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?
Action, action, action
If you are a fan action, visceral, bone crunching, artery spraying action, then this show is for you. It’s dark and gritty and the tension stays high, but the action is the highlight. It’s non-stop, beginning to end. The plot might not be original, but it is well done and So Ji Sub’s larger than life presence grounds the show and makes it all work. Huge kudos to the stunt team, choreographers, and action directors, they did brilliant work. And the cinematography is amazing! Absolutely gorgeous! This show was an amazing ride and I enjoyed every minute of it.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful Piece That Earns Every Emotional Beat
While this series takes a few episodes to set the pieces into play, once it starts, it takes off and never looks back. Every event, every choice matters, and every emotional beat is earned. From heartbreak to triumph, this show takes you on a journey in so many ways. With well rounded characters that feel truly human and amazing character dynamics that shift and deepen as the story progresses, this show masterfully weaves together the lives of 3 very different characters and the people around them. Each character is superbly acted and the cast chemistry is incredible. The action shots are also gorgeous and the OST has an epic sound that hits you in the feels. This show is a masterpiece.Was this review helpful to you?
Truly a Delight to Watch
This show was brilliant. A glossy heist like vibe that covers and contrasts brilliantly with the twisted world that lurked beneath. It was the perfect allegory for how deceit and cons work. Everything was so well executed. Every conflict arises naturally from opposing viewpoints and values and not from foolish miscommunications or noble idiocy. Every flashback reveals just enough to peel back the layers to the characters and every crossroad is an opportunity for growth. And the characters are all brilliantly written and acted. Their dynamics are fabulous and it was so refreshing to see characters be honest with each other. I have to shout out Kim Dong Wook in this. His performance has Han Mu Young is just incredible. He carefully balances a character that both has the softest heart and the steeliest spine. The performance is understated but the emotions he projects are powerful. Chun Woo Hee matches him an amazing range, bringing to life a character who wears cynicism like armour and has a well of rage beneath. Their chemistry and that of the entire cast is incredible. Every character gets a role and pushes the plot forwards and there’s not one wasted moment. I cannot recommend this drama enough.Was this review helpful to you?
Overused Plot With Little to Recommend It
Honestly, I only finished this show as a part of a challenge to watch a show that completed its run before 2009. If not for this, I likely would have dropped this show. The plot is the same as ten thousand other Wuxia dramas and nothing happens with any logic. Things move forwards because of happenstance and the main character has so much plot armour it’s hilarious. And I’m not usually one to complain about realism because shows don’t have to be realistic to be good, but this show honestly would have worked better as a cartoon with the hijinks that they had the main character pull. The cast was good, though. Energetic and committed to the comedic bits. Which were worth a decent laugh. I’d say this one is completely skippable, though, unless you really love that classic period revenge story.Was this review helpful to you?
The Marvel that is Park Eun Bin
Park Eun Bin is the reason this drama is a 10. Yes, the writing and other cast are great, but the show rises and falls on the MC and Park Eun Bin rocked it as Woo Young-woo. Kang Tae-oh was the perfect cinnamon roll to walk alongside her character. The romance was cute, but the highlight for me were the female friendships featured in this. Amazing solidarity even when characters are were competing against each other. No backstabbing between the three main female char characters. More of this in drama please!Cast chemistry in this one was fabulous. I’ve heard rumours that there might be an S2, and I hope they can get everyone back if this happens.
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Captivating On Every Level
This show sucked me in from the start. The noir feel, the classical music, the lighting. Brilliant cold open and then these gorgeous opening credits roll. I think this drama may have my favourite intro. Stunning visuals set to a gorgeous instrumental piece. And they jump right to it, making sure that Yun I Na and Kim Han Saem’s characters intersect before too long and letting their dynamics and the actors chemistry just bring the show to life. The show moves at a quick clip, and while there are twist a plenty, the plot never gets bogged down or convoluted. Highly recommended if you enjoy crime thrillers.Was this review helpful to you?
