Vengeance with style, but with "superpowers" out of nowhere
The Manipulated (조각도시) marks a solid and highly anticipated return to the screen for Ji Chang-wook. The opening is intense and heartbreaking; the setup is so well-constructed that it keeps you on the edge of your seat, desperate to see how the events will unfold.
However, as the story progresses, we hit some "suspension of disbelief" hurdles:
The "Super-Delivery" Man: Tae-jung goes from being a mild-mannered delivery guy with no special background to suddenly having the physical strength and elite skills to take down prison gangsters, wealthy elites, and a corrupt governor. I know it’s fiction, but the exaggeration is a bit much, it’s hard to stay convinced when he basically becomes an invincible action hero overnight.
Do Kyung-soo is brilliant: His portrayal of An Yo-han is sinister. He genuinely makes you believe he’s a psychopath. While his bad boy performance is top-tier, I felt the script lacked depth regarding his motives. Why is he like this? Also, the blind woman who follows him, who seems to be his actual mother, remains a mystery. I missed having more information on their dynamic.
Pacing & Side Characters: The show is incredibly addictive from episodes 1 to 4, but it loses steam afterward. In the end, the protagonist resolves everything on his own. He has three friends, but they never truly help; they feel like minor additions rather than meaningful characters.
The Highlights:
I absolutely loved Mr. Yong-sik. He is a good, loyal man and a true friend. I’m so glad he survived and managed to make peace with his daughter.
What was missing:
I really wanted to see the villain behind bars and find out what happened to the blind nanny. She supported him through everything, yet her fate is left hanging in the air once he falls. Some of the chase scenes were a bit too unbelievable, but hey, that’s K-drama action for you.
Overall: A strong action series that hooks you early on, even if it asks you to ignore logic towards the end.
However, as the story progresses, we hit some "suspension of disbelief" hurdles:
The "Super-Delivery" Man: Tae-jung goes from being a mild-mannered delivery guy with no special background to suddenly having the physical strength and elite skills to take down prison gangsters, wealthy elites, and a corrupt governor. I know it’s fiction, but the exaggeration is a bit much, it’s hard to stay convinced when he basically becomes an invincible action hero overnight.
Do Kyung-soo is brilliant: His portrayal of An Yo-han is sinister. He genuinely makes you believe he’s a psychopath. While his bad boy performance is top-tier, I felt the script lacked depth regarding his motives. Why is he like this? Also, the blind woman who follows him, who seems to be his actual mother, remains a mystery. I missed having more information on their dynamic.
Pacing & Side Characters: The show is incredibly addictive from episodes 1 to 4, but it loses steam afterward. In the end, the protagonist resolves everything on his own. He has three friends, but they never truly help; they feel like minor additions rather than meaningful characters.
The Highlights:
I absolutely loved Mr. Yong-sik. He is a good, loyal man and a true friend. I’m so glad he survived and managed to make peace with his daughter.
What was missing:
I really wanted to see the villain behind bars and find out what happened to the blind nanny. She supported him through everything, yet her fate is left hanging in the air once he falls. Some of the chase scenes were a bit too unbelievable, but hey, that’s K-drama action for you.
Overall: A strong action series that hooks you early on, even if it asks you to ignore logic towards the end.
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