With a mature, smart, thought provoking script that feels modern, tackling the impact of artificial intelligence on both the art world and the corporate world, and a touch of melancholy that brings in some noir vibes, this series really got under my skin at times. What I loved most was the moral ambiguity. There are no perfect heroes here. Every character is complex, flawed, and makes questionable choices.
That said, the emotional intensity didn’t quite hold up all the way to the end. Koh is cold and isolated, almost completely cut off from human connection. But once he meets Jira, that wall starts to crack, and he slowly becomes less distant, more human. Pheem, on the other hand, is insecure and stuck in a friendship that keeps him tied to a job he no longer enjoys. Suddenly, he finds himself caught up in feelings (love? a need to protect?) that aren’t reciprocated at all. And then there’s Jira, the character who left me with the most conflicting emotions. In some ways, he and Koh are alike, but at times Jira shows a manipulative, even cruel side, especially toward Pheem. Honestly, I often felt like Pheem was just an “experiment” for Jira. I couldn’t sense any real emotional connection between them, which made the love triangle feel kind of forced. And to be honest, I didn’t feel like Jira was truly in love with Koh either. Throughout the series, Jira seemed emotionally detached from both Pheem and Koh. The only time he really gave himself completely was when he was painting. That’s why, for me, this story didn’t need a happy ending.
As for the acting, the chemistry between Off and Gun is undeniable. They’re both incredible actors, always sincere and intense in their performances. The chemistry between Gun and Dew was surprisingly strong too. Dew wasn’t really on my radar before, but he completely won me over. The production quality is excellent, and honestly, I’d love to have some of those paintings hanging in my house!
Oh, and one more thing: Mawin is hands down the best friend Pheem could ever have.
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