The best thing about this show is it’s just 8 episodes and it ends quickly if you forward, So yeah, thankfully I finished the damn thing. It’s just bad. Bad storytelling, bad acting, bad writing. Junho is a good actor but both his projects this year were probably chosen by him to do something for the masses and get a foot in the Netflix originals-verse (Cashero only as Typhoon Family was a joint production with Tvn). And after watching both the only thought I had was damn that much money spent and the final product is that badly done. Anyway, I’m disappointed for Junho. But I know he’s a good actor.
Also the writing and storytelling of this show - it’s an intersection between constipating the plot suddenly when it’s about to unfold its potential or letting it sway off course and out of control when it’s just unloading all the semi-cooked ideas the writers had. And also, Kang Sang Ung’s inner dialogue is the worst storytelling tool used for the format in which the story is told.
The girl who plays Bang Eun Mi wasn’t ready to do an action role. Her action sequences are badly acted plus her acting is also bad. She’s supposed to be this cliched Gen Z character that’s petulant, disrespecting and dismissive of authority. Her best impression of that is a knotted forehead and weird huff and puff voices she makes after action sequences that are badly performed.
Primarily, his own family, the one reason he claims to be doing all this for. That's what I have pieced together from the clues they are giving us about Baek Kihyun. Plus, the sister has come across as a dunce too, which has already ensnared her in the trap of an undercover prosecutor, who is so curious from day 1 about her life, but the sister doesn't seem to feel it's off. The cat and mouse between BKT and JGY will continue till the end of season 1. We also have to see this show from the context of the era it is set in. Right now, everything is "all the president's men and their vices", if you understand what I mean. If season 2 opens at the tail end of that era of upheaval, with the head of the snake being cut off (the President getting assassinated by none other than the director of the KCIA of the time) and then his hanging etc. We will see that both external and internal events around Baek Ki Tae will contribute to his undoing and eventual fall. This is just my theory, but since you asked lol so I explained it in a little more detail than necessary
Can't be. He is just a operations head of the meth cooking factory. Produce and handover to Baek Ki Tae. He can't dictate what happens to it after that. Nor has he been informed of this. Baek Gi Tae is a spy/undercover operative himself. He knows how important compartmentalization is. Also, he does not control how and where the Yakuza lady operates.
The guy: I was hiding this to protect this person. I was evasive cos I forgot. I can’t tell right now. I have to handle something.
then goes on a rampage of blunders and juvenile tantrums exposing himself to more damage while the lawyer is running after him in those goddamn heels. 🤦🏻♀️
I love that they have shown the girl as a competent lawyer and her competence as a lawyer isn't getting swayed by her fangirl life. I did however feel a little cringe at the start of episode 3. But the girl is acting really nice.
Now I will say the unpopular part - Do Ra Ik's character is undercooked and overly relying on Idol tropes and exaggerating the heck out of the myth of the character. Tortured idol, bad behaviour has a reason and a story, i.e. troubled past, irresponsible parent, hubris that is hiding vulnerability, jealous groupies, doesn't trust anyone, not even his legal counsel (lol), has a condition (tinnitus) that makes him curl up in a fetal like incapacitated creature. But he does end up throwing fits of tantrums and flying bouts of rage while being irresponsible about his safety and/or legal troubles, while an active investigation is going on he is walking around neighbourhoods getting beat by teen punks or having gangster outbursts, causing more drama than necessary, acting all insufferable uncooperative with his lawyer right after she lulled him into a calm and he agreed in front of reporters that he will find the killer to the very end. And when faced with the prosecutor, becoming all tongue-tied and meek. It's just a frustrating drag. Totally unnecessary. I don't feel sorry for such cartoonishly exaggerated characters.
So instead of using his mass acclaim from that cheese trap of a show (Lovely Runner) BWS is gonna continue to work in cheese traps after cheese traps? I can't take an actor seriously if they don't even change their look for a role. From project to project, all you get is BWS adorning the idol look and serving BWS.
Okay done with Episode 4. And post 3 and 4 installment this is my hot take: Episode 4 is the clumsiest of the 4 installments.
