💯 agree on this one. Whenever the story doesnt go the way they expected, they immediately say it lost the plot…
"It’s that main character syndrome taking over people since Covid, just super entitled and like elementary school kids."
So true. I have been noticing this change since covid. We probably dont realize how much things have changed because we have gradually gotten used to the new normal but when you actually compare the pre Covid era with the post covid era, the difference feels enormous. And i dont think its just about people’s behavior or personalities, it feels like society as a whole has changed in so many ways.
Some people might argue that its because of the internet boom, social media and people becoming more opinionated and aware of whats happening around them. Maybe thats part of it but i cant really pinpoint one specific reason. There is just this feeling that people have become much more reactive, divided, entitled and eager to fight over everything.
Sometimes i even wonder if the system itself benefits from keeping people constantly distracted, angry and divided because the more we fight among ourselves, the less we actually question the bigger picture, and there is always someone making money from that chaos. Im not saying this is necessarily the correct explanation but thats roughly how the difference between the pre and post covid world feels to me.
The new word people discovered lately is "Lost its plot." Now when you genuinely ask how the show lost…
💯 agree on this one. Whenever the story doesnt go the way they expected, they immediately say it lost the plot or that it had so much potential but wasted the opportunity. I honestly feel like many viewers dont even try to understand what the writer and director are actually trying to convey. They just want the story to unfold exactly the way they imagined it and if it doesnt, they automatically label it as bad writing. Its like they have stopped engaging with the story on its own terms and instead judge everything based on whether it matches their personal expectations. Sometimes it really feels like people have lost the ability to think critically and appreciate a story beyond their own preferred narrative.
So i was satisfied with the ending great series all around first season was definitely more amazing but still…
Honestly pasin’s death twist was fine. Imean, we shouldnt expect everyone to be miraculously saved in a war of that scale. Some sacrifices were needed to raise the stakes, otherwise it would feel very illogical if everyone from the hero’s team survived every season. Some important deaths on both the heroes and villains sides were necessary to keep the stakes high and make the story feel more realistic.
Coming to Jian’s trauma, i think she will probably have to live with that trauma for the rest of her life and eventually make peace with it, just like Jinman. Im pretty sure Jinman initially went through similar trauma as well but just like him, Jian had to accept this new reality and fight for her and others survival.
Imean, this wasnt a psychological drama that was meant to explore her trauma in depth. That trauma was introduced to give us a surface level idea of what people in these organizations go through, how they carry that guilt for the rest of their lives while still having to fight for their survival. So i think they did a pretty good job with that.
Loved this season so much!! The story expanded vastly this season and wasnt confined to just one location. The world of A Shop for Killers 2 feels much bigger now, and by the end of S2, we basically have a ceasefire between Babylon and the Murthehelp team, which leaves plenty of room for a potential S3.
I actually really like the ceasefire setup. This was essentially a war between two factions, so unless someone from Babylon breaks the agreement, there should be peace for now. If we get another season, this could allow the story to expand even further and introduce new characters, factions, conflicts, and layers to the A Shop for Killers universe.
Imo stakes were also much higher this season. Both Babylon and Murthehelp suffered major losses, with several important characters being killed. Even the final confrontation ended with the main villain, Kusanagi being killed. However im really glad they chose to let Q live. She definitely fucked up badly in the middle of the drama when she went after Murthehelp to avenge her brother's death but she eventually ended up helping them. So, instead of killing her off, letting her walk away was actually a really good choice. If the story continues into future seasons, Q could potentially become an ally of Murthehelp or help them when they need it.
And honestly, i think this is more realistic when you look at how actual wars work. Its not always about completely destroying the opposing side. There are various factors to consider, alliances can form between people who dont necessarily get along and sometimes you have to keep certain options open in case circumstances change. The ceasefire gives the story a lot more flexibility going forward.
The action was larger than life this season and Kusanagi was honestly a psychopath to the core. Her sheer craziness was so entertaining to watch onscreen. Im also kinda glad they made the main villain this season a woman, considering the main protagonist is also a woman. Some people might think Bale would have been a better choice as the main villain but personally, i think Kusanagi worked perfectly for S2. She was absolutely unhinged and in many ways, even more evil than Bale. She wasnt as physically powerful as him but her sheer unpredictability and insanity made her a terrifying villain.
