One of the best drama that contains various genres without making it lousy
I’ve read so many bad reviews of this drama and because of that I refrained from watching this drama. Though I’m not exactly a kdrama fanatic I’ve been watching them for a while now and have never stacked to one genre alone. So I guess I can comment on this drama impartiality. I didn’t have a favourite actor in Korean industry since I appreciate most of their acting but I became a fan of song Jong ki after watching this drama .It’s not easy to act as a cold person with not much emotions but having occasional emotional outbursts ,be it anger or sorrow. My opinion is that he handled it well. Also the female JYB who was the female lead handled her slightly eccentric role without getting on our nerves contrary to most actors who irritate us and makes us fast forward their scenes.Ok Taecyeon was very exceptional in his acting as an eccentric villain. I don’t think the casting is bad and anyone who says that must watch the series once again.I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion.But still rating the BGM and casting below average is a bit too much.The bgm is apt for each scenes and does not take your attention from the scenes but adds a little something extra to the scenes. .There were some plot holes in the kdrama as a whole but still the drama managed to maintain our attention.The story was a little unbelievable( the whole Italian mafia coming to Korea,fighting a conglomerate in another country),but to be honest we’ve watched more such unbelievable stories and have given them 8+ ratings. The cast and their acting makes up for that .Anyway I’ve rewatched the drama a few times and still finds it unique. As someone said the drama jumps between genres without becoming lousy like mr.queen and the romance in this does not take away from the main aspect of the drama which is teaching the evil a lesson.Was this review helpful to you?
Netflix's latest k-drama ‘Vincenzo’ takes the viewer on a tumultuous ride from the first episode of Italian mafia games to later episodes of dark undercurrents of South Korea’s own real estate mafia. Adopted into the Cassano family, our k-drama lead Song Joong-ki is a formidable lawyer with a bloody past & a dormant but deviant streak of ruthlessness. Repurcussions of family wars in Italy see Vincenzo heading over to his home country where he gets entangled with a snarky law firm and a rag-tag bunch of small business owners fighting to save, of all things…a mall. 'Vincenzo' starts off on a dark note but quickly dovetails into comic-thriller-meets-revenge-drama. Adding to the multiple plot lines, Vincenzo Cassano has his own “mission” - to find his gold.
What works?
'Vincenzo' revels in startling all k-drama enthusiasts with its slick shots, tight storytelling and visionary casting. The series starts off with glimpses into our dark hero’s journey back to his motherland while subtly weaving in each of Geumga Plaza’s characters until they form the black-suit-and-sunglasses clad “Cassano family” halfway through the series. Jeon Yeo-bin shines as Vincenzo Cassano's partner-in-crime, and her evolution from an amoral lawyer to a fighter for justice ticks all the right boxes.
Song Joong-Ki as the consigliere-turned-saviour is mesmerising to watch. As Vincenzo Cassano, Song Joong-Ki effortlessly showcases the anti-hero, a far cry from his cute & loveable acts in the wildly popular k-drama classics 'Descendents of the Sun' & 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal'. Ok Taecyeon’s descent into darkness is deliciously unexpected, and somewhere along the way the viewer can be forgiven for completely forgetting Ok Taecyeon’s winsome portrayal in ‘Hey Ghost, Let's Fight’! The budding bromance between Vincenzo Cassano and Jang Han Seo is also heartwarming to watch.
What doesn’t work?
Song Joong-Ki aka Vincenzo Cassano showcasing his “human” side, including the comic touch of his relationship with the pigeon Ansagi occasionally dents the black aura of an Italian-returned mafia leader. The soundtrack though pleasant, becomes predictably repetitive invoking a mismatched sense of déjà vu from the previous episodes of the series. There’s also a blatant disregard for the legal system; court proceedings & lawyer arguments look frivolous, demoting the overall gravity of the plot line. This seems almost intentional, the screenwriters exercising their creative license by showcasing a flexible judicial system. Barring this particular storytelling ploy, for the most parts, 'Vincenzo' is quite grounded as k-dramas go.
Last thoughts and verdict
In a nutshell, ‘Vincenzo’ doesn’t follow k-dramas’ well-known tropes. The writing is fairly “real” while twists & turns are logically explained away. As the viewer sinks further into the series, each character’s dealings & their importance to Vincenzo Cassano is effortlessly peeled away. The Netflix series named after Song Joong-Ki’s titular character actually involves all of Geumga Plaza’s residents. 'Vincenzo' is a story of revenge, slow-burn romance and a smidge of gang violence. Stunning visuals, top-notch production and a stellar cast only make this a captivating watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Questo edificio è mio!
The best drama of 2021. Everything was AWESOME! the story, the cast, the acting. I laughed a lot, cried, got angry, shipped the protagonists.There were only two faults: Hanseo's death - I cried a lot despite the fact that since the beginning when he started to be against his brother, we already imagined that he would end up dying. We already expected but we weren't prepared for this moment.
