Vincenzo (2021)

Refreshing

Vincenzo is really a refreshing drama. The base story is actually quite used in dramas. A corapted company uses everyone and everything to be on top and a team tries to bring them down. But the way they use it and the whole plot is really new. Everyone more or less is a villain, this isn't a battle between the wrong and right. It is a battle between the wrong and the wronger (I don't even know if this words exists...). And it isn't dark, it is actually a comedy. I won't speak about the ethics or the morallity or the message this drama leaves behind, I saw a lot of people speaking about that in others reviews/comments. Even if I don't agree with the way things work on the drama, I don't think this is important. It isn't the type of series in which the viewer look to the meaning of life and the morals, at least for me there is series I watch for the messege and series I watch because they are refreshing, new and interesting ( like come on, everyone watched Game of Thrones and no one cared about the nonexisting morals or the violence -much worse than Vincenzo and people justified Ramsay-, everyone loved Daenerys and she burned everyone in the end). Moreover, the concept "bad coglomerate/good lawyer with morals and fighting the evil in the right way" is overused in k-dramas, no one would care about it. They had to do something different. And for me, fortunately they did it...

Vincenzo isn't a hero, not even an anti-hero, He is a villain, he knows it, we know it and he doesn't want or care to be nothing more. And I really like that and, even if sometimes a good redemption arc is really nice, Vincenzo doesn't need it. Or better, if he had one of those, he would be totally out of character. The only heroes is the residents of Geumga Plaza. Even Hong Cha Young is an anti-heroine. One more point of the plot, was the great characterization of women, Hong Cha Young, Choi Myung Hee, the women of Geumga plaza. Strong yet sensitive, memorable and interesting. It is really rare to watch a k-drama and love the FML. Overall, the only thing I personally didn't like was the end of Choi Myung Hee and Jang Han Seok, the plot as well the cinematography and the shots of the scenes was a bit too much and they weren't necessary.

Also, I have to speak about the cast. Everyone was really, really great, and I mean literally everyone. But I believe Ok Taecyeon and Kim Yeo Jin was fenomenal. They were psychos and I loved them.

Last but not least, aesthetically pleasing and amazing shots. I am an architect and this means a looot to me (completely symetrical shots with Song Joon Ki in the middle and amazing lights...). And of course, really good music and music themes. They were the perfect choice for every scene (The scene in the first episode with Vincenzo, the fire and this music is what made me think, Oh God, I love this.)

(English isn't my first language, so I am sorry for any mistakes.)

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Can't move on...

There should be a book or something on how to move on after watching Vincenzo. It's been a while since I finished watching this drama but I still can't forget it, every detail & scene left a lasting impact on me. It's this kind of drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was left in awe at the end of every episode, thinking "wow, this is epic!"

The things I particularly liked about this drama:
1- No one tried to change Vincenzo. He never got judged once by Cha-young or anyone at Geumga Plaza for being a mafia. They respected, accepted & loved him for who he is.
2- The relationship between Vincenzo & Cha-young was very mature, which is something very rare in dramas in my opinion. They supported each other throughout the whole series without a drop of doubt or toxic feelings towards the other person. Their relationship was made of moments of respect & understanding.
3- The music, the music, the music! I absolutely loved every OST in this drama. It was classic, unique & just MAGNIFICENT.

Things I disliked:
1- The killing of too many innocent people for no reason. Cha-young's father, the four guys who helped in burning the factory and so many more. But the most heartbreaking of all, which in my opinion was a VERY UNNECESSARY death: Vincenzo's mother. She had absolutely nothing to do with anything. They literally just killed her because they couldn't accept the fact that Vincenzo was superior to them and couldn't figure out any other way to defeat him. How could the writer do this to her and to Vincenzo just as they finally found each other after all those years?
2- The unrealistic scene of Inzaghi saving Vincenzo. The idea was beautiful, but done in a very unrealistic way. Maybe they could've made him save Vincenzo in a better, a little more believable way, but calling all those other pigeons? It was so unlike the drama and I was honestly disappointed, because fantasy wasn't something I signed up for in this drama.

