Reviews

A story about corruption at the highest levels of South Korean society, or so we're led to believe. Everyone's despicable. No one worth saving. Because the cruel world these people inhabit demands it. I would have preferred less self-indulgence, though.
In reality, it's a just decent thriller about three or four individuals, but not really about politics, neither corruption...

Unfortunately, in my opinion, there are too many ostensibly shocking choices thrown in just to brutalize the audience. And then, again and again, that same way of portraying relationships between women ; it can only be sad and end badly, nothing else is possible. To be honest, it really gets on my nerves seeing that all the time.

It's a twisted series in which all the characters behave strangely, solely to conceal plot points. Or to give Nana and Ha Ji-won their moment to shine. (They're brilliant in those scenes, of course.) But that's obvious, and it really annoys me. As a result, the ending feels like a real slog to get to. The first episode promised a daring story and I have to say : that's not the case.

Why is everyone breathing heavily or sighing non-stop ? I don't like having someone breathing down my neck for 10 episodes.

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Extremely serious topics addressed head-on. Unfortunately, the pacing is terribly slow at the start. The characters spend so much time repeating the same information. But the story becomes increasingly gripping as it progresses. A cliffhanger in every episode, it works. (It makes me feel uncomfortable saying that about a subject like this)

A "necessary" series (even though I don’t really like reducing a work to that). Especially when you know about the Burning Sun scandal. Of course, these aren't exactly the same events. But it's comparable because the privileged scum who destroyed the lives of dozens and dozens of women didn’t face many consequences, thanks to the active complicity of the police and the justice system. Just like in the series, an idol committed suicide ; she was helping to raise awareness about this scandal, and documents disappeared after her death. (Goo Hara) Just like in the series, these men beat, abused, drugged, and filmed their victims. And just like in the series, they were tipped off about an investigation in advance, so they were able to delete their chat room and their abominable catalog (the "Connect In" app). These wealthy men have shown no remorse, and those facing legal action are free to start all over again. (They are suspected of doing so, by the way, in France and Cambodia, according to the latest news)

As long as prison is the only response to these acts, nothing will change. That's the point. The state's justice system wants us to feel powerless. It protects those who have everything against those who have nothing.

In Honour, the victims have to take matters into their own hands. Sadly realistic. And they're three well-off women, with all the tools they need to succeed. That, too, realistic. The poor don't get justice. Neither do the dead.
A good thriller, in the end. It has a slow start. We have to get past the first three episodes. But a good thriller. Between this, Made in Korea, and Climax, Korea is sending a clear message this year.

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First of all, it's incredibly beautiful to look at.
The costumes and sets are sumptuous. No surprise there. Everything is white, red and black, or in pastel shades (fading jade and orange, washed-out blue and yellow). There's a scene with a lateral tracking shot where a character walks past transparent coloured screens in red and green, and pink and blue ; absolutely stunning ! And there are plenty of moments like that. For example, the heroine drinking her tea at night with burgundy curtains matching her dark red and black outfit and soft lantern light... there was no point in creating such a sophisticated set for just a few seconds, but they clearly wanted to do it. Well done, set designers. Well done, cinematographers.

The scenes in the snow-capped mountains, the frozen lake. The red mountains covered in powder snow that they climbed while dressed in olive and burgundy fabrics (Ep. 34)... Cold weather must be the trend this year in Chinese productions. Most of it was shot on location, in harsh weather conditions, below freezing. It must have been torture. It breaks my heart to see them breathing out mist when they speak.

