Unromantically Scary
Summary (domestic violence, graphic images): It’s hard to describe this one, definitely an unusual show. The Netflix preview and synopsis (to me) made the show seem like it would be a light-hearted SCI-FI romcom. Instead, it was a horror/thriller/mystery with hardly any romance/comedy, storyline or plot twists that led to loose ends, idiotic characters (who gravitated toward danger), and unnecessary or excessive killing off of characters. I was left livid towards the end (especially with who they killed off in Episode 14) and wished I had dropped the show way earlier. Also, if you’re triggered by scenes of domestic or extreme violence, I recommend to avoid this movie. I had to take breaks and watch other dramas in between episodes because I couldn’t sleep at night after this show. Lol. Not a re-watch for me. Other than that, it seemed like a good thriller/mystery (keeps you guessing) for those who are into that. There’s also some interesting outtakes and bloopers at the end of the last episode — got to see the filmmakers’ hard work in putting the show together.
Details: At first, the storyline seemed interestingly unique with the sci-fi inspiration and not the typical lead characters in a Korean drama, which was nice. However, the show went dark just in the second episode with all kinds of shocking character behavior and suddenly violent crimes in the small town. It would be fine if that’s the kind of movie I expected but I was hoping for a sci-fi colored romcom. Another thing that was bothersome was how Moon Jang-yeol verbally bullied Bong Ye-bun and even slammed her to the ground like a rag doll. Jinjja? Large, angry cop vs. petite, timid vet? I didn’t find that funny at all. In real life, she might have suffered bone fractures and loss of consciousness from being slammed on concrete like that. Not sure what made the filmmakers think it was comical for a 6-foot man to physically beat a 5ish-foot woman but it really irked me. (Hence, the lower score.) I wish I stopped watching the movie at that point. This same actor also played a character in which he was verbally abusive to the female lead in “Oh My Ladylord” so I found it a bit disturbing. He also played a mean (but non-abusive) character in “The Beauty Inside” but I’m not sure about other movies. He’s a really good actor though.
I wish there was more of a focus on the sci-fi element, which WAS interesting and funny and I think made Bong Ye-bun a waaayyyy better detective than Moon Jang-yeol, considering that that wasn’t even closely related to her profession. Even though she was mousy and caved into other people’s demands, she had way more cajones than a lot of those men in that town and sought justice when there was no one else to do it. On the flip side, Bong Ye-bun and other characters were infuriating to watch as they would run towards the killer (ALONE) in an attempt to find more clues, which was what also made me take breaks from the show. I get that it’s typical character behavior in a horror type movie but I still hate it. The filmmakers also killed off way too many characters, especially her love interest, who could have provided Bong Ye-bun some really important information at the end about the killer. I also think that if Bong Ye-bun actually listened to Moon Jang-yeol about no longer getting involved, some of the characters might have not died. I think leaving some of the key characters alive would have made a better ending. As a horror/thriller/mystery, it did keep me on my toes about who the real killer was. But as a potential sci-fi romcom, it failed so many of my expectations for science, romance, and comedy as those elements were sparse throughout the series, especially the sci-fi part which was never quite explained at the end. Also, some character behavior seemed contradictory; how does someone all the sudden decide to murder everyone?
Side Notes (or rather questions):
- Wae-yo do Korean or Chinese shows like to do close-up of a guy drinking water and the water dripping down their neck?? LOLOLOL. I don’t get it. Is that considered sexy in some Asian cultures?
- Why did Moon Jang-yeol leave Bong Ye-bun alone when he knew she was in danger and when all her other friends made extra effort to protect her? Especially when he was starting to fall for her?
- Why bring up Kim Seon-woo’s connection to Mujin and Cha Ju-man if it leads to nothing anyway? And was the first victim actually his mother? That was never addressed.
- Also, why bring up Bong Ye-bun’s connection to Cha Ju-man if it leads to nothing anyway? There was very little connection to this story element that seemed super important at the beginning.
- After that fight with the mob guys, how did they get them to just nicely wait for the leads to figure something out over the phone?
- The explanation for the serial killer’s motive seemed lame. Once the leads found out the truth about the serial killer, why didn’t they just disable his abilities in the first place?
- Also, why didn’t the filmmakers provide any explanations on where the powers came from? And how did more people in the town not get those same powers?
Details: At first, the storyline seemed interestingly unique with the sci-fi inspiration and not the typical lead characters in a Korean drama, which was nice. However, the show went dark just in the second episode with all kinds of shocking character behavior and suddenly violent crimes in the small town. It would be fine if that’s the kind of movie I expected but I was hoping for a sci-fi colored romcom. Another thing that was bothersome was how Moon Jang-yeol verbally bullied Bong Ye-bun and even slammed her to the ground like a rag doll. Jinjja? Large, angry cop vs. petite, timid vet? I didn’t find that funny at all. In real life, she might have suffered bone fractures and loss of consciousness from being slammed on concrete like that. Not sure what made the filmmakers think it was comical for a 6-foot man to physically beat a 5ish-foot woman but it really irked me. (Hence, the lower score.) I wish I stopped watching the movie at that point. This same actor also played a character in which he was verbally abusive to the female lead in “Oh My Ladylord” so I found it a bit disturbing. He also played a mean (but non-abusive) character in “The Beauty Inside” but I’m not sure about other movies. He’s a really good actor though.
I wish there was more of a focus on the sci-fi element, which WAS interesting and funny and I think made Bong Ye-bun a waaayyyy better detective than Moon Jang-yeol, considering that that wasn’t even closely related to her profession. Even though she was mousy and caved into other people’s demands, she had way more cajones than a lot of those men in that town and sought justice when there was no one else to do it. On the flip side, Bong Ye-bun and other characters were infuriating to watch as they would run towards the killer (ALONE) in an attempt to find more clues, which was what also made me take breaks from the show. I get that it’s typical character behavior in a horror type movie but I still hate it. The filmmakers also killed off way too many characters, especially her love interest, who could have provided Bong Ye-bun some really important information at the end about the killer. I also think that if Bong Ye-bun actually listened to Moon Jang-yeol about no longer getting involved, some of the characters might have not died. I think leaving some of the key characters alive would have made a better ending. As a horror/thriller/mystery, it did keep me on my toes about who the real killer was. But as a potential sci-fi romcom, it failed so many of my expectations for science, romance, and comedy as those elements were sparse throughout the series, especially the sci-fi part which was never quite explained at the end. Also, some character behavior seemed contradictory; how does someone all the sudden decide to murder everyone?
Side Notes (or rather questions):
- Wae-yo do Korean or Chinese shows like to do close-up of a guy drinking water and the water dripping down their neck?? LOLOLOL. I don’t get it. Is that considered sexy in some Asian cultures?
- Why did Moon Jang-yeol leave Bong Ye-bun alone when he knew she was in danger and when all her other friends made extra effort to protect her? Especially when he was starting to fall for her?
- Why bring up Kim Seon-woo’s connection to Mujin and Cha Ju-man if it leads to nothing anyway? And was the first victim actually his mother? That was never addressed.
- Also, why bring up Bong Ye-bun’s connection to Cha Ju-man if it leads to nothing anyway? There was very little connection to this story element that seemed super important at the beginning.
- After that fight with the mob guys, how did they get them to just nicely wait for the leads to figure something out over the phone?
- The explanation for the serial killer’s motive seemed lame. Once the leads found out the truth about the serial killer, why didn’t they just disable his abilities in the first place?
- Also, why didn’t the filmmakers provide any explanations on where the powers came from? And how did more people in the town not get those same powers?
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