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TEN, TEN ACROSS THE BOARD ! ( best drama I've seen so far this year)
I have to say I understand that this type of drama isn't to everyone's liking. I get that, I do. I also felt dumbfounded at some really popular dramas that I didn't quite like.With that disclaimer out of the way, Vincezo is one of the best things I've seen come out of drama land this past couple of years. I loved every side character and their quirky and lovable personality. I loved that they had a pretty good backstory and each and everyone was a stand out cartoon like human beings.
I really enjoyed this almost slap stick aspect of this show. They mixed perfectly the seriousness of the story with the comedic relief that at times felt like a Tom and Jerry episode. I feel like it was a really refreshing take on this type of story.
Now, let's talk about the main leads. Vincezo's relationship with all the side leads had a pretty steady progression from distrust to a family like bond. The Geumga-Cassano family, what bonds them is their resolve to survive and then the silly gold rush plot that I actually think it was really fun to see unravel.
I can't not acknowledge the very strong and very present plot armour around the whole main and side cast. I can't complain about it too much because from the first episodes I knew this will end in a happy ending. Again, I don't think that this drama's purpose is to show the real life corruption of the system. If you want something that comes close to that I recommend "Stranger" https://mydramalist.com/21934-stranger.
The chemistry on screen between Vincenzo and Hong Cha Young was flawless and their dynamic perfect. Again, I think that this drama doesn't take itself too serious most of the time and so HCY over the top personality felt right in that universe. But it still managed to make my cry like a babe at times, especially at !!(spoiler incoming) !! Vincezo's mother death and HCY father's death. Those scenes really tugged at my heartstrings. But, I would've loved to see HCY relationship to her father fleshed put more. I found it weird that Vincezo's relationship with Hong Yoo Chan was more sketched out than with his own daughter.
VC character was really well made, it had the bad-assery of the classic stereotype of the Italian mafioso, the cunning of that world that mixed itself with a traumatised child now turned adult, that subconsciously wanted to feel like he had a place in his mother-nation. I liked to see his vulnerable side peek through with his mother and the scene when they take the pictures together was really good and showed his yearning for a relationship with his mother.
His realtionship tp HCY is very enjoyable to watch and see how it changes and grows in a subtle, grown up romance that feels really real. As a fan of course I would've loved to see more skinship but the way their relationship was portrayed made a lot of sense for HCY and VC personality. !!(SPOILER ALERT) The ending felt a little bit lackluster and rushed, it made sense in a way but still didn't feel right. At least I would've like to have more closure for VC and HCY even more if a second season is off the table.
The Babel plot was really entertaining to watch, especially the whole chess/cat-mouse chase that spanned to whole series right to the very end.The elaborate plans were well made and creative even if at times were too far fetched and chaotic.
I felt really satisfying to see the villain get what they deserved and the gore was watchable even though at times it felt like all the violence was gratuitous. Also, the foreshadowing with the corporation's name was a clever touch.
I have to applaud Kim Yeo Jin and Ok Taec Yeon performance. They really blew this one out of the park. It was spot on, over the top, scheming corporate greedy monsters.
Also, honorable mentions: Inzaghi's "plot" was hilarious and matched the silly energy of the drama perfectly. And the OST was amazing, I still listen to it. And I liked the small details like the sound of the buddhist monk drumming and the Nirvana tote bag.
I think the best way to describe this drama is a over the top cheesy wattpad in real life story with amazing acting and cinematography. It created a genre of it's own and a unique feel. Really a big breath of fresh air.
It isn't a flawless ( The first episode was really confusing and tbh unnecessary, if you skip to the half of the episode you honestly didn't miss anythiing important, and there are some plot holes that are never tied up and it can feel a bit choppy sometimes) and faultless drama ( See the homophobic reactions of Vincezo in that episode) but it works so so so GOOD!