The elliptical storytelling works well. It introduces the numerous characters only when it serves the plot, so I never felt overwhelmed. And yet the first few episodes bombard us with information and plot twists. It gets off to a strong, fast-paced start, and then the writing simply becomes excellent... provided, of course, that you're a fan of period costume dramas.
It never stops. There's always something happening in every episode. These writers are brilliant. The only downside : it s a bit over the top. I loved following all the twists and turns, the mysteries and the conspiracies. They probably overuse and overdo the cataclysmic situations and tragic endings for each character. However, the multiple conflicts intertwine well and their resolution comes at just the right moment. It does, unfortunately, get rather complicated in the final stretch, though. (Watch it as intended: two episodes a day, no more. Beware of the overdose)

Massive spoiler : The final episode cranks everything up to the max ; everyone has to face the inevitability of war. That's too harsh to do this to us. We believed in change ! But apparently, trying to change the system inevitably leads to death… I'm not sure I'm thrilled by that message. It's the complete opposite of the series Princess Agents, of which this is a sequel. It's the opposite of what Rebirth was trying to tell us throughout its first thirty episodes. But it's a huge middle finger to censorship. Certainly.
Does this adaptation of the books differ so much from their source material (The Legend of Chu Qiao) because of the plagiarism the author was guilty of ? I don't know if that's why.

"I Always thought the people here needed me. But I finally realized the truth. It's not that they need me, but rather, I need them. All along, I've wanted to build a world of true equality, a place that people like me could finally call home."

A great cast in which women and men are equally important, with one generation clashing with the next.

_The lead actress, Huangyang Tian Tian, on whose shoulders the entire story rests, is very young but already a seasoned performer. Born in 2007, she has been acting nonstop since she was 9. She plays Chu Qiao with dedication ; her role is certainly complex, but... she's still just a child ! And it shows when she's surrounded by all her co-stars, who are all taller and older than her. A 17-year-old playing an adult and commanding armies. And for good reason : she played the same character as a child in the series Princess Agents, of which Rebirth is a sequel set nine years later. (You can watch it without seeing the first one, but it's better if you have, of course)
There was talk of replacing her because she posted a photo of herself wearing extremely expensive earrings, which caused a backlash in China. It turns out they were counterfeits that her father was selling illegally. Well, irresponsible fathers, what a pain !
But she's definitely there. And she nails her action scenes (all of which are well choreographed). Her deadpan comedy scenes work just as well. As for the emotion… Her love for the ML takes a lot of effort to believe. It feels more like the friendship between an older brother and his little sister. To be honest, Zhuge Yue has more chemistry with his brother-in-arms, touching his hand in episode 21, or in his fights with Yan Xun of Great Yan, plucking a purple petal from his hair, or when he runs hand-in-hand with Li Ce to escape the soldiers. The latter ends up in his arms, like a princess. Haha, come to think of it, he really does have a looooot of affectionate scenes with other men. That’s perfectly fine by me. He's entitled to love. And I'd rather avoid a romance between a schoolgirl who should be at school and a thirty-something grown-ass, if possible. (For goodness sake ! Thankfully, they managed to avoid that)

_Zhuge Yue, the male lead, I didn't really like his drastic change in personality. After all those trials and tribulations, to end up like that ? No. I appreciate seeing characters develop, but come on, let's take it slowly.
His fight with Chu Qiao at the end, all blue, purple and grey, what drama ! It's so sad that someone has to die for peace to reign. Such a pain when that happens.

_The Empress plays a central role in the first half and exerts a certain influence on the rest of the story. She wears cream, emerald and saffron gowns in her luxurious bright-red apartments with dark wood panelling. Such beauty ! One of the cruelest characters, or so we believe, until we see the Emperor in action. A profoundly tragic role from start to finish, and a character who, in her misfortune, hurts everyone around her. We detest her for her actions, yet we feel sympathy for what she has endured.

_The motley crew of criminals surrounding the heroine brings a touch of light-heartedness and humour, as well as some elaborate action scenes. Their camaraderie is always a joy to watch. Too bad we don't see them more often. But, for them too, what a tragic end...

_Li Ce, the unfortunate boy, watches his mother die before his very eyes ; even after burying her, he still longs for a sign of her affection. It's hard to grow up without love. Yet he is kind and wise in his choices. A wonderful character with a truly tragic ending.

