Coming into this as someone that read the webtoon and enjoyed it years prior to the live action adaptation, this show disappointed me within the first 20 minutes. Your review captured everything I was feeling in those minutes while I watched the rest hoping it'd redeem itself.
I'd seen the positive reaction it got while it was airing and figured it was because they faithfully adapted it and that it was a deserved reaction. Unfortunately I was wrong, the show seems to have rewritten multiple aspects of the story (specifically parts that you criticize here). Injects a religious sentiment both in imagery and messaging towards the concept of death and its consequences to be used as a cudgel against those who are suicidal. The most glaring part to me was the inclusion of the very human concepts of heaven, hell, and purgatory which were not explicitly present in the webtoon.
It seemed to me that it was trying very hard to be appealing to all audiences with its constant fake-outs and twists, sad slowmo crying/romance scenes, and hard action sequences. It never really tries to criticize the society or systems in place that would drive any of the circumstances of the characters present. Instead it says: "This is bad, don't do that". Just a huge mess overall, I do not plan on watching part 2.
I appreciate your review. If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading the webtoon as there's much more nuance to its portrayal of mortality, the characters, human circumstance, and its messaging towards the appreciation of life. A lot of things you call out here are more fleshed out and addressed within the narrative. I can't say it's a masterpiece, there are definitely still problems with it, but it's certainly better told than this unempathetic preachy drama.
I'd seen the positive reaction it got while it was airing and figured it was because they faithfully adapted it and that it was a deserved reaction. Unfortunately I was wrong, the show seems to have rewritten multiple aspects of the story (specifically parts that you criticize here). Injects a religious sentiment both in imagery and messaging towards the concept of death and its consequences to be used as a cudgel against those who are suicidal. The most glaring part to me was the inclusion of the very human concepts of heaven, hell, and purgatory which were not explicitly present in the webtoon.
It seemed to me that it was trying very hard to be appealing to all audiences with its constant fake-outs and twists, sad slowmo crying/romance scenes, and hard action sequences. It never really tries to criticize the society or systems in place that would drive any of the circumstances of the characters present. Instead it says: "This is bad, don't do that". Just a huge mess overall, I do not plan on watching part 2.
I appreciate your review. If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading the webtoon as there's much more nuance to its portrayal of mortality, the characters, human circumstance, and its messaging towards the appreciation of life. A lot of things you call out here are more fleshed out and addressed within the narrative. I can't say it's a masterpiece, there are definitely still problems with it, but it's certainly better told than this unempathetic preachy drama.