Hopefully, we will get S3 because there is still so much potential left in this world.
I really hate this romanticization of this evil mother. She was no better than Soobin’s father. She abandoned one of her children and when that child came to her, she literally shooed him away. With her other child, she did nothing but try to control her entire life, all out of greed for power and money. And now the drama has shown Hana reconciling with her mother, which basically means she forgives her for everything she did to her (leave alone what she did to soobin).
Honestly, i think the drama would be much better if they explored the backstory of every target she kills, who their victims were, what crimes they committed, how those crimes affected the victims and their families etc. If they actually showed us the stories behind her targets and the people they hurt, i feel like I could understand her actions and actually relate to or root for her.
Right now, though, its difficult for me to root for her when she is basically killing people because she is been ordered to, while the drama expects us to automatically see her as someone who is doing the right thing. The pedophile case was a good example of what the drama could have done. I really supported her in that case but i honestly wish they had explored it over two episodes instead of rushing through it.
Im not saying they need to graphically show every crime he committed. They could have focused more on the victims POV, showing how a family lost their child because of him, how that trauma affected them and how they feel now that he is out of prison and living freely while they continue to live with the consequences of what he did. Then, when she decides to kill someone like him, we would actually understand why she feels justified and why we are supposed to root for her.
I think exploring each target this way would make the drama much more emotionally impactful. It would also give her character more depth instead of simply telling us, these people are bad, so you are supposed to support her for killing them.
2 episodes in and people are already giving ratings? like seriously?!? i bet the ones who give ratings are just…
People rate other airing dramas even when only one episode is out, so are they also giving ratings based on the fact that they are unhappy about PJH not coming back for Flex Cop S2?? What kind of logic is that??Â
Imean, MDL provides a rating feature for a reason. People are supposed to rate a drama based on their experience watching the episodes that have aired and those ratings can change as their opinions of the drama change. If the upcoming episodes are better, the rating will rise. If they dont like the upcoming episodes, it will drop or remain the same. Its not big deal!!
Personally, i really like the FL actress. From everything i have watched her in, from The Guest to Jeongnyeon to Pachinko, she has been absolutely phenomenal. She is genuinely an excellent actress and ngl i think she suits the badass cop role even better than Park Jihyun, although i really liked Park Jihyun in S1. Jung Eunchae has the kind of physique, presence and attitude that naturally fit a tough, badass cop character.
That said, my biggest problem with this season is Jin Isoo’s characterization. Why is he back to being the same dumb, immature, spoiled rich kid he was at the beginning of S1?? His character actually showed some growth by the end of S1 but now it feels like all of that development has completely disappeared along with Ganghyun. He is back to acting like dumb rich brat who constantly tries to be oversmart and its honestly frustrating to watch.
Im also seriously over the constant look how rich im flexing. It doesnt even feel like a believable portrayal of a chaebol anymore, it feels like a childish, exaggerated caricature of one. He has practically unlimited money and resources yet somehow he is constantly being threatened with bomb boxes, has barely any security around him and can apparently be approached or threatened by random people with no real difficulty. At some point, it stops feeling entertaining and just becomes ridiculous.
What makes it worse is how stupidly he behaves despite being a cop. He literally opens boxes he obviously shouldnt be opening, as if he hasnt learned anything from his previous experiences. And that whole scene at the end of E2 where he welcomes the new team leader was painfully cringe. Why is he behaving so childish??
If the writer is trying to portray a chaebol who flaunts his wealth, there are much smarter and more believable ways to do it. Right now, Jin isoo doesnt come across as a actually wealthy, confident chaebol, he comes across like a cartoon version of one.
Personally, i think Jung Eunchae deserves a better show and honestly, better writer.
Also case 1 of this season was just incredibly dumb.
Why does Jin Isoo keep getting dumber the more experience he gains as a cop?? Why was he opening boxes he clearly shouldnt have been touching?? This nepo baby seriously doesnt deserve to be a cop, if im being honest.
And its such a shame that none of the MLs even remember or mention Park Jihyun's character. Im fine with the replacement but they should have at least acknowledged her. They could have given her a proper farewell scene or even a brief cameo in E1.