_King Ximei of Ximeng, who sends his double in his place to dine with the emperor. Well done.
This bloke is the polar opposite of the heroine, Chu Qiao. He, too, is a former slave, but he takes the place of his masters and becomes the new tyrant. His death is only just. All power to the Soviets.

_General Huan Huan and Princess Helian of Yanbei (a woman of otherworldly beauty with a aquiline nose) make a lovely couple. May they live happily ever after. Brave, courageous women stripped of their free will. Their scenes are pure queer baiting.

_Princess Helian's marriage to Xun Yan, so intense, it feels like we're right in the middle of a soap opera. The two marry out of obligation and give up on their soulmates.

"All because I believe there should be a place in this world where people are not divided by rank or class, where justice exists. Only such a place can truly be called my homeland." The Grapes of Wrath, Part 2.

Right. I don't really understand the negative reviews I've seen about the direction or the acting. Especially since this barrage of complaints started right from the very first episodes : so before the plot twist in the final episodes. Princess Agents was far less well made and was torn to shreds by critics and the public when it aired. Suddenly, it's become the best series in the universe ? Strange. It reeks of gatekeeping. Because Rebirth is aimed at a wider audience, I think. I hope I'm wrong.

As for me, I'm not going to deny myself the pleasure. That lighting, the entire artistic presentation, all designed to delight the eye. Those splashes of scarlet blood on the pale rice-paper doors. (Ep. 22) The comfort these C-dramas bring. The focus on entertainment. It's my safe place !
Always pushing the boundaries of censorship to tackle truly serious issues. Because, in reality, it's about women fighting to survive in a man's world. And about power that offers nothing but an obsession with keeping it all to oneself. It's the old chivalric tale of heroes who deserve to rule because they don't want to and because they care about the people. Here, the powerful are cruel and uncompromising, without merit, ready to kill or let die, ready to commit infanticide.
The heroine, by contrast, is a former slave who rises to the highest echelons of power yet never forgets her roots. She abolishes slavery (I particularly enjoyed seeing those delicate nobles explode with rage when it was taken away from them without compensation. And, oddly enough, they don't give a damn about the country anymore), she stops the wars, she spares the peasants and the thieves. (Are we talking about Jesus or what ?)
But. Whatever the social status of these women, they are always slaves to something: power, alcohol, their husbands, cults. That doesn't make them saints. The empress literally groomed her lover and right-hand man, and she has maids killed for her own pleasure.

"Men will never risk everything for women. They can only be seduiced by power."

Once again, I've written a proper novel ; pointless, too long and uninteresting. (Oh ! I've found a title for my autobiography)

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When I, too, am in a melancholy mood, I stand tall on the ramparts of my domain, my face lashed by winter gales, gazing at the night and the snow that blankets even my painful past. When suddenly ! I find myself stabbed by the one who was meant to be me.

The end credits of the last episode were awesome, with all that behind-the-scenes footage! Way better than that whole "43 years later" segment.

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Someone save me from myself.

At first, you don't understand a thing. In episode 4 there's a big reveal and I was sitting there thinking "Who on earth are these people ?". You get swept along by all these plot twists, for a while. The problem is that after 10 episodes I still don't understand who's attacking whom and what dangers we've been facing from the start.

Both leads are convincing and clever. And as is often the case in C-dramas, here we find a strong, independent female character. I started watching for Zhou Yiran, the master of secret admirers. And I stayed for Bao Shangen, as beautiful as funny. Let's hope she gets better, she only has two expressions, poor thing.

The music rocks. The opening and closing credits alone are killer. The cinematography is, of course, stunning, with plenty of gorgeous wide shots in magical settings. You get used to that pretty quickly in these kinds of productions. On the other hand, you have to accept that martial arts superpowers as a reality. And then, apparently, you get around on the back of an eagle... Right... And you face giant snakes… Ok... Warning ! That's the signal to start considering a strategic retreat. So this is where the adventure ends for me.

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still on cloud nine

As I always say, you shouldn't mess with a female butcher. I always say that. Always.

