namopanik

But they wouldn't try to rely on delivering strength and uniqueness of a male lead on him randomly abusing people. Why make a step back when writing a female lead? Aah, idk. Let's see how it'll turn.

I fear this drama may have the same issue Strong Woman had: it tries to use violence for comic relief (and adds whole filler-y groups of people roaming around). I don't have a huge problem with girl's personality in general (I read many bad comments though), you can imagine how her life shaped her that way and it's just a starting point, but don't have much trust in a drama made with that mindset.

Also: am I the only one disappointed that in a drama that was supposed to be about lowlives and their struggles half of the main cast are poor rich kids? They don't even have a full line in a synopsis, but in reality a lot of screentime is devoted to them.

why so low? any religious feelings hurt again? Don't tell me you're rating it low because it's creepy when it was supposed to be exactly this.

Stranger's writer

Apparently they're abandoning it in KBS2. School 2017 and Manhole are also this way.

A friendly heads-up since it's lacking a horror tag, but doesn't have enough horror parts to bother making an update. If the last three people saying it's creepy failed to convince you I repeat: it is creepy and has a few jumpscares (or my nerves are that poor). I started watching it late at night and failed miserably.
Overall solid movie, but the ending is a bit chaotic.

future watchers: wait for better subs, those are barely understandable (but the image is clear if you want to take a peek to judge whether it's worth the ticket)

Full disclosure: I saw it with google translator-quality subs, but I honestly don't think it would be much less confusing with better ones (but by all means, wait). It's definitely a movie to see on a big screen to be fully immersed and blown away, especially with the finale. If that's your type of things of course.
It falls somewhere between what a 2017 American Psycho would be and Neon Demon. An over 2 hours music video with some excuse of a plot (but not much of it) imploding under its own weight. Absolutely coherent visually, stunning in a way, you can see an insane amount of money pumped into making it, but with so many WTF moments I stopped counting. To keep sanity I'm choosing to believe none of this was real and it was all a figment of a sick, drugged, hypnotised mind, there were never a wannabe doppelganger, those mafia and casino mumbo jumbo etc. It was all a wet dream of a certain type of a glamorous lifestyle. Imagine one of those stories with an unreliable narrator, but here's a twist: we never come back to the reality and he loses himself in a process. (But then, what was the point? If he never works through his trauma of losing the bloodied guy?)
Argh, I don't know. But to my own surprise I didn't hate it and it lives up to the trailer visually.
/the more I think of it, the more I like it.
//no, I take Neon Demon back (partly). It's so Only God Forgives and it doesn't even try to be subtle about it!

Lol, and that's why you don't write reviews with all 10s weeks before something is finished.

No, I think his condition was essential.
1. It made him more dubious and less relatable for the viewers, helping with 'don't trust anyone including main characters' theme. He wasn't restricted with human emotions, hence capable of anything. On the other hand, some scenes when his behaviour would be questionable for someone else (like staying in the shadow and watching Eun Soo being strangled) were easier to swallow. He was out of the norm. And it speeds things up, we don't waste time on panicking and stuff.
2. His demeanor sets him apart, alienating him from other prosecutors without making him unnecessarily self-righteous. He was respected for his expertise I guess, but not really liked or trusted. He had very little connection with others, so he was always a perfect candidate for someone to run a purge. There was never a doubt that his judgment could be tainted with his personal goals, little vengeances or lighter treatment for allies.
3. Similar to point 1, when the information about his condition and past leaked, it made his situation harder for a moment.
4. The break-down after Eun Soo death had more impact.
5. It's always an interesting question: if you take emotions away, what's left (a sense of a superiority?)? Interesting problem no.2, how do you (the writer, I mean) handle a development between two main characters of opposite sex in a kdrama when falling in love is not really an option? (Or, how far you must go to avoid writing a romantic subplot? Because we already tried something that threw half the potential viewers away in ep 1 of Whisper and it didn't work.)


But here's a thing. I was trying to watch it in packs of 4 episodes, so at some point I had a two weeks break filled with other shows and I genuinely forgot for a good 20-30 minutes of watching that Shi-mok is supposed to have a part of his brain cut out, because Jo Seung Woo is anything but stone in his role. There were so many subtle expressions on his face!

me too! I rated it very early, something I usually avoid doing and ever since I catch myself wanting to give it even more than a 10. I'm out of scale. So glad it's getting recognition and the score reached 9.0! I hope it stays on the top so more people will find out about this gem.
/and still climbing up!

Well, it doesn't tear off like Queen of Mystery did, but I can't say the ending is competely devoided of s2 hints. However, I doubt there will be a 2nd season and don't feel a need for it or see a way of making it without reusing the formula. The overarching case was solved as far as it was possible taking the circumstances into account. Those hints are faint and treated more in a manner of life going on and spreading beyond what was shown. It's complete as it is.

That was magnificent. I'm questioning my whole pre-Forest of Secrets drama experience. Looking forward to writer's next work.

it's more than a friendship from what I heard. Won x Rin were pretty much a thing, but here it's just a running joke of San low-key misunderstanding or playing on them pretending she does + some residual throwaway remarks here and there.

I think it was, but it's hard to tell, he was wearing a full suit and only shown what wasn't covered of his face for a few seconds.

Agree this site is actor-centric, but you can check those informations on many different sites - writers and directors out of all people aren't hard to find. This feature was long suggested and is said to be launched during the next update. Complaining on random drama pages is of no use. http://mydramalist.com/discussions/suggestions is a proper page to suggest things or vote for them. Alternatively, you can propose a change in a synopsis and add a line about writer and director in it.

Twist: no one dies in the entire movie.
An interesting perspective of an assassin playing a peeping Tom. Here's an idea: being an assassin isn't just fights and chases, but waiting and staring and thinking. Slow-burner, but nothing to cut out. I read comments beforehand (here and in other places) and approached it expecting long shots of nothing happening, but that's not true at all! I understand some scenes may seem longer, but it's a matter of perception and attitude - I checked time on those mentioned by other commenters and what seemed like a 3 minutes ride lasted in fact no more than half of a minute or even a few seconds. Same goes for the birch forest or that scene towards the end, with two woman in black and white standing on the top of a mountain. And many others. There is a story too, even a backstory. Just not very much for it. And I'm fine with it.

Oh, I pity the King too as a person. But I'm having a hard time sympathising with anyone right now. People, you have a mad king on board and he's completely out of control. A proper solution is either doing it kindly, deposing him and letting him to recuperate in some quiet place where he can do no harm to the entire population and everyone he knows, stuffing himself with whatever herb Joseon knows for his illness or killing him off quietly. Intead they settle a rebellion, a counter-rebellion and a bloody civil war getting everyone killed. Not just everyone we know and like - hundreds and thousands of more or less innocent people. I'm just past the point of joing Team Walkers was it a GOT, because everyone is either crazy or doomed. I wish Shin Seo Gun was loyal to the state, not blindly following the king because he thinks it's a right thing to do.
And I blame the late king too. It all started with his idea of favouring one child over other when he had little evidence of their capacities or mental stability.
What I like about this drama is that it hints that things could have ended differently and they could all be one happy family. But at this point it's extremely frustrating to watch.

Ok, but why is no-one talking about the Queen and the lady in black (a concubine?)? The King isn't completely unloved and alone. He has a sweet wife and an understanding lover who may be planning something on a side, but has some partiality towards him too. Not to mention a loyal minister.

I imagined him as a younger version of Choi Min Soo's kings at first (but he clearly won't hold on long enough to become one of them).