeo, she was such a badass and I found her to be quite complex in terms of actions and believes. Gang-ok was actually quite fun, he was such a fanboy for Vigilante and his obsesion with Jiyong was just so hilarious, one sided toxic yaoi at its finest.

The acting was really good, especially Nam Joo-hyuk's and the ending, albeit frustating, was pretty much realistic. Overall, I liked the series, it's just that I think it had potential to become something more. As I mentioned above, if it followed the plot of the webtoon, I will understand the lack of exploration on some of the themes but they could have done something more to fully flesh them out. I also believe but for a series that tackled many interesting topics, it should have been longer, say 10+ episodes.

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Underrated and gripping

I watched Black Out in March and yet I can't stop thinking about it. It was my third thriller after Beyond Evil and Strangers from Hell and I believe that it's painfully underrated.

Black Out is based on the German novel "Snow White Must Die". I haven't read the novel therefore I don't know how accurate the series is. But that's irrelevant to me because the drama had me hooked from the very first episode.

Black Out is the type of slow-paced thriller I enjoy. It took it's time to introduce the audience to the story and the characters. When you thought you knew everything about them, the series would hit you with some revelations that would shatter what you knew until then. I was able to predict some of the plot twists but in some cases, I couldn't predict what would follow next. It was a nail-bitting experience, especially towards the climax.

The main character, Jeongwoo, won my heart. Byun Yo-han did a fantastic job at portraying him and in my humble opinion, his performance could have been nominated for some awards. At first, the series really made me flirt with the idea that he really was the culprit but I quickly abandoned my theory because Jeongwoo was far too kind of a person to do that. He is one of the most tragic characters I've seen in a kdrama series, he was basically abandoned by everyone and seeing him being mistreated really made my blood boil from anger (although I could excuse people's prejudice and fears).

The relationship between Jeongwoo and Sangcheol was one of the highlights for me. Definitely one of my most favourite bromances. They didn't get along due to Sangcheol's hatred towards Jeongwoo because he thought him as the culprit and yet their chemistry blossomed so much. Their interactions were so soft and reassuring and I loved every single scene between them.

Sangcheol himself was a very interesting character and Ko Jun did a fantastic job to bring him to life. He was grumpy, clever, sarcastic and yet he always made sure to do his job right and help Jeongwoo.

The rest of the casting did an equally magnificent job, everyone played so well. The series is full of great deliveries, there were moments which made me tear up or made me want to strangle some of the characters. Trust me when I tell you that this drama might frustrate you when it comes to some of the characters, I couldn't believe how some people could do the things they did to Jeongwoo and his family.

The relationships between the characters were well-explored and as the story went on, everything made sense and how some parts connected with each other. If I could point out a complaint of mine is the amount of times Jeongwoo and Sangcheol's plans were jeopardized and that sometimes, the plot dragged (but not to the point it made me want to drop out).

If you haven't watched the series, please give it a chance. I don't want to write more but I really hope I expressed my opinion as clear as I could.

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An underrated mystery series with a dynamic duo

I decided to give Nine Puzzles a try because I was intrigued by the premise. A woman who was the suspect of her uncle's murder wants to solve the case while the detective who suspects her starts working with her. Welcome back Beyond Evil, Black Out and Justice in the Dark. After watching Nine Puzzles, it's safe to say that it is very underrated and deserves more recognition.

The drama made me hooked from the get-go. Ena's uncle's murder had taken place under strange circumstances and from the very first episode, I started making a list of the potential suspects. With every episode, the story began to unfold more and more and soon it was made clear that this case was not that simple. Every episode left me with questions that required answers and I was so excited to see what would happen next. I must also give credit to the usage of flashbacks. Instead of relying on telling and now showing, the drama utilized the flashbacks in a clever way and I never felt like they were disturbing the pacing or the actual story.

The pacing of the series was ideal and pretty much consistent. I wouldn't describe it as very slow, nor very fast - more like something in the middle. Most episodes took their time to build the mystery and the prosecution behind the investigations while some others had more fast-paced sequences and moments that flew by pretty quickly. I rarely felt my attention drifting away, my eyes were glued on the screen while trying to put the puzzle pieces (metaphorically and literally) together.

One of my favourite aspects in crime series in showing what is happening behind-the-scenes of a crime investigation. I enjoyed observing the work of the police and Ena and it really helped that the police officers were competent and not just dumsels in distress. Every case required different ways to be solved and each case contributed to the resolution of the whole mystery behind the nine puzzles.

