K-Drama 
This review may contain spoilers
No Absolute Villains: A Tragic Tale of Envy and Neglect
It started off really well. It demonstrates the different sides of envy and the extremes people would go to just to be or have what someone else has. But for me, Moon-jae always needed someone by his side after what happened with his parents; I feel like society failed him, and that ultimately turned him into what he is. I’m not saying that Moon-jae isn’t a criminal who stole Yu-min’s writings and did what he did to Min-yeong, but everything has a cause and effect. Many people might always want to look for the absolute villain of the story, but it's not always like that. How do they expect a child who lost his parents in such a way to cope all on his own? Everything is a consequence of no one being there for him when he needed it the most.The story is great and it's narrated by Moon-jae, the main character, who isn't a reliable narrator because he struggles with mental health issues whose symptoms include "repressed memories." That's exactly what makes the series a must watch thriller, though it comes at the expense of absolute reality which, to me, is a double-edged sword.
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A Tragic Finale That Unintentionally Validates the True Villain
I understand that the point of the story was to highlight Moo-hyuk’s heartbreaking and unfair life, but how Eun-chae’s father was handled in the end leaves a bitter taste. The fact that the truth was never revealed almost feels like a validation of his actions. Everything turned out "fine" for the wealthy family, while he never faced a single consequence for destroying Moo-hyuk's life from the moment he was born. He is a deeply cruel character from start to finish; I doubt even his own daughter's death would have changed him. He would surely keep justifying himself until the end.
By depriving him of a family, Eun-chae’s father stole Moo-hyuk’s access to an education and emotional stability. Without those tools, he fell into a dangerous, forced kind of love, desperately clinging to an unfaithful and toxic relationship that triggered the entire tragedy. It's worth noting that Yune was in almost the exact same position: despite all his privilege, his immaturity kept him obsessively chasing Min-joo without knowing how to let go. Both ended up broken by the same environment. In conclusion, every single misfortune in this story leads right back to the same culprit.
This ending sends a dangerous message: it implies that certain people have the right to make drastic decisions about others' lives under the guise of "protection." Nobody has the right to decide for you or shape your destiny behind your back. A tragedy where the real villain won by getting away with it.
Written by: Jota Edited by: Gemini
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