ChaEnzo's ending: yes, the focus of the drama wasn't romance but I thought they needed more work on what happened to their relationship. Would ChaEnzo date from a distance? Would ChaEnzo each go on with their lives in their respective countries? Would ChaEnzo just be friends with benefits when Chayoung came to visit him in Malta? It was very vague.
Anyway, I want a second season!
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This review may contain spoilers
Questo edificio è mio!
The best drama of 2021. Everything was AWESOME! the story, the cast, the acting. I laughed a lot, cried, got angry, shipped the protagonists.There were only two faults: Hanseo's death - I cried a lot despite the fact that since the beginning when he started to be against his brother, we already imagined that he would end up dying. We already expected but we weren't prepared for this moment.
ChaEnzo's ending: yes, the focus of the drama wasn't romance but I thought they needed more work on what happened to their relationship. Would ChaEnzo date from a distance? Would ChaEnzo each go on with their lives in their respective countries? Would ChaEnzo just be friends with benefits when Chayoung came to visit him in Malta? It was very vague.
Anyway, I want a second season!
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This review may contain spoilers
wow, this was a hectic show!
PSA INCLUDES SPOILERS!LIKED ABOUT THIS -
- the little romance
- the fighting scenes
- how prepared he was
- his smart & unexpected moves, he hits them 10x harder & they retaliate
- the chemistry between the main leads. & how their connection with another is very trustworthy & cute! Also when they lost one of their parents, they were there for each other & helped each other. + their kiss scenes were amazing ngl! They weren’t little pecks!
- the tenants at the plaza, they had many talents like wthele. You could have never expected that!
- everyone’s love for one another, they are were all devoted to helped Vincenzo win
- I basically loved everything
HATED ABOUT THIS -
- HOW MANY FREAKN PEOPLE DIED! ALOT OF PEOPLE DIED & I WAS HONESTLY GETTING USED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE DYING TBH CS IT KEPT HAPPENING!
- WHEN HIS MUM DIED, THAT BROKE MY HEART! HE WAS FINALLY GETTING TO KNOW HER BUT FROM HER DEATH ON, HE JUST GOT MORE RUTHLESS! WHICH IS KINDA GOOD BUT STILL HEARTBREAKING
- WHEN HER DAD DIED , THIS ONE HIT HOME TOO! IT WAS SO SHOCKING & I FELT BAD FOR HER SINCE HER LAST WORDS TO HIM WEREN’T NICE
- WHEN THAT GUY DIED AT THE END ( I FORGOT HIS NAME ) BUT THE GUY WHO VINCENZO SHOT IN THE ARM TO MAKE HIS STORY MORE BELIEVABLE
- THE ENDING TBH, WHY COULDN’T SHE PROVE HIS INNOCENCE OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF HIM RUNNING AWAY.
- WHAT DID THEY DO WITH THE GOLD ? DID THEY SPEND IT ? HOW DO YOU GET THE MONEY FROM THE GOLD ?
& I NEED A SEASON 2, WITH A NEW VILLAN! MAYBE HIS BIOLOGICAL DAD ?
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Amazing
One of the best crime mafia esk dramas. It has plot twists and reveals that you don't expect alongside the villains you believe are villains are redeemable. It is very funny alongside dark when it needs to be. The casting was perfect alongside the chemistry too. There was no moments were I was bored, the humor was enjoyable and well placed compared to other shows. The wardrobe chose also adds to the overall greatness. The FL in my personal opinion great, she wasn't helpless but she had emotions and flaws like all the other characters.Was this review helpful to you?
Not amazing, just acceptable!
Initially I was avoiding this drama, as I thought will not be on my taste.I watched first episode and I want to discover more, so I watched each episode till the end.
I may say that this drama contains some weak scenes, but I was able to pass through them, as I liked a lot acting of the main leads.
I got a big disappointment on the last two episodes of this drama:
1. I did not like how the director create the scene when Vincenzo go to save the girl .
2.I didn't like the ending, if the screenwriters created a love connection in this drama, they should offer to the viewers a scene with "I love you", the one with "I miss you", was not good enough for me.
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A true masterpiece
Anyone that tries to argue that this isn't the best kdrama ever can go argue with themselves. Every aspect of this show was great and it was really unpredictable which I loved. Not only were the two main actors hot but they portrayed the characters so well. Not to mention the cinematography and editing job was insanely good. Would def watch again and recommend to everyone. Also, Vincenzo is the best villain. I love how he can go from looking like a soft innocent boy to this intense evil guy. The ending was so satisfying which was great because I hate it when kdramas are amazing until the ending that's a let down. :)))Was this review helpful to you?
Great casting
As much as I want to say I love this drama I’m not sure if it’s just because I love Song Joong Ki or just because of the drama. But it’s a great and overall drama, the characters roles fit the casts, and great team works but have to say I hate the ending was hoping for more at the end, not because of the romance but they have they have to send Kwak Dong Yeon off like that. But other than that this drama is great because of course it’s Song Joong Ki;) those who haven’t give it a try or have drop definitely give it a try.Was this review helpful to you?