Overall, Vincenzo wasn't a perfect drama, but it was a very, very enjoyable ride! It made me smile, laugh, cry and have butterflies in my stomach.

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Crime Comedy That Had Me Hooked, but may not be for you

For me, I loved this drama. The overall story was good and I think the cast was well put together, however, there were some instances that I was not fond of that were not a big deal for me, but might be for you since once you get past those parts, it's a good drama overall (IMO). I enjoyed the comedy and thought that it was a nice balance from the heavy stuff and I'm glad to see that it was the same screenwriter for Good Manager.

Good (vagueness to avoid spoiling too much):
1) Spoiler-ish: Tae Ho. If you've watched it you will know what I'm talking about. This had me laughing my head off.
2) Vincenzo's fanclub/his Cassano Geumga family. Everyone's admiration and respect, especially from the male side characters, for Vincenzo were hilarious and cute.
3) Some side character's developments, such as Jang Han Seo's, but to juxtapose him, Choi Myung Hee who did not change for the better and stuck to her choices.
4) The line between evil and good (the grey between black vs white) that Vincenzo was, or at least, he was the lesser evil and did not try to sort everything without violence (i.e., he used violence).
5) Plenty more little things that usually relate to the comedic parts ("Casanova" and "Corn Salad"), but not that I can think of off the top of my head right now.
Bonus: Song Joong Ki's face.

Not-so-good:
1) Vincenzo came to S. Korea to escape the mafia life and such by using the gold stored in the vault, but the whole Babel thing got his way and became the main focus of the drama, which turned out fine, but to be fair, I came for the gold.
2) The tenants began searching for the gold after the homeless person told them, thus hindering Vincenzo's main task. This was honestly unnecessary and just seemed like a filler and that could've made the 20-episode drama into 16 episodes or made it 1-hour episodes instead of 1 hr and 20+ minutes.
3) Romance towards the end was somewhat unnecessary in my opinion and I realized that Hong Cha Young's presence really diminished in the last few episodes except in the finale of course, especially compared to the side characters that seemed to play a much bigger role in the whole ordeal.
4) Ahn Ki Seok (the person from the Intelligence Service Agency) made me question the credentials of working in a government intelligence agency. He was too naive and a goofball to seem like he would work in one and to be in a high position there at that.
5) There may be other parts that I was not fond of, but again I cannot think off the top of my head.

There may be scenes in the "Good" category that you disliked and scenes from the "Not-so-good" category that you do like but I found that this drama was not a waste of time, in fact, I regret not watching this sooner. So to each their own.

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one of the best things i've seen

it is a beautiful show. everything is amazing. i got an account just to write this. may not be everyone's cup of tea but you have to try it at least once.

the revenge in this show is immaculate. no kidding folks, it's out there and brutal.
the slow burn is quite possibly one of the best out there, not to mention the chemistry between the leads.
there is no redemption arc for our anti-hero. no 'he needs to be saved' bullshit.
the female lead is a Queen. i lover her to death.
the music. oh God, the music. where do i even begin.
production is top-notch. netflix and tvn came out with the big guns.
lastly, the acting. holy hell, give Song Joong-ki all the awards. man scared the absolute life out of me. more than once. him and Ok Taecyeon gave me chills. Joen Yeo-bin was campy, fierce and so strong that i fell in love.

fair warning though: this show will give anxiety. but you'll keep coming back for more. it's that good.

