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Death's Game Part 2 korean drama review
Completed
Death's Game Part 2
0 people found this review helpful
by autumn carrot
Feb 14, 2024
4 of 4 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 3.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
So this is a show that clearly should not have been cut in half because the first half on its own really doesn't deliver any cohesive narrative at all and is just a prolonged rising action. Then again, it's sort of good that it was separated because if it wasn't, I would've had to consider the mediocrity of the first half with the quality of the second and give it six stars which is really not the rating it deserves. So ultimately it works but it comes at a cost. Because I don't see why anyone would naturally pick up season 2 after finishing that first season even though it would be a good choice to watch the second half.

Plot: Season 2 doesn't have the majority of the pacing and goals issues that season one had. In fact, it's so good at setting small stakes that not only do the first two episodes have a separate revenge-style agenda set for the main character but the final episodes also have a clear sense of risk and drive. While the main character is still an unpleasant dumbass, the show is finally more at pace with it and it comes across as an inside joke between the viewers and Death than just a badly written MC. Plus, the emotional connections that season 1 lacked are here galore and it can really get to you by the end of the show. I actually liked this part a lot. I guess the issue was always a pacing problem but I give the writers some credit, it feels like a difficult plot to balance. There was still plenty of melodramatic violence and I want to say some was gratuitous but at least this time it worked with what the plot was trying to achieve.

Acting: I feel like maybe this half also had a stronger cast? They brought the characters alive and sure, we had more time to connect with these characters (thank goodness!) so it was easier to have emotional investment in them but the good acting helped too.

Music and production: Same as season 1

Rewatch value: Hmmm still none.

Negatives: The MC really is an absolute idiot! So it didn't ruin the show this time but he does frustrate a lot. And the jump from episode 4 to 5, there is such a dramatic shift from fighting death to revenge plot that I was a little skeptical at first but it was well-executed so it wasn't so bad. But they sure took their time to make a very simple point!

Overall: This half was actually good. I know it wouldn't be a meaningful show without the first half though. So this is a conflicted review. I can't tell you to watch the first half because I really disliked it and 50% is a lot of a show to tolerate for the longest build-up. But if you're willing to sit through that, this half of the show was very enjoyable so definitely keep watching. I mean, it's not a top ten show of the year or most loved or anything for me but it was watchable.
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