Glad I watched this. It's not the greatest thriller, but it's definitely worth the watch. There's issues where the pacing became really slow in the middle and early parts of it, but it quickly sped up and wrapped up nicely with a decent ending. Beware there are many plot holes as well, and parts left unanswered. However, I would watch this just for NGM's acting, especially in Episode 16. He's incredible in every role he plays, and he delivers with an excellent performance in this. He especially stands out here compared to the rest of the cast who fit their part. This was a very interesting supernatural thriller, and I highly recommend it.
Super disappointing ending. Overall an almost masterpiece of a drama and top tier in every category, especially with acting and cinematography, but this ending left so much to be desired. It was super rushed with the conclusion of key characters like RE neglected, the annoyingly repeated amnesia trope, and lots of plot holes with the timeline that the writers didn't care to think about it when going for a really emotional ending to try and make you forget all the glaring mistakes. I have no regrets about watching this, and I feel all the awards are well deserved. The chemistry is insanely good between NKM and AEJ and I'm glad they got the best couple's award! Wish I could see them act together again. I also have even more respect for NKM as I didn't believe he could pull off romance too, but this may be his best performance for me, with hot stove league coming in second. I also loved that the FL was treated right with the drama, and she wasn't a complete damsel in distress, but became much stronger mentally and resilient to her circumstances. One of the best love stories I've watched.
Hard to believe this was a director's debut. This is top notch in every category, ranging from the incredible main cast to the actual sports drama and story. This is some of the best storytelling I have ever seen in a drama and every episode had me glued with it's tight and well-written plot. I know nothing about baseball and neither am I into it, but this made me laugh and cry at all the important moments. I learned a lot as this drama touches on a lot of realistic parts of baseball behind the scenes, and I couldn't help my cheers whenever something good happened. There is so much going on in each episode and it can get slow at times, but every episode was gripping and kept raising my expectations. It's intense plot-wise but very grounded at the same time. This is one of the few drama where each episode just gets better and better. All of the characters were super compelling by the end with their own interesting character arcs and motivations. Truly one of the greatest inspirational dramas I have seen. Sad this is so underrated despite having won awards. I was recommended this as an NKM fan, and this damn well delivered in every respect. I doubt I'll find anything like this again. This is a one of a kind masterpiece that I feel I can never watch again in the same way.
So much wasted potential! Strong beginning and middle, but horrible ending. Still worth watching though, just for the actors alone, especially NKM who is as brilliant as ever. I loved the backstory of the ML, but the show really fell off for me afterwards especially the last two episodes with annoying time jumps. I didn't really laugh after the backstory, because the comedy felt really forced in serious moments. This should have been 14 eps like it was planned to be, as 12 was way too short and resulted in a horrible ending. No S2 is a crime.
Didn't like it as much as S1, but still overall entertaining and focused on real life cases which were super interesting. I found this season much more comical and lighthearted at times, and even the overarching plot wasn't as interesting as I thought it was going to be. S2 just wasn't for me. However, I would never mind watching Taxi Driver just for the top tier action, acting (especially LJH's various disguises), and music OST alone even if storytelling isn't up to par. I always have fun with the rainbow crew and I am excited for S3. I just really hope the drama doesn't focus more on forcing KDJ and AGE into a relationship. I just think one is a lot more maturer and acts older than the other which really doesn't work for me, but it's nothing I can't bear.
Be really ready to suspend your disbelief this season, cause things get a lot more unrealistic ranging from the technology to the actual revenge strategies. Only then can you truly enjoy the fun ride.
A little warning first. About the cases, they're much harder to watch when you realize almost all of them are faithful recreations of people in real life with effective storytelling. Personally, I really loved the Ep 1-10 format where it was more episodic with overarching developments. The UGATA case was one of the best and the most faithful to it's real life korean CEO with absurd shenanigans like forcing his employees to change their hair color for his amusement. There's also real life clips and interviews of the actual victims in the end of some episodes. Since it's based on real life, the drama really portrays it graphically with detail and very little restraint or effects as it's 18+.
Now, I am a little shocked after finally watching after having it on my PTW list for years. I can't believe I didn't watch this sooner. This was much more different than I initially thought it was going to be. think it's definitely one of the darker and more disturbing crime series I've seen, and I did not expect the action and non-preachy messages in this to be this unbelievably good. The revenge for each person is carried out so meticulously and in a really entertaining way. I don't even know what to say about the top tier music OST and the acting range of characters like LJH who fully demonstrates what an amazing actor and capable action star he is. It's obvious they did not use a stunt double for much. He's also able to seamlessly play multiple character-types and sides of his character through this first season, fully capturing your attention. I have only seen him in Signal before, and it was hard to believe this was the same person?? He's unbelievably good, and that goes for everyone else like Esom, Kim Eui Sung, Pyo, etc. The entire cast is so well balanced and the storytelling is so great that you can just suspend your disbelief of the ultra technology and logic in the show at times to just enjoy the ride.
Overall, an amazing 80s styled action flick with meaningful life messages sprinkled throughout without sounding preachy, and incredible character building for all of the cast involved. The only issue I can see is that you may need to suspend your disbelief for many moments, but it's absolutely worth watching if you can.
