This review may contain spoilers
The Art of Manipulation
As a whole, this is one of the best K-dramas I've seen. I find the setting, protagonists, and writing excellent for the most part. I have some beefs here and there, but nothing that would make me think less of this drama.
Let's start with the negatives. For one, there are far too many exposition dumps in the form of conversations between insignificant characters discussing the motivations and actions of more important characters. These conversations or narrations happen simultaneously with other scenes that they're trying to explain, which I found just plain insulting. I get the explanations for the business jargons because they are needed if you're not familiar with the industry. But to treat their viewers like infants yet to develop their cognitive skills is assuming that they simply do not have the capacity to understand what they're trying to convey. I hate it when writers dumb things down in fear that they can't appeal to the general audience. Dude, the premise of the drama itself does not and will never appeal to your regular Joe, it has a target demographic and people who have trouble getting into it are going to clock out in T-minus twenty anyway! So you might as well write intelligently and challenge your audience's critical thinking.
Another beef I have with this drama is the music. It is just so grossly inappropriate. Look, I get the jazzy and bluesy vibe of the opening theme, but the musical score in this sounds like it was written for another drama. It's like they didn't have the budget to have original music written for this series and just bought music composed for another series that was cancelled. Seriously, that's how bad it is. Fortunately, I sometimes didn't notice it, but when I did, it just made me want to laugh at how hilariously unsuitable the music was.
But other than these two, this drama would've been close to perfection. It slaps and it slaps hard! The strategies and manipulations employed by Yun Juno are on point! I love how his brilliant little mind works. The big baddie is so despicable he's practically a caricature. But he does remind me of my former Korean bosses who thought they were superior in every way simply because they were born with a dick and became successful. So people like him do exist in Korea.
The acting in this is excellent as well. Contrary to what some people say, I believe it's Lee Je Hoon's subtle expressions and poker face that make his character all the more intriguing. It's like the Mona Lisa, she's smiling as if she's hiding a secret that she won't ever reveal to you or anyone, and that's the real allure of that painting. Juno is so mysterious he draws you in with a slight smirk and his genteel manners, manipulating you into thinking he's nothing but an innocent lamb waiting to be slaughtered, until he goes for the kill. Lee Je Hoon's stoicism makes this character imho.
I must admit, there is one scene that made me cry and made me feel for these characters and I believe that was when I thought this is a really good drama. Despite my complaints of the background music being unsuitable and the ridiculous exposition dumps, as a whole, this is an excellent business-oriented male-centric drama that I wish would become a dominant genre in K-drama. Sadly, the K-drama market is oversaturated with romances and makjang dramas I can do without. And for that alone, I give this a 9.
Let's start with the negatives. For one, there are far too many exposition dumps in the form of conversations between insignificant characters discussing the motivations and actions of more important characters. These conversations or narrations happen simultaneously with other scenes that they're trying to explain, which I found just plain insulting. I get the explanations for the business jargons because they are needed if you're not familiar with the industry. But to treat their viewers like infants yet to develop their cognitive skills is assuming that they simply do not have the capacity to understand what they're trying to convey. I hate it when writers dumb things down in fear that they can't appeal to the general audience. Dude, the premise of the drama itself does not and will never appeal to your regular Joe, it has a target demographic and people who have trouble getting into it are going to clock out in T-minus twenty anyway! So you might as well write intelligently and challenge your audience's critical thinking.
Another beef I have with this drama is the music. It is just so grossly inappropriate. Look, I get the jazzy and bluesy vibe of the opening theme, but the musical score in this sounds like it was written for another drama. It's like they didn't have the budget to have original music written for this series and just bought music composed for another series that was cancelled. Seriously, that's how bad it is. Fortunately, I sometimes didn't notice it, but when I did, it just made me want to laugh at how hilariously unsuitable the music was.
But other than these two, this drama would've been close to perfection. It slaps and it slaps hard! The strategies and manipulations employed by Yun Juno are on point! I love how his brilliant little mind works. The big baddie is so despicable he's practically a caricature. But he does remind me of my former Korean bosses who thought they were superior in every way simply because they were born with a dick and became successful. So people like him do exist in Korea.
The acting in this is excellent as well. Contrary to what some people say, I believe it's Lee Je Hoon's subtle expressions and poker face that make his character all the more intriguing. It's like the Mona Lisa, she's smiling as if she's hiding a secret that she won't ever reveal to you or anyone, and that's the real allure of that painting. Juno is so mysterious he draws you in with a slight smirk and his genteel manners, manipulating you into thinking he's nothing but an innocent lamb waiting to be slaughtered, until he goes for the kill. Lee Je Hoon's stoicism makes this character imho.
I must admit, there is one scene that made me cry and made me feel for these characters and I believe that was when I thought this is a really good drama. Despite my complaints of the background music being unsuitable and the ridiculous exposition dumps, as a whole, this is an excellent business-oriented male-centric drama that I wish would become a dominant genre in K-drama. Sadly, the K-drama market is oversaturated with romances and makjang dramas I can do without. And for that alone, I give this a 9.
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