DramaAjumma

It's okay. I'm fine. :D Been watching K dramas for over a decade and been on different forums for about 8 of those years. It's partly the fault of the industry and their tropes. ;)

I watched Empress Ki first. Didn't like it all that much -- gave up half way. Then it was Healer, The K2, Suspicious Partner. I haven't liked anything or been interested in anything he's done since his return from military service. The Worst of Evil is the exception.

Healer was good. But for some reason the romance didn't do it for me. I liked the journalism angle and Yoo Ji-tae.

I had mixed feelings about Maleficent. She was impressive on some level. But frankly even with all that power and intelligence what she really wanted in the end was to be loved sincerely.

It's a zero sum game story. Nobody can have everything. Anna didn't have much and she was treated like a puppet by the adults in her life but she got the guy in the end. I think that's fair.

Frankly, this is my favourite JCW drama so far. I like it more than Healer.

I thought the same thing as well. I thought she was absolutely necessary to the plot because he needed some kind of second chance/redemption after what happened overseas and there was no way Je-ha would have gone for Maleficent. Not a chance. She was not his type.

Further thoughts regarding the more recent episodes. Go here:
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/the-worst-of-evil-2023-episodes-8

As someone who has worked for a government funded organization, I really appreciated the bureaucratic nuttiness of Under the Microscope. But I'm sure I'll enjoy this one as long as there's no cliffhanger ending.
Thanks for that.

Someone said it was like Under the Microscope and so I was on to it ASAP. :D I liked the first episode.

Thanks. I'll come back and look at the comments.

Is this a completed series? No cliffhanger ending and that sort of rubbish?

She was definitely very angry and resentful about having to go as far as she did.

I can't hate him either. Especially after Episode 8. I actually felt so bad for him that he's being deceived by the woman he likes. LOL.

Looking at the comments it does feel like we're all watching very different shows. :P I am surprised that by this time (we're already three-quarters of the way through) that there are still viewers who aren't quite sure what they're watching. It bears repeating that this is a police procedural first and foremost with an undercover operation at the centre of the plot. While the show doesn't break new ground with the genre, what's unique is the primary operatives in this happen to be married to each other. There are moments in Episode 8 where I question Eui-jeong's involvement in this investigation -- it's definitely a double-edged sword -- but she managed to turn things around quite successfully in their favour. Of course it comes at a cost to her. But her motivations are clear: She would never go as far as she did if she believed that the police was doing a good enough job protecting Jun-mo. A big part of the reason why she's insinuated herself into this is because she has so little confidence in their superiors to protect Jun-mo. That's evident from his near-death experience and it's evident again when the rival gang raided Gangnam Union's offices.

The other issue too is that the chief prosecutor is determined to take down the entire cartel in one fell swoop. If this was just about Jung Gi-cheul and Gangnam Union, that would have been easily done. Game over. But whether his motivations are altruistic or just egotistical, the chief prosecutor is putting Jun-mo's life is greater jeopardy by prolonging the investigation. and having to interact with the Japanese as well as the Chinese.

It's quite clear that this operation is exacting a huge toll on the married couple. But that is the essence of this morality tale. How far are the police and the individuals involved willing to go to take down this drug ring? Sure they've had to cross more than a few moral lines. But isn't that the point of this show? It would not only be unrealistic and implausible if undercover agents (spies essentially) have an easy run in such a dangerous situation where the stakes are incredibly high. It is acting but with life and death possibilities hovering in close proximity.

These are people who are not your average everyday suburban couple with office jobs. They could be killed if they were discovered to be moles.

I find it amusing that this show doesn't adhere at all to the usual romance tropes but it seems to be difficult for some viewers to take those lenses off.

I disagree with the part where she didn't regret doing what she did. it's obvious she felt resentful and angry that she had to kiss the "enemy" to protect her husband because no one else in his team was doing a good enough job protecting him.

It's the Wi Ha-joon charm. :D

Happy that the show is back. More thoughts about the newest episodes here...
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/my-dearest-2023-episodes-11-12

I wouldn't say "zero". There's definitely a healthy dose of romantic tension.

My thoughts on last week's episodes...
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/my-week-in-dramas-14-october-2023

It's good that the script doesn't shy away from the fact that Eui-jeong's inclusion in the operation is a double-edged sword. It's a trade-off not a solution -- it distracts momentarily but it creates another set of issues. That's far more realistic than if everything went their way. It's a complicated situation made much more messy with her in the mix.
And I'm here for it 100%.
More thoughts under spoiler tags.

I would like to but I haven't had time. I'm a big fan of Son Suk-koo though.
The crime genre is my favourite.

Ji Chang-wook has always been highly regarded as an actor but his script choices post-military hasn't had broad appeal. The last show of his I managed to finish was Suspicious Partner. I tried watching Melting Me Softly and gave up after 2 episodes. Same with Lovestruck in the City and If You Wish Upon Me. I wasn't interested in Backstreet Rookie or The Sound of Magic. There are so many dramas these days across genres and most people are spoilt for choice. Often times a good actor alone can't keep their interest.