Warning : I've got nothing constructive to say. (as usual) I finished this series a few days ago, and I'm still on cloud nine.

How BEAUTIFUL ! The production is simply epic. Everything is so magnificent, the costumes, the sets, the direction, the lighting, the fight scenes, the music, the wig budget... hmm. A success across the board. A wonderful world where it snows all the time and no one ever feels cold. It's just too beautiful. The homes (even the most modest ones) are adorned with sumptuous wooden furniture and delicate fabrics fluttering everywhere. Teapots and incense blend their delicate scents with the wax of the carved woodwork. I can smell it.

Fan is incredible. Truly phenomenal ! Both the character and the actress, Tian Xiwei. Protect this woman at all costs. That charisma, that presence, that otherworldly beauty when she makes those tender expressions. She masterfully plays on the cliché of the seemingly fragile woman who becomes menacing and a deadly enemy in the blink of an eye. Her character is meant to be a tribute to a real-life female general, as in about half of all Chinese series. (Legend of a Female General, a very good C-drama)
You can feel all the despair that overtakes her midway through the series, during the turning point, when her village is ravaged and all her loved ones are massacred... those scenes… such sadness. We've been made to love these characters. We enjoyed life in that village, but now we must bury them and abandon it. And then we move on to war. Then to palace intrigues. What a journey.

As a result, the Marquis of Wu'an, the male lead, becomes first and foremost a supporting character ; he's the knight in shining armour. He's supposed to be the hero, but the story constantly reminds us that he takes a back seat. I love it.
They're so lovely, the two of them. They're completely devoted to one another. Their love is pure. I feel silly writing such nonsense ! I want them to be happy together. True love is killing your enemies together with the same weapon and checking if your wife's wrists are sore. And taking a bath… my goodness, the bath scene. It was daring. I didn't see anything, I swear I looked away.

They love each other so much that they get married twice, under two different identities. [stands up, banging both hands on the table] Now that's what I call Love ! He knows her secret, he supports her, and he doesn't tell her until she's ready to reveal it to him. [points at an imaginary listener] And he takes a hundred lashes rather than betray her !

Pardon. Je me suis emporté.

The attention to detail, my goodness ! There's so much going on, all the time. Like the characters who've been struck by an arrow and who, at last ! don't pull the arrow out. A whole gallery of characters unfolds before us, and they're all believable and interesting.
There are so many endearing ones. The little sister, the villagers, the Pig Butcher Squad, the old man carrying stones, Marquis Wu'an's generals, the Emperor's sister and her maid. We care about every single one of them. That's rare in productions like this.

The only downside : why this "what if" ending ?!? What if nothing at all. It's over. We can't imagine things from 17 years ago now.
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Episode 17, TW : forced kissing.
It's portrayed for what it is, without any romanticisation. The woman cuts ties with the man. But to be perfectly honest, she, in turn, drugs him without his knowledge to take his place on the battlefield. It's all square, back to square one. (No idea what that means. I'm learning new expressions : to be on cloud nine, success across the board and this square thing)

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Humility leads to progress, comrades. It's written on the textile factory, so it must be true.

This is a series to watch at your own pace, two episodes here, two episodes there. In between other things. Because the story doesn't really move forward much. It’s the kind of show you watch for comfort. That said, I was worried at first that we'd be presented with a revisionist take on the Cultural Revolution. But the two protagonists are actually victims of it. It isn't stated outright but framed as their courageous efforts to overcome it… And we know they will. No mystery there. A little trick to get around censorship, I suppose.

We're also led to believe that domestic violence is no longer tolerated in the new, truly socialist China. Well, I'll steer clear of that topic because it would imply that the rest of the world is subject to the same constraints. There's no reason for Chinese productions to be criticized more than others. Propaganda is produced just as much elsewhere. And C-dramas, in fact, ingeniously manage to play with the boundaries. Still, seeing Mao's portrait everywhere feels weird. Excuse me, Great Helmsman, I am an enemy of the Revolution, a rusty nail in the gears of true Socialism.