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This review may contain spoilers
one of the better dramas ive seen so far
after reading some of the reviews on here just now, i have to disagree with some of them. yes, there were some moments that didnt make sense and were so ridiculous but honestly i didnt mindi rly enjoyed the balance of lighthearted comedy to the intense fight scenes. i didnt expect to be so attached to any of the characters either but i think it was so nice how everyone in the plaza was included in the plans.
i especially enjoyed kwak dongyeons acting and character in this. hes just a clueless puppet acting on behalf of his brother who is the “real” chairman of the company but at one point its like hes grown an awareness and was able to think beyond what his brother told him. i liked how he was able to think for himself and i rly liked his little brother personality with song joongkis character vincenzo. like i REALLY liked it they were so cute and endearing
idk the actress’ name but the one who played choi myeonghee TRULY delivered. i would be so angry every time she was on screen because her character deeply pissed me off. just the mannerisms, the attitude.. everything was just done so well in terms of acting.
the relationships in this show i think are unmatched. like they call themselves a family. OH and also i rly like when “bad guys” join the good guys and they all become to like them. thats what happened here !! the bad guys had a change of heart and it was so pleasant to see. idk what else to say bye i like this show a lot
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Patience is a virtue!
Acting/Cast- The casts for this show were truly excellent and the characters were very well executed, that's the main highlight for you!
- It took quite some time (around half of the whole show) for me to feel attached to the characters mainly Geumga Plaza family, the second half of the show brought me to tears on several occasions as I felt the characters' struggle & sadness.
- Sense of humour is spot on most of the time, well at least for me.
Story/Plot
- The first half is the reason why I gave the story's rating of 6 out of 10, due to its lighter tone, slow & draggy.
- The first half of the show is significantly lighter than the second half, the tone gets darker and darker until the very last episode. Yes, the finale is the darkest one & I love it!
- Identity reveals in this show are no joke! Seriously, each of them made me paused, took a breather before continuing.
- People do back-stabbing as if it's their hobbies.
Music/OST
- Just MASTERPIECE, near perfection!
Rewatch value
- Not in the near future, maybe after a year or two. Not quite sure if I want to repeat the first half again, hence, patience is a virtue.
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I really enjoyed this show but...
this is not one where I will miss the characters. I might miss the quirkiness of the Plaza residents who lightened the mood when it got too dark. But, this is a seriously dark view of the world and there's just so much blood...Song Joon Ki and Jeon Yeo Been were great in the lead roles, but I think Ok Taec Yeon stole the show. I don't think I can see him in anything else for a while. Han Seok was downright scary, all rage and unbridled emotions, as opposed to Vincenzo, who was cool and collected for most of the show.
Glad I watched the show, but I need a few light-hearted rom-coms to recover...
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Very much worth watching
I watched this drama in January 2022 and I liked it A LOT. It was fun, exciting and thrilling at the same time; and although there is definitely some romance involved in the story, I enjoyed the fact that it is not a love centered one. Since romance is the genre I tend to watch the most when it comes to kdramas this was kind of refreshing.It was really fun and sweet to watch a community of people living together and learning to love and protect each other while maintaining that kind of comedic essence in their relationships.
I still listen to the Italian version of Adrenaline (by Aalia) from this drama’s OST, it’s an incredibly good song omg.
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highly recommended
It is an amazing drama . i never comment on a drama but i cannot stop myself from telling that everyone should watch this masterpiece. i just don't want it to end song joong-ki acting is mind blowing. i highly recommend it if i can give it 100 stars i wil give. i just cannot describe in words how amazing this drama.it's 10/10 for me and it climbed up my top few favourites of dramas. it's literally worth sacrificing my studies to binge watch this because it was so good. I didn't watch this initially when it first aired but after a lot of my friends recommended and persuaded me to watch, I finally succumbed to it and watch and I would say I 100% did not regret watching this!!
