Brilliant Crime Procedural That’s Peak Physical Comedy
This is honestly one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. Just peak physical comedy. I am so impressed with the entire cast. All just phenomenal.I am amazed at how the creators pulled this off. It’s a crime procedural that’s an homage to the US procedural of the 80s, but still distinctly Korean. Each episode felt familiar yet fresh. Huge kudos to the director, the editors, the cinematographers, those who did the score. Everyone here understood the assignment and all were committed. It was absolute perfection. The show was completely absurd in the best of ways and just perfect!
I am honestly so sad that there aren’t 100 episodes of this and even that might not be enough. I want more of all of this.
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Kim Tae Ri Soars and Shines
This story is a tale as old as time, but it is well done. It’s a beautiful love letter to theatre and musicals and traditional Korean singing, called pansori. The highlight is Kim Tae Ri’s performance. She is brilliant as Yoon Jeongnyeon and you can see how much dedication she has to her craft. The rest of the cast was amazing as well. I would recommend it on the strength of the performances alone.Was this review helpful to you?
Please Refund My Time
Honestly, this show was the most frustrating show. Completely over bloated with so many plot conveniences that I lost count of how many times eyes rolled at how “lucky” characters were that it just happened to work out that way. The main female character is as dull as dirt and the lead actress does not help with a completely flat performance. The ending was the most unsatisfying bit of nonsense I’ve ever seen. This one gets one point solely for the acting of So Jo Sub, Kwak Do Won, and Daniel Choi. They were the only watchable parts of the series.Was this review helpful to you?
Live Action Cartoon Fun at it’s Best
This show is just pure popcorn fun. If you’re looking for realism, go elsewhere, but if you’re looking for ridiculous one man army action and comedy that’s way over the top then this is for you. I laughed the entire way through and had fun doing it. I give special kudos to everyone on the stunt team because they pulled some amazing gags! The cast chemistry is also great and the OST is killer as well.Was this review helpful to you?
Fun and Funny with Phenomenal Cast Chemistry
Light, breezy, and fun. If you’re looking for something that will make you laugh and cheer as you watch the leads as they drive each other crazy while leaning to come together then this show is for you. Hilarious bickering bromance and wacky team dynamics are an absolute hoot and highlight of this show. The character dynamics were amazing and the cast chemistry was phenomenal! Highly recommend if you’re just looking for something that’s a good time.Was this review helpful to you?
Brilliant Peek into the Role and the Toll of a Profiler
Through the Darkness is an amazing look into the life and cost of a profiler’s life. Grounded and moody, this show is not so much about catching criminals, as to a look into the unglamorous side of profiling. Interviews with the worst, mucking around and diving deep into the minds of the darkest of humanity, and writing reports that one hopes will make a difference, all the while trying not to lose oneself to the abyss that they constantly stare into. There are no big heroic moments, just people doing their best to make through the darkness of each day.Kim Nam Gil gives a subdued but powerful performance as Song Ha Yeong. He imbues Ha Yeong with an earnestness to do right by the victims and the public he wishes to protect along side a steely will that fights against the despair that continually claws at his souls. The rest of the cast brings the same intensity, and everyone just dives into giving quiet but powerful performances.
If you’re looking for a traditional thriller, go elsewhere. But if you are wanting an amazing character study and journey, I highly recommend this show.
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Underrated Gem!
Do not sit on this amazing buddy comedy thriller the way I did. It is uptempo and will keep you both laughing and guessing the entire time. Ma Dong Seok gets to stretch his wings a bit in this one playing the (mostly) mild mannered Baek Seong Il. His chemistry with Seo In Guk (who plays Yang Jung Do) is incredible. The entire series has a slick heist feel and the soundtrack is the perfect accent to this. Highly recommend to those looking for an uptempo and fun ride!Was this review helpful to you?
