Vagabond

I Spy ~ U Spy ~ They'll All Die ~ If We Try ✈ No S2 Yet? I Might Cry °Excellent°

This story begins with a crash: An airplane crash. Cha Gal-geon lost his nephew/ward - his son, really (CG was raising the kid) to this tragedy. CG travels with other mourners to Morocco, the site of the impact. As soon as he lands there, he recognizes a man that appeared in a video that his nephew had sent him from the plane, prior to the crash. If this man had been on the plane, he would/SHOULD be dead, not walking around Morocco.

Go Hae-ri works at the South Korean Embassy in Morocco. She's actually a fledgling intelligence officer, and is assigned to the crew assisting the mourners. She meets Cha Gal-geon and they eventually work together to bring the baddies down.

V stars the wildly popular Bae Suzy (Start-Up-8, While You Were Sleeping-7.3, Anna: Extended Version-8.1) as Go Hae Ri / "Elsa”. Lee Seung Gi (A Korean Odyssey-7.2, Mouse) is our action hero, Cha Dal Geon. Superstar director, Yu In-Sik (Dr. Romantic series, Extraordinary Attorney Woo), is at the helm, and scriptwriters Jang Young-Cheol and Jung Kyung-Soon seem to work together on most projects. They're responsible for Empress Ki, History of the Salaryman, Big Mouth and other hits. This group hasn't failed their audience yet, and they didn't fail us here. However, one would think that 16+ hours would be enough, but more and more baddies surface. The show is not complete. Season 2 has not been announced yet, but they are looking into it, and they know the fans want it.

V is exciting and well scripted. It has action, intrigue, displays of the worst and best of humanity, and the unfulfilled promise of some romance. It's difficult to tell a thrilling tale without being a little outlandish. They didn't get so crazy that it gets in the way. The plot progresses without too many bumps in the road, yet it is still quite intricate. The action and fight scenes are good. Like most action thrillers, they should have been in ICU or dead several times over, yet they manage to keep going. It's the usual trope for the genre. Why fight it anymore?

The only lasting disappointment you are likely to experience after fighting villains and corruption with Vagabond, is that you'll have to wait for season 2. The wait will be a minimum of 15 mos but a maximum of....well, never. I hope they never do /that/ to us!

IMHO...
🎬8 🤔6 🎭7.5 ⚡8 💓5 🦋5

Suggested Age 12& up

In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

Love to Hate You 8.9;
Crash Landing On You 9.1;
Oh My Ghost 10;
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9;
Love Struck in the City 7.3;
Hospital Playlist 9;
When the Camellia Blooms 8;
My Mister 9.5

Action/Sci-fi/fantasy:
K2 8;
Private Lives 8.1;
Descendants Of The Sun 8.3;
Uncanny counter season 1 only - S1-8.4 S2-4;
Sisyphus 8;
Tunnel 8.1;
Signal 8.6;
D.P. 8.4;
The Cursed 8.3;
Flower of Evil 8.9;
The Man from Nowhere 8.9;
Black 9;
Squid Game 8.4;
Kingdom 8.3;
Sweet Home 8.4

Update May 2024 - Vagabond is filming a second season in the Philippines! No details on a release date.

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don’t mind me, I just easily get attached to shows..

this show just changed me. I can’t stop crying and bawling my eyes out. this show was such a masterpiece, it is tempting with a lot of plot twists that edges you the whole time while watching. the chemistry between main leads was the best I have seen in a while, it’s such a shame that the main leads didn’t get another drama together or atleast s2 of vagabond. the story shows the real world that we are all blinded by. this will be my fav kdrama till the day that I die. It’s heartbreaking for me to get over the drama when it’s been 7 years, knowing there’s most likely no hope of season 2. thank you for making this show and thank you to the actors who made the story whole with their emotions. i will never forget this kdrama.

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!!ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL KDRAMA I'VE EVER SEEN!!

I have to describe this kdrama with just one word "Wonderful" It was one of the first kdramas I saw and it will always remain one of my favorites, The main characters have amazing chemistry even if they don't show it, you can tell by their looks, they act so well that it makes you wonder if it's actually a TV series or "real", amazing cast. Overall, I definitely recommend watching it. The ending will be a little sad, but it's nothing special, or at least if you're a sensitive person, I think you might be disappointed. But anyway, as I said before, every episode is worth your time 🌟🌟🌟

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Action, Mystery, and Great Chemistry

I watched Vagabond mainly because I had become a big fan of Lee Seung-gi after seeing him in Mouse. His acting in Mouse really impressed me, so I was curious to see him in a completely different type of role. And I’m glad I did, because he was great in this series as well.
In Vagabond, he shows a different side of himself. The role is more physical and action-focused, and he really pulls it off. You can feel the determination and desperation of his character, and that makes the story more believable.

