1
4
1
Gripping political noir which fell victim to its writing
Made In Korea had grabbed my attention last year due to its cast and premise. I kept up with it for the first 4 episodes but later on, I ultimately put it on hold. Since the second installment of the series has started airing, I decided to watch the first part again and finish it at last.
Set in the 1970s South Korea, the drama tells a story of power and ambition, driven by the vulnerable political scene and the systemic power during this era. The main characters, Baek Kitae and Jang Gun Yeong, represent two clashing ideologies. The first one works with the KCIA and seeks more power for himself by selling drugs while the latter one is a prosecutor who wants to fight for justice and bring Baek Kitae behind the bars. Their conflict shapes the story and alongside that, the narration follows political schemes, drug deals and a constant fight for power.
From the very first glance, one can tell that this drama had budget. And a very big one, since it was reported that 70 billion won ($51 million) was spent on this series. The production is awestruck to say the least and viewers who appreciate rich settings will definitely receive a visual feast. Like Low Life, another Disney drama which was set in 1970, Made In Korea portrayed this era accurately, not only from the visual perspective only but the political one, too.
The cinematography and camera work highlighted the intense atmosphere throughout the drama. The darker and mundane colours added to the bleak and dark plot, giving a feeling of uneasiness. As for the soundtrack which accompanied the drama, it was very retro and yet dynamic when it needed to. As someone who loves instrumental tracks, the music was very funto listen to and I appreciated the usage of violin, trumpets and the piano. "Inhale the Throne" and "Longing For Love Again" were two of the most distinguished titles for me. The first one was a classical, soothing yet eerie piece while the second one had more jazz vibes, giving a feeling of melancholy and bitterness.
The acting was by all means one of the strongest cards of this drama, if not the strongest. Most of the actors delivered exactly what was expected from them and I even dare to say that they were better than the characters they were supposed to portray.
That was my very first time watching Hyun Bin in a project and I can confirm that people who are obsessed with him are not wrong at all. Not many actors can pull off the role of a villain in a charismatic way and yet, Hyun Bin not only captivated me with his presence alone, but he made me root for Baek Kitae at times, too. He embodied Kitae's cold and ambitious personality effortlessly, allowing himself to express a glimpse of humanity in some rare occasions, thus highlighting Kitae's complexity.
Jung Woo Sung as Prosecutor Jang was entertaining and chaotic, to say the least. He did a good job with his character and unlike other viewers who disliked his laughter, I must say I found it kinda amusing, it was a nice trait to Gun Yeong's character and it added to his kinda unhinged personality. That being said, for this type of role, I would have liked a more mature approach but that is not the actor's fault.
I saw Won Ji An for the first time in Squid Game 2 and to tell the truth, the first time I watched Made In Korea, it didn't cross my mind that she was the same actress. While rewatching the first episodes and after learning that information, I was left surprised because her acting had picked my interest during my first watch, too! She was fierce as Choi Yu Ji, she encapsulated her cold and cunning personality perfectly and she was oh so magnetic to watch. I loved the way she carried herself and how she matched Hyun Jin's experience during their scenes.
But one of the best acting performances came from a guest appearance and that was none other than Cho Yeo Jung as Bae Geum Ji on episode 3. What can I say about this woman, she stole the show with just one episode, during the rewatch for the first episodes, I anticipated her appearance so much. She felt like a breath of fresh air in the story. Elegant, playful and yet tragic, Bae Geum Ji was a woman who longed for a meaningful relationship and someone who actually loved her. Yeo Jung was simply magnificent and she moved with how she conveyed Geum Ji's tragedy.
From a technical standpoint, Made In Korea is almost perfect. But when I watch something, I also want to feel engaged to the story or the characters. And this is where Made In Korea fell short for me (literally and figuratively).
For a political series, which explores themes like corruption, power and ambition, the story came across as rather...bland? There were some good segments here and there and most episodes had their own highlights but overall, the story failed to grab my interest. The drugs trafficking was uninteresting, I understand the purpose but I wasn't invested in this part of the story and how Baek Kitae run his underground business. I preferred the parts which focused directly at the characters' relationships and the power dynamics between them, it highlighted the themes better.
The pacing was so-so. The first four episodes were good but the more I watched, the more I remembered why I had put the drama on hold in the first place. Even for such a short series, with just 6 episodes, the story still felt kinda dragged at times. The last episode in particular was hard to get through. What I noticed is that it was always the middle sections which seemed lackluster to me. The beginning and the ending of each episode was gripping and interesting but there were some moments in-between which dragged the story back.