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The most intensing Kdrama Shows

Superb nice kdrama shows! This show is more like the 100 package deal.. its has comedy, drama, triller, love and action! This show is some how every episode is must watch talaga! Song jong ki Deserved the role!
?? And i hope and praying they will be SEASON 2! Hhuhu A MUST WATCH KOREAN DRAMA LIST! Im so proud and happy for this kdrama show! The writer, director and the casts is ?! I hope more song jong ki shows pa... he deserved also all the awards

it is a beautiful show. everything is amazing. i got an account just to write this. may not be everyone's cup of tea but you have to try this! Promise you gonna love this shows and all the casts!

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This show is a good watch and I enjoyed the ride. Every episode is something I look forward to seeing on weekend nights. But just like any other shows, this one is also not spared for some criticisms despite the fact that I loved it.

My major complaint is the last seven minutes of episode 20. It is very clear that the meticulous and badass Vincenzo suddenly disappeared into thin air when he could've saved Han Seo. How in the world did he walk into that place without any back-up plan at least? This is a major character regression. With all his expertise, for sure he knows Cha Young's shot isn't that fatal. And here goes Cha Young acting overly as if she's dying. Just because of what? Love? So cliche.

I feel like Han Seo's character is the best in development in this series. I still believe that his death could've been preventable and him dying is really unnecessary. It was a heroic one, yes, but I'd rather keep him alive and give him a chance to run the company straight. They quickly got over his death. Did they mourn for him off-screen? I wish there was a scene like that for a bit.

The death of the two pyschos were gruesome but very satisfying. Two thumbs up for this.

I wish the show fleshed out more on how Vincenzo became a member of the Mafia. What's with the lighter?

Even though I feel satisfied with how this was wrapped up, I still have a lot of questions in mind. There were some loose ends I need an answer.

I don't think a season 2 is needed. Maybe just a spinoff.

Nevertheless, it was one enjoyable ride and Vincenzo is a good watch. Kudos to the whole Cassano Geumga Fam, and the production of Vincenzo.

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I Don't Know What You're Doing If You STILL Haven't Watched THIS

STOP RIGHT THERE. YOU. YES, YOU. Are you reading this to see if you should watch this drama? Well let me just save you some time from reading this and tell you, You damn right should watch this, no seconds thoughts or anything, just dive in head deep. Man was it painful watching this and waiting for episodes every week, you're already lucky to have all the eps just waiting for you to look at. In all seriousness though, this drama was just a ball of happiness for me. It knew how to make me laugh really hard and also at the same time portray a story. The thing that really had my attention was every character. The personality and traits of each person down to the detail was phenomenal. I loved the concept and it was entertaining. I found myself being attached to every side character because they were all just as important. This drama wasn't very romancey, but it did leave us with some hints at times. I actually think that it was better this way. Also the bad guys were another thing, they acted very well and it was amazing that they made my blood boil so much. The only other thing I can say about this is that I wish there were more osts ahhhh, but regardless it was great. Anyways, I could say lots of things but please just give this a chance despite anything else you've heard. Everything deserves a chance right? Happy watching!!

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Best Dark Comedy Drama Ever

Story: THRILLING
Cast: INCREDIBLE (SJK ?, JYB? and everyone else is just bomb)
Visuals: EYE CATCHING & EYE SOOTHING
Twist: YOU WILL BE HOOKED.
OST: the songs are amazing
Every episode ends with a bang, first two episode may seem slow but after that you won't be able to stop. Every character is important and their acting skill is stunning. The director and writer did such a mind blowing job. Twist comes your way like nobody's business. Humor is full on, you will laugh like crazy then get angry and then sad. It's full on entertainment. They served looks , istg.
Song Joong Ki looks smoking hot btw.

Worth your time tbh.

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The best k-series I've ever watched.

If you like a witty, comedic, dark, gory, antihero story with a good splash of romance, you've come to the right place. I went into this series with no expectations. 2 episodes in, I felt enjoyment but no real spark. Then episode 3 passed and we went into the fourth episode; from there, the enjoyment of this series takes off exponentially. Each episode is action packed, meaningful, heart wrenching and fun. I've never enjoyed a show so much as I have this one. It's been an absolute pleasure to follow each weekly viewing live. The chemistry between the main leads is absolutely captivating.