Im so glad they reduced the episode count from 32 to 24. Most cdramas with 30+ eps are packed with unnecessary nonsense filler. They often lose plot around ep 18-20 and after that, the story just drags and becomes a chore to watch.
I really wish the cdrama industry would make modern romance dramas with a strict 20-24 eps format and a 40 min runtime, focusing on a tightly written story instead of unnecessarily stretching them to 30-34 eps just to fill the runtime.
E1 was just so bad. It felt exactly like those parody reels about office romcoms.
Kang Hoon was so bland. It felt like he was just reading his lines without any emotion. His facial expressions were almost nonexistent. Even Kim Hyejun acted as if she was doing the director a favor. Imean, she is such a talented actress and i have loved her in many of her previous works but here it felt like she just wasnt interested.
Her character was so cringeworthy. It was exactly like those african influencers parody reels about office romance dramas 😂🤣.Â
Twist at the end of E4 was really unexpected. Now im actually excited to see what happens in next ep because they didn't showed any glimpse of ML in preview for next ep.
#Highest Ratings of the Series (E8) Nationwide: 23.1% Metropolitan: 23.6%
#Highlights 1. The No.1 drama of 2026 by a huge margin. 2. The second highest rated SBS weekend drama of all time. 3. The first drama to surpass 20% ratings since Queen of Tears in 2024. 4. The highest rated drama starring So Jisub in the last 20 years.
It ended on such a happy and satisfying note. I especially loved the final scenes with all three ahjussis after Manager Kim and his daughter got new identities and moved somewhere safe to start a new life.
E7 will easily remain my favourite episode of the series. E9 also delivered some good action after that, while E10 (finale) was mostly focused on tying up all the loose ends and giving every character a proper conclusion. I think they handled the ending really well.
Ofcourse, there are scenes where you have to suspend your disbelief but thats expected since its an adaptation of an over the top exaggerated action manhwa. That never really bothered me. What mattered most was whether i was having fun watching it and i honestly enjoyed it so much.Â
Episode 10 was good. But that manager… what kind of stunt was he trying to pull? 😠Is he seriously digging…
In south korea, this is actually a real workplace issue. Some companies have policies that prohibit married couples or even employees who are dating from working in the same company. There are several reasons behind these rules. For example, if one partner is in a higher position, there could be concerns about favoritism or conflicts of interest. If the relationship ends badly, it can also create tension and affect the work environment if the two people have to continue working together.
There are many potential complications that can arise when couples work at the same company, which is why some korean companies have adopted these policies. So the drama isnt making this up or being unrealistic, its portraying something that does exist in south korean workplace culture.
In case of Saeum, they only prohibits married couple working in same team, if people from same team starts dating or get married, one of them have to move to another team.
What a sweet episode again. I loved how Si Woo directly proposed to her without any grand gesture. I also liked that Cha Ji Yoon took her time to decide whether she was truly ready for marriage.
In her previous relationship, she was completely ready to marry her ex because they had been together for so many years. I dont think she ever questioned it. But with Si Woo, their relationship has only just begun so its understandable that she wasnt sure. But once again, Si Woo's actions gave her the reassurance and comfort she needed and in the last scene, she finally said yes.
I know that wasn't the ideal time to accept a proposal but i loved how she stood up for Si Woo in front of Manager Ko. I really loved Ji Yoon's character growth here.
The preview looked tense but im sure everything will be fine. Those external office problems wont matter much in the end, they will get through it.
E9 once again proves why this is such a mature and realistic romcom. Its definitely my favorite episode so far. I loved how the writer handled Ji Yoon's insecurities, addressed the issues from Si Woo's side as well and let both of them work through their problems before bringing them back together.
What i loved the most is that the writer didnt treat the conflict as something that only one person had to fix. Both of them had flaws and both of them needed to grow.
Si Woo has always been the type to hold himself back whenever the other person tries to leave, believing its better to let them go for their own happiness. But this time, he didnt do that. Instead, he stayed by Ji Yoon's side and gave her the reassurance she needed through his actions rather than just words. That consistency was what helped rebuild their relationship.
On the other hand, i also liked that Ji Yoon didnt immediately get back together with him. She took some time to process everything and actually tried to understand Si Woo's perspective, his struggles, his loneliness and why he acts the way he does, whether through her father or from Si Woo himself. More importantly, she didnt just understand him, she made a conscious effort to change and become a better partner.
