Completed
shu-mai
59 people found this review helpful
Nov 28, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I haven't watched the Japanese version or read the manga, so I'm not going to make any comparisons and focus on the drama itself.

This is literally one of the best dramas I watched this year, starting from the first episode, I was already hooked. It only took me a day to finish and wow....so many things happened, it was amazing.

Story: The story is interesting and really pulls you in. It's about regular, everyday people who are given an opportunity to earn millions of dollars in this show called. "Liar Game". The game itself is unrealistic obviously, they even mention how it ruins ethical guidelines and morals of a person. However, to some extent this shows perfectly illustrates greed, mistrust, manipulation of the media, and how far people will go just to earn money. The story itself will blow your mind with the game's guidelines and how Ha Woo Jin (Le Sang Yoon) and the others perform throughout them with psychology...but is left with some unanswered questions in the ending.

Acting: Acting is amazing. Everyone was amazing, I can't express enough how Shin Song Ruk was born to play the antagonist/bad guy.

The only downfall I had was Kim So Eun's character (Nam Da Jung). Her character is supposed to be a naive, innocent, and kind girl, she does a good job displaying them, but it was irritating to watch her half of the time. There is a difference between being naive and being stupid. Throughout the drama it gradually disappears, but her character had a weak and a "damsel in distress" image left upon her. However, I can understand that her personality plays an important purpose throughout the story so it didn't annoy me a lot.

Music: I didn't pay attention to the OST, but the soundtracks made the scenes intense and keep you absorbed in the story.

This is a must watch, especially to those who are into psychological and suspense!

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Completed
DreamingKoreanBallad
31 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
Wow, what a drama! If you're like me and you like physiological things, mystery and crime then you'll enjoy this show! This kept me at the edge of my seat on every episode!

Story: A whole group of people pulled into a game where there is huge money at stake, surrounded with lies and manipulation - can the truth speak out? It really makes you think - and that's what I liked about it. When you are on a game where lying is key - should you be even more honest? or should you do your best to manipulate others? I myself am a very very bad liar - as soon as I even try and lie - I'll start laughing and end up giving myself away... I am however very suspicious of people and their intentions - I don't trust easily..."Trust is built up over time but it can break in a split second."

Cast: Ha Woo Jin (Lee Sang Yoon) He was one of the biggest reasons I started this drama. & He became my absolute favorite character. His character is insanely attractive and mysterious, and he holds that quality that you know you can trust him no matter what. As soon as he is released from jail he meets Nam Da Jung (Kim So Eun) who asks him to help her on 'Liar Game'. This is my first time seeing her but I absolutely loved her, she's a great actress & I'll be looking forward to more projects by her. She totally fit the part of a naïve honest person. Kang Do Young (Shin Sung Rok) The mastermind of Liar Game - I swear he is evil to his core... Jo Dal Goo (Jo Jae Yun) I loved his character lol - this actor can always make me laugh :P Jamie (Lee El) She was hateful at first but as the show progressed I started to like her (weird) lol

Music: It was intense but I can't say I remember any songs...

Re-watch Value: 9.5 - very high, I will definitely re-watch this someday.

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Completed
jimjamjelly
38 people found this review helpful
Jul 10, 2015
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I haven't seen the Japanese version of 'Liar Game', so I can't compare, but even if I had seen it I probably wouldn't compare. After watching a few episodes of 'Nodame Cantabile', it has become clear that the Japanese and Koreans take quite different approaches to their dramas. Therefore, I am going to treat the Korean version of 'Liar Game' as its own standalone show...

...which was bloody fantastic. 'Liar Game' is the third drama I've given a ten to, in the short amount of time I've been watching dramas, and out of those three dramas it is both the one I believe to be the best and the one that I enjoyed the most. Ten doesn't mean that I found it to be perfect (as perfection is unattainable), but since it has superseded many of the dramas that I've watched - both quality and entertainment wise - I thought it justifiably deserved the highest possible score.

'Liar Game' thrilled me, played with me, kept me guessing and sent my blood pressure rising in the best possible ways. The pacing was on beat and the tightly plotted 12 episodes managed to sail by without the assistance of makjang, noble idiocy, sacrificial lambs or filler. When I say that there was none of that present in 'Liar Game' I mean that there was absolutely zilch, nada, zero traces of any of the aforementioned tropes. The show was able to stand on its own two legs without relying on ridiculousness.

