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443
14
1
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23
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31
A story of survival with four musketeers and a big bad wolf in the shadows!
This season goes way beyond brains versus brawn , it was personal, way more messier and more human.
Si-eun wasn’t just playing chess with bullies anymore. He was stuck in his own head, sort of drowning in everything that went wrong. You could tell he was not just tired, he was done. His grief didn’t scream, it just lingered, thick in the air, showing up in the way he stared too long, the way his hands trembled ever so slightly or how his voice hesitated before answering. He was unraveling quietly, piece by piece, trying to figure out who he was now that everything he trusted had either broken or disappeared.
It wasn’t just about beating enemies anymore, it was about surviving for his own sanity and not making the same mistakes again.
But it wasn’t all heavy and dark. The friendship between the "Fantastic Four" (yes I’m sticking with that) brought a kind of comfort that really stood out. There was something so genuine about the way they had each other’s backs. It wasn’t dramatic or forced, just simple moments of care that made everything feel a little less bleak.
For the first time, Si-eun didn’t feel completely alone. He had people beside him who didn’t need him to be strong or strategic all the time ,just there. And those small smiles and laughs they shared, the quiet understanding, honestly made me smile too. It felt like something he had been needing for a long time and finally, he got it.
The friendships in Season 2 held strong in ways Season 1 never could. ( I SAID WHAT I SAID!)
I hadn’t read the original source material, but I have zero complaints about the new characters that were introduced. Every actor did a great job and each character really felt like they belonged here.
Park Hu-min, Seo Jun-tae and Ko Hyeon-tak were especially impressive to me. They perfectly captured the essence of being this goofy, fun-loving ones, but there was always something deeper going on with them. Even when they were joking around or keeping things light, there was this subtle layer of vulnerability that made them feel so real. They each had their own demons to face and I could see that in their performances.
Acting was solid across the board for me.
I am especially gonna talk about Park JiHoon because as always he was phenomenal. There’s something in his eyes (It's hard to move on). The pain, resolve, sadness that just magically works and enhances every scene. Somebody give that guy a baeksang please!
The one thing I had an issue with was the antagonist, Na Baek Jin. To me, he didn’t feel as much of a villain as the show tried to make him out to be. They presented him as this serious, mysterious figure, but I still don’t feel like I understand why he ended up where he was. I needed that backstory to really connect with him and fully hate him. Without that depth, he felt a bit one-dimensional.
As for Geum Seong Je, the other antagonist, I had mixed feelings. Since Junyoung was playing the role, maybe I was biased and started seeing the good in him, hoping he would somehow turn out better. But that wasn’t the case. His character felt a little brief, which left me wanting more. I think with a bit more exploration. I hope season 3 ( if there is) serves that!
Also, the styling choice of his character was oj point! Those glasses and hair served !
Overall, for me, this season was right on par with season 1. It didn’t disappoint at all! I’m keeping this review spoiler-free, so I won’t get into specific events, but I can honestly say the season made me happy. Sure, the writing had its moments where it felt a bit uneven, but I binged it all in one sitting and that didn’t bother me too much. It was still easy to get hooked and stay invested.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Please, go watch it!
Thank you for reading my review/rant!
Si-eun wasn’t just playing chess with bullies anymore. He was stuck in his own head, sort of drowning in everything that went wrong. You could tell he was not just tired, he was done. His grief didn’t scream, it just lingered, thick in the air, showing up in the way he stared too long, the way his hands trembled ever so slightly or how his voice hesitated before answering. He was unraveling quietly, piece by piece, trying to figure out who he was now that everything he trusted had either broken or disappeared.
It wasn’t just about beating enemies anymore, it was about surviving for his own sanity and not making the same mistakes again.
But it wasn’t all heavy and dark. The friendship between the "Fantastic Four" (yes I’m sticking with that) brought a kind of comfort that really stood out. There was something so genuine about the way they had each other’s backs. It wasn’t dramatic or forced, just simple moments of care that made everything feel a little less bleak.
For the first time, Si-eun didn’t feel completely alone. He had people beside him who didn’t need him to be strong or strategic all the time ,just there. And those small smiles and laughs they shared, the quiet understanding, honestly made me smile too. It felt like something he had been needing for a long time and finally, he got it.
The friendships in Season 2 held strong in ways Season 1 never could. ( I SAID WHAT I SAID!)
I hadn’t read the original source material, but I have zero complaints about the new characters that were introduced. Every actor did a great job and each character really felt like they belonged here.
Park Hu-min, Seo Jun-tae and Ko Hyeon-tak were especially impressive to me. They perfectly captured the essence of being this goofy, fun-loving ones, but there was always something deeper going on with them. Even when they were joking around or keeping things light, there was this subtle layer of vulnerability that made them feel so real. They each had their own demons to face and I could see that in their performances.
Acting was solid across the board for me.
I am especially gonna talk about Park JiHoon because as always he was phenomenal. There’s something in his eyes (It's hard to move on). The pain, resolve, sadness that just magically works and enhances every scene. Somebody give that guy a baeksang please!
The one thing I had an issue with was the antagonist, Na Baek Jin. To me, he didn’t feel as much of a villain as the show tried to make him out to be. They presented him as this serious, mysterious figure, but I still don’t feel like I understand why he ended up where he was. I needed that backstory to really connect with him and fully hate him. Without that depth, he felt a bit one-dimensional.
As for Geum Seong Je, the other antagonist, I had mixed feelings. Since Junyoung was playing the role, maybe I was biased and started seeing the good in him, hoping he would somehow turn out better. But that wasn’t the case. His character felt a little brief, which left me wanting more. I think with a bit more exploration. I hope season 3 ( if there is) serves that!
Also, the styling choice of his character was oj point! Those glasses and hair served !
Overall, for me, this season was right on par with season 1. It didn’t disappoint at all! I’m keeping this review spoiler-free, so I won’t get into specific events, but I can honestly say the season made me happy. Sure, the writing had its moments where it felt a bit uneven, but I binged it all in one sitting and that didn’t bother me too much. It was still easy to get hooked and stay invested.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Please, go watch it!
Thank you for reading my review/rant!
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