The time apart was honestly one of the best writing decisions because it allowed both of them to grow individually. Si Woo learned to stop being passive and became more expressive in the relationship while Ji Yoon learned to communicate better and understand his emotional needs. Thats exactly how a healthy relationship should develop.
This is how relationship conflicts should be written. First, create a believable conflict, then address the root causes instead of forcing a quick reconciliation. It felt natural, realistic and showed a healthy way for a couple to move forward together.
I also really liked how the drama used the Home AI concept. I know some people are uncomfortable with AI becoming more common but its something society will continue to adapt to. Instead of portraying AI as something purely dangerous, the drama highlighted how it can be used positively to improve people's lives and i liked that.
Another thing i loved was Lee Yeong hun's role. He was made to look shady but in the end, he was actually working with Si Woo and completely outplayed Manager Ko. Si Woo had him hack Home AI, but it also proved that their security system could successfully block the attack. And it helped Si Woo's team to earn even more trust from the company's executives and investors. Manager Ko's plan ended up backfiring on himself and I really liked that the writer used Lee Yeong hun to strengthen Si Woo's project instead of making him another predictable villain.
Overall, this was easily the best episode so far. Even the preview looked really sweet from the relationship side. Yes there will be some office drama targeting Si Woo next but i dont really mind because im sure he will overcome it.
That said, im also sure Ji Yoon haters will still find a new reason to hate her even after this episode. Atp thats just what they do lol.
How stupid were both of them, man?? In last scene they finally got the upper hand yet they made every possible dumb decision. They literally left the gun behind when they could have just taken it with them.
And why stop after hitting kidnapper guy only once?? They should have kept beating him until he was completely unconscious or at the very least, they could have shot him in the leg so he couldnt chase them. It was painfully obvious he was going to come after them.
Hell, they didnt even need to shoot him. They could have just tied him up with ropes and locked him inside that hall before leaving.
Imean, they had so many other options once they were in control but instead the writer made them act unbelievably stupid just to drag the story.
1 
So true. I have been noticing this change since covid. We probably dont realize how much things have changed because we have gradually gotten used to the new normal but when you actually compare the pre Covid era with the post covid era, the difference feels enormous. And i dont think its just about people’s behavior or personalities, it feels like society as a whole has changed in so many ways.
Some people might argue that its because of the internet boom, social media and people becoming more opinionated and aware of whats happening around them. Maybe thats part of it but i cant really pinpoint one specific reason. There is just this feeling that people have become much more reactive, divided, entitled and eager to fight over everything.
Sometimes i even wonder if the system itself benefits from keeping people constantly distracted, angry and divided because the more we fight among ourselves, the less we actually question the bigger picture, and there is always someone making money from that chaos. Im not saying this is necessarily the correct explanation but thats roughly how the difference between the pre and post covid world feels to me.
Coming to Jian’s trauma, i think she will probably have to live with that trauma for the rest of her life and eventually make peace with it, just like Jinman. Im pretty sure Jinman initially went through similar trauma as well but just like him, Jian had to accept this new reality and fight for her and others survival.
Imean, this wasnt a psychological drama that was meant to explore her trauma in depth. That trauma was introduced to give us a surface level idea of what people in these organizations go through, how they carry that guilt for the rest of their lives while still having to fight for their survival. So i think they did a pretty good job with that.
I actually really like the ceasefire setup. This was essentially a war between two factions, so unless someone from Babylon breaks the agreement, there should be peace for now. If we get another season, this could allow the story to expand even further and introduce new characters, factions, conflicts, and layers to the A Shop for Killers universe.
Imo stakes were also much higher this season. Both Babylon and Murthehelp suffered major losses, with several important characters being killed. Even the final confrontation ended with the main villain, Kusanagi being killed. However im really glad they chose to let Q live. She definitely fucked up badly in the middle of the drama when she went after Murthehelp to avenge her brother's death but she eventually ended up helping them. So, instead of killing her off, letting her walk away was actually a really good choice. If the story continues into future seasons, Q could potentially become an ally of Murthehelp or help them when they need it.