It presented a study of human behaviour - how we react and change (for better or worse) when it comes to trust. I don't see it as being a drama that is about how far people will go when it comes to money. Of course, in the context of the game, money is important, but 'Liar Game' teaches us that humans - people - are more important. It is people that make the choice to lie, cheat, betray and thus put others at risk - not money. Money is just the pretext, 'Liar Game' (both the drama and the game itself) is about all about people and how strong their characters are. It is also people who choose to watch others being pitted against each other, for money, to get an ounce of their weekly entertainment.

The games itself in 'Liar Game' were actually very intelligent and intricate. It might have been a bit boring to watch the explanations and rules of each round, but without them it would be difficult for some people to understand whatever the hell was going on. (The rules were useful when it came to the Poker round because wtf was going on there). Some people have said that they found the games 'boring', but that's besides the point, the interest doesn't lie within the games themselves, but within how the contestants survive the games. Each round served as a perfect backdrop for the deceit and breakdowns that were to follow.

The people in 'Liar Game' were of a brilliant variety. Not much time was spent on backstory (which was both refreshing and appreciated given the 12 episode length of the drama), but I managed to ascertain the personalities, motives and regrets of not just the three leads, but the principle supporting cast as well (Jamie, Ja Dol etc). And that is because LG had both a brilliant writer and a brilliant cast. These people grew into either more beautiful or more hateful as the machinations of the Liar Game got to them. I must add that this drama did really well by breaking the K-Drama trope of a woman being evil if she wears heavy make-up - more specifically, the darker the lipstick the darker her soul. It was excellent to see Jamie retain her grit, intelligence and vampyness whilst also being transformed into a person who has opened herself to being able to trust the right people.

A lot of people have said that Kim So-eun's character - NAM DA JUNG - was annoying because she was too stupid and remained stupid. I beg to differ on that topic; whilst Da Jung is most definitely too trusting and naive - AT THE BEGINNING - she most definitely does mature. Yes, she still trust, and yes she is still a very kind person, but she matures into someone who can both question her allies whilst maintaining her ability to trust them. As each round progresses she becomes more considerate and mature. She might not ever have become a toxic person, but she definitely isn't the same Nam Da Jung that was presented at the beginning of the show. And I think Kim So-eun does a wonderful job at portraying Nam Da Jung's growth, emotional sensitivity, understanding, empathy and her huge ability to love and show human compassion (which is especially evident in the final few episodes). Her performance was consistent, clean and considerate. I'm surprised that she is yet to land a main role on public broadcast.

I found it very interesting to contrast and compare the characters of HA WOO JIN (distractingly attractive Psychology Professor turned ex-con) and KANG DO YOUNG. They were like two ends of a horseshoe: polar opposites, yet very similar. Both men are geniuses, both men are incredible when it comes to lying, both men are fantastic strategists, both men are difficult to trust, but both men have very different goals and very different moral leanings and obligations. Their similarities made them clash, whilst their obvious differences intensified their - sometimes frightening - rivalry. I don't think the tension and fear, that crackled in the air whenever these two men looked at each other, would have been present if Lee Sang Yoon and Shin Sung Rok hadn't played their respective roles. Both men brought an undeniable energy to the screen and they were also able to bounce that energy off of each other. The performances were so natural it never felt like a hero was delivering dialogue to a villain, but it felt as if two enigmatic men were engaged in some fierce contest of the Mind. It was sparkling and wonderful to watch.

I think it would be easy to type-cast Shin Sung Rok as a The Villain after his roles in both 'Liar Game' and Stars, respectively, but he manages to make his villains different. I found a way to empathise with the emotionally scarred, twisted, pathological liar that was Kang Do Young whilst I couldn't have cared less for the utterly selfish bastard he was playing in Stars.

Lee Sang Yoon was very hot as Ha Woo Jin. There was something incredibly magnetic about his performance as the enigmatic rugged Psychologist. His gaze, his manner of speech, the way he held himself all resonated 'genius'. His frosty demeanour didn't come off as arrogant and cocky, but reserved and observant.

