JLM

I agree, he's wonderful in this role. It's really demanding, there are so many facets to his character, the way he hides is vulnerability behind that smile. Must be a great director also.

Honestly, across all genres and