And honestly, i think this is more realistic when you look at how actual wars work. Its not always about completely destroying the opposing side. There are various factors to consider, alliances can form between people who dont necessarily get along and sometimes you have to keep certain options open in case circumstances change. The ceasefire gives the story a lot more flexibility going forward.
The action was larger than life this season and Kusanagi was honestly a psychopath to the core. Her sheer craziness was so entertaining to watch onscreen. Im also kinda glad they made the main villain this season a woman, considering the main protagonist is also a woman. Some people might think Bale would have been a better choice as the main villain but personally, i think Kusanagi worked perfectly for S2. She was absolutely unhinged and in many ways, even more evil than Bale. She wasnt as physically powerful as him but her sheer unpredictability and insanity made her a terrifying villain.
Hopefully, we will get S3 because there is still so much potential left in this world.
Until then, ceasefire!!
My personal score for this war: 10/10.
Right now, though, its difficult for me to root for her when she is basically killing people because she is been ordered to, while the drama expects us to automatically see her as someone who is doing the right thing. The pedophile case was a good example of what the drama could have done. I really supported her in that case but i honestly wish they had explored it over two episodes instead of rushing through it.
Im not saying they need to graphically show every crime he committed. They could have focused more on the victims POV, showing how a family lost their child because of him, how that trauma affected them and how they feel now that he is out of prison and living freely while they continue to live with the consequences of what he did. Then, when she decides to kill someone like him, we would actually understand why she feels justified and why we are supposed to root for her.
I think exploring each target this way would make the drama much more emotionally impactful. It would also give her character more depth instead of simply telling us, these people are bad, so you are supposed to support her for killing them.
Imean, MDL provides a rating feature for a reason. People are supposed to rate a drama based on their experience watching the episodes that have aired and those ratings can change as their opinions of the drama change. If the upcoming episodes are better, the rating will rise. If they dont like the upcoming episodes, it will drop or remain the same. Its not big deal!!
That said, my biggest problem with this season is Jin Isoo’s characterization. Why is he back to being the same dumb, immature, spoiled rich kid he was at the beginning of S1?? His character actually showed some growth by the end of S1 but now it feels like all of that development has completely disappeared along with Ganghyun. He is back to acting like dumb rich brat who constantly tries to be oversmart and its honestly frustrating to watch.
Im also seriously over the constant look how rich im flexing. It doesnt even feel like a believable portrayal of a chaebol anymore, it feels like a childish, exaggerated caricature of one. He has practically unlimited money and resources yet somehow he is constantly being threatened with bomb boxes, has barely any security around him and can apparently be approached or threatened by random people with no real difficulty. At some point, it stops feeling entertaining and just becomes ridiculous.
What makes it worse is how stupidly he behaves despite being a cop. He literally opens boxes he obviously shouldnt be opening, as if he hasnt learned anything from his previous experiences. And that whole scene at the end of E2 where he welcomes the new team leader was painfully cringe. Why is he behaving so childish??
If the writer is trying to portray a chaebol who flaunts his wealth, there are much smarter and more believable ways to do it. Right now, Jin isoo doesnt come across as a actually wealthy, confident chaebol, he comes across like a cartoon version of one.
Personally, i think Jung Eunchae deserves a better show and honestly, better writer.
Also case 1 of this season was just incredibly dumb.
And its such a shame that none of the MLs even remember or mention Park Jihyun's character. Im fine with the replacement but they should have at least acknowledged her. They could have given her a proper farewell scene or even a brief cameo in E1.
I really wish the cdrama industry would make modern romance dramas with a strict 20-24 eps format and a 40 min runtime, focusing on a tightly written story instead of unnecessarily stretching them to 30-34 eps just to fill the runtime.
Kang Hoon was so bland. It felt like he was just reading his lines without any emotion. His facial expressions were almost nonexistent. Even Kim Hyejun acted as if she was doing the director a favor. Imean, she is such a talented actress and i have loved her in many of her previous works but here it felt like she just wasnt interested.