The lack of romance didn't bother me at all; it was refreshing to see the female lead being able to develop multiple healthy relationships with the other male characters. It is clear that Da Jung and Woo Jin cared for each other quite deeply and the way they develop that relationship isn't through childish bickering, but through learning who the other person is enough to understand and trust them. I'm not going to deny that there wasn't a huge amount of chemistry between Kim So-eun and Lee Sang Yoon, but not once did I get the urge to scream JUST SHUT UP AND KISS HER at my TV.

'Liar Game' could have been betrayed by its ending, but thankfully it wasn't and it finished on a high. Not everyone got what they deserved, but if they had that would have betrayed the whole message of 'Liar Game' - the real world is not ideal, it isn't a place where people can survive by being too trusting or too suspicious. Sometimes, good people don't always end up with every material thing they SHOULD have and sometimes the villain gets away with it. If 'Liar Game' hadn't been a drama that set out to challenge people's world-view, then the ending would have been terrible, but it wasn't. I was glad to see that the non-villains came out of the experience as people who had grown and changed to have a better understanding of both other people and themselves (this was most notable in the case of Jamie).

In regards to the slight openess of the ending, I totally wasn't bothered by it, and it is quite clear that the writer most definitely intended for the ending to be open in order to run onto a season 2. However, whether or not we get a season 2 is totally up to tvN. What's most important is that the main conflict was resolved, so even if we don't get a season 2 there won't be any loose ends left over. I'm all in favour for a season 2, with the same cast though, because I am so ready to see these characters AND actors on screen again.

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Completed
redbeanmochi
23 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
I've seen all the previous Japanese Liar Game seasons (and movies), and really enjoyed them all, so I was particularly excited when I found out that there was going to be a Kdrama remake.

The thing is...this isn't so much of a remake as it is "loosely" based upon the Japanese Liar Game world. With that being said, for viewers who have seen the Jdrama I would advise you to keep that in mind (I was a bit frustrated towards the end). For those of you who haven't don't worry.

Putting this aside however, Liar Game was surprisingly riveting. I was beyond impressed with the three main actors, especially Shin Sung Rok, who plays Do Young the host.

Story: The story was decent. It was straightforward in the beginning, but as time wore on revealed that nothing was quite as simple as we had all thought. I was actually pretty excited about this, the mystery added to the allure of the show and games. I do feel like the ending lacked...a bit of a punch. It was definitely good, but not up to par with how the drama had been in the episodes leading up.

Acting: This was BY FAR the strongest aspect of the drama. Shin Sung Rok was unbelievable in his role as the mysterious host, and our other two main leads were excellent in their own rights. Kim So Eun played her character as believably naive and trusting, which I was beyond grateful for (the Jdrama, as much as I liked it, had me bashing my head sometimes in frustration). Her character development was gradual, but believable, and ended on a great note.

Music: Suspenseful at the right times, and light hearted all the other times. This drama didn't try to have an OST with standout songs (I'm looking at you Almost Paradise), which would have detracted from the story.

Rewatch Value: I'm not one for re-watching dramas, but if I were to this would definitely be at the top of my list!

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Completed
khjfan01
22 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
Whenever I start a drama knowing that it's an adaptation from another country, I'm always a bit skeptical. Especially when the other country's version is so good. In this case, I'm sure everyone knows that Liar Game was originally a Japanese drama, that was originally a manga. Whether u've seen the Japanese version or read the manga, I can honestly say that I enjoyed this Korean version very much. Oh man, did this kdrama hold it's own.

I can't help to compare the two versions against one another. Anyone who says they don't for any drama that has another version is a big ol' liar. Of course I had some problems with this version. I didn't mind the reality aspect of the drama at all, in fact i loved it. But I did have a problem with Da Jung. It's impossible to not compare her with Japanese version's Nao. In the Japanese version, the whole big deal with Nao is that she's just too honest for her own good. Too trusting. In the Korean version, Da Jung's whole thing is that she's just too kind. I thought this was incredibly stupid. Who's even heard of such a thing. And since when is being too kind a bad thing? I just didn't get it and thought it was completely stupid. Also, with Nao, even though she was completely naive and very stupid, the girl was genuine. I felt her sincerity in all her actions. She felt one of a kind. Da Jung does not feel unique at all. My problem is that there's nothing special about Da Jung that all these ppl are going out of their way to help her. What makes her so likable? She's not dislikable, but she's just there quite frankly, and I just didn't feel anything special with her other than her being the main character.