I can't find enough words to express how much I loved the soundrack. The intro gave me chills every time and I loved how they incorporated classical pieces in some scenes. It was as if I was watching a classic crime series and gave a nice old-fashioned vibe, especially during Ena's scenes.

The main leads were by far my most favourite characters. I adored Yoon Ena from the very first episode and she has become one of my most favourite characters already. I understand those who complained about her behavior but I personally never found her annoying. She clearly showed signs of regression which is very common among people who experienced some sort of trauma at a young age, therefore her childish demeanor was understandable. Personally, I tend to become attached to quirky characters quite easily so it's no wonder I'd love someone like Ena. Kim Da Mi did a great job portraying her, her body language, her expressions, she captured Ena's outgoing character perfectly while giving her depth when it was required. I had a blast watching her helping the police to solve the murders and prove them wrong when they would doubt her. She always had the last word and I applaud her for that. Plus, her nails and outfits made her even more iconic.

Ena was much more than just a quirky profiler. On the outside, she appeared care-free, absent-minded, air-headed but that couldn't be further from the truth. It was highlighted quite often in the drama how much guilt she carried for her uncle's death and his murder continued to haunt her even after all of these years. Since she didn't have the chance to live a normal childhood due to the loss of her parents at a young age and the death of her uncle, she wasn't the best at socializing with other people. She treated her colleagues with sweets, presents etc but she still tried to figure out how to form proper human connections. I really liked how hesitant she was to comfort Han Saem after the death of Yang Jung-ho and yet she still did her best. These small glimpses of her behavior showed that deep down, she was a very troubled person who still tried to deal with the loss of her uncle and (later) the revelation about his potential crimes.

Han Saem was also a character whom I looked forward to see. Son Sukku was great in this role, he nailed Han Saem's grumpy character. I liked that even though he wasn't able to tone down his cop persona and his personal "instinct", he was still willing to listen to Ena, despite his initial reaction towards her. His character was handled really well and him and Ena worked perfectly as a duo. Watching them getting closer and help each other was so refreshing, the scenes in his home had a calm and domestic vibe, both of them could let their guard down and the other's presence gave them comfort. When Ena admitted to her therapist that she was able to get some sleep at Hansaem's home because she felt safe, my heart almost melted. Their chemistry (whether you want to interpret it platonically or not doesn't matter) was really good and I'm glad we didn't spend a big amount of episodes with them trying to gain each other's trust.

Regarding their characters, I like how they complimented each other, despite their differences. Ena is more outgoing and she is close to her team while treating police officers with coffees, hats etc. Hansaem is more professional and closeted but as he spend more time with Ena, he started to warm up more to her and other people. Hansaem is a fan of classic crime novels written by Agatha Cristie and Edgar Alan Poe while Ena didn't view them with much respect and she didn't rely on them to explain the cases like Hansaem. Their viewpoints and characters were different but they were willing to listen to each other, especially Hansaem who stopped having prejudices against Ena.

The rest of the characters were equally engaging and intriguing. I liked how the drama gave one hint or two about who could be the real culprit and I admit that my list of suspects didn't seem to be narrowed down that quickly. I wish I was more aware of the amount of cameos by popular actors in Nine Puzzles because based on the reactions I've seen, many avid kdrama watchers were surprised to see so many veterans make an appearance on the series. Although I must admit I didn't expect to see Park Mi-hyun (Squid Game, Black Out) and Jeong Man-Sik (Through The Darkness), these are two actors whom I was familiar with yet didn't expect to see in this drama.

Another character who caught my interest was Ena's therapist, Lee Seung-Joo. I know Park Gyu-young from Squid Game and I knew beforehand that she was an actress in this series too, alongside Roh Jae-won. Her character was suspicious to me but the reveal of her being the serial killer was still so interesting to see. I was genuinely impressed by Park Gyu-Young's acting. Going from a calm and professional therapist to a wronged woman who sought revenge in the amount of a few episodes seemed so natural thanks to her performance. Seung-Joo was not just a sadistic killer. She didn't kill for her own pleasure. She killed because she wanted justice for her mother's death and the corruption that was done by her "victims". She didn't want to continue living a normal life once she learned the truth and even though she knew that she could have avoided this path, she went on to kill.

Even though the mystery aspect is the core of the series, Nine Puzzles tackled other topics regarding trust, human connections, trauma and corruption. Learning about the real events that occurred behind One City's development and watching the victims work together in order to demolish Shindonga market made my blood boil from anger. All of these people were willing to go to great lengths just to increase their power, without feeling any remorse. Taking that into consideration really made me question Seung-Joo's actions and motives.

