This review may contain spoilers
Sometimes it feels like I watched a different show...
You ever feel that way? You see all the hype and love for a show and then when you watch it, and you feel like you watched a completely different series. Here's my take on it.
I was in it for the vibes of 80's gangster craziness, especially when they brought out those brick cell phones and suit jackets with shoulder pads, that completely disappeared by episode 5. But by episode 5 I'm was in it for the long haul. Which to me, impacted my liking of the main couple and show overall. As a montage 80's style gangster movie, it wasn't so ridiculous to think the ML could be a secretly kindhearted individual, but going into drama mode with a more serious tone made the love story clash with the plot(s) because there's no freaking way a leader of a Triad would be that way in a more drama focused story telling.
I don't understand the hype this couple has based on all the comments also. The slow burn romance is a bit too slow burn and nothing really happens until closer to the end of episode 8, but that's also because the ML's really don't interact alone together through most of the show. The ML's really needed more one on one time to build a deeper relationship to make it feel more reasonable why episode 9 happened the way it did. That's not to say they didn't have good chemistry, their interactions felt fluid and natural, not forced or uncomfortable at all. But I wouldn't say it was butterflies in my stomach or sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation of them being on screen together levels. If you want some good anticipation and amazing chemistry between two characters, go watch To My Shore, it won't disappoint but it is dark as hell.
I actually liked what everyone else seems to dislike, the introduction of the police as the next plot point. I felt like this was better for the overall story then the continued gang conflict that really wasn't working any more for the change in tone. Story progress picked up at episode 8, which is what made the ending of episode 9 so jarring. The twist, in my opinion, really wasn't much of a twist.
Overall if you enjoy watching absolute craziness that tapers off into a slow burn romance drama, this is probably a great show for you. But if you are looking for that craziness all the way through, sorry but this show will disappoint. I don't think this was a terrible show and I enjoyed every second of it for it's intention and ambition, but I definitely don't agree with the majority of reviews this show has gotten.
I was in it for the vibes of 80's gangster craziness, especially when they brought out those brick cell phones and suit jackets with shoulder pads, that completely disappeared by episode 5. But by episode 5 I'm was in it for the long haul. Which to me, impacted my liking of the main couple and show overall. As a montage 80's style gangster movie, it wasn't so ridiculous to think the ML could be a secretly kindhearted individual, but going into drama mode with a more serious tone made the love story clash with the plot(s) because there's no freaking way a leader of a Triad would be that way in a more drama focused story telling.
I don't understand the hype this couple has based on all the comments also. The slow burn romance is a bit too slow burn and nothing really happens until closer to the end of episode 8, but that's also because the ML's really don't interact alone together through most of the show. The ML's really needed more one on one time to build a deeper relationship to make it feel more reasonable why episode 9 happened the way it did. That's not to say they didn't have good chemistry, their interactions felt fluid and natural, not forced or uncomfortable at all. But I wouldn't say it was butterflies in my stomach or sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation of them being on screen together levels. If you want some good anticipation and amazing chemistry between two characters, go watch To My Shore, it won't disappoint but it is dark as hell.
I actually liked what everyone else seems to dislike, the introduction of the police as the next plot point. I felt like this was better for the overall story then the continued gang conflict that really wasn't working any more for the change in tone. Story progress picked up at episode 8, which is what made the ending of episode 9 so jarring. The twist, in my opinion, really wasn't much of a twist.
Overall if you enjoy watching absolute craziness that tapers off into a slow burn romance drama, this is probably a great show for you. But if you are looking for that craziness all the way through, sorry but this show will disappoint. I don't think this was a terrible show and I enjoyed every second of it for it's intention and ambition, but I definitely don't agree with the majority of reviews this show has gotten.
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