Debra20
As I told one of my friends yesterday after finishing this drama, I urge anyone reading this review to watch this drama for 2 simple reasons:
1. Ji Chang Wook as Kim Je Ha
2. Song Yoon Ah as Choi Yoo Jin
Nothing more, nothing less.
For anyone knowing Ji Chang Wook from his other works I don't think I have to say a lot about him. He simply elevates any kind of project he works on. He's THAT magnificent as an actor. And while this drama offered him a relatively simple, cliche filled character, he still manages to make gold out of every time he's on screen. I started watching this drama because of him and because of him I was not disappointed.
But what a wonderful surprise Song Yoon Ah was! I had never seen before and she completely and irrevocably stole the show. I was looking forward to her scenes with bated breath, be them political intrigue, emotional moments or evil doing. She is a pleasure to watch. Such a versatile actress that made me root for her character instead of the main female lead. And believe me this RARELY happens with me. I usually love to hate my antagonists but she was such a powerful anti-hero that before I knew what was happening I was wishing she could turn her life around. I had times when I questioned my own morality LOL That's how much of an impact she had on me. Her character had exquisite depth, showed SO many layers that I couldn't help but love her to bits and desperately pray for a good ending for her. Alas that was not the case....
And the chemistry between Kim Je Ha & Choi Yoo Jin!! It was intense, electrifying from the first scene they shared. Without realizing it I came to crave more and more scenes with them. SO much wasted potential and missed opportunities from the writing team in exploring their story further. Their chemistry was off the charts. Based on what was established regarding Je Ha's character I know he would never have chosen her, at least romantically speaking. And in a way I didn't even need that. But what I DID want was a deeper exploration of their relationship. I feel like it could have been so much more had the writers tapped into their potential. There were many ways they could have turned the story around so that they at least end up earnest allies who recognized each other. But we don't always get what we want. It just frustrates me to no end when this happens!
This is not to say that the rest of the cast was bad. Everyone embodied their characters well and no fault is to be brought on the actors. But some of the characters they were given to play were lacking depth in order to make me really connect with them.
All of the above coupled with a nonsensical plot progression, some terrible decisions on camera angles, filming and editing, a seemingly unstoppable desire from the writer to shove K2 into the superhuman fighter mold rather than spend time exploring more of his emotional side and developing his character, a gross disregard for the main female lead who was left to be a crying, running, kidnapped, damsel in distress type throughout the show, I was left with a pretty sour taste in my mouth. If someone were to edit out all of Chang Wook and Yoon Ah's scenes and make a compilation of them, that's the only way I'd rewatch this willingly. Really sad right now :( It makes me want to go out there and write the whole damned thing again myself!
1. Ji Chang Wook as Kim Je Ha
2. Song Yoon Ah as Choi Yoo Jin
Nothing more, nothing less.
For anyone knowing Ji Chang Wook from his other works I don't think I have to say a lot about him. He simply elevates any kind of project he works on. He's THAT magnificent as an actor. And while this drama offered him a relatively simple, cliche filled character, he still manages to make gold out of every time he's on screen. I started watching this drama because of him and because of him I was not disappointed.
But what a wonderful surprise Song Yoon Ah was! I had never seen before and she completely and irrevocably stole the show. I was looking forward to her scenes with bated breath, be them political intrigue, emotional moments or evil doing. She is a pleasure to watch. Such a versatile actress that made me root for her character instead of the main female lead. And believe me this RARELY happens with me. I usually love to hate my antagonists but she was such a powerful anti-hero that before I knew what was happening I was wishing she could turn her life around. I had times when I questioned my own morality LOL That's how much of an impact she had on me. Her character had exquisite depth, showed SO many layers that I couldn't help but love her to bits and desperately pray for a good ending for her. Alas that was not the case....
And the chemistry between Kim Je Ha & Choi Yoo Jin!! It was intense, electrifying from the first scene they shared. Without realizing it I came to crave more and more scenes with them. SO much wasted potential and missed opportunities from the writing team in exploring their story further. Their chemistry was off the charts. Based on what was established regarding Je Ha's character I know he would never have chosen her, at least romantically speaking. And in a way I didn't even need that. But what I DID want was a deeper exploration of their relationship. I feel like it could have been so much more had the writers tapped into their potential. There were many ways they could have turned the story around so that they at least end up earnest allies who recognized each other. But we don't always get what we want. It just frustrates me to no end when this happens!
This is not to say that the rest of the cast was bad. Everyone embodied their characters well and no fault is to be brought on the actors. But some of the characters they were given to play were lacking depth in order to make me really connect with them.
All of the above coupled with a nonsensical plot progression, some terrible decisions on camera angles, filming and editing, a seemingly unstoppable desire from the writer to shove K2 into the superhuman fighter mold rather than spend time exploring more of his emotional side and developing his character, a gross disregard for the main female lead who was left to be a crying, running, kidnapped, damsel in distress type throughout the show, I was left with a pretty sour taste in my mouth. If someone were to edit out all of Chang Wook and Yoon Ah's scenes and make a compilation of them, that's the only way I'd rewatch this willingly. Really sad right now :( It makes me want to go out there and write the whole damned thing again myself!
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