I loved this drama. It was definitely a mystery/police procedural drama and not a romance drama (if this show was made in the US, there probably might have been a romance subplot between the main two characters but societal expectations in Korea are different and there isn't and that's just fine. It didn't need any romance). This show is about Yoo Seol Ok (played by Choi Kang Hee), a neighborhood ahjumma who is basically like Sherlock Holmes in her ability with deductive reasoning. Seol Ok gets involved in investigating some crimes that occur in her neighborhood because Chief Hong Joon Oh (played adorably by Lee Won Geun), the head of her neighborhood police station, consults her for help with his investigations. They cross paths with Ha Wan Seung (played by Kwon Sang Woo - who can smirk at me any time he wants to, thanks), a detective in the drug unit/violent crimes unit who is something of a loose cannon. He and Seol Ok clash quite a bit, but form a bickering partnership in order to hunt down some criminals. The various cases that they encounter are interesting (watch out for the whole serial killers are like mice - if you see one, you know there are more in the walls - trope) and Seol Ok gets to shine as a not typical female character. The supporting cast in this drama really round out the experience and make you glad to join them each episode.
Don't expect an ending where things are wrapped up tidily. I was honestly a bit flabbergasted by the ending, since kdramas don't typically have multiple seasons but it definitely felt more like a season finale in a U.S. procedural show with some big plot reveals right at the very end. I would not be unhappy if there was a second season of this show. Choi Kang Hee's clear delight in playing Seol Ok is wonderful and the bickering, sibling-like interplay she has with Kwon Sang Woo's Ha Wan Seung is very engaging. Highly recommended, especially if you're looking for something not your typical kdrama fare.
Story is really only minus half a star because of how many loose ends there still were at the end of the last episode.
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Decent, not necessarily something new, but worth watching
The story is somewhat well written, there are some parts that are too draggy to my taste, however, maybe if you crave something draggy or some people call it slow burn, you might enjoy it. I find it annoying sometimes when the FL and ML bickering instead of taking an immediate action. Again, it depends on an individual's taste, but overall story is okay and easy to watch, not too heavy. If you are looking for a Korean drama because you've watched all the Korean dramas, or waiting for an upcoming drama, then I think this drama is a good drama to fill your time.The only thing that I think this drama lack so much is the music. The music in this drama is not making any sense in the slightest. For example, the scene where FL found out an acquaintance she knows died, and the music they chose to play is comedic. Or the FL and ML moments where they played somewhat romantic music when there are no romance and the ending music have romance elements in it where the genre doesn't even have romance in it. For God sake, FL is an ahjuma/married woman... maybe there is a slight spark between the two, but it's just inappropriate for a non-romance comedy drama?
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When watching these Korean dramas if they grab me from the get go I will binge watch. This one almost lost me on a few occasions.
When I saw who the female lead was I had to watch. Why? Because I thought she would be doing some top notch fighting like she did in Good Casting but I was highly dismayed that she absolutely did not fight. She was portrayed as a housewife who couldn't defend herself...ugh!!
I don't know why but I feel compelled to say this: Korean women dress very very TACKY! I found most of the women's wardrobe horrible.-sandals with socks??? Skirts that looked thrown together....I won't even talk about the shoes... Their wardrobe was highly distracting to say the least.
The way I am is when I see anyone who have bad fighting skills I'm immediately drawn to that person. I will try to find any and everything they're in just to see their fighting skills.
I stuck this one out because it had a very minimal Sherlock 'Holm-girl' to it. I don't know why the police force was there. They made it like they were incapable of solving anything which annoyed the heck out of me.
I also stuck it out because I loved the detectives Ahn Kil Kang, Kwon Sang Woo, and Lee Won Keun interaction with each other. They felt like actual brothers to me.
I also like the fact that they had different scenarios throughout the series. It wasn't a long drawn out plot.
I was a little dismayed at the ending. It's like they don't know how to end stuff like this! All the Korean dramas I've seen had just about all horrible endings. I don't know what I was expecting but I wish it was better than how they ended it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watch this for my ALPHABET DRAMA / MOVIE CHALLENGE. Turn out much better than what I expected.Yoo Seol OK (OK) & Ha Wan Seung (WS) is quite a unique duo. Where OK charm us with her unique traits & also attract WS attention. Of course, as a police officer, at first WS don't trust ordinary citizen like OK. But upon some case OK prove can help him with her attention to small detail, WS more and more trust her. Until the end, WS even like need OK help.