A gem in all the korean dramas in 2021!
First of all, this drama deserves a round of applause for not following the typical mafia storyline (where the female lead tries to change the mafia male lead into becoming a better person). Nope, it's a far cry from that! This drama has 20 1 hour and 30 minutes episodes that make you laugh, cry, shout, and awed with!Plotline:
The story is really interesting, it started off grand, showing you the main lead - Vincenzo's background, what he does for a living, his interactions with the people around him. The first episode got me invested in the character that Song Joong Ki played, and the episodes went on to show how he dealt with the Italian Mafia before he went on to his home country, Korea. The story genre is never the same as soon as he lands in Korea. it changed from mystery/action to a dark comedy which I found amusing. It really highlighted how different Korea and Italy were and are in our day-to-day life for the main lead. For me, the story starts to pick up around the 10th episode where there are so many pieces that start to come together and the characters really are the ones that were moving the story.
Characters:
Vincenzo chose the right casts for the characters, I cannot think of anyone else except for Song Joong Ki to play Vincenzo. The villains in this drama were incredible actors, they made me want to punch my screen because of how bad they are HAHA. The back-to-back interactions between the female lead - Hong Cha Young and Vincenzo are just refreshing to watch. We don't normally see this kind of female leads in a lot of dramas, so it's a really nice change of pace to see. The side characters have my heart in this show, they made the whole drama filled with laughter and I seriously can't get enough of them!
Rewatch Value:
8/10 for me. I think this drama is one that I will only watch once but it will stay in my heart as one of the gems I found in Korean dramas. There are many elements in the drama that only works when you watch it for the first time!
Thank you for reading this long review HAHA, if you do decide to watch it, I wish you enjoy it as much as I did!
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This review may contain spoilers
I knew this drama was super hyped but, for whatever reason, couldn't bring myself to watch it. However, after struggling to find something to watch (and also hearing from friends personally about how amazing it was), I decided to give it a go. Honestly, cannot complain when you have such beautiful leads on your screen. As this is no rom-com, each episode left me on edge as to what was going to happen next or how things would work out. Also, I could have sworn I read somewhere that people didn't think Taecyeon was a good actor, but watch this drama and you will 100% change your mind! The one thing I didn't like about the drama was that things always seemed to work out for the protagonists even when they didn't make sense.
-- SPOILER --
The scene I hated the most was when Vincenzo was cornered by a group of men trying to kill him but somehow, he was miraculously saved because the pigeon that normally sits outside his window sent a swarm of other pigeons to attack those who were going against him. That literally ... makes no sense. If it was going to take such an impossible scenario to get our ML out of a bad situation, then perhaps it should have just been left out entirely.
-- END SPOILER --
There is also an element of comedy that may not be everyone's cup of tea, particularly around the residents of Geumga Plaza who give off the typical 'odd neighbors' kind of vibe. Personally, I did not mind it as it eased the tension of each episode, but my dad found it to be odd and he didn't really understand the necessity of it being included.
All in all, I found this to be an intriguing watch with a beautiful and talented cast as well as just overall gorgeous graphics. There's no mushy gushy romance but a plot that keeps you wondering what's next. For me personally, I rated the rewatch value lower since the drama is quite lengthy and knowing how things end, I'm not as inclined to watch it through once again.
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Unexpected
Before I started watching I had no idea the plot. From the trailers I was looking to watch an all-out mafia war series. However, this was not that and after the first couple of episodes and I wrapped my head around the fact that it was a comedy of errors and absurdity with the brutality of mob justice I just went with it.Things I loved:
Song Joon Ki - Didn't who he was and this was the first thing I've seen him in. Excellent as Vincenzo. By now anyone whose read my reviews know I love a pretty man and he is gorgeous but it wasn't just his looks he really did pull off the oh so cool mafia consigliere type.
Ok Taec Yoen - Didn't know who he was either and this is the first thing I saw him in. Really good as the psycho villain and his cruelty knew no bounds. I was impressed.
Kwak Dong Yeon - Very good young actor. You really did start to feel for him.
There was some really great lines uttered by Vincenzo and there were some really great scenes.
The OST was excellent. One of the best I've heard and listened too in a long time.
Things I hated:
Jeon Yeo Bin - The character just really got on my nerves. Super annoying FL and all the bouncing around and jerky actions too much!! I never wanted her with Vincenzo even though that's were the series was going.
Kim Yeo Jin - I don't know if this woman was suited for the role but I hated her face, her eating scenes and never hated a character so much. Never wished for someone's death as much as I wished for her characters death. It was very satisfying in the end.
I don't really hate the tenants of Guegma Plaza but they really were extremely annoying. Way too many side characters and I did not find them endearing. I also hated the fact that knew too much and were in on a lot the plans. I did however enjoy episode 19 when they explained each tenants past life. It was just a great scene for what its worth.
Overall: I gave the show an 8. It was almost a 10 b/c I was really enjoying the emotional roller coaster and the out right ridiculousness of it all but the last 2 episodes left much to be desired.
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