DramaloverPanda

I really appreciated this review. You brought to light one of the many ongoing issues plaguing story telling and the roles men and women should play. I have not watched this and now plan to pick it up because of my curiosity about the character. It will be a nice change to see a fully realized female character that is not the damsel in distress needing to be saved or having to be weak minded.

If you had asked me before Wednesday if I was going to at least skim the last couple of episodes I would say I was pretty confident that I would at least do that. But after episode 10 I just don't know if I have it in me. How am I more annoyed with these couples now that they are 'working together' than I was when they were arguing? I mean their surveillance was no where near covert. I'm convinced that I could follow someone more discreetly wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume. And Mother, who is supposed to be this dark and shady crime boss that raises seriel killer sons, is just fine letting random people she doesn't know walk up or can be tailed easily without notice?! Really?!

The episode of them breaking into that house was all around weird. It did nothing for the plot AT ALL. They could have had a more profound breakthrough in their relationship by having to hoof it all night and take shelter under a tree than whatever that was. Marrying the couple you have just barged into the home of?

I periodically check for reviews purely out of morbid curiosity because I really really want to see someone actually articulate a review in support of this series with solid reasoning and examples other than that they like the actors. I'd even settle for someone giving it a ten but then admit how truly horrible it is and loving it for exactly the dumpster fire it is.

You are over here verbalizing my inner thoughts. I enjoyed this review/rant with your in well thought out and supported opinions. This show COULD have been so much. I mean who doesn't enjoy the occasional red flag drama of seriously unhinged characters? KinnPorche and My Stand In's popularity speaks to that. But what those two dramas did that this one did not is provide characters that I believe would do the things they did. This one instead has foregone any and all sense to shove toxic 'romance' down the viewers throat as if that would be palatable.

I mean can we even comment on the scene where Fadel is holding up a gun to Style in a wide open jeep on a highway. Does that even make sense? He is supposed to be a hitman serial killer but is fine exposing himself in public by holding a gun to a guys head in clear view of literally anyone? Did it not cross the director's mind to have him at least hold the gun down at his side hidden from view? Would that not still give the same threat while also not letting everyone on earth know you are kidnapping someone?! That is only one instance out of the numerous dumb decisions this production has made.

I can't even argue in favor of this drama due to chemistry. I have seen both pairs in other works and this one somehow manages to make them feel cringey. First and Khoa really shine in Just Friends and completely ran away with that show but here they are luke warm and at times awkward. Should I even mention that truly horrible scene in the bowling alley of them dancing?

I haven't liked any of Joong and Dunk's dramas but that was more for the stories and not necessarily their acting. And if I had to choose a pair I prefer I would say Fadel and Style are more watchable than Kant and Bison but Dunk has not mastered his comedic timing often leaving his delivery feeling flat.

All of that to say that I liked your review and opinions. haha

I love the way you write your reviews! Passionate and emotional but with depth and understanding of the characters and the plot without missing glaring flaws. So much fun to read!

Spot on review! I stuck around for the show as a big fan of War and Yin and rated it much higher purely based on my bias. But this review is everything I thought but couldn't quite find the words for. Low budget or not I think this could have been great if they had simplified the plot and focused on key aspects such as maybe getting Jack released from Boss and making that the whole basis of the show with the romance between Jack and Joke and therefore could have completely removed the Four Horsemen ridiculousness which was like having a villain over a villain. As you said they also needed far more intelligence added to the characters. No way was Joke a master thief in the way he was portrayed.

As a side note I know this was a passion project and even partially funded by them but there are many actors that felt like they were cast because they are friends and not because they add any value to the production. I mean what was the point of Hoy's character at all? Tattoo at least added value with his 'inventions' and Arun was the son of Boss so they had a purpose.

Also is it just me or did anyone else get annoyed with the editing when simple things were overlooked like hand placement in scenes? Example: the first kiss scene where Jack spins the bottle you see Joke's hand sitting on the table but in the full body shots shown before and after his hands were in his lap. Missing things like that happened frequently and bothered me immensely.

I really doubt they will give a preview so as not to spoil whether he decides to go through the door or not and since it is the finale.

yes, the two leads have that similar understanding about each other

I watched The Double as well. If I had to compare the two then this one feels like lower stakes than The Double did but I prefer this main couple. The Double was more about revenge while this one leans more into redemption. I think you would enjoy this as well if you liked the other.

there is also a kind of love triangle that adds an small air of mystery to their past life

The chemistry of the main pair is good, but romance so far is not a heavy story line. If you go into it wanting to see romance or fluff you may not find it. Also this female lead is very reserved in terms of the way she carries herself and speaks. She is not flamboyant or overly dramatic but a more regal kind of princess. The pair deal heavily in the palace power struggle and every move they make is met with counter moves from the court so if you find that you enjoy seeing power struggles and the push and pull of palace politics then you would enjoy this

If you like palace intrigue and plots then yes.

this! so much of this! You took the words out of my mouth. I cant believe I sat through that

was it just me or was that last episode really hard to get through? I can't think of many other series that had an ending that was so boring!

finally someone else that shares my feelings about this one!

overhyped dramas do seem to be more prevalent in cdramas over kdramas. I usually don't look at many that have lower than 7.9 on here but I have seen or tried to watch many that were over 8 and the quality of the drama was not worth that but reviews would rave about their favorite actor. Personally I don't care if it is a big name or not, either it needs to be a good story or have great characters

They would conveniently forget a lot of plot points for no reason at all haha

He is an actor and people mob him when he goes out; but only when we want them to. He can freely walk around at night all he wants.

He has a girlfriend that they went as far as to announce in an interview and photoshoot but only once and it is never mentioned again since we just needed the female lead to look sad seeing them together for a minute.

Someone is stalking toward her while on the edge of a cliff and she has plenty of space to go around him but nooooo, lets continue to back toward the edge instead.

I mean did they even think the story through? haha

oh goodness I cringed so bad at that last episode! She fell running in the woods as if it was an 80s horror movie and yet as a fireman she can carry other people out of a burning building?!

I did the same thing with the female lead actress! I disliked her acting here so much and went out of my way to avoid anything else with her. But the male lead and the side characters/monsters really made this show for me. I stuck around for them because the banter and shenanigans had me laughing

I've tried to at least jump around to see what happens because I am a usually a finisher but I just can not with this one. It does not improve even as it nears the ending unfortunately. I do not think they could have chosen actors with so little chemistry to portray such mind-numbingly boring characters if they even tried

Love this review. I enjoy your way of writing that makes me giggle and nod my head in agreement. Such a fun review that better expresses my own opinions