The drama put great emphasis on the importance of trust between people. Ena constantly asked Hansaem to trust her. She was a person who didn't seem to trust that easily and yet once she learned the truth, her world crumbled because she regarded Seung-Joo as someone who was close to her. Hansaem's trust in his chief and the rest of the members of the police was also questioned multiple times and of course we see how he learned to trust Ena.

That being said, as much as I liked this drama and as much as I loved the characters, there are some parts that prevented me from connecting more with it. As others have pointed out, it would have been nice to see how each murder took place. Yes, someone could argue that through Ena's reimaginations of the crimes we can get a sense of how the murder happened but I still wanted to see it from the killer's point of view. What were her thoughts? How did she escape each time without leaving a single trace? How was she able to constantly monitor Ena's steps? And as of Seung-Joo, couldn't a 7 years old remember the name of her mother or the name of her restaurant in order to tell it to the police? How did she end up on the orphanage and why didn't her mother look for her? I think that the story has some plot-holes here and there and although they do not ruin the series, the writers could have thought more to avoid them.

I also think that the structure of the episodes became too formulaic and predictable. A murder occurred, puzzle gets sent, Ena put the pieces together, case solved for now, moving on. While the murders themselves were different, the way they were presented was kinda monotonous. Thankfully that quickly changed but I still think the structure could have been a little bit better for some episodes.

All in all, I'm so happy for watching Nine Puzzles! I genuinely did not expect to like it as much as I did! I'll make sure to check out other projects with Kim Da Mi and Son Sokku. I would definitely recommend this one for crime enjoyers. It's not groundbreaking but it was pleasant to watch!

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An underrated masterpiece

The word "masterpiece" can be thrown around a lot when it comes to kdramas. But Through The Darkness is a series that deserves this title because its genuinely one of the most phenomenal series I've watched so far.

Ever since I was a child (say 11-12 years old), I have been fascinated by the psychology of criminals. I have been reading and watching psychological thrillers for years and each time, I feel more and more eager to crack the personality and motives of these people. Why did they commit these crimes? What was their life like? What choices or circumstances led them to this? Why did they choose these people as their victims? These are some of the questions I ask myself.

As the years went by, I started doing more research to actual real cases. I have read cases where the rapists were rape victims or how killers imitated the abuse they experienced when they were younger. Learning more about the psychology of these people made me even more interested in the major I chose to study (psychology). This was my first year as a psychology student and I couldn't have chosen a better kdrama to watch.

When I stepped upon Through The Darkness, I was immediately pulled by its premise. I like watching series or movies based on real events and the plot was already very eye-catching: set during the early days of implementation of criminal behavior analysis in the South Korean law enforcement, the series is about a very first criminal profiler who struggles to determine the behavioural patterns of serial killers while trying to prove to society that criminal behavior analysis is the future of criminal investigation. Count me in!

From the very first episode, I was in awe by the cinematography and directing. The series has a bold and serious style. The color palette could be described as bleak and yet there are moments when you can feel hope and certainty. The camera work is exceptional and the locations of the crime scenes, the police station and other places were chosen very carefully. There wasn't a single moment when I felt that the production was "sloppy", everything was so professionally done and it's clear how much effort was put to bring the right emotions and create the perfect atmospheric setting. I especially liked the way the scenes with the criminals and their interrogations were filmed, I was always at the edge of my seat and I could feel chills throughout my spine.

The acting was top-notch. Not a single actor felt bad and there wasn't a single character who brought down the story. I especially liked Kim Nam-gil's performance as Song Ha-young, oh my God, the way he conveyed his emotions was so captivating, I feel like I wanna cry just by talking about it. Ha-Young has earned a spot in the pantheon of my most favourite kdrama characters. What can I say, characters who appear as cold and yet are so tender on the inside always get me. Ha-Young was just so complex and oh so beautifully written. He was always determined to solve a case and study the culprit. And yet he always, ALWAYS thought about the people left behind: the victims' relatives. There were moments when Nam-Gil's performance brought me to tears. As the series went on, we see how Ha-Young's job got the best of him. And how couldn't it? Interrogating all of these criminals, listening to their stories and excuses, seeing that they feel no remorse about their crimes made ME feel exhausted and angry. I can hardly imagine how difficult this must be for real profilers. And his relationship with his mom was so tender and moving! We didn't get many scenes between them but even the few we got showed how much they cared for each other and they revealed a more domestic side of Na-Young.

