CruelCity
USA
The strong point for this drama was by far the characters and the acting. As others have stated the Kang Woo/Min Joo relationship was enjoyable to watch grow and develop. Both actors deliver strong performances and create likeable and relatable characters. Actress Ryu Hwa Young is a bias of mine and she delivered a solid performance as did the rest of the Mad Dog team. Ultimately though, the actor who really stole the show was Choi Won Young (Hyun Gi). His character was pure evil, but at the same time, in some weird way, charismatic. From his stupid neck ties to his chilling, arrogant demeanor he stole most of the scenes he was in.
While the characters and actors were top notch, in the end, Mad Dog would have been better off spending even more time on developing the characters and less on the exposing of the crime. The case, which spans the entire 16 episodes, simply bogs down after a while. It became a drawn out battle where the upper hand passes back and forth SO frequently that the viewer loses interest. It’s as if the “bad guys” are one step ahead of the “good guys.” Then we realize that, no, the good guys were actually two steps ahead of the bad guys and foresaw the move in advance. But wait, the bad guys are actually three steps ahead! Oh no, actually the good guys are four steps ahead. It became quite repetitive after a while.
In the end, Mad Dog was likeable but definitely not a must watch.
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If you want to watch a show with a satisfying lead couple, The Heirs will probably leave you disappointed. Yet despite that major flaw, The Heirs was an entertaining watch.
Sure there were cliched elements. Poor girl, rich guy. Spoiled rich brats bullying inferior classmates. Wicked and outrageous parents. But really isn't that to be expected with a lot of romantic dramas?However, there were also some very interesting and compelling story arcs as well. A live in mistress. Rival siblings with opposite takes on business, pleasing their father, and the emphasis they place on love. The relationship between Eun Sang's mother, a mute housemaid, and Tan's mother, a live in mistress, is also a joy to watch. The growth of Choi Young Do is compelling to follow as well.
The biggest annoyance in The Heirs is the behavior of Eun Sang. Crying and pouting constantly it was shocking every time she even so much as cracked a smile. Tan repeatedly goes out of his way to win her affection, yet she rarely reciprocates. The questions many viewers will be asking is: Why does either Tan or Young Do actually like Eun Sang??
Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin really carried the show. Kim Sung Ryung and Kim Mi Kyung were also exceptional in their roles. As for Park Shin Hye, whether it was the writing or her acting, her part kept The Heirs from being anything more than simply "good."
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