wuwei

Solid start! Uhm Ki Joon is dangerously good, getting Shin Ha Kyun vibes.

How are people finding this quality wise? Surprised by the horrible domestic ratings.

Same here, they have raws with full episodes out on youtube but can't find subs anywhere.

Excellent subs HPriest, very much appreciated!

Haven't watched a Japanese dorama in ageeees, so it's super fun to have found this gem. All quality so far, and acting is stellar. There's a sense of refreshment I feel watching this — given the naturalistic approach to direction & camera work, which I've been so distanced from in kdramaland (hard to experience unless you're watching PD Ahn Pan Seok — Something in the rain, Heard it through the grapevine etc.). Also have a fondness for Takayuki's character - partially because he's an awesome actor, and partially because I'm also a programmer by profession haha :)

So I tried to get into this, as I greatly admire the screenwriter + Jo Seung Wo (Secret Forest was the best thing last year imo). And while writing & acting remains top tier — I fail to understand how this work got into the hands of a PD with such an uninspiring lense. Lackluster production and camera work all around. There's so much to work with here, so much potential & nuance in narrative — but it falls flat in too many areas of execution imo. May stay around for JSW's character + narrative, but a Secret Forest this is not, sadly. Would love to see Lee Soo Yeon team up with a PD like Kim Won Suk (My mister, Signal) in the future.

Ratings are in general very inflated here.

And cool, anyone who adores Resurrection has excellent taste in my book haha.

Yeah haven't written him off completely. He's likable and has a unique aura. Just hopes he practices self awareness and tones it down with the Kkangpae brother. Super distracting, tonally.

Always skeptical of idols landing main roles, but Nara has gladly impressed me, both here and in My Mister. Easy to tell when someone puts effort in their craft, and she has that "it" factor going on for her as well. Hope she lands a meatier role in the future.

Yeah truly disgusting.. And what's with the ear grabbing, I don't get it lol. Heo Sung Tae is excellent in psychopath roles though. I remember being equally disgusted yet amazed by the authenticity & controlled intenseness of his acting in cross (2018).

The conception of good ratings is so interesting here. If a show doesn't rate 9 or higher people get disappointed, I think ratings in general are rather inflated on this site. In my eyes 8.1 is an extremely good score. 6 and below would account for a range of ok/average to terrible shows.

My biggest problem with this show is it starts out as a revenge show. We are introduced to Bong Sang Pil— a truly tortured soul, who seeks to crush those who hurt the one person closest to him. Then somehow halfway through, it morphs into a standard action-romance justified by adding the "punish them through justice rather then revenge" trope. And I'm sorry but I'm not buying it. Nothing is wrong with the trope per say, but it has to feel believable, and instead it felt like "Bong Sang Pil gave up his revenge because the plot required it."

Good enough world building, and the execution of this show has been very engaging so far. However, while Yoon Shi Yoon's role is resemblant of the main lead of my favourite show of all time (resurrection, 2005) — it's sad to see his overacting distract from what otherwise would be an even more compelling show.

He's definitely not talentless, and sparks of his charisma do appear when he plays the stoical lawyer. I also think he does emoting really well. But he needs to tone it down, especially when playing the "thug-like" brother Han Kang Ho.

Lacklustre world building, shame because the premise was interesting. Good acting all around (albeit Yoo Oh Sung has a tendency to overact), and the leads have great chemistry. Sadly the last segment drops the ball completely.

Yep, in the same boat.. Episode 8 was slightly better, but it's really a hit or miss at this point, which indicates a lack of harmony in narrative and direction — and a perfect recipe for failure, or worse; mediocrity.

Haha indeed, all I regret with Misty is not being being able to devour all episodes at once.. Should've waited xD

Yeah his voice is something else.. Don't know how many times I've listened to Painful Love by now, but those 1 hour on-repeat videos on YT are rather useful haha. The song reminds somewhat of the OST "Don't Love Me" from the drama "The Devil".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqMVQsdmvbQ&t=50s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_y3ZtmZ2lE

Love, love, love the OST for this show. Has that classic Kdrama feel and perfectly encapsulates Misty's atmosphere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzw1E6yq8Uo

I'd 2nd the Korean remake of Shiroi Kyoto (White tower). Up there with the best I've seen. Highly regarded as a classic in Korea - was a ratings winner, but more revered for it's quality. The Japanese version is definitely up there as well, if that's your thing.

Other then that - if you're looking for one where the main lead is similar to Kang In Kyu (narcissistic, highly competent & revenge seeking) — Brain (2011) might be up your ally. Lazy writing but what makes it an enjoyable watch is Shin Ha Kyun's phenomenal acting. I believe he won a Daesang for this role. Love story wasn't too bad either lol - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eS8JDDbYME

I'd stay far away from Yong Pal. Had an interesting premise & strong cast, but the writing & directing fired off in all wrong tangents as the plot "progressed".