Also, the whole reasoning Da Jung has for sticking with the game is so stupid. I still don't even know why she just didn't get out when she had the chance. With Nao I understood and ttly respected her decision, but with Da Jung I'm just shaking my head.

I know it seems like I'm complaining a lot about this drama, but thats really the only big issue I have with Korean Liar Game. As I stated before, I loved the reality show aspect of it. Very original. I also love that the loan shark guy had Da Jung's back. And my favorite character of all, Ha Woo Jin. Loved him! I definitely love Japanese Akiyama more, but Woo Jin held his own. He was ttly likable, had swag, and I ttly ship him and Da Jung lol.

I also loved the ending. I think it was excellent, and this version definitely feels like more of a psychological thriller especially towards the end. It was especially creepy. I didn't like the games in this version. I loved the roulette game and the poker game in Liar Game 2, but this version definitely washed them down. Still Korean Liar Game definitely holds it's own against the japanese version. I just happen to personally prefer jdramas over kdramas. Anyways, since I just finished this drama, I want to write my review before I forgot my initial feelings. I'd say it's worth a watch. Definitely entertaining.

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Completed
purplenette
26 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Ok...now I must watch all the Japanese adaptations. I can't compare it to the Japanese version so this review is based only on this version. This is a really good psychological thriller. It is a very interesting plot. I wonder how many of us can lie convincingly. I have passed a lie detector test before. All the students in one of my college classes took one. Out of 27 students, me and this guy were the only ones that passed it even while lying. 27 students were told to lie while the other 27 were told to only tell the truth. I think it is strange, because I rarely lie and am known for my brutal honesty. Can you tell when a person is lying to you? I don't think I'm very good at it, but I also don't trust easily either. Wow. I love dramas that make me think.

Lee Sang Yoon, Kim So Eun and Shin Sung Rok are great as the main leads Woo Jin, Da Jung and Do Yeong respectively. However, the character and actor I enjoyed the most is Lee El as Jamie. She was too much fun. The other actors were good too.

The music is appropriate.

This is definitely rewatchable.

If you like psychological thrillers, then you will like this.

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Completed
Hira-M
11 people found this review helpful
Nov 30, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
I went into Liar Game without any expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. It was one hell of a drama! I haven't seen the Japanese version so I had no idea about the story. But I read that the Korean version is different from the Japanese. Either way, the drama was really good!

Story: I was hooked from the beginning to the end. It was all really very interesting. The games, how the players tackled the situations, especially the mystery about Kang Do Young. It always kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing what would happen next. But I never expected what did happen. My favorite part was definitely the games. The pure genius of the games and then the genius of the players, especially Ha Woo Jin, was so exciting to watch! Story wise, this drama was great! It had perfect pacing and there was never a dull or boring moment.

Actors/Characters: All of the characters were really well-written and the actors did a great job playing them. Ha Woo Jin was such an intriguing character. He was a genius and I was very impressed with how he thought. But the best part was that he was a softie at heart which was sweet. That didn't stop him from being super cool. He was someone whom if I met in real life I would be in awe. Lee Sang Yoon did an awesome job playing him. I haven't seen any of his other works but to me, I feel like he will always be Ha Woo Jin.

Many people were angry at Nam Da Jung and said that she was stupid. But I didn't feel like that. She seemed very real and honestly if I, or any other person (unless they were really cunning & smart) would have been in her place we would have easily been played as well. I like how she matured though. She became more confident and smart but still kept her innocence. Kim So Eun did a good job in this role. I've seen her only in Boys Over Flowers and I loved her there. While her character in Liar Game wasn't that different from her character in BOF she did do a good job and was likable and relatable.

My favorite character was Kang Do Young and Shin Sung Rok is the reason I started this drama in the first place. That man plays creepy characters so well it actually scares me! No one could have played Kang Do Young better than Shin Sung Rok. Kang Do Young was such a mysterious and creepy character but also cool in a way little kids find superheroes cool. Or maybe I was the only one who felt that way about him... I always did like the villains better... Anyway, there's no doubt that he was a very interesting character and from day one you start wondering: who is this man? What is his story? How is he related to everything? What game is he really playing? You can never guess though. Some of his scenes really scared me, the ones in which he "took off his mask" and showed his true face. But at the end I felt so sorry for him, no matter how twisted he was. I've seen Shin Sung Rok in You Who Came From The Stars and Trot Lovers. He did a great job in both but in the former he played a similar scary psychopathic character. He was awesome in that one but I liked him better here. Maybe because his character had more depth in this drama. Either way, Shin Sung Rok is awesome!