Arthur Chen played a vengeful deity in When Destiny Brings the Demon, and here he completely changes his acting style, attitude and character. A stunning transformation. He becomes a gentle, dreamy man, always ready to help.
As for Sun Qian, she plays a young woman who wants to fulfil herself through her studies, to graduate even though she is denied this opportunity, and who wishes to retain her independence. All the female characters display authority and free will... as long as one remains within the framework of marriage ; a man, a woman, everything in its place. True socialism seems awfully straight.

In this sense, there is a scene surprisingly charged with sensuality in which our dear artist traces the outline of his working-class partner in chalk on a large blackboard in front of the factory. It's highly symbolic. The two of them complement each other perfectly. A cute couple, in the full vigour of youth, unstoppable. It’s a pleasure to follow them, two angels who've found each other so perfectly. However, there was surely not enough material to fill 29 episodes. A common trait of too many Chinese productions : it drags on. (Just like my dumb reviews)

The other characters aren't all that interesting. The mathematician, the hero's sister, you just want to tell her, "Move on ! You deserve to be happy, comrade." The series has its moments, though. The humor is heartwarming. Some tragic events occur ; (tw: suicide) one character sees no future in this society and feels like he's in prison at work. C-dramas often manage to convey unexpected messages.

Do you also blurt out things like "You belittle the working class !" when you argue with your parents ? Me, I call my cat a paper tiger. That little capitalist scoundrel.

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A Chinese drama where women call the shots. They run the most renowned tea production company and compete with each other for power while all the men seek to win their favour. The roles have truly been reversed.

The sets, costumes and editing are beautiful. It's standard for these kinds of productions. So I'm quite willing to believe that at one time in China, everyone was capable of the greatest physical feats in epic aerial combat. It was commonplace to fight to the death to win the heart of a noble woman, of course. I've just summarised a good third of the series. The plot doesn't make much sense, but that's okay... for a while, because you get tired of it. But above all, don't watch the episodes too quickly, as I did. Big mistake. Nothing and everything happens at the same time. I skipped episodes after a while, the compulsion to know the ending even when you've lost faith is serious, very serious. My behaviour is utterly scandalous.

But, although the show quickly loses steam, FL is brilliant. We want to follow her adventures. She never lets anyone fool her. She has a truly photogenic presence, always elegant and noble. The actress, Gulnezer Bextiyar or "Naza", is one of the very few Uyghur actresses. She plays a character who had potential but was not exploited sufficiently. That's why I gave up halfway through, I think. (And then 36 episodes of 50 minutes ? Let's calm down. Write less, write better. That's advice I should take myself, the chatterbox.)

Oh, and the final plot twists are so silly.

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Level of graphical violence in this drama.

I liked the drama overall. The character of Haetsal / Kang Ha Yeong was portrayed outstandingly by Jeon So Nee. The way she reacted to the attacks and her expression were so on point. At some point i felt Yoo Se A was annoying for acting on her own in many things, like not listning to Bang U when in the house. Kang Mi Na gave life to the characterof nari, i hate her charactersoo much like how can you discriminate your friends, even if you have a love interest, you should listen to your other friends. Hyeong Uk being the typical high school student who will do ant thing to obtain good marks to the point to risk his own life, and using unknown app is a good start. Kwon Si Won the eltimate defination of evil! i found Do Hye Ryeong as a flexible character. anyways she was inocent until she decide to wish for others to die, but she had her reasons so its ok. its a good drama totally recommended but if you cannot take self-harm it's not for you. this drama includes eye cutting, parasites, ghosts, throat cutting, blood everywhere.

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Interesting Concept with badly written characters...

Similar to what many have mentioned there wasnt any bond built between the viewers and the characters, so if anything bad happens we are just like "ok next". This is also probably cause the characters were not unique or interesting. Its like every school drama has the same type of people, some overly kind and some just inhumane...Honestly the most interesting character in this show for me was the shaman's husband, probably the only person I was hoping survives.

