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Lol, this is definitely a to each their own. I seriously struggled with Empress Ki’s pacing. Especially in the beginning. I stopped in the 20s and skipped to the end. Great performances but I couldn’t get into it. And again, I dont feel this show is slow at all. But clearly others do. So the only way to know if it will feel slow or not is to watch a bit of it.

Got it

lol, I love this show, but it would have been nice if the monster had a consistent first move that explained why our leads had a chance to get away. Instead it had a consistent first move it used on everyone that wasnt as effective on the leads? The best I could come up with is by the time it met our leads it didnt go for kill shot immediately and played with them because it wasnt trying to escape a cage anymore and happened to be well fed after all those victims the scientists fed to
it. I just started picturing it as a giant cat playing with its food.

In most of those scenes the watcher doesnt know its a monster. They have no idea that a monster could even exist. Its like if you saw something like that in real life. Most people actually do panic and slow trying to figure out what it is when something incomprehensible occurs. Good assessment of unknown danger and quick reaction time in high stress scenarios is typically a learned trait. The characters do not know they are in a monster story. They think the only danger is other people. So what kind of person is doing that to the door? That being said, I agree that while the direction is clearly trying to heighten our dread by conveying the characters confusion, it doesnt work as well since we the audience know what is there.

Its probably cause this is just the beginning of the story. Between the two seasons it’ll be 20 episodes overall and I think alot of our character arcs that will pay out later in the story are being set up here in this first seven or so episodes. So it is slow for a monster story but reasonable for a longer form character drama. The actions scene are good but the talking is kind of the point.

I agree. It kind of feels like an allegory.

Its actually a good topic to bring up right now. The whole story highlights why dehumanizing each other enough to do vicious things for profit is awful. There is always a terrible war somewhere in this world. Using storytelling to highlight why its problematic is one tool that helps people try to avoid those confrontations and work their conflicts out without loss of life. It doesn’t feel insensitive since the setting is a terrible period that happened 80 years ago. If they set it during one of the currently ongoing wars/atrocities, I might agree with you that it felt profiteering rather than thought provoking about the pitfalls of man’s inhumanity to their fellow man.

Some people found it slow. Ive noticed they typically espouse wanting more action or romance every scene. I liked both those things in this drama just as they are. This is more a drama about people living through a monstrous time encountering an actual monster who isnt as monstrous as the people who made it. So you learn alot about the characters. Plus its a 20 episode drama between the two seasons-the pacing matches that. I found it fast paced and binged the first seven episodes. Id recommend watching the first 2 yourself. Most people know after the first 2 if they feel its slow or not.

I dont see it as insta love. He’s definitely got a huge crush on her but his initial motivations for going to the prison were all about his and his made families survival. Once inside the prison they are in that heightened stress state action movies use where two characters have to rely on each other to survive so trust is formed. Despite the slow mo star struck joke scenes, at this point they are mostly like war buddies who cant leave each other behind. Which is a good foundation for more romance later if they can slide it in around the crazy monster stuff that is immediately threatening their lives.

Thats part two of season 1. Season 2 just says 2024. So no idea when it’ll drop. Given they split this season up over two quarters, they’ll likely do the same for the second season.

Yes. It has a lot of set up and characters to introduce. Most who found it boring felt it picked up with the second episode.

Its not the focus. Their connection deepens but isnt romantic as of episode 7. The main events dont really allow room for that. I do recommend you watch this but maybe wait till after you’ve got your romance fix.

They split season 1 into two parts.

First season is 10 episodes. Seven aired so far. Second season is 10 episodes. Total story will be 20 episodes.

Well our bat crap crazy scientist in this show is more obsessed with continuing his monster experiment and creating his “goddess” than the impact of his discoveries on his fellow humans. Calling the monster a goddess is why he’s bat crap crazy. Whereas Oppenheimer worked on his experiments with the idea they could benefit humanity. Naive but not bat crap crazy.

Oppenheimer didnt order the bombing and lived the rest of his life deeply horrified by the monstrous creation he helped bring into this world. He was not like the bat crap crazy mad scientist in this show.

Yeah I agree she wantex the baby putting Mistress in the hospital as likely part of her revenge. But she still wanted the Mistress kept alive. The doc definitely didn't listen to or implement that order very well. The fact Mistress was still alive to drink the water was pure luck.

A fair point on the episode count influencing the pacing. Ive made it myself. Little concerned how angry people missing that made you. You okay?

Didn’t they put the parasite in first via food and than if they didnt bash their heads in, they gave them the “serum?” If he does go proto or full monster that would be cool.

I took it to mean he didnt work with the resistance as a card carrying member. But he did help by saving lives and getting people out. Im guessing since the resistance is focused on attacking, he’s more the underground tunnel dude doing his own thing when its financially or otherwise worthwhile to him. Like he didnt intend not to save the kids. But they werent originally part of his plan, so that threw him. But give him time and reason to plan and he’ll save people. Thats probably why normal residents of gyeonseong were always respectful when talking to or about him. Want to know if your son that was stolen as a soldier is alive, pay Mr. Omniscient and he’ll find out. Want to find your daughter that was taken as a comfort woman, pay Mr. Omniscient and he’ll find
out. Etc. If he’d worked with the resistance they’d have expected him to do and die for their plans all at his own expense and he would be expected to do it even when he thought the plan was stupid or didnt agree with the goal. He’s not that self sacrificing or idealistic .