I also really liked the chemistry between him and Bae Suzy. She plays a very capable and intelligent character, and together they make a strong duo. Their dynamic feels natural. It’s not overly romantic, which I actually liked. The focus stays more on the mission and the danger around them.

One of the strongest points of the series is the action. The action scenes are very well done and feel almost like a movie. There are intense chases, fights, and suspenseful moments that really keep you watching. The production quality is clearly very high.

Another thing I liked is the mystery element. The story slowly reveals a big conspiracy, and every time you think you understand what’s going on, something new happens. That constant feeling of “there’s more behind this” keeps the tension alive.

The series also looks very good visually. There are many international locations and large-scale scenes that make the world feel bigger than in a typical drama. It really adds to the feeling that the story has high stakes.

What I appreciated as well:
- Strong and convincing performances from the main cast
- A fast-paced story with a lot of suspense
- High-quality action scenes that feel cinematic
- A conspiracy plot that keeps you guessing

Overall, Vagabond is a very entertaining action thriller with strong leads and a story that keeps moving. If you like suspense, action, and a good mystery, it’s definitely worth watching.

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extraordinary

Can't believe I started reviewing just after watching 3 ep. Stroy's gripping from the very beginning and its progress is simply phenomenal.
Though I knew it's a pack of suspense and investigation didn't expect it to have me on the edge of my seat. Stunts are well performed and co-ordinated,
I'm falling In love with the character. having a gut feeling is right but how many of us get to reap the benefits of it? this character clearly reaps them unknowingly(which is evidently necessary for the given circumstances).
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don't mind the above text. it's just for word count.

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What a ride.

Well, a journey this series.
As the synopsis suggests, the starting story is basic to dozens of action movies and series, a loved one of the main protagonist - the nephew - dies at the hands of an organization that wields powers over several institutions in the country.
The main character, here Cha Dal Gun, is obviously a capable character, he's a stunman who knows how to fight and isn't afraid to run into a wall - literally.
After his nephew's death appears to be an accident, he quickly discovers that it is not what it seems. He meets Go Hae Ri, a young woman who works for the Korean secret services and who will help him in his investigation.

I must say that my opinion is divided on the series.
I'm not going to lie, the series is very addictive, we quickly want to know the adventures of our characters, and the plot is well done.
The action scenes are to my surprise very well done although there is a bit of fiction when the character heals quickly, but that's the problem with action series and movies. I can't say that we are bored and the rhythm is very fast until the end, no break and therefore the audience is captivated.

The plot as a whole, although very fictional and basic, where corruption reigns and our characters cannot trust anyone because everyone is lying, remains in a fairly realistic and mature tone. Sometimes, we can also see the criticism of this series towards politicians, the media, and we say to ourselves at the same time as our characters "You are destroying the country you claim to want to save".
So overall, a good story that goes from twists to twists.

What bothers me are the characters.
I must say that Lee Seung Gi who plays Cha Dal Gun did a very good job, although we don't explore so many layers to his character who remains stubborn and sometimes impulsive until the end, he shows the desperate side correctly, a side that is often missing in the characters of the series who interpret the same kind of roles.
But it's still mainly an action series, so I didn't expect a lot of character development. However, I would have liked him to be less hot-headed and to be a more strategic and thoughtful character.
But I liked discovering him in this role.

However, this is where the problem arises, the bad LF syndrome. That's what I'm going to call this habit that actresses have of being FL and annoying.
Here, we supposedly have a young spy and secret service agent, okay it's quite realistic that she can't fight because in reality, all over the world, secret agents are sent for their intellectual abilities and not physical.
But her character remains annoying, when in the middle of a shooting, every time she finds that it's time to discuss and impose her opinion, namely - to stay still until she dies - and to prevent the main character to change the situation, it's annoying. Also her insane craving for recognition, looks like a kid who needs to be complimented all the time, while most of the time she makes the problem worse, she is naive and trusting, which is ridiculous for a supposed spy.
I know it's hard to find the middle ground between the clichés of the badass and the cute, weak FL one, but her performance just makes her annoying.
She's more the type to be the cause of someone's death than the one who saves the day.