Vincenzo is going to leave an empty hole that no other drama can replace, and it's bittersweet knowing it's over. Definitely worth a watch, and I'll be rewatching this one for sure. A complete Korean drama masterpiece.

Overall 10/10.


(MINOR SPOILERS BELOW)
The most satisfying part of this story was the partnership between Vincenzo and Hong Chayoung. Firstly, their chemistry was to DIE for, I don't know if it was their acting, but for a show that isn't romance centric, the subtleties (e.g. the glances V gives CY, the light touches during the comedic scenes, etc) leave viewers asking for more. And thank god the writers delivered a satisfying end for Chayenzo. Secondly, their story, the way that they started as enemies but quickly became friends, then good partners, then drifting to the "it's complicated" realm, to finally coming full circle (I feel like I can say they are dating). The chemistry and the development of their story was so wholesome I can't believe that some viewers disapprove.

Song Joong Ki should be grateful to land such a great role alongside Yeobeen, a beauty as well as a great actor who can finally dispel the disapproval of Joongki after his divorce.

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A must watch, rewatch and beg for more.

I don't normally post reviews, and I'm not very good at them anyway, but I had to make an exception for "Vincenzo." This drama was a masterpiece. I loved everything, the story, the characters, the relationships, the soundtrack, the world. This show had a little bit of everything, action, comedy, romance, suspense, sad moments, happy moments, and it's so well done that I think everyone will enjoy it.
One thing I want to mention, without spoiling the show, is the romance which is the best romance I've ever seen in kdramas. I like romance in stories, but I don't really like stories focused on just that, but "Vincenzo" incorporated romance in the right portions, each episode had a little bit of romance, it felt natural and the relationship between the two main characters grew realistically. In my point of view, strong relationships usually take time to build, especially romantic ones and most series or movies rush this, but "Vincenzo" took it slowly, without ever forgetting the romance, nor forgetting the main plot of the show and I loved it. Vincenzo and Cha Young are the best couple I've ever seen in kdramas.
In addition to the two incredible main characters, there are also secondary characters, and they were incredible too, they were all so charismatic and the series made me care for everyone, and that's no small feat, since there are so many characters, with the exception of the villains, who I just wanted to see suffer XD
Also, the show had 20 episodes, each episode was between 1h15m and 1h30m, and I just wish every show was like this. We really ate good with this show.
Anyway, it's a drama that I recommend to everyone, and I plan to rewatch the show one day. I can say with confidence that it is the best drama I have ever seen, one that I will always keep close to my heart and I would love to see these characters again in a 2nd season.

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No thoughts just Song Joong-ki covered in blood.

I'm a simple woman and *very* easily bought. This man pulled up in a black suit or a turtleneck and i FELL TO THE GROUND, CLUTCHING MY CHEST. My mother can confirm. The fashion was so excellent ugh. I actually fell in love y'all????? Like?????

All jokes aside, this show is really well-written, a lot better than this review. The plot-twists are twist-y and the characters are sweet, (and/or horrifically evil.)

You either root for them, or very much do not root for them to the point of tears--and you end up liking characters you'd have never expected to like.

But.

But -- Cha-young sucks and I'm only mildly sorry to say it, someone has to.

SHE WAS LITERALLY WORKING FO-

Anyways :)

I think you can deduce that I wasn't overly fond of the romance in this series (if that's what we're calling that dumpster-fire of a subplot), but it was very minor and pretty easy to ignore...and forget. Did the people who enjoyed ChaCenzo *not* forget they were supposed to be love-interests, ever two minutes? Cause I sure did.

One thing I will say is that I don't think this is the kind of show you'd rewatch, at least not the whole thing over again. The high cannot be recreated, I swear.

All in all, very good show, very corrupt people, very pretty Mafias.

9. 5.

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