Logic....logic is something definitely not found here cause I still find it weird how the phones were left untouched but there were no bodies....lol (prob a plothole). There are no higher ups involved at all like that portion of the story is fully removed. The focus is only on the kids. But...the kids are not that smart as well...the decisions they make are so bad its ridiculous...

Overall although it is a thriller, its not the exciting kind...you just want to know the end.

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These people take role-playing way too far.

I wasn't convinced at first, but I got caught up in the game. I'm weak. A lone knight like me ? Falling in love with this budding romance ? How shameful ! But that's the magic of Chinese dramas ; the pace and technical quality play a big part in it. The evil minds behind these productions are very powerful.

The story navigates between their role-playing and their IRL lives, which allows for a variety of atmospheres, but it mostly feels like two parallel series that come and go somewhat randomly. It takes some getting used to, but it doesn't last long ; at some point, it stops. What they want us to understand is that these are people who would like to be someone else and will discover that they are happier together, just as they are. Isn't that beautiful ? Be yourselves. Unemployed.

It works thanks to the two leads, Chen Xingxu and Lu Yuxiao, especially her, because they are extremely cute. They are so touching together and natural. She is clever and mischievous, a fighter who doesn't hesitate to resign when she realises she won't be given the job she was promised. He is the typical Chinese male model, a little reserved but loyal and devoted. It's a healthy relationship, they take the time to get to know each other. They don't make impossible promises to each other. No one fights to win the other over ; it happens naturally, and they already know they love each other when they finally admit it. They laugh together, tease each other, and are just happy. And in these dark times, when everything is nothing but brutality and hatred, this kind of light-hearted series where everything is fine is a breath of fresh air.

The ending unfortunately tries to create tension between them, but it doesn't work. I know. I know everything! They resolve it like adults, by talking. And this heavy secret wasn't really a secret at all. "Either tell me everything or let me go." "I've already told you everything you wanted to know."
And I wish all these characters the best and many happy years ahead of them. But I'm delusional because they're fictional characters, so what I'm saying doesn't make sense.

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I'm not saying this to show off or take the moral high ground (if you like this CDrama, good for you), but this is just not acceptable. Episode 1 is sublime, with its fights, its twists and turns, its hyper-edgy and fast-paced editing; it's spectacularly done. In episode 2, we see a man kidnapping and beating up a woman. And we're supposed to accept this enemy to lover trope ? Excuse me ? (eventually, we'll try to justify the unacceptable by saying that she's attacking him too. But this scam is starting to become obvious. Don't even try that)

No, no, no, I'm stopping here. I absolutely did not expect to see that with this poster, this synopsis, this first episode. I don't understand how anyone can subject themselves to this.

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From Promise to Disappointment: Dropped

This is a drop review—commentary on over half the season.

I hosted an end-of-year poll rating the best dramas of 2023, and this one was among the winners. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a favorite of mine, and I ended up dropping it around episode 26. While I loved the opening story and narrative, the strong female characterization, the comedic banter and chemistry between the leads, and especially the villain played by Liu Xueyi—who was beautifully layered and morally gray—I felt that by the midpoint, the rich and compelling story began to devolve. The narrative shifted to focus heavily on the main and second male leads, leaving what was supposed to be the female lead’s story in the background.

Of course, these are just my personal impressions of why it didn’t work for me. As I mentioned, it did win a group poll, so I’m simply offering the other side of the coin for this watch.

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The injustice perpetuated by Confucian society

A series about the injustice perpetuated by Confucian society, particularly in Korea. A scene in the early episodes makes this point quite clear. Furthermore, the authority figures are all, without exception, negative characters who stem from this hierarchy.

At times, the psychological and physical violence is unbearable. It’s terribly cathartic to watch. When you’re on the receiving end, all you can do is wait. Rebelling only leads to more violence. Speaking out is pointless. Nobody wants to listen to us. You learn that very quickly.
In this regard, the two disabled characters die, either by suicide or murder. It’s no scandal to anyone in the series. It could have been me. That’s what I take away from it.