The secondary characters are passable, no characters that shine in particular, the cast gives a performance that is believable but not breathtaking.

So, to sum it up, it's a series where you shouldn't expect incredible acting from the cast - except the action scenes and Lee Seung Gi. It's a series in realistic tones and is primarily made to make you feel the action, I mean, the action scenes are not overplayed but on the contrary well done.
The ML so, Lee Seung Gi is perfect in this role, the little romance with the FL is really realistic on this point, they take their time even if the acting of the FL overall is not the best.
It is therefore a series that I would say to see absolutely for entertainment, the comic moments are rather rare because the series has a serious tone but the action remains the center focus.

I hope a season 2 will see the light of day, I know that the two years that we had of Covid-19 did not help the projects in the industry and a lot of them were canceled, but knowing that the main actor said he himself wants a second season because season 1 ended on a cliffanger. And also that since the series is available on Netflix it has gained a fair amount of popularity, I hope they give us a thrilling sequel.

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I REALLY wanted to like this drama

The action was great, the actors even better, special effects were good, production values were top notch, and I'm throwing a serious shout out to the stunt performers. Everything worked except the script.

I loathe plots that rely on the stupidity of the protagonist because the scriptwriter couldn't be bothered to find another way to move the plot. When that stupidity is mired in mach 10 sexism I'm even less forgiving. I watch enough kdrama that I'm resigned to the sexism that pervades its stories, but even with that built in allowance, this script leaned too heavily on bimbo stereotypes to drive the action.

I won't spill anything that will spoil your experience if sexism and stupidity aren't deal breakers for you, and sadly they aren't for many people - that's why there's so much of it, but I will point out a few of the details that had me trotting back to my watch list for something more worthy of my time: A trained covert agent of the a Korean National Intelligence Service hides her multiple fake passports and IDs in her underwear box, because who would ever rifle through a woman's lingerie to find evidence? She keeps her gun unloaded, presumably because she's never heard of a gun safe, so it's never ready when she needs it. No matter how many times this recurs, her behavior doesn't change. It seems even superstar Bae Suzy did not have the clout to plead for a production that didn't make her character an idiot.

And, yes, I'm calling it sexism because, unless it's slapstick comedy, a script for a male agent would not have his go-bag tossed in with his underwear, his gun unloaded when he needed it, or his hands shaking too badly to load that gun; nor would he be the only character in the series that didn't qualify for at least a semi-automatic weapon. The script wouldn't have a male agent hand off his weapon to an untrained civilian to do the bang-bang stuff, even if that civilian IS a manly Mary Sue who could do everything but don a cape and fly - although he did some impressive parkour that was close to flying. Finally, I'm pretty sure the scriptwriter would not have a male agent advocate to flee the county where ALL the known suspects are because "our lives are at stake," like that's not in the job description.

The sexist stereotypes and dependence on stupidity are not, by far, the only saboteurs of a script that stretches credulity on so many levels, but if you're still undeterred, those things probably won't bother you either.

The actors, all of whom delivered on their performances, deserved better than they got. So did the viewers. Life is short and there are too many wonderful kdramas to waste time on a contrived story line with a Swiss cheese plot. I dropped the series after three episodes.

I won't hesitate to find other dramas these actors are in, because every one of them was excellent in their roles, but I'll avoid the scriptwriters like they're patient zero for the plague.

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I usually don't comment while watching a series...

...but this time I am, because I'm hoping that my MDL peers who have seen Vagabond will weigh in on my assessment.
Of course, Lee Sungi is amazing (his patented yelling at someone is in full effect...for reference, see the Gu Family Book), and all the actors are excellent. Except Suzi Bae. I don't know whether it is the script writing, her portrayal of the character, or both. The character seems really out of place for what should be a high-intensity drama. The story is excellent, but the execution of it sometimes seems to vacillate between seriousness, and foolishness. But that's only my view. Maybe something at the end of the series will help me understand why the character and / or her performance is so weak? I hope so.

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WTF ending?

I just want to ask the writer that if you are making thriller why not end it means why would we watch thrillers so that we can find conclusion of every happenings i was all satisfied with the story the cast and Lee seung gi is the main reason i started this drama because he is perfect with scrip selection but this is the first lee seung gi drama i was disappointed he was perfect in his role the story was good but i have just wasted my 16 hours and got no results and there is no second season????
So if someone want to watch this drama i will recommend you if you are fan of the cast and don't mind open endings

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