OneAjhussi

I agree that he should not be petty and let Kang Sun Ho try his chance at the Police University instead of pushing him verbally to give up. But I don't think he is that bad. The punishments he gave were by the book after all. Kang Sun Ho's group was lame compared to the two others. He did fail to make the duck march within 15 minutes and he also failed and ate the ramen. I undestand that he doubts and challenges the will and the ability of the kid.

I am ok that he fell in love at first sight. The weird thing is that he applied for the Police University because she did. But ok, later, he was ready to drop his candidacy so it is not really because of her. He just had no purpose in his life. I am glad that the real reason he entered the Police University is to make his father happy. Not the best reason but hey, many sons and daughters did like him in real life. Some still found success.

Yoo Dong Man is a cop. He is not a priest or the kid's father. He was on an investigation that Kang Sun Ho spoiled with his hacking. He is not supposed to be nice or understanding with him but to apply the Law. And he is not really holding a grudge. He just believes that a thief who performed cybercrime should not be allowed to enter the Police University. Kang Sun Ho would not have be allowed to if Yoo Dong Man did not let him go free. The guy is trying to correct his mistake.

You are harsh with him. I think the guy is not perfect but he is a good person.

Put on hold YAMG. There is no story in this. Just cute leads being cute together. Taxi Driver is fun for the beating of bad guys but the ending is quite questionable. Morally.

Nice start. I liked the plot, the fast pace and the many fun and endearing characters. Some usual tropes we see in many dramas but I am fine with them. They are setting up further interesting development probably. The two eps really had a taste of a movie rather than a drama.

So far Yoo Dong Man is the most interesting character for me. I like that he has his flaws but also his qualities. He is a loudmouth, a rogue, a reckless cop who do not follow the rules, goes against the hierarchy and he is also petty but he has a good heart focused on people. He is doing the investigation on the online illegal bets because of a good reason and he ended in the police university because he chose to be lenient towards the two brothers. I liked how he treated the father when he kneeled and the words he said. It tells that despite being nagging trying to have Kang Sun Ho leave the academy he can also be considerate and understanding of the situation. Of course it pisses me off that he is always on the back of Kang Sun Ho but after all the kid stole. Twice. He who steal a penny will steal a pound. He stole 12 000 dollars. He needs some good lessons.

There are a many side characters who mostly look fun and are endearing but their development is limited and sometime erratic. I am not even sure we will have a secondary couple now.

He doesn't look like someone evil and he is too close to JYD. Looks like there is a bigger scheme involving big fishes.

He was swayed and could not keep her at a distance. Now he thinks he must backpeddle because his discomfort incident remembered him 50% of people with a heart transplant don't survive 10 years. I agree it is cliché but I thought it was rather well done because they got close rather slowly and there were hints about him not wanting to be close to someone.

I have to disagree with you regarding the fated, meant-to-be couple. On the contrary, Do San and real Dal Mi were exactly a fated couple, chosen by destiny to meet as adult and be together. Fate made the grandmother use a 17 highschooler to write letters to make up a fake 12 y.o penfriend that Dal Mi turned into an imaginary First Love later. She used his qualities to "assess" the guys going to dates with her and to reject them. The question for her was "Will she be able to get rid of an imaginary ideal first love with a "perfect guy" and embrace a real love with a not perfect guy (a nice and talented genius but insecured and not assured nerd). And the answer was Yes. As for real Do San, the question for him was "can he take the place of Dal Mi's 12yo fake penfriend turned into an Investment manager mogul?" In the end, Yes.

Han Ji Peon was just a tool of destiny to bring Do San and Dal Mi together and challenge their feelings. He never had any potential. He was never an option for Dal Mi. She never considered him Han Ji Pyeong and when she learnt that he was the hand who wrote the letters in a scheme created by Grandma, she just cancelled that aspect in their relationship and kept him in the "grandma's good boy" zone.

Dal Mi and Do San had their flaws as persons. But they still found each other as they had complementary personalities. This is why Dal Mi said "Because it is you" meaning exactly that they are destined to be a couple. And their romance was not a quiet one. They were holding hands in public and made it clear to their colleagues and friends and to all Sandbox that they were together jumping in each other's arms in front of everyone. Not the kind of timid and shy beavior of the two lovers in Do You Like Brahms for example.

Why a tirade against them Do San and Dal Mi when there is nothing in the drama to serve as example or counter example for the subject of your article. There is no "quiet love" in Start up and no attempt to quiet Love. There is fated true Love between Dal Mi and real Do San (vs imaginary love between Dal Mi and fake penfriend Do San turned imaginary first Love) and there is an annoying unwelcomed one sided Love from Han Ji Pyeong's.

The Beginning is different from all the Rurouni Kenshin live action movies. It has something of a Shakespearean tragedy. It might be the last installment but it is the best.

Most emotional cameo: Bang Dong Goo considering what happened to him.

I don't remember seeing this scene. They have no "both on the bed" scene in the drama.

I think sometimes he is the good twin. Sometimes he is the bad twin.

I understand your point of view and I agree the Beginning has a different tone compared to the other. It is a darker movie, more violent and gripping but also with elements of a greek tragedy in an untold love. The violence is very raw but serves an emotional story. For me it is above the other movies and this is why I believe no element of it should be spoiled.

The Final does not give away a lot of the Beginning but the things revealed are key. Also, watching the Beginning before the Final will project a better light on the brother's actions and on how things ends for him. Without knowing the details of what really happened, the Final looks like an action movie with a simple revenge plotline with a deus ex machina ending. Also for me, the last images of the Final are a more appropriate "ending" for the whole serie of live action movies.

But ok, this is my answer to the original question and my own opinion only as a fan of movies. (I never watched the OAVs). I guess you are right and what matters is that people enjoy these movies.

I think it's better to watch the beginning before the final because the beginning is a much more powerful movie than the final and the final spoils key moments of the beginning. Watching it on the order of release is fine but not the best way to enjoy the two parts for me.

It's not only lust. For Na Bi, it is passion. She is obsessed by the idea of him when he is not around. She is always coming back to what is related to him or their next encounter or argument. And when he is physically here, she needs him closer. She needs to feel his perfume, his body. It is a dangerous situation for her because passion is irrational and irresistible.

Jae Eon is a manipulator and a freak. He wanted a sex partner no string attached relationship. Now that she is trying to move on and there is a new guy around her, he wants to keep his toy...

Na Bi looks more relaxed with Do Hyuk and she trusts him because he is her childhood friend. I don't think she sees him as an option to be her boyfriend. First she has to find the courage to put an end to the situation she is in. She can't keep this kind of relationship with Jae Eon.

Chinese vs Japanese : Quite the same story but lots of differences in the characters (personnalities, age, temperament...) the environment, the humor... Some scenes change too. It is not the same dialogue or the same way to reach a same goal. Also it has a faster pace.