Light Comedic Piece with Comic Book Flare
With its comic book vibes and comedy to match, this show was pure fun. The characters are hilarious and the team dynamics are a blast to watch. Huge kudos to all the cast who just nailed the comedic timing. With a sprinkle of some heavier themes like guilt, regret, and redemption, this show has heartfelt moments to go alongside the laughs, but never loses its fun tone. If you’re looking for a comedy crime thriller with a hint of romance and a dash of heartstring tugging, this show is for you.Was this review helpful to you?
Fun Historical Fantasy
If you’re looking for something that’s high on the comedy, physical and situational, featuring shamanism and Korean folklore, with a bit of martial arts, and dashes of adorable romance, then this drama is for you. Yook Sung Jae is fabulous in this piece and his chemistry with Bo Na is adorable. Bo Na also carries her role well. The banter between the two is both hilarious and adorable, and their characters’ evolving dynamic is a pleasure to watch. Well-paced, this piece is fun with just enough stakes to keep things interesting. Would definitely recommend.Was this review helpful to you?
Had its Moments, But Too Much Tell and Not Enough Show
This series had potential, and it does have some great moments, but overall it’s far too much tell and far too little show. Too much of the show is explained by what the characters say as opposed to what the characters do, and because of that, I am never really convinced of the things I need to be in order for the show to have real stakes and be satisfying. It’s said that one should show and not tell, and this show too often forgets that. The first half is also glacially paced, to the point that I wanted to put my head through a wall at times. But even that’s a bit uneven until the last quarter.I will give that the show is well acted and that the OST is fabulous. Those things really help to punch up something that I might otherwise have dropped.
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Intense Spy Thriller
The Veil is an intense spy thriller featuring conspiracies and betrayals all while looking at the cost and the sacrifice of living in the shadows. Namkoong Min rocks it again as the lead completely transforming himself into Han Ji Hyuk, a ruthless and efficient black ops agent. His physicality and emotional range are on full display here with amazing action and intense drama. Kim Ji Eun plays the perfect foil to his character. With only 12 episodes, this drama is tightly plotted and highly bingable. Highly recommended!Was this review helpful to you?
Somehow Both Too Much and Too Little Happen
This show somehow has too much and tool little going on. Too many storylines, not enough context. I’ve watch both Witch movies and I could barely keep track of what was going on. Pacing is also really uneven. I do give huge props to Cha Seung Won and Jo Yoon Soo. Both were excellent in their roles.Final verdict: unless you’re really a completist for The Witch universe, this one is skippable.
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Lighter Crime Thriller That’s A Little Different
This show is a gem and it starts with the cast. Kim Hye-soo is brilliant as usual and it’s great to see her let down her hair as the reckless bordering on crazy Oh So-ryong. It’s Jung Sung-il, though, that shines brightest as Han Do. His delivery, his reactions, his tics are all perfect. And watching that character grow is an absolute joy.The stories are interesting and the team chemistry is fun and engaging. The humour is a bit wacky and over the top so not something if you want grounded, but if you’re looking for something that’s a crime thriller but a little different, I highly recommend this one.
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Dark Moody Crime Thriller
The characters are what shine brightest in this show and the leads absolutely rock their roles. Jang Hyuk is at his surly best as Oh Hyun-jae, a former profiler who’s bent on revenge. His character is the perfect foil to Choi Soo-young’s Cha Soo-young, a rookie with a photographic memory.Cha Soo-young is still one of my favourite female characters of all time. Soft yet strong. Her character anchors the show and contrasts brilliantly against the storm and fury of Oh Hyun-jae.
The end theme is also one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs. This is a show that I wish had multiple seasons the way North American shows do.
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Lighthearted Comedic Adventure Rom Com
The characters and the acting are the highlight of this show. The comedic timing is on point. I laughed out loud every episode. The protagonists are charming and rootable and the antagonist is cool, cunning, and vicious. The plot suffers a bit from too many extraneous storylines, which makes the culmination feel like it came both too quickly and too slowly. Would have loved a little more tension between the protagonist and antagonist. Overall, though, a solid adventure rom-com.Was this review helpful to you?
