L.U.C.A.: The Beginning (2021)

A great start : We get to see human greed at its finest but the pacing midway went downhill for me

P.S. This series is for viewers who are not uncomfortable with graphic scenes such as violence etc. because this drama's plot is driven by human and animal experimentation and abuse. Basically, this serves as a warning.

The drama kicks off with a great start as it actually leaves the viewers an impression as well as a lot of questions to be solved as the viewers dive deeper into the series. We get to see a great production as well as a solid cast. The acting, OSTs and effects used right at the bat catches the viewers / audiences attention. The hype for the 1st episode is intense and truly, worthy. Moreover, the OSTs used are also meaningful and emotional most especially when you read the lyrics of the OSTs because it portrays the characters' inner struggles.

I'm also glad that SK is actually producing more dramas that aren't just mainly oriented for the audience who are fond of Romantic Comedies so L.U.C.A. gets another plus point. Moreover, the last time viewers were blessed with a Sci-fi focused series was on 2018 when "Circle : Two connected worlds was released" and that show started and ended off pretty well so if you haven't yet watched that series, I highly recommend you to check it out because it has a lost of twists and it is also one of the most underated SK series.

Since L.U.C.A. is also a unique series because of its genre and plot (Sci-fi, Action, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense), it is advisable that you don't watch this as a passing because there are a lot of mysteries to ponder.

The pacing at the beginning of the story is also done well but here's where the series starts to go downhill.

In the middle of the series, there's actually a point where the characters suddenly developed a romantic relationship and I actually find it to be out of character because at the first episodes, we see them as friends then boom, they got together really fast. We didn't get to see much progress.

Furthermore, you may actually start to question at the middle of the series on where it was going. Like the characters are not even consistent and some parts of the series might bore / disappoint you.

Lastly, the series ends off with a depressing note as well as a cliff hanger. I will not expound this further in order to not give a spoiler but yeahhh.. *sigh*

In conclusion, this series deserves an applause for its unique take based on Charles Darwin's theory of Evolution. Its plot is more oriented on human experimentation towards human evolution and its Genre will immediately catch the attention of the viewers. There are Cons for this series because of some plot and character inconsistencies but if you're interested in a series which will make you ponder a lot, you can add this on your watch list. I cannot guarantee that this is a 100% great series but it's still an entertaining watch despite of its Cons... ;)

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It went downhill pretty fast

The serie started great.
But it went downhill after episode 7.
It feels like the writer just don’t like women.
The FL character was put down like a dumb person who believes every word their enemy told.
The ML fighting for both of them but she don’t believe him, after all she witnessed?!
Sorry but from the moment she listened to the lies and believes them but not JI HO I flipped my table.
It was done.
Also it looked like they just wrote that part to fill the last 5 episodes .
It is only watchable till episode 7.
The music is great. And the acting of the actors are nailed.
That gave the serie a 6.

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Captivating from the very beginning!
We are introduced the main characters immediately and you get to know the important ones and the ones that will be written off. The storyline is pretty new-ish and fresh.
A guy with unknown origins trying to figure out who he is and we find out at the same pace as he does. A girl he met when he was younger, who believes that he is the murderer (of her parents) that she has been searching for.
While trying to search for answers together, they fall in love. Which kind of makes everything go spiraling from then on.
It was just 12 episodes long but around episode 9-10 I began to feel a bit annoyed with some of the characters. Wishing that they could just end it already. But the last episode redeemed the whole series.
Overall, Not a bad watch!
South Korea usually does a great job with their sci-fi/supernatural series, and they didn't disappoint with this one. OCN is usually the broadcasting station that does this type of shows, so this is my first time watching such a series on TVN.

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Dramas like this can only be found once in a while

I'm not the type who watches sci-fi genre but I give it a try because of Rae Won, and I don't regret it. The story is actually distinguished and unique and the visual Fx is so well doned, the acting cast is skilled too. One thing that I don’t like that there's unnecessary lengthy scenes that make me feel bored. It's a nice drama with an addictive and magnificent story that will make you looking forward to the upcoming episodes. I get astonished whenever I see Z-O's lightning superpower, it's amazingly beautiful and I bet that they put a really effort to make it in this level of wonderfulness.