Out of the side characters I really liked Jo Dal Goo. He added some laughs to an otherwise serious drama. And I liked his relationship with Nam Da Jung. He was a nice guy and I felt sorry for him. I hated Jamie at first but she redeemed herself and I even somewhat admired her (especially after the President Game). I don't know why but I found Lee Yoon Joo (PD) and Director Jang really irritating. I'm guessing the latter was supposed to be that way but I didn't like Yoon Joo any better either. I really liked Choi Sung Joon and Lee Shi Hoo did such a good job! He is so adorable! The other characters were good too and the actors played their part well.

Ending: My thoughts are really conflicted about the ending. On one hand I'm hating that it ended at a cliffhanger. I need to know what happens next!!! How could they end it like that?? On the other hand I'm happy because this means that (hopefully) there is going to be a second season. If there is then I hope it comes out soon.

Overall: I loved this drama! It was a great psychological thriller that really kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a thrill to watch! Highly recommended!

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Completed
Nelly
7 people found this review helpful
Nov 27, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
OVERALL
One of the best of 2014, without question. It's not only an attention-grabbing show, but it's also deep, coherent and well-executed (finally another all-included drama!). Watch it, no ifs, but maybe keep it for later if you really have a hard time watching shows with only subtle (very subtle) signs of romance.

THE STORY
I need to start by saying that I have neither watched the Japanese drama nor read the manga both shows are based on, so I had no prior bias for or against the drama and can honestly say, with complete objectivity, that it's a.ma.zing. Although the drama seems to be about games of lies and betrayal, more than the games, the characters that take part in them - how they evolve through the games, how their past came to shape who they are and how they act in the present - are really at the core of the story. The games themselves are interesting (though sometimes complex), but it's the action behind the scenes, the mystery on which they stand and the character development that really pulls the drama forward. The characters, are, by the way, absolutely fabulous. I liked how each main lead personify something - Nam Dajung is trust, Kang Doyoung is deception, Ha Woojin is insight, and how many secondary characters have depth (also are given space and conflicts of their own). Dajung doesn't seem as profound as the other leads and sometimes recedes to the background, but she also goes a long way, and her infallible faith in people is very much the heart of the story. The pace of the plot is steady, the suspense is ongoing and sometimes bordelines creepy; twists are numerous, hints, events and interconnections are mindblowing, and the end is very satisfying. I have only three small, tiny regrets: 1) The last episode, without being bad, just doesn't feel as dramatic as it should, 2) why couldn't they give us just one romantic scene?, and 3) twelve episodes, really? Couldn't the show have been longer? I need more games, more Doyoung, Woojin and Dajung, more action!

THE ACTING
Nothing to say other then that it was awsome. Everyone was amazing, from leads to secondary actors, but especially Shin Sung Rok, the actor behind the sly, cruel, weird, psychopath-y Doyoung. Lee Sang Yoon and Kim So Eun had good chemistry (*sigh* such a pity it was not exploited), and the interactions between all cast members were 100% believable.

THE MUSIC
Absolutely fitting for the show...but nothing to keep on listening to now that it's over.

REWATCHABLE VALUE
Definite yes!!!! The plot is so dense that I'm sure rewatching will give more insight into the characters and the games. Will be rewatched once by me before the end of the year, I can promise you that!

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Completed
ArvisJaggamar
10 people found this review helpful
Jun 7, 2016
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 8
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
"I have a winning strategy."

While you'll come to love that catchphrase if you watch Liar Game, it wouldn't surprise me if it were actually spoken by the producer who first pitched the idea of a Korean version of this classic Japanese manga story. If so, they were right: from the beginning of this fast-paced drama, all the way to its closing minutes, it gets its hooks in the viewer and never lets go. There are twists and surprises in every episode and you won't be able to resist the urge to predict what's going to happen next.
Although Liar Game is held back slightly by the clichés it employs (causing some of the twists to be too predictable), it is ultimately a satisfying ride for any fan of intrigue.