Done my Signal rewatch ever since I heard S2 was coming. This is still one of the best crime thrillers I have ever seen. Signal has always given me the emotional ride of my life, from the wonderful interconnecting backstories, to the incredible direction and emotional stakes the cases in this series bring. Inju is still one of the most suffocatingly intense parts for me, and I cannot help but skim some of it's earlier episodes, because it makes me feel disgusted and angry beyond what most dramas have made me feel. This is completely due to the incredible acting by everyone involved (especially Lee Jae Han and Park Hae Yeong albeit a little overacting early on), as well as the intense music and monologues that play in the absolute right moments, as well as the camerawork and entire direction of the series. Coupled with all the great direction and acting this series has, basing all these cases on real life crimes is a really genius idea as it really hammers in how unbelievably real each case feels, even with it's own slight alterations. It's really heartbreaking seeing how the people around are affected by the cold cases, as they're always searching for the truth. I always feel like I'm truly living through everything the characters on-screen are going though which I love. Another thing I really enjoy learning about is the differences between old policework and investigations compared to modern policework and investigations. Corruption is also very well handled in the series, highlighting it will always exist, and sometimes there's not always light at the end of the tunnel, but there will always be a chance for those who fight together don't give up. It's all about the power of ordinary people fighting injustice for their own reasons and backgrounds.
I'm really sad there's no more, and it's difficult for me to read the novels. Everything about this was almost perfect. Its one of the best mixes of mystery, horror, humor, family drama, and "bromance" I've seen, but it's obvious what's actually going on even though it's censored. Non-BL readers like myself can also absolutely enjoy this though, as it's up to your interpretation! I will say that the actors are completely phenomenal, and well worth the watch. I can't believe so many of them are new to acting! It's incredible how expressive they are (especially with their eyes), and fully become their characters. Everyone of the main cast including the villains is just brilliant, especially Ruan and Ling's actors who completely convey the complex emotions their character is feeling from scene to scene easily with their expressions. I also really love how well-written and intelligent characters are, as there's plenty of strategy, betrayal, tactics, etc., going on in the doors and you never feel annoyed with anyone of the main cast, since they're always using their brain. Thats not to say they don't mess up or fail at times, but it never feels contrived. The chinese folklore, fairy tales, and legends, were also really interesting to watch played out. The visual effects and OST in this are also one of the best I've seen and much better than other cdramas I've seen. I do think the visual effects weren't enough to really scare me, but I never once skipped the intro! This drama really made me feel so many emotions from sadness to laughter, and I really hope people give it a chance! I'm so glad I did.
My only problem is that the ending is a little rushed and introduces a few plot holes. That's only the drama, though, cause I hear the novels have a lot more backstory and explanations for everything.
I really hope we get a S2! Very shocked to discover that this drama was based around the incredible life of a real doctor who's digged into his own pocket to save patients, jumped out of helicopters, etc.
I remember watching School 2013 years ago and it was kinda painful to watch till the end because it was boring…
School 2017 is way better than 2013 imo and I highly recommend it. The 2 MLs in there really remind me of the ones here as they both have a complex hate and love relationship fueled by a lot of backstory and tragedy. Incredible acting, ost, and storyline although there is romance between MLs and FLs compared to this.
Be really ready to suspend your disbelief this season, cause things get a lot more unrealistic ranging from the technology to the actual revenge strategies. Only then can you truly enjoy the fun ride.
Now, I am a little shocked after finally watching after having it on my PTW list for years. I can't believe I didn't watch this sooner. This was much more different than I initially thought it was going to be. think it's definitely one of the darker and more disturbing crime series I've seen, and I did not expect the action and non-preachy messages in this to be this unbelievably good. The revenge for each person is carried out so meticulously and in a really entertaining way. I don't even know what to say about the top tier music OST and the acting range of characters like LJH who fully demonstrates what an amazing actor and capable action star he is. It's obvious they did not use a stunt double for much. He's also able to seamlessly play multiple character-types and sides of his character through this first season, fully capturing your attention. I have only seen him in Signal before, and it was hard to believe this was the same person?? He's unbelievably good, and that goes for everyone else like Esom, Kim Eui Sung, Pyo, etc. The entire cast is so well balanced and the storytelling is so great that you can just suspend your disbelief of the ultra technology and logic in the show at times to just enjoy the ride.
Overall, an amazing 80s styled action flick with meaningful life messages sprinkled throughout without sounding preachy, and incredible character building for all of the cast involved. The only issue I can see is that you may need to suspend your disbelief for many moments, but it's absolutely worth watching if you can.
This is still one of the best crime thrillers I have ever seen. Signal has always given me the emotional ride of my life, from the wonderful interconnecting backstories, to the incredible direction and emotional stakes the cases in this series bring. Inju is still one of the most suffocatingly intense parts for me, and I cannot help but skim some of it's earlier episodes, because it makes me feel disgusted and angry beyond what most dramas have made me feel. This is completely due to the incredible acting by everyone involved (especially Lee Jae Han and Park Hae Yeong albeit a little overacting early on), as well as the intense music and monologues that play in the absolute right moments, as well as the camerawork and entire direction of the series. Coupled with all the great direction and acting this series has, basing all these cases on real life crimes is a really genius idea as it really hammers in how unbelievably real each case feels, even with it's own slight alterations. It's really heartbreaking seeing how the people around are affected by the cold cases, as they're always searching for the truth. I always feel like I'm truly living through everything the characters on-screen are going though which I love. Another thing I really enjoy learning about is the differences between old policework and investigations compared to modern policework and investigations. Corruption is also very well handled in the series, highlighting it will always exist, and sometimes there's not always light at the end of the tunnel, but there will always be a chance for those who fight together don't give up. It's all about the power of ordinary people fighting injustice for their own reasons and backgrounds.
My only problem is that the ending is a little rushed and introduces a few plot holes. That's only the drama, though, cause I hear the novels have a lot more backstory and explanations for everything.