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Mi aspettavo un drama tra azione, thriller e - se ero fortunata - un pizzico di romance. L'inizio parte col piede giusto, il ritmo è incalzante, la tematica della sperimentazione genetica sulla specie umana sembra rivelarsi una carta vincente. Il protagonista è un personaggio interessante, a livello di caratterizzazione. Sull'interpretazione, avrei scelto un attore diverso, non dico il classico giovane belloccio ma un attore che - anche se non canonicamente "bellissimo" - avesse comunque un suo fascino. In questo, Kim Rae Won non si può dire sia stato all'altezza: insipido a livello di espressività, esteticamente anonimo, con un taglio di capelli che non fa che peggiorare la situazione. Lee Da Hee, al contrario, regala - come sempre - una buona prova. E' un'attrice che apprezzo particolarmente e che per una volta tanto ho visto in panni un po' diversi dal solito. Altri attori meritevoli tra il cast sono sicuramente il caposquadra della polizia e lo scienziato ricercatore "padre" di Ji Ho.
Tornando alla storia, viene sviluppata molto bene nella prima parte; a un certo punto trova spazio anche il romance, anche più del "pizzico" che mi aspettavo, e questa è stata sicuramente un'altra nota positiva. Poi, però, nell'ultimo terzo della serie, qualcosa va storto. I protagonisti iniziano a comportarsi e ad agire in modo non lineare, le situazioni - affrontate in un certo modo fin dall'inizio - vengono risolte/gestite come non ci si aspetterebbe (e no, non parlo di effetto sorpresa, ma intendo proprio la mancanza di apprezzabile buonsenso), per arrivare a una conclusione che, boh, non si capisce bene da che parte sia saltata fuori. Il personaggio di Ji Ho negli ultimi episodi è poco credibile e coerente, le motivazioni date non stanno francamente in piedi. Anche Gu Reum subisce un po' la stessa sorte, e ciò che è stato importante e fondamentale per due terzi della serie viene messo quasi da parte. Gli ultimissimi minuti mi hanno fatto inevitabilmente pensare a un finale un po' aperto, dove una seconda stagione potrebbe ricollegarsi senza problemi. Non vedo però all'orizzonte un sequel nell'elenco dei futuri lavori dei personaggi principali, per cui, se così fosse, si tratterebbe di un finale un po' raffazzonato. Concludendo, una serie con un buon potenziale, che parte bene ma deraglia verso la fine.

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Era para ser grande mas não foi

O começo desse drama foi incrivel, e rapidamente viciei em assisti -lo, tinha boas atuações a ost eram bem descente por sinal e as partes de ação eram eletrizantes , a história sobre a ficção cientifica também me interessou muito , a protagonista feminina era bem diferentes daquelas que estamos cansados de ver por aí, totalmente fora dos esteriótipos e eu adoro isso, eu realmente pensei que ia adorar demais isso mas...

Esse drama tinha muito potencial e foi muito bom assisti-lo até o episódio 8 , depois disso foi só ladeira a baixo, a protagonista feminina se transformou em algo irritante e sem cérebro, eu não suportava as cenas com ela mais. O drama foi se tornando cansativo, os vilões eram irritantes no minimo, e não só eles, pois todos os personagens acabaram por ficar chato e previsíveis.

Em fim não me arrependo de ter assistir , teve seus momentos bons apesar de tudo, e olado posivo é que tem poucos episódios o que torna mais suave a experiência , serve bem para passar seu tempo.
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It was supposed to be big but it wasn't.

The beginning of this drama was incredible, and I quickly became addicted to watching it, it had good performances the ost were quite decent by the way and the action parts were electrifying, the story about science fiction also interested me a lot, the female protagonist was very different the ones we're tired of seeing around, totally outside the stereotypes and I love it, I really thought I was going to love it so much but...

This drama had a lot of potential and it was really nice to watch it until episode 8 , after that it just went downhill, the female lead turned into something annoying and brainless, I couldn't stand the scenes with her anymore. The drama was becoming tiresome, the villains were annoying to say the least, and not only them, as all the characters ended up being boring and predictable.

In the end, I don't regret watching it, it had its good moments despite everything, and the positive side is that it has few episodes which makes the experience smoother, it serves well to pass your time.

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