I have to say, thank goodness they didn't make Baek Ki Tae invincible. He grovels and becomes pathetic when he is in trouble. But once he survives a setback, he comes back like a predator. And Hyun Bin!!! Man has nailed this character.
JWS is still not convincing. I know he is a senior actor with acclaimed work in his filmography. I have seen his work. But in this one, his performance is a caricature of the character he's playing. Up against Hyun Bin, his acting looks lukewarm at best.
Also, Baek Ki Hyun has a backstory. Hmm.. it's funny how a character who has no screentime in the two released episodes keeps coming up in mention. Is this a foreshadowing of the role he will play in his brother's trajectory?
Jang Gun Yeong and O Ye Jin - how did they find out where the trade (fish market) will take place? How did they know that intel. They were only keeping an eye on Baek Ki Tae's movement in Osaka. They didn't know where he'd go to do the deal. And both of them disguised shabbily as two fish market carters and are following them around the whole place taking pics. In those days the cameras made a lot of noise whenever the picture was captured. How are they getting away with it?
Okay done with episode 3 and I have gotta say Cho Yeo Jung who plays Bae Geum Ji had me in her web. What a great, effortless and charming performance. I loved her. Her performance was so mesmerising, I really was transported.
And of course, Hyun Bin is just owning his character and it's magnetism. We are starting to see his flaws and insecurities. We know what will be his undoing after all. But he is really leading the pack of great acting performances.
He has been a high-budget disaster this year. Nothing has worked out cos he keeps reaching for formulaic good-guy, hot commodity male lead roles. Let's please not mention Pachinko. He attempted to break into Hollywood with that one and it was very much an LA production and not a "Lee Min Ho" star show. He had to audition for it. The role wasn't handed to him like it is in Korea. So I won't count that as "his" project.
The cat and mouse between BKT and JGY will continue till the end of season 1. We also have to see this show from the context of the era it is set in. Right now, everything is "all the president's men and their vices", if you understand what I mean. If season 2 opens at the tail end of that era of upheaval, with the head of the snake being cut off (the President getting assassinated by none other than the director of the KCIA of the time) and then his hanging etc. We will see that both external and internal events around Baek Ki Tae will contribute to his undoing and eventual fall. This is just my theory, but since you asked lol so I explained it in a little more detail than necessary
then goes on a rampage of blunders and juvenile tantrums exposing himself to more damage while the lawyer is running after him in those goddamn heels. 🤦🏻♀️
Now I will say the unpopular part - Do Ra Ik's character is undercooked and overly relying on Idol tropes and exaggerating the heck out of the myth of the character. Tortured idol, bad behaviour has a reason and a story, i.e. troubled past, irresponsible parent, hubris that is hiding vulnerability, jealous groupies, doesn't trust anyone, not even his legal counsel (lol), has a condition (tinnitus) that makes him curl up in a fetal like incapacitated creature. But he does end up throwing fits of tantrums and flying bouts of rage while being irresponsible about his safety and/or legal troubles, while an active investigation is going on he is walking around neighbourhoods getting beat by teen punks or having gangster outbursts, causing more drama than necessary, acting all insufferable uncooperative with his lawyer right after she lulled him into a calm and he agreed in front of reporters that he will find the killer to the very end. And when faced with the prosecutor, becoming all tongue-tied and meek. It's just a frustrating drag. Totally unnecessary. I don't feel sorry for such cartoonishly exaggerated characters.
I have to say, thank goodness they didn't make Baek Ki Tae invincible. He grovels and becomes pathetic when he is in trouble. But once he survives a setback, he comes back like a predator. And Hyun Bin!!! Man has nailed this character.
JWS is still not convincing. I know he is a senior actor with acclaimed work in his filmography. I have seen his work. But in this one, his performance is a caricature of the character he's playing. Up against Hyun Bin, his acting looks lukewarm at best.
Also, Baek Ki Hyun has a backstory. Hmm.. it's funny how a character who has no screentime in the two released episodes keeps coming up in mention. Is this a foreshadowing of the role he will play in his brother's trajectory?
And of course, Hyun Bin is just owning his character and it's magnetism. We are starting to see his flaws and insecurities. We know what will be his undoing after all. But he is really leading the pack of great acting performances.
Anyway, onto episode 4 now.