The cult in this story is directly inspired by the JMS Church. I can say this with certainty because of the leader’s white tuxedos, a reference to the vile bastard who ran that utterly disgusting cult. People tried to escape and were beaten up in groups (as the series brutally depicts in episode 10) or, worse still, went missing. People reported it to the police for years, to no avail.

What sends a shiver down your spine is seeing just how pervasive the indoctrination is. Those vultures circling around people’s misfortune, and then that falsely humble and approachable leader. It doesn’t matter whether or not you believe the stories this bloke tells; it becomes the sole reason for his followers’ existence. You find yourself isolated. Those who watch over us are, above all, watching us. You convince yourself that it’s ridiculous to give up after having made so much progress, after having given so much, and you become the first spectator of your own show.

"Why don't you leave ?"

It’s an absolute nightmare. Sang-mi finds herself trapped in this cult. Leaving would mean abandoning her parents and losing them, along with the memories of her brother. And abandoning all these vulnerable, desperate people. Her father controls every aspect of her life ; both her real father and the cult leader.
Where the writing really shines is in the way it puts us on Sang-mi’s side. We’re trapped alongside her. She understands exactly what’s going on; she knows that this cult hastened her brother’s death and how everyone around her is manipulating her ; they’re using her mother against her. (Just like with her friend, the politician’s son. The parallel is brilliant) Sang-mi has no leverage; she owes her survival solely to the leader’s evil intentions towards her. It makes you want to scream when you see it. You want to shake the servile father. He is pathetic and hateful. I understand his background, but I don’t excuse him. Well, that’s what I thought at first, but after a while, I just wanted someone to finally put him out of action, because he’ll never come to his senses. We all need friends who tell us when we’ve gone too far, even if it hurts at the time. But there’s no point confronting fanatics; they lie, say we refuse to understand them, and so on and so forth. (As for the mother, we excuse her; she’s been put in a straitjacket. Like so many people who die in psychiatric hospitals amid general indifference)

It’s one of the hardest scenes to watch, when the protagonists try to reason with the cult members, the police or the politicians, and it backfires on them. There’s absolutely no point in talking to these people; they have no interest in changing. They’re there because it suits them, and they want it to continue. It destroys everyone, but these people either put up with it or profit from it. (Time for a name drop: 'Discours de la Servitude Volontaire' (A Treatise on Voluntary Servitude). The only way to abolish this is to abolish hierarchy, exploitation and dependency.)

"In this world what's real and what's false are not different. So don't try so hard to distinguish the real from the false."

A series that makes you weep with rage and sadness.
Nothing is straightforward. It’s heart-wrenching. Because it’s extremely well written and performed. The parallel between the prison-like conditions within the cult and the outside world is explored with great insight. The thirst for power and obedience. Confucian principles being used to serve scum.
The three-year time jump allows us to explore these characters in greater depth and become even more invested in them. A modern series would have skipped this first part.
It’s touching to see how hard it is for this group of boys to express their feelings.
A focus on class-based violence. The subtleties of power dynamics between people. And in friendships, depending on whether you’re poor or from the capital. Depending on the hierarchy within the cult. Honestly, the writing in this series is brilliant.

Naturally, those bloody [redacted] cops are no help at all to the victims. They’re only too happy to hand them back to their tormentors. Just like it was with the JMS Church, for that matter. They’re completely in the pocket of politicians and the cult. Very realistic. Right, they pull the ‘cops suddenly spring into action’ trick in episode 12... but the bloke interrogates the victim with her tormentors in the room. Nice work. And the young female cop makes the same daft mistake of going to confront the leader at his home on the basis of: nothing against him. Great. Very helpful.

Jeon Yeo-Bin, in one of her first roles. Already displaying great subtlety in a challenging part where she must appear to believe in her faith whilst simultaneously casting doubt on it, in order to keep her true motives hidden.

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