STORY
It takes about an episode and half or so for this story's manga roots to show. If you have any experience with Japanese manga/anime like Yu-Gi-Oh, Hikaru no Go, or even ones themed around sports, you'll immediately recognize the format of this show. Main Character is tasked with winning a complicated game against challenging opposition > Main Character uses math/numbers/cleverness to win said game > plot twist creates problem > Main Character uses quick thinking to overcome the problem and win the game at the last second in dramatic fashion. While Liar Game deviates from this formula slightly at times, you can still expect to see those steps play out for each major chapter of the plot. The major twist of the plot, too, is painfully cliché, especially if you're familiar with popular Japanese storytelling.
However, despite Liar Game's plot being rather formulaic, the twists and the games are consistently interesting, and the characters involved have all the charisma anyone could ask for from this premise. And clichés aren't bad if they're executed well, which Liar Game does with aplomb.
For more details on the story itself, just analyze the promo poster for this show that's probably in the upper right hand corner of your screen right now. That one picture basically explains the entire premise perfectly.

ACTING/CAST
If you start Liar Game, this category will likely be the reason you stick with it. Most of the Supporting Roles here will be in almost every episode, and they'll be important. So with an Ensemble Cast this big, each actor needs to bring something to the table that will grab the attention of the audience. They succeed. Choi Jin Ho, Park Jae Hoon, and Jo Jae Yun are the best of the supporting cast, but the top spot really goes to Lee El, who gives maybe the second-best performance in the show. How Lee El finds herself stuck in Supporting Roles after this performance makes no sense to me. She's unbelievably watchable and gorgeous to boot. She deserves bigger roles.
Of course, with any good drama, the Main Roles absolutely shine. Lee Sang Yoon is his usual self: very watchable and good-looking. Really, his only job is to step in front of a camera, look "less Korean" with that face of his, and not ruin the scene. And he does that perfectly. The guy is great. The female Lead, Kim So Eun, was essentially born to roles like this one: a perfect, sweet, naive angel. She just has the face for it, and like many of her peers, her eyes project an earnestness that befits the character. She's easy to like, easy to fall for; a good "helpless damsel" character, but with enough of a spin that she's not boring. Watching her in this is like watching a puppy: it never gets boring and you can't help but go "awwww" every few moments.
But the actor that really bumped the score here from an 8.5 to a 9.5 all on his own was, without a doubt, Shin Sung Rok. When I first saw him in You Who Came From The Star, I thought "Yikes... that face...!" But when I saw that he was in this, I thought "Oh good, that face!" Never has anyone in the world had such a perfect villain's face, and you will want to see him on screen more and more the more you see him. Beyond that, though, the way SSR *uses* his face in his role here is what will blow your mind. If you love villains, Liar Game has the perfect one for you.

MUSIC
Liar Game's vocal songs are unremarkable and forgettable. However, the incidental music is actually quite good. Music is critical in building tension in shows like this one, and the job is done well here. It's unlikely that the Liar Game soundtrack is going to sell a ton of copies or pull in more viewers, but it does what it needs to do and does it well.

REWATCH VALUE
Sadly, with shows that center on intrigue and mystery, you can't expect a ton of rewatchability. What keeps you hooked is not knowing what's coming next, so in general these sorts of shows will score low here. What helps Liar Game to achieve an 8/10 in this category is the cast. There are several performances that would be worth watching multiple times. However, the RV could have been even higher had they seeded a few more major plot mystery hints throughout the earlier episodes. Still, Liar Game doesn't hurt in this area if Rewatching dramas is your thing.

OVERALL
Liar Game is a thrilling, if familiar, mystery show with a stellar ensemble cast that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you enjoy Japanese manga/anime stories and have somehow never been exposed to Liar Game until now, this one should not be missed. If you're just looking for a fun, quick kdrama, Liar Game is perfect for you, too. Watch it for the story, stay for Shin Sung Rok. You won't regret it.
Or maybe you will? Maybe this was all an elaborate ruse. Maybe I am Shin Sung Rok. But as they say in Liar Game...

"If you want to know the truth, you have to play the game."

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Completed
clearlywatching
6 people found this review helpful
Dec 8, 2014
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers
Before I begin this review let me let you know that I've watched all the liar games and I've read the manga aswell. So a bit of this review is based off of the original.