first of all, ever since descendants of the sun where song Joong ki acted as the main lead, I have never watched any dramas related to him so I forgot how charming he is. he never disappoints, in this drama, he came back x10 hotter and x10 cuter than he already is in dots. he acts like an Italian mafia in this show and he acted really well. he manages to execute his moves so well. He slays this character man oh my god. his gaze, his actions and everything he does just makes me feel so " wow" AHHA sorry can't describe but this drama is also filled with many funny scenes that you could never imagine HAHA ( will say it at the bottom with a spoiler alert so those who haven't watch can anticipate while those who have already watched can reminisce those scenes with me aaa)
the scriptwriter did a great job writing the whole plot with a really good plot twist and also different character development. Not only did the main character was portrayed well, but those second lead were all very good like Taecyeon was portrayed as both a good and bad guy very well as well as dong yeon!! it surprised me how his character development is the best in the whole drama. of course, the prosecutors and all as well as those people living in geumga plaza hehe. furthermore, i like how there need not be many romantic scenes in this drama to make the romance nice. i used to like romance kdrama alot but after watching this drama, i understood that they do not have to necessarily keep having kiss scenes or hug scenes that make your heart flutter. they work together and their chemistry just makes their relationship so wholesome. it's amazing how some things need not be portrayed directly but it still makes you go uWU!
Through this drama, it also made me understand how cute it is to have a bonded group of friends/neighbours who are living together. from them doubting Vincenzo, to them loving him, appreciating his presence and working together with him. it is heartwarming to see these scenes.
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Characterwise, the mains are way too eccentric
(Watched it around 2 months ago, but i still remember the impression) || I actually liked the overall story but what I couldn't stand from this drama is the female lead. I know comedy is one of this drama's genre but the TOO eccentric characteristic of the main leads (SJK and JYB) sometimes made me cringe and failed to feel the drama. From what i saw, the comics seemed to be forced ESPECIALLY the FL. She's a good actress, i know, but maybe the writer didnt do good at creating the character that it had flaws here and there. Taecyeon is for sure another eccentric lead too, but to me he made it better than the two, and it suits him (all the rages and comics, i just loved itt). To sum it up, to me it needs more seriousness(?). I gave the acting an 8 thanks to Tacyeon, I could've given a 6.5 if he didnt do good there. || They did a great job for the cinematography, plot, etc tho, but it lacked characteristic creation that i could say it's kinda o V e R r A t E d. 이상입니다.Was this review helpful to you?
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Sequel Needed
Outstanding mafia drama! Korea just created its own version of Al Pacino's Godfather with Vincenzo. Yes, you heard me right. I think Song Joong-ki has the right balance of good and evil in his Vincenzo character to create a mafia trilogy. What I enjoy about Korean productions is the overall story value and how it ebbs and flows. I look at the big picture. This had it all. Good vs. evil, with good prevailing, but just enough bad to take the sugary edge off, suspense, comedy, romance, characters you hated, characters you wanted to have a beer with, and those you want to see more of in future dramas. I don't live in Korea so I didn't succumb to the hype of this drama, so I didn't have any expectations going into it other than it was on a list of recommended dramas. I was blown away. I thought this was a superb production. As a foreigner, I kept pausing the drama and googling Seoul locations for filming different scenes. I know so much more about Seoul now than before, and have come away from these explorations with a respect for this great city. The actors were versatile and multi-dimensional, and I've added several to my list of favorite Korean actors. I hope there will be a sequel.Was this review helpful to you?
No matter what I say my words won't do justice to this wonderful series
The production was amazing and the casting was more than perfect. I found myself; feeling sentimental, crying, being angry, emotional, happy and tired of laughing. The drama was absolutely perfect and I already found myself wanting to re watch certain parts when I wasn't even finished. The music was over the top and flawlessly added to the atmosphere. The only one thing why I gave the story 9.0/10 is because Vincenzo's father was never discussed and we only ever got to see his mother and the other is that we never truly get to know about Cha-young's mother except when we see her shouting at her father and blaming him. Like I said my words can not do this series justice so you should just go and watch it, trust me if you haven't watched this you're missing.Was this review helpful to you?
