This review may contain spoilers
Great in the beginning but fell short halfway through
This was a decent series in the first three episodes. I saw them setting up the plot for the long run, but due to unfortunate circumstances and casting revisions (therefore slight plot changes?), it didn’t deliver in the end. I am a little over halfway done with the last episode as I write this and I just can’t wait for it to be over with tbh.
I LOVED the casting, the “OG” crew with Mr. Choi and Hyeonju and the two knifers. I believed they were an important part of why I cared about anything in the show - the “found family” trope was strong, especially since it could be traced to one person (Mr. Choi + his ride or dies + his granddaughter, later adding Woojin + Gunwoo). I knew they wouldn’t all survive and I was ready for it, but not in the way it panned out.
The knifers had been in this business for YEARS. They were actively planning on taking down the guy who brought the downfall of their organization years ago. It’s hard to believe they would be so careless as to leave personal items behind to trace their loved ones or look at a busted door alarm and not be super vigilant since you’re in the MIDDLE of an organizational takedown. I knew they’d have to fight, but there’s just no way they’d be ambushed due to these details.
And of course with everything that had happened with Saeron, her scenes were cut
to show her minimally and only up to what was important to the initial plot, but I feel like because of that, it lacked any luster after Mr. Choi died. Her character had a fierce personality and she was learning the ways of that “career path;” it’s hard to believe that she’d let these deaths go so easily and fly off to Rome by herself (not even inviting the 2 main leads who her grandfather wanted to go with after this mission). Her disappearance caused the plot to be lost a little in the overall revenge, especially because she was so important from the get-go. This started with Mr. Choi and even if they got other people involved with him to help bring him the revenge that was deserved, it didn’t make as much impact as if it were Hyeonju who helped end things.
Even the introduction to Mr. Oh’s granddaughter felt like too much replication of the plot (with her wanting to help her grandfather and randomly being a great archer, etc.). It wasn’t the fix that this show needed, and I don’t think anything other than having Hyeonju finish it would have helped in my opinion.
Even the ending where Gunwoo was buddying up with the criminals who pretended to be homeless & stole their IDs was completely out of character. He has a high sense of justice and even if they needed his help to take down the bigger evil, I don’t believe he would be so casually joyful with them because of the things he’d done to the weak/people with disabilities.
The original casting was amazing though; I love Dohwan and watched this for him! I love the camaraderie of Woojin + Gunwoo, the budding of Hyeonju’s character opening up, the knifers’ loyalty and expertise.
The fight scenes were so fun to watch and really well choreographed. I was on the edge of my seat when the knifers had their last fight, and every time the 2 main leads were able to show off their boxing/fighting skills as well.
This series had great potential and it’s so unfortunate that Saeron had to be edited out so much, and that this was her last project fulfilled. Her scenes were powerful and important. I hope since there are talks of a second season, it makes more sense in terms of plot and consistency overall.
I LOVED the casting, the “OG” crew with Mr. Choi and Hyeonju and the two knifers. I believed they were an important part of why I cared about anything in the show - the “found family” trope was strong, especially since it could be traced to one person (Mr. Choi + his ride or dies + his granddaughter, later adding Woojin + Gunwoo). I knew they wouldn’t all survive and I was ready for it, but not in the way it panned out.
The knifers had been in this business for YEARS. They were actively planning on taking down the guy who brought the downfall of their organization years ago. It’s hard to believe they would be so careless as to leave personal items behind to trace their loved ones or look at a busted door alarm and not be super vigilant since you’re in the MIDDLE of an organizational takedown. I knew they’d have to fight, but there’s just no way they’d be ambushed due to these details.
And of course with everything that had happened with Saeron, her scenes were cut
to show her minimally and only up to what was important to the initial plot, but I feel like because of that, it lacked any luster after Mr. Choi died. Her character had a fierce personality and she was learning the ways of that “career path;” it’s hard to believe that she’d let these deaths go so easily and fly off to Rome by herself (not even inviting the 2 main leads who her grandfather wanted to go with after this mission). Her disappearance caused the plot to be lost a little in the overall revenge, especially because she was so important from the get-go. This started with Mr. Choi and even if they got other people involved with him to help bring him the revenge that was deserved, it didn’t make as much impact as if it were Hyeonju who helped end things.
Even the introduction to Mr. Oh’s granddaughter felt like too much replication of the plot (with her wanting to help her grandfather and randomly being a great archer, etc.). It wasn’t the fix that this show needed, and I don’t think anything other than having Hyeonju finish it would have helped in my opinion.
Even the ending where Gunwoo was buddying up with the criminals who pretended to be homeless & stole their IDs was completely out of character. He has a high sense of justice and even if they needed his help to take down the bigger evil, I don’t believe he would be so casually joyful with them because of the things he’d done to the weak/people with disabilities.
The original casting was amazing though; I love Dohwan and watched this for him! I love the camaraderie of Woojin + Gunwoo, the budding of Hyeonju’s character opening up, the knifers’ loyalty and expertise.
The fight scenes were so fun to watch and really well choreographed. I was on the edge of my seat when the knifers had their last fight, and every time the 2 main leads were able to show off their boxing/fighting skills as well.
This series had great potential and it’s so unfortunate that Saeron had to be edited out so much, and that this was her last project fulfilled. Her scenes were powerful and important. I hope since there are talks of a second season, it makes more sense in terms of plot and consistency overall.
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