Poor execution of a good idea
If you want a well-written story, good editing, captivating dialogues, and a satisfying, complete ending - this is not the show for you. (It's an open-ended cliffhanger.)Pros: The plot itself is decent. The acting, characterization, and cast choice are all excellent. Great visuals. The dynamics and chemistry between the characters—the relationships, platonic or romantic, acquaintances or temporary allies, brothers, friends or enemies—is where it truly shines. Credit where it's due; the male lead's growth is pretty solid and feels natural. The main conflict is alright. The show, I'm pleased to note, is not afraid to spill blood.
Cons: The story is severely damaged by the way it's written and edited, which easily breaks any immersion you get. It heavily relies on retrospection as a tool to explain everything, every time. If in doubt - get through 3 different cliffhangers and wait for a throwback. There's a moment in the series where you get an actual real-time scene, the scene ends, and it goes to the direct follow-up of the scene with the same characters, which then transitions into the retrospection to the previous scene with a detail that visibly wasn't present the first time around. Not shocking, not clever, certainly not necessary, and unfortunately, too common for this drama. This is usually accompanied by PowerPoint-worthy transitions. When you notice the pattern and the construction, it makes it lackluster and predictable, especially close to the end.
To sum it up, there's probably people that will enjoy it, if just for the cast and what they bring to the table. I personally feel like it was a waste of time.
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