Story------
While this wasn't the word to word the original story of liar game it was still quite good. The set designs, the character history, the twists, the manipulation, and the lies were scripted very well. And it flowed quite well. One thing that bothered me is what most pervious watchers of liar game will agree with, (**SPOILER**) is that the main character looses a match and struggles sometimes. Where in the original this wasn't the case...ever. Thats why it was so good. (END SPOILER) So this is definitely a good story.

Acting/Cast --------

Marvelous, Great, Outstanding. I was blown away. This is so well done, the cast is just right. Love it. Can't say any more than that.

Music ----------

I'm in love with the OST. That says enough.

Over all i give this an 8/10.

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Completed
addicted2dramas
6 people found this review helpful
May 19, 2015
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
I'd like to divide this review in two parts- one, talking about the drama independently and other- talking about it in comparison to the Japanese version.

Firstly, I went into the drama without knowing who the cast was. I never saw its promo or checked it out while it was airing. However, it was a surprise seeing actors I knew come together in this drama. The cast is what made the drama for me. They were so good- all of them.

The story is obviously good but I liked what they did with this version. They didn't outright copy the Japanese version. I loved how they took parts of it and turned it into a type of Kdrama we all love to watch. I have to admit this version is easier on the eyes due the colours and glamour Kdramas usually have. Plus, they always have such attractive actors. Oh my. *_*

May I just take a moment to talk about its lead actors? Kim So Eun is so pretty. She has an innocent face and she looks lovely. In fact, she looks lovely in every single frame. I can't help but gush over how cute she was in this drama. Totally kawaii. Then is Lee Sang Yoon. I did not like him straight away but as the story progressed both him and his character grew on me. He was so attractive as Woo Jin. He really brought out the depth in his character. Last is Shin Sung Rok. Although he isn't necessarily my type of guy I acknowledge his good looks. He was handsome and tall in this drama- TALL. He's so TALL.

Towards the second half, I wondered if I would have liked this drama better in case I hadn't watched the Japanese version. Not saying that I didn't like it (I obviously did) but maybe I was expecting only puzzles and no melodrama at all. This has in fact both. The puzzles keep it going and the show is well paced but it also focuses quite a bit on the characters, their backstories, etc. At the very end I wasn't interested in that anymore and wished to only focus on the game.

One thing which probably makes it better than its Japanese counterpart for me is the hints of romance all through the drama. Yes! It was what was missing in the Japanese one but here it is bit more clear and the handful moments shared by the leads were adorable in spite of their slight age gap. *swoon*

In case you are wondering if you should watch this then YES do so. But I will like to warn the loyal fans of the manga/dorama to stay away if you can't deal with the... un-Japanese-ness of it. To others- just go watch it!

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Completed
Zoe
4 people found this review helpful
Sep 29, 2015
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This show is pretty damn phenomenal. Yes, there are logic issues. But the whole production is really awesome. I am not one to reread a book or re-watch a drama but this. I finished this show in a couple of days I was so hooked and then I went back to rewatch my favourite parts the very next day. Ha!

Quotes

“In order to trust, you must suspect first.” This guy is too cool.

“Being too kind is a disorder. But it's not completely useless.”

It's annoying how in the intro theme Woo Jin is wearing glasses and he only wears glasses in the entire 12 hour series for 2 minutes at the beginning of the first episode.
Woo Jin completely won me over. The actor, Lee Sang Yoon, I have the biggest crush! His education tone is so sexy. Haha.
He never smiles with his teeth during the entire show. Isn't that sad?
I like how they show that he is taking in everything. Plus, his eyes are pretty.

Fashion
The guys are obsessed with turtle necks.
Woo Jin wears Chuckies. I like that.
Da Jung wears some great heels.

Thoughts
Don't Kang Do Young and Ha Woo Jin get tired of staring at each other so meaningfully?
Do Young is annoying.
I wanted something more from Da Jung and Woo Jin. Not necessarily romantic, just a sign that they're friends or that he respects her, or she makes him happy.
That ending is confusing as hell. I'm disappointed that after all the mind games the ending just ends up being a mindless shoot out.
This drama has strong women, even though they aren't the heroines, I heartily approve. The reporter Ja Young and the PD. Normal career, competent women who can hold conversations with a hot guy.

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Liar Game (2014) poster

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