now that i'm rewatching, this show is a lot better than i remembered. maybe because i was too young to fully contextualize the symbolism and themes
i haven't really seen anyone mention this but the undercurrents of the show were very evangelion-esque especially towards the end of the show. i wonder if the screenwriter took inspiration from hideaki anno because the parallels are uncanny
Idk why something that is already animated needs a drama/live action. Ik i'm not saying anything new, but I hate…
who cares honestly its not like the original material amounts to anything more than generic shounen slop. and i don't mean that in an entirely bad way since it is entertaining in that regard.
but i don't think this is any more of a cash grab than the anime was which probably has a lot more underpaid and overworked staff than a netflix show would
okay so a few thoughts after finishing before i write an actual review:
- LJW was stellar- his acting just keeps getting better and better, he can really adapt to any role. i wish he wore the long hair more because he looked gorgeous in the first episode😭 kim jae wook also really stood out to me as he really encapsulated the Prince's depraved and manic psyche, just a phenomenal performance. the rest of the cast did great as well outside of Ga Ram who was just okay
- the middle of the show felt like it started to drag a bit, the pace simultaneously felt like it built up too fast and nothing much was really happening. thankfully episodes 8 & 9 did pick up and deliver with the suspense, emotional intensity, brilliant fight direction & choreography etc. and were probably my favorite episodes outside of the first few
- the storytelling and pacing although good could've been better. would've appreciated more worldbuilding and more fun/natural interactions between the 2 leads since their development felt slightly rushed. a lot of loose ends like the Snow Man and more which i won't get into for the sake of spoilers. also the big reveal felt kind of anticlimatic storytelling wise.
- the production was pretty much unparalleled. gorgeous dark color grading, dynamic camera work, brilliant direction, LJW's sword choreography; list can go on. even with the sets and costumes not being as refined as AOS, the cinematography managed to look more pictureque imo. loved the OST obviously, it really does pull on your heart strings
episodes 8 & 9 have been the best so far, it kind of started to drag a bit in the middle but it's picking up. production is still fantastic, every episode feels like a standalone movie
only 7.9 is crazy i swear people are rating low just because of the trope of him pretending to be her brother. because otherwise i don't see how such a visually stunning and beautifully directed show deserves less than an 8.5
tropes aren't inherently bad, that's like reading the sypnosis of a show and calling it derivative just because you've seen shows that are similar. you're not engaging with the story and themes at all
it's moreso about the execution which is flawless here. some of the most gorgeous directing and cinematography i've seen in a kdrama, the acting and script is great from what i've seen so far as well
i'll go in with an open mind but jaewook's talents are being wasted working with this director
i hope they at least have a season 2 planned...
i haven't really seen anyone mention this but the undercurrents of the show were very evangelion-esque especially towards the end of the show. i wonder if the screenwriter took inspiration from hideaki anno because the parallels are uncanny
but i don't think this is any more of a cash grab than the anime was which probably has a lot more underpaid and overworked staff than a netflix show would
ljw didn't really do any action prior to AOS and he was great in dear hongrang
- LJW was stellar- his acting just keeps getting better and better, he can really adapt to any role. i wish he wore the long hair more because he looked gorgeous in the first episode😭 kim jae wook also really stood out to me as he really encapsulated the Prince's depraved and manic psyche, just a phenomenal performance. the rest of the cast did great as well outside of Ga Ram who was just okay
- the middle of the show felt like it started to drag a bit, the pace simultaneously felt like it built up too fast and nothing much was really happening. thankfully episodes 8 & 9 did pick up and deliver with the suspense, emotional intensity, brilliant fight direction & choreography etc. and were probably my favorite episodes outside of the first few
- the storytelling and pacing although good could've been better. would've appreciated more worldbuilding and more fun/natural interactions between the 2 leads since their development felt slightly rushed. a lot of loose ends like the Snow Man and more which i won't get into for the sake of spoilers. also the big reveal felt kind of anticlimatic storytelling wise.
- the production was pretty much unparalleled. gorgeous dark color grading, dynamic camera work, brilliant direction, LJW's sword choreography; list can go on. even with the sets and costumes not being as refined as AOS, the cinematography managed to look more pictureque imo. loved the OST obviously, it really does pull on your heart strings
it's moreso about the execution which is flawless here. some of the most gorgeous directing and cinematography i've seen in a kdrama, the acting and script is great from what i've seen so far as well