I am aware of the fact that political thrillers tend to be plot driven rather character driven. That being said, this format can be a hit or miss for me, since I prioritize characterization most of the time. If a plot is engaging enough, I can excuse the writing of the characters to some extent and vice versa. Here, both the story and characters failed to grab my attention as much as I wanted to.
Baek Kitae was the only properly fleshed out character (although, he too had his flaws regarding his writing). Even though I wanted more of his backstory, I understood his desperation to climb higher in hierarchy and establish a better life for his siblings, especially his brother. That being said, I wish we had seen more moments between him and his family. Not necessarily to justify his actions but just to see the humane side the writers tried to showcase. There was a brief moment on episode 6 between him and Baek Gi Hyun, which conveyed his protective side but that wasn't enough to properly establish the drifting relationship between the brothers.
Jang Gun Yeong wasn't as compelling as Baek Kitae. As I mentioned above, I would have preferred a more mature and laid down approach for his character, compared to the exaggerated version we got. His background was interesting and I understood his need for justice and punishment but overall, he seemed pretty one-dimensional to me. I didn't like that he was comedic at times, it kinda took me out and prevented me from taking him seriously. His character shined the best when he was serious and passionate about his goal and that should have been the approach from the start.
Woo Do Hwan felt more like a guest star instead of a supporting actor, to be honest. Baek Gi Hyun was a very interesting character and I definitely expect to see more of him in the second part but in the first season, he was...there. I don't even thing that his screen time can surpass 10 minutes in these six episodes. As a result, the drama failed to build a proper foundation for the relationship between the two brothers and I'm afraid that this might affect my experience while I'll be watching season 2, since I am not very emotionally invested in this relationship.
The discrepancy between the male and female characters when it came to the writing was, unfortunately, very evident. Investigator Oh Ye Jin was fun and I liked her personality, but I would have liked to see more of her development, instead of being treated as a comic relief girl-boss. Baek Kitae's sister was also very reduced as a person, I couldn't bring myself to care a lot about her.
In retrospect, I feel like Made In Korea would have had a better reception had both parts been released together, instead of being separated. It's clear that part 2 will dive deeper into the characters and their dynamics compared to part 1, which felt more like an introduction instead of a fleshed out season. Nevertheless, I am eager to see how this story will end. I appreciate the quality of this drama and I am more than curious to see who will prevail in this battle for power.
Set in the 1970s South Korea, the drama tells a story of power and ambition, driven by the vulnerable political scene and the systemic power during this era. The main characters, Baek Kitae and Jang Gun Yeong, represent two clashing ideologies. The first one works with the KCIA and seeks more power for himself by selling drugs while the latter one is a prosecutor who wants to fight for justice and bring Baek Kitae behind the bars. Their conflict shapes the story and alongside that, the narration follows political schemes, drug deals and a constant fight for power.
From the very first glance, one can tell that this drama had budget. And a very big one, since it was reported that 70 billion won ($51 million) was spent on this series. The production is awestruck to say the least and viewers who appreciate rich settings will definitely receive a visual feast. Like Low Life, another Disney drama which was set in 1970, Made In Korea portrayed this era accurately, not only from the visual perspective only but the political one, too.
The cinematography and camera work highlighted the intense atmosphere throughout the drama. The darker and mundane colours added to the bleak and dark plot, giving a feeling of uneasiness. As for the soundtrack which accompanied the drama, it was very retro and yet dynamic when it needed to. As someone who loves instrumental tracks, the music was very funto listen to and I appreciated the usage of violin, trumpets and the piano. "Inhale the Throne" and "Longing For Love Again" were two of the most distinguished titles for me. The first one was a classical, soothing yet eerie piece while the second one had more jazz vibes, giving a feeling of melancholy and bitterness.
The acting was by all means one of the strongest cards of this drama, if not the strongest. Most of the actors delivered exactly what was expected from them and I even dare to say that they were better than the characters they were supposed to portray.
That was my very first time watching Hyun Bin in a project and I can confirm that people who are obsessed with him are not wrong at all. Not many actors can pull off the role of a villain in a charismatic way and yet, Hyun Bin not only captivated me with his presence alone, but he made me root for Baek Kitae at times, too. He embodied Kitae's cold and ambitious personality effortlessly, allowing himself to express a glimpse of humanity in some rare occasions, thus highlighting Kitae's complexity.