THE SHOW THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE-My first ever review
This is my first ever review on this website, because I just can't help how much in love I am with this drama.I have already left essay worthy comments on this drama, but I feel it also deserves a stellar review, so here goes:
Acting 10/10: This is only the second Song Joong Ki drama I've seen. But Song Joong Ki's character is so beautifully still in this show, he never fidgets, never gets startled, never loses control of his body movements, and it's a very strong character mentally as well. It's an absolute delight to watch all the episodes again and notice minute changes in his expression to the events around him, and he really manages to exude a natural intelligence and air of authority. His character gradually learns to love, and also accept that he is worthy of receiving love, and his actions show that clearly towards the end. In the beginning he is arrogant and distant without being mean in any way, and towards the end he is loving and caring without being suffocating in every way. The perfect character development. Also his deep voice is so hypnotic at many points of time, I'm convinced that's the main reason I unexpectedly loved his character from start to finish. I have become a fan of Song Joong Ki's acting after this show.
Jeon Yeo Been, MY QUEEN, is the BEST female character ever written, ever performed, ever shown on screen. She is fiery, sassy, bright, sexy, logical, brave, quick-witted, savage, sharp tongued, and beautiful beyond compare. She matches wit with everyone around her, is funny as all hell, her voice is SO hot. She never hesitates to express what she's feeling, and loves her dad despite what happened in her past. She is protective of those around her, and willing to go to any length to achieve her goals. I am IN LOVE with Hong Cha Young and Jeon Yeo Been and this is the main reason I gave the show a 10/10.
Their relationship is EXACTLY what I want in my life. They are best friends, so honest with each other, soft around each other, support each other, communicate so damn well, they TRUST each other, believe in each other, take care of each other without it being toxic in any way, and there is NO malice, NO games, NO hidden agendas anywhere between them. They also tease each other, and never fail to bicker endlessly.
In the simplest sense, it's the PINNACLE of romance, because every single glance and touch and dialogue leaves you to BEG for more. It's pining but also SO satisfying because I cherish every smile, every action that tells everyone around them that they are a unit, a team, a couple. It's realistic because they are both logical and understanding of their circumstances, and you can clearly see the struggle they both have with their feelings, one wants to love but is afraid that the other person has to leave, the other wants to love but is afraid he will have to leave.
The ending was quite satisfactory according to me.
Other factors I want to note:
Cinematography 10/10 Just WOW. The fashion, the shots, the bars/cafes they meet in, all beautiful.
OST 10/10 I have been listening to the ost on repeat even while working, just IN LOVE with it.
Story 9/10 The zig-zag storyline was great to watch, but could've been slightly better if less background character involvement was there.
Cast 10/10 Each and every single actor did their best, and their chemistry was off the charts, insanely good.
Background characters 10/10 Most of the side-characters are interesting and fun to watch. Villains did an awesome job.
Neo-Noir vibe was on POINT. Loved the ode to black and white gangster films, I think SJK nailed that part too.
OVERALL 10/10. I have already seen this show two times.
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I loved it
Im writing this right after finishing the series, still overwhelmed and thrilled.I started Vincenzo hesitant cause im not a fan of mafia content since i already see enough on my daily life since i live in italy, anyways it was quick since i was dragged into the story and couldn't stop watching it.
I loved the plot although it had some things thrown in and never explained, like the relationship with paolo or the other family thrown towards the end, yet it was so full of events that it didn't matter much.
I was amazed, i loved the villain, i loved the dynamics, the strategy. I fell in love with side characters, main cast, everyone. I loved the way the whole thing was put on.
It's definitely not for everyone since it might be a lil too gruesome for someone not used to all that blood, and also it might simply not be gour genre.
I loved how slow burn the romance was, although i wish we saw more of their relationship after the ending, yk?
Keep in mind that it's not only lawyer stuff but a lot of revenge is involved.
I'm not a fan of the OST but it was good compared to others i have heard.
The cast was amazing at conveying emotions, i loved it till the end.
I cried, i laughed, i was at the edge of the seat, so I'll definitely rewatch it. Im happy i changed my mind about it in the end.
Also side note, besides the whole mafia part, Vincenzo is probably one of the closest representations of (still stereotyped) italians i have seen jn a while, idk if it's bc how the western media portrays us or jusy this refreshing view, but i enjoyed it.
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