Important Story, Uneven Execution
With an A-list cast led by Ha Ji-won and Ju Ji-hoon, the drama dives into the dark relationship between money, celebrity, exploitation, and the entertainment industry. It touches on the kind of sinister power dynamics the world has seen repeatedly and tragically and for that alone, I think Climax deserves credit. It agitates an uncomfortable but important subject in a raw and necessary way.I
Unfortunately, where it lost me was in the actual execution.
As strong as the premise was, I found the cinematic choices weak. There were stylistic flourishes, blurred transitions, nonlinear storytelling decisions, and visual techniques that felt more distracting than effective. Instead of elevating the material, they often made the drama feel oddly amateurish and flat. It gave the impression of a director who perhaps didn’t have a full grasp on how to shape such heavy subject matter.Kudos though to the queer storylines. They added a good mix of push and pull factor but yet again, the show flails around.
The screenplay also felt tired in places. Some arcs were rushed, others underdeveloped. In particular, I thought the prosecutor’s storyline had real potential and nuance, but it never received the depth it deserved. Too much focus was placed on Ha Ji-won’s character at the expense of other compelling threads.I also felt the actors weren’t always guided properly. Ju Ji-hoon, who is usually excellent at portraying intensity and layered charisma, felt uneven here.
Because of all this, I ended up dropping the drama after the first few episodes and only tuned back in for the finale.
That said, I still think Climax is significant. Social commentary-wise, it’s aiming high. Thematically, it’s saying something important. But dramas need more than intention - they really need craft.
There was a genuinely good drama buried in here somewhere, unfortunately, it just never fully emerged.
Unfortunately, where it lost me was in the actual execution.
As strong as the premise was, I found the cinematic choices weak. There were stylistic flourishes, blurred transitions, nonlinear storytelling decisions, and visual techniques that felt more distracting than effective. Instead of elevating the material, they often made the drama feel oddly amateurish and flat. It gave the impression of a director who perhaps didn’t have a full grasp on how to shape such heavy subject matter.Kudos though to the queer storylines. They added a good mix of push and pull factor but yet again, the show flails around.
The screenplay also felt tired in places. Some arcs were rushed, others underdeveloped. In particular, I thought the prosecutor’s storyline had real potential and nuance, but it never received the depth it deserved. Too much focus was placed on Ha Ji-won’s character at the expense of other compelling threads.I also felt the actors weren’t always guided properly. Ju Ji-hoon, who is usually excellent at portraying intensity and layered charisma, felt uneven here.
Because of all this, I ended up dropping the drama after the first few episodes and only tuned back in for the finale.
That said, I still think Climax is significant. Social commentary-wise, it’s aiming high. Thematically, it’s saying something important. But dramas need more than intention - they really need craft.
There was a genuinely good drama buried in here somewhere, unfortunately, it just never fully emerged.
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