Jung Woo Sung as Prosecutor Jang was entertaining and chaotic, to say the least. He did a good job with his character and unlike other viewers who disliked his laughter, I must say I found it kinda amusing, it was a nice trait to Gun Yeong's character and it added to his kinda unhinged personality. That being said, for this type of role, I would have liked a more mature approach but that is not the actor's fault.
I saw Won Ji An for the first time in Squid Game 2 and to tell the truth, the first time I watched Made In Korea, it didn't cross my mind that she was the same actress. While rewatching the first episodes and after learning that information, I was left surprised because her acting had picked my interest during my first watch, too! She was fierce as Choi Yu Ji, she encapsulated her cold and cunning personality perfectly and she was oh so magnetic to watch. I loved the way she carried herself and how she matched Hyun Jin's experience during their scenes.
But one of the best acting performances came from a guest appearance and that was none other than Cho Yeo Jung as Bae Geum Ji on episode 3. What can I say about this woman, she stole the show with just one episode, during the rewatch for the first episodes, I anticipated her appearance so much. She felt like a breath of fresh air in the story. Elegant, playful and yet tragic, Bae Geum Ji was a woman who longed for a meaningful relationship and someone who actually loved her. Yeo Jung was simply magnificent and she moved with how she conveyed Geum Ji's tragedy.
From a technical standpoint, Made In Korea is almost perfect. But when I watch something, I also want to feel engaged to the story or the characters. And this is where Made In Korea fell short for me (literally and figuratively).
For a political series, which explores themes like corruption, power and ambition, the story came across as rather...bland? There were some good segments here and there and most episodes had their own highlights but overall, the story failed to grab my interest. The drugs trafficking was uninteresting, I understand the purpose but I wasn't invested in this part of the story and how Baek Kitae run his underground business. I preferred the parts which focused directly at the characters' relationships and the power dynamics between them, it highlighted the themes better.
The pacing was so-so. The first four episodes were good but the more I watched, the more I remembered why I had put the drama on hold in the first place. Even for such a short series, with just 6 episodes, the story still felt kinda dragged at times. The last episode in particular was hard to get through. What I noticed is that it was always the middle sections which seemed lackluster to me. The beginning and the ending of each episode was gripping and interesting but there were some moments in-between which dragged the story back.
I am aware of the fact that political thrillers tend to be plot driven rather character driven. That being said, this format can be a hit or miss for me, since I prioritize characterization most of the time. If a plot is engaging enough, I can excuse the writing of the characters to some extent and vice versa. Here, both the story and characters failed to grab my attention as much as I wanted to.
Baek Kitae was the only properly fleshed out character (although, he too had his flaws regarding his writing). Even though I wanted more of his backstory, I understood his desperation to climb higher in hierarchy and establish a better life for his siblings, especially his brother. That being said, I wish we had seen more moments between him and his family. Not necessarily to justify his actions but just to see the humane side the writers tried to showcase. There was a brief moment on episode 6 between him and Baek Gi Hyun, which conveyed his protective side but that wasn't enough to properly establish the drifting relationship between the brothers.
Jang Gun Yeong wasn't as compelling as Baek Kitae. As I mentioned above, I would have preferred a more mature and laid down approach for his character, compared to the exaggerated version we got. His background was interesting and I understood his need for justice and punishment but overall, he seemed pretty one-dimensional to me. I didn't like that he was comedic at times, it kinda took me out and prevented me from taking him seriously. His character shined the best when he was serious and passionate about his goal and that should have been the approach from the start.
Woo Do Hwan felt more like a guest star instead of a supporting actor, to be honest. Baek Gi Hyun was a very interesting character and I definitely expect to see more of him in the second part but in the first season, he was...there. I don't even thing that his screen time can surpass 10 minutes in these six episodes. As a result, the drama failed to build a proper foundation for the relationship between the two brothers and I'm afraid that this might affect my experience while I'll be watching season 2, since I am not very emotionally invested in this relationship.
The discrepancy between the male and female characters when it came to the writing was, unfortunately, very evident. Investigator Oh Ye Jin was fun and I liked her personality, but I would have liked to see more of her development, instead of being treated as a comic relief girl-boss. Baek Kitae's sister was also very reduced as a person, I couldn't bring myself to care a lot about her.
In retrospect, I feel like Made In Korea would have had a better reception had both parts been released together, instead of being separated. It's clear that part 2 will dive deeper into the characters and their dynamics compared to part 1, which felt more like an introduction instead of a fleshed out season. Nevertheless, I am eager to see how this story will end. I appreciate the quality of this drama and I am more than curious to see who will prevail in this battle for power.
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