Her character was so cringeworthy. It was exactly like those african influencers parody reels about office romance dramas 😂🤣.Â
Just like these👇👇
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DavL9iYMxlt/
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWTOB_8jENs/
Nationwide : 23.0%
Metropolitan : 23.4%
#Highest Ratings of the Series (E8)
Nationwide: 23.1%
Metropolitan: 23.6%
#Highlights
1. The No.1 drama of 2026 by a huge margin.
2. The second highest rated SBS weekend drama of all time.
3. The first drama to surpass 20% ratings since Queen of Tears in 2024.
4. The highest rated drama starring So Jisub in the last 20 years.
E7 will easily remain my favourite episode of the series. E9 also delivered some good action after that, while E10 (finale) was mostly focused on tying up all the loose ends and giving every character a proper conclusion. I think they handled the ending really well.
Ofcourse, there are scenes where you have to suspend your disbelief but thats expected since its an adaptation of an over the top exaggerated action manhwa. That never really bothered me. What mattered most was whether i was having fun watching it and i honestly enjoyed it so much.Â
9/10
Prediction: 23 - 25.5%
First kdrama to cross 50% real time after Reborn Rich (2022).
There are many potential complications that can arise when couples work at the same company, which is why some korean companies have adopted these policies. So the drama isnt making this up or being unrealistic, its portraying something that does exist in south korean workplace culture.
In case of Saeum, they only prohibits married couple working in same team, if people from same team starts dating or get married, one of them have to move to another team.
In her previous relationship, she was completely ready to marry her ex because they had been together for so many years. I dont think she ever questioned it. But with Si Woo, their relationship has only just begun so its understandable that she wasnt sure. But once again, Si Woo's actions gave her the reassurance and comfort she needed and in the last scene, she finally said yes.
I know that wasn't the ideal time to accept a proposal but i loved how she stood up for Si Woo in front of Manager Ko. I really loved Ji Yoon's character growth here.
The preview looked tense but im sure everything will be fine. Those external office problems wont matter much in the end, they will get through it.
What i loved the most is that the writer didnt treat the conflict as something that only one person had to fix. Both of them had flaws and both of them needed to grow.
Si Woo has always been the type to hold himself back whenever the other person tries to leave, believing its better to let them go for their own happiness. But this time, he didnt do that. Instead, he stayed by Ji Yoon's side and gave her the reassurance she needed through his actions rather than just words. That consistency was what helped rebuild their relationship.
On the other hand, i also liked that Ji Yoon didnt immediately get back together with him. She took some time to process everything and actually tried to understand Si Woo's perspective, his struggles, his loneliness and why he acts the way he does, whether through her father or from Si Woo himself. More importantly, she didnt just understand him, she made a conscious effort to change and become a better partner.
The time apart was honestly one of the best writing decisions because it allowed both of them to grow individually. Si Woo learned to stop being passive and became more expressive in the relationship while Ji Yoon learned to communicate better and understand his emotional needs. Thats exactly how a healthy relationship should develop.
This is how relationship conflicts should be written. First, create a believable conflict, then address the root causes instead of forcing a quick reconciliation. It felt natural, realistic and showed a healthy way for a couple to move forward together.
I also really liked how the drama used the Home AI concept. I know some people are uncomfortable with AI becoming more common but its something society will continue to adapt to. Instead of portraying AI as something purely dangerous, the drama highlighted how it can be used positively to improve people's lives and i liked that.
Another thing i loved was Lee Yeong hun's role. He was made to look shady but in the end, he was actually working with Si Woo and completely outplayed Manager Ko. Si Woo had him hack Home AI, but it also proved that their security system could successfully block the attack. And it helped Si Woo's team to earn even more trust from the company's executives and investors. Manager Ko's plan ended up backfiring on himself and I really liked that the writer used Lee Yeong hun to strengthen Si Woo's project instead of making him another predictable villain.
Overall, this was easily the best episode so far. Even the preview looked really sweet from the relationship side. Yes there will be some office drama targeting Si Woo next but i dont really mind because im sure he will overcome it.
That said, im also sure Ji Yoon haters will still find a new reason to hate her even after this episode. Atp thats just what they do lol.
And why stop after hitting kidnapper guy only once?? They should have kept beating him until he was completely unconscious or at the very least, they could have shot him in the leg so he couldnt chase them. It was painfully obvious he was going to come after them.
Hell, they didnt even need to shoot him. They could have just tied him up with ropes and locked him inside that hall before leaving.
Imean, they had so many other options once they were in control but instead the writer made them act unbelievably stupid just to drag the story.