THE PROBLEM ISN'T THE DRAMA (..okay, it is a little) BUT MOSTLY THE EXPECTATIONS
A lot of the negative comments about this drama are… understandable, but also somewhat unfair.This is a show you should go into expecting a *fun watch*, with cool fight scenes and solid entertainment value.
You should NOT go in expecting airtight logic, deep social commentary, or layers of philosophical nuance.
There is some substance, such as themes like money=power and good vs evil, but they’re handled in a very black-and-white way. The villains are almost pathologically evil... for the crime of being born rich. There’s very little moral nuance there, and if that’s something you’re looking for, you will likely be disappointed.
It’s also worth noting that this is not a romance-driven drama. A lot of criticism focuses on the “main couple” lacking chemistry, but that feels a bit beside the point. The girlfriend character exists mainly to ground the male lead emotionally, so the story isn’t particularly invested in developing their relationship. That said, I personally DID found them kind of cute together.
The pacing is uneven, for sure. Some sections are slow to the point of losing attention, while others move so quickly they barely have time to land. Some of the fight scenes also drag on longer than necessary, which can start to feel repetitive.
I do wish the show had invested more in character relationships and dynamics. But at the same time, this isn’t really a character-driven story. It’s very much plot happening because plot, rather than characters driving events through complex internal motivations. That said, I really enjoyed the “forced friendship” bonds between the heroes.
Where the drama truly shines is in the acting. Lee Jun Ho is excellent (as usual), as is Kim Hyang Gi, and Lee Chae Min delivers a very convincing evil psychopath. Even if I wish we had been given more insight into why his character is the way he is. We get a little bit, but... yeah. I personally love villains but I prefer them with a convincing backstory.
So, is it worth watching?
Yes. It’s watchable, enjoyable, and entertaining. It’s not a masterpiece (aside from some genuinely impressive CGI), and its unique premise could have been executed better. I think a lot of the negative reviews (while obviously still valid) are due to just... mismatched expectations, possibly due to a somewhat misleading Netflix blurb.
Will you enjoy it?
That really depends on what you’re expecting.
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