Good ride
very slick well written and planned and well-acted thriller with plenty of action like the best K-drama of its genre〜the concept is not that original but it is well done 〜reminds me of 「Mission Impossible」except it is not one completed story for every episode but leaves cliffhanger and there emerges an underlying backstory and plan behind the targeted individuals〜 you have to focus to follow the detail 〜this is binge watch quality which is rare for me。Great cast both main and support。 you really want them to get those low-lifes in high places。Song Seung Hyeon was also in similar genre「 Black」（also with Kim Won Hae） and 「Time Slip Dr Jin」 that I liked but his main career roles seem romance or melodrama〜Kim Won Hae also has a long distinguished career in similar roles （main and support） such as 「Nine Times Time Travel」、「Black」「 I am Human Too」 「Hotel del Luna」 to name a few it would have been good to see a follow up with these actors as they developed good chemistry。Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is one of the K-dramas that I watched that I actually finished. I don't finish K-drama's even though its a must watch or very popular. One of the reasons why I like this one is because of Krystal, yes I watched this one because of her. I was finding some dramas of snsd or just some dramas that were made by Krystal or Jessica Jung. Then I found this one on Iflix and I watched it in a very blurry quality but because of her I kept watching then suddenly I just fell in love with the drama itself. It was so good without very nau·seous scenes, some very r18 up scenes, or scenes that are just too much for my weak heart. It was so good, their friendship like the last part where they escape and It's an open ending. I still want for it to have a part 2.Was this review helpful to you?
Fast paced & fantastic fight scene choreography!
Player is a very well written and well execute drama. The plot is not convoluted, it's straightforward, and I really appreciate that the drama wasn't dragged out (it's only 14 episodes rather than 16 or more). The story isn't terribly complicated to figure out and there's no big revelation, but the story is fast paced and the action was on point. The choreography for all the fight scenes was FANTASTIC.The comedy was sparse, but the relationships between all 4 con men was envy-worthy. The 3 men, Ha Ri, Byung Min, and Jin Woong were like brothers. I was skeptical about adding Ah Ryung, but was very happy with her addition once they established her relationship with the 3 *brothers*; the way they all came crashing in to protect her and fight for her as her older brothers was beautiful and gave me goosebumps and envy! Even further, I love how the 4 con men worked together to protect Prosecutor Jang - he too was a wonderful character!
I really enjoyed and adore this OST - Player by Dok2 was fabulous. The placement of this theme song had me perking up EVERY time.
Player isn't necessarily for everyone, especially since it doesn't have romance. BUT if you like revenge plots, con men, and action, this is a drama you don't want to miss out on. If you enjoyed Switch: Change the World, Miss & Mrs. Cop, and/or The Dude in Me, this drama will be your speed.
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Enjoyable!
I've seen this drama around before, but always passed on watching it. Finally, I decided to just give it a go and found myself really enjoying this drama.The story was entertaining, although some parts felt a bit draggy, I was still invested in the story. The episodes leave you on a cliffhanger, so when you say "just one more episode", it's never just one more episode. You have to start the next one to find out what happens.
The OST was fine. Nothing great, but it worked.
The characters/actors are what made me enjoy this so much. I think they chose the perfect actors to play these characters. When it comes to Song Seung Hoon, his dramas are usually hit or miss for me. This one was definitely a hit. I thorougly enjoyed his portrayal as Ha Ri. Krystal was also a stand out for me. I enjoyed her portrayal as Ah Ryung. In fact all four of them fit together really well. The friendship between them was there and I really enjoyed the dynamics between the group. You definitely grow attached to these characters.
This is definitely a rewatchable show! Overally, an enjoyable show that will keep you invested throughout!
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The game is afoot
What a funny ride, this drama. As a headache-free tv-show, this drama never intends to get uselessly complicated and simply provide a pure entertainment. It's easy to follow yet interesting, as the plot revenge emerges to link the funny cons and tricks to the lovely characters.And while some villains just can't offer much in the balance against "the good guys", some others are scheming quite the challenge, which offers a good counterpart from the con artists and never gets boring. To me, this drama succeed in making the intentions of every character very clear, but while keeping the tricks used as the mystery element to keep the viewers stuck on the show. Since the show remain simple and accessible, it works quite well even if here and there you end up finding some flaws as the plot favors the main characters a bit too much.
Still, to get the show this enjoyable while avoiding some grandiloquent and over-the-top devices and twists is the sign of a skillfull director and staff, loving what they do and showing it. This is particulary true in this drama, when everyone on screen seems to have fun.
Now, maybe that's exactly what others may find lacking in this drama : a more powerful scenario with more entanglements, pressure or challenges but honestly I'm not that sure, for myself, that I would have loved the show if it was planned as such.
There you have it : a good drama about con artists should be able to con its viewers into thinking that it was at least that good.
I fell for it almost all the way so, you've been warned : you could also get conned into loving this drama.
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I definitely watched this because of Kim Won Hae-the prosecutor. He has tremendously grown on me in the dramas I've seen him in. I wasn't too fond of his character in Strong Woman but he played it well. I even laughed a bit at his scenes. He even played a Russian in Fiery Priest!!
I also loved Tae Won Seok. The way he just walked up to people and just slapped them was hilarious!! The main lead and the tech were OK.
Since I've watched the five seasons of Leverage on a few occasions, I could do the same with this as well.
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When I first read the drama description, it reminded me so much of Bad guys 2: City of Evil. In terms of how they utilised bad guys to fix the corrupted justice system. However, Bad guys 2 didn’t unfold well and I was afraid that this drama will turn out the same way. It was also my first time watching a drama written by Shin Jae-Hyung. But eventually, I decided to trust the cast in delivering a good drama.