Jin Seon-kyu also delivered an equally great performance as Gook Young-soo, the leader of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team and Ha-Young's closest friend. Compared to Ha-Young, Young-soo was much more extroverted (I'll always fall for the extroverted-introverted duo propaganda), outspoken and bold and yet despite their differences, they worked perfectly together as a team. Their bromance was one of the best dynamics in the drama. Young-soo's concern about Ha-Young's well-being was so sweet and it was so nice to see that he was the only one who could crack his walls. Their chemistry was phenomenal, it was as if they fit together like puzzle pieces and they complimented each other with their different personalities and methods.

Another character whom I came to liked a lot was Yoon Tae-goo, portrayed by Kim So-jin. I was already familiar with Kim So-jin after having watched "Vigilante" and let me tell you that after Through The Darkness I'll make sure to check the rest of her filmography because she knows how to portray a strong woman. It was very interesting to see a woman in a powerful position at the police and I liked how the series subtly tackled the sexism and misogyny in this field, without reducing Tae-goo's character to just this aspect. Tae-goo was an equally complex character. I found her initial distrust towards the Criminal Behavior Analysis team very believable and her short conflict with Ha-Young didn't bother me at all. I love how her development was handled and how she warmed up to the team. I also liked that she always stood her ground and contributed to the investigations and arrest of the criminals instead of remaining at the background.

The rest of the characters were, as I already mentioned, engaging. I especially liked the dynamic between Ha-Young, Young-soo and the rest of the police officers at their unit. Their dynamic with Jung Woo-joo, the young member of their team felt like the one of a found family, my heart melted when these three expressed their concerns and care about each other. And I really liked the more casual scenes between the team and the heads of the police's units. Of course there were moments when the series addressed the corruption of power in the field but it also portrayed the relationship between the characters in a positive tone, instead of falling into stereotypes of the big mean bosses or corrupted leaders. As for the criminals, each one of them was appealing and thrilling to observe. Kudos to all actors who portrayed them because they managed to make my blood boil in anger and freeze in fear.

When it came to the analysis of the criminals' behavior, the drama never attempted to make the audience sympathize with them. Instead of giving a sob story, it provided all the information we needed to know in order to understand their motives and to understand what led them to act like they did. I've always been sceptical about this matter: to what extent can we excuse or at least attempt to explain someone's crimes? Let's say that someone had been raped at a young age and in the future they commit the same crime. How can we approach this? Will it make me a bad person to try and understand the rapist's feelings and trauma?

Through TheDarkness shows that while we must analyse criminals' psychology, we shouldn't lose our focus and paint them in a positive light. Such action would be utterly disrespectful to their victims. We cannot excuse their actions nor accept that they were not at fault. There are many people who were brought up under difficult circumstances. People who have endured mistreatment, trauma and abuse. And yet not everyone becomes a criminal. While it's fundamental to analyze the motives behind a crime and the events that led to it, we shouldn't use it as an excuse but as an explanation and a way to prevent future similar actions.

I loved the interrogation scenes between the Criminal Behavior Analysis team and the criminals. Each one was different and gripping. But the aspect that made me love the series even more was something else - it was how it depicted the grief of the victims' family. This is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to crimes media. Why ignore the reaction of the people who were close to the victims? What about their family? Friends? What will their life be like from now on? How can one move on after being deprived of a loved one? Through The Darkness handled this with care. There was even a while episode that addressed this matter: why do media choose to give so much exposure to the criminals themselves while overlooking the people that were left behind? I bawled my eyes out in many episodes and if you want to watch the drama, have tissues with you.

Through the Darkness might not be that famous but from now on, it holds a special place in my heart. I am so thankful for watching it and I strongly recommend it to those who are in need for a good thriller.

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Masterpiece. Absolutely masterpiece. A great psychological thriller with so much drama and important lessons. I laughed, cried, screamed and I was constantly on guard. Although I managed to guess some of the plot twists, the series still had me questioning some of the questions that would arise and until the very end, I was so excited to discover the truth and witness the downfall of the killer.

The characterisation is one of the best aspects and ultimately, the one that sold the series for me. I became attached to many people of Manyang (Jaeyi, Namsabae, Jiwa and Park Jeongje own my heart) but the ones whom I loved the most were Dongsik and Joowon. What more can I say about them? Their dynamic was one of the main reasons why (if not THE reason why) I loved this series. They didn't start in the best terms and yet as the story went on, they started to respect each other more and care about the other. Joowon's development was so well-written and I loved seeing him bickering with Dongsik. AND THEIR CHEMISTRY WAS SO STRONG, OH MY GOD, THEY REALLY MADE ME GIGGLE LIKE A TEENAGER (I mean, I am 18 years old BUT STILL).

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