Who I don't like in here is OK's in law family. Start from her missing husband, her sister in law & for better or worse her mother in law. For me OK husband [Kim Ho Cheol (HC)] kind of bastard & selfish guy, he seem shame to show OK as her wife outside, even some people don't know that he is a married man. And also the restrictions that HC gave OK about her involvement with police force, that in the end turn out for his own good than for OK herself.
Overall this one good detective drama, with cases but also with a little bit humour...
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.
The side cases were fine but the main one was too messy, weak and generic in both seasons. The comedy often relied on loudness, repetition and rattling, in season 1 mostly because season 2 wasn't comedic but just dumb silliness. There's a weird down time between some cases that could've been utilized better. Half of the cases either lacked a proper villain or a proper victim. Don't get me started on the endless dumb moves.Regarding Season 2, it was a significant downgrade. The series became straight up silly. Just from watching the first episode of season 2 I knew exactly what direction they are taking the sequel. A bad one! I was already sick and tired from the obsession over Hyun Soo but this was only amplified with season 2. Which why, in both seasons, the main case was a despicable mess. They even made Hyun Soo more important than the female lead! They could've taken the story in many interesting directions but they decided to copy the first season and make it dumbed down and sillier. There was no need to make a 2nd season in the first place. Season 2 left me with nothing but disappointment. I don't care about season 3 and would prefer not to get one at all. I would give S1 a 5.5/10 and S2 a very generous 3.5/10.
What's even the point of forcing a romantic connection between the leads in season 2 if they weren't gonna do anything with it? It didn't even serve a purpose for the climax. Speaking of which, after endless mentions of Hyun Soo, the drama didn't allow the male lead to interact with Hyun Soo after he found it her identity. After all the commotion, it ended up in vein. Even more, the female lead backstory of her parents death was given less than 10 minutes of attention in both seasons.
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even though there are some case that easy to guess who is the culprit but this drama is so good TT
I love the acting, the chemistry between the actor, and the plot twist.
This drama will make you curious about the culprit.
There is Queen of Mystery 2, they have more romance story between the main cast, but for me i love season 1 more because they have more goosebumps case!
If you love to solving mystery, feel free to watch this <3
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Reason #1: While I am certain that Choi Kang Hee and Lee Won Keun are more than capable actors, their characters were just rubbish. I am not entirely sure why Officer Hong (Lee Won Keun) helps the female lead (Choi Kang Hee), I was highly annoyed by his portrayal. He broke pretty much every single rule a police officer has and he doesn't even care (or notice). The female lead was SUPER ANNOYING with her sticking her nose into things that are really not her problem. She might have read some thrillers or whatever but that doesn't make her Ms. Marple. She also has no concept of personal space. In Episode 4, when she took the male leads phone against his will, he should have just arrested her - plain and simple.
Reason #2: I know that mother-in-law-s are often portrayed as nosy and overbearing but this character took the cake. She constantly was behind the female lead, checking on what she was doing and if she couldn't get to her, she was calling and asking if she had to come over. If that were my mother in law, I would file for divorce.
Reason #3: I think I already said it. This whole dynamic reminded me a bit of the US-TV Show "Castle" where a Non-Cop works with Cops to solve crime. Big difference, even if Castle is an integral piece in the dynamic, it is always quite clear that he doesn't do it alone. Here, in this drama, they make it seem like "Castle" (the female lead) does all the work while "Beckett" (the male lead) is just sitting around, twiddling his thumbs and blowing spit bubbles, waiting for "Castle" to solve the case and explain to him what has happened. Really not my kind of drama, sorry.
All in All I give the drama a solid 5/10 since there were still some enjoyable bits even though I sadly had to drop the drama to save my sanity.
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Comecei detestando o detetive que se intitulava "o melhor cão farejador de drogas da policia" e so comecei a gostar um pouco dele nos episódios finais.
Sinceramente, senti que o caso central foi muito negligenciado ao longo da trama porque sempre era jogado para depois, e o resultado nao podia ser outro que nao fosse um final cheio de pontas soltas que nao conclui a historia.
Não tinha justificativa para 2 temporada se tivessem distribuído melhor isso ao longo da trama, mas me senti obrigada a assistir a próxima para ver como tudo ia terminar.
E olha foi uma perda de tempo total, a 2 temporada se perdeu completamente e mais uma vez não trouxe o que desfecho adequado que todos estavam esperando.Senti que os próprios casos policiais ficaram chatos e desinteressantes nessa temporada e nem mesmo o romance teve um desenvolvimento satisfatório.
Não perca seu tempo vendo esse drama porque com certeza vai se arrepender quando perceber que assistiu 32 episódios de 1h pra nada. Não gostei, não recomendo a ninguém.
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