Storyline:
This drama is a typical good prosecutor (+ Bad Criminals team) tries to overturn the corruption in the justice system. It unfolds by solving a case (every 2 episodes) which eventually leads to the bigger picture. The drama first started out very light with multiple hilarious moments. But as the series goes on, it takes on a more dark and serious tone. Overall, the balance between the serious scenes and the funny moments made the drama unique compared to other crime dramas.
This drama is definitely fast paced. Perhaps due to the relatively short air time compared to other Mini Series Dramas (Typically 16-18 episodes). There were a couple of loose ends here and there. But it didn’t really affect the main storyline. Overall, this drama would suit people who loves fast paced, light crime drama (with focus on corruption).
Acting (Main Cast Only):
Generally, I believe that the main casts did a great job at acting their roles. Especially, Song Seung Hoon and Kim Won Hae. Every time I spot Kim Won Hae in a drama, I feel reassured. Probably because I know that he is able to portray his character well.
Out of the 5 main cast, I would say that Krystal needed a little improvement to her acting. There were some scenes where her acting is downright cringy. However, compared to her other dramas, her acting in this drama did improve. As a fellow Idol-turned-Actor Supporter myself, I believe in Krystal’s potential of transitioning to a great actress in the future.
As for the other side casts, I didn’t really pay attention to their acting, therefore am unable to provide comments.
Music:
The OSTs in the drama was particularly well made. I love how timely the music is and how it suits each scene. My favourite OST from this drama would probably be Dok2 – Player (ft. Jin Sil from Mad Soul Child). Other notable OSTs are: JK Kim Dong Wook – Yesterday & The Vane – Changer.
Rewatch Value:
6 out of 10. I typically don’t rewatch crime (focused on corruption) dramas. Simply because having to know how the story ends, spoils the fun for me.
But if this drama made another season, I would not hesitate to watch it.
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It is a light show but also very shallow. In therms of characters and story. Especially the former lacked nuances for me (which is probably why I didn`t feel Song Seung Heon`s performance/character that much).
In terms of action/plot: It got really boring since they used almost the exact same routine for every event. It was/become very predictable and I wasn't a single time surprised by plot "twists".
The villain were also these comical cartoons cliche villains that were only there to enjoy when they finally got kicked in the nuts.
And not much fight "choreo" to see either they went just style confusion camera wise and so you could mostly only see some disjointed stunts. But it was okay.
I really don`t agree with the sentiment "This drama is considered a must-watch in many ways". Can`t think of a single wey/thing. To be precise I think it's very overrated (at the moment 8.4) compared to others in the genre. But the same is true for me about "Come and Hug Me" and "Mad Dog" so... (Though this one is in the middle there).
My expectations are probably to high when I compare them to my favorites.
Though considering thriller is one of my favorite genres - frustrating.
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Let's go steal laundered money
Look, it's fun! If you want a fun, enjoyable action show this is a really nice one. Like yeah the plot isn't great but the chemistry between the crew is actually so cute I'm a sucker for a good crime found family. This show is so Leverage coded but a little less goofy than Leverage. Still the crew is SO FUN i LOVE their dynamic its the best thing about the show I just loved seeing them come together and support each other as the show went on. This was just a fun time it's a solid watch. And Krystal's in it so <33 I love her role as the guarded getaway driver. And yes because this was made in 2018 Kim Wonhae is most definitely in this show and I actually really enjoyed his dynamic with the main character. Also yes keep in mind this is a 2018 OCN show and its SUCH a 2018 OCN drama. There's fun action but not too much thought was put into the plot or characters. But yeah it's a good time and I do miss these sillies <3Was this review helpful to you?
One of my favorite dramas
Story: Personally, this is one of my favourite k-dramas ever, and one of the main reasons is the storyline! I'm not one to watch dramas with a minimal romance storyline, but this drama changed my mind on such dramas. None of the characters are one-dimensional and you learn more and more about them as the story goes on. Unlike many other dramas I watch, all the characters are there for a reason and the team chemistry is AMAZING (their bickering is so much fun to watch). And as you watch more and more of the drama, you learn more and more about the underlying plot, the reasoning behind every move, and the genius of the main character–it is like peeling the layers of the onion. This drama is a really great watch, and it keeps me sitting at the edge of my seat at the end of every episode.Acting/Cast: I personally really love Song Seunghoon because he was in the first drama I've ever watched My Princess, but he has aged like FINE WINE. And, I think he looks really good in this drama because he is always wearing suits. Also, I am not usually the type to watch dramas with Kpop idols because I find it really hard for them to blend in with the rest of the actors, but I think Krystal did a really great job. The chemistry between the main team was AMAZING and I loved their bickering. They really felt like a family. Lastly, I wanted to give a shoutout to the Prosecutor because I loved watching him. I know Kim Won-Hae is in a lot of dramas but this prosecutor role was really bad-ass.
Music: The ost is really great and I get excited every time it plays in the background. It really gets your blood pumping.
Rewatch Value: I'm not the type to write reviews at all, but I am writing one for Player because I just rewatched it after 2 years and it is still one of the BEST dramas I have EVER WATCHED. Even though it lost a lot of the mystery aspect watching it the second time, I still really really enjoyed it because it's really satisfying watching the team kick ass and the team chemistry cracks me up every time.
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a must watch drama
Honestly im into chinese drama since 2018, i havent watch some korean drama since then, but my friend recommended this.and wow i never get bored watching this, actions, comedy, this is overall package. what i really like is the bond between the four main lead.
they really portray the characters well, if there's season 2 with the same cast i'll difenitely watch it
the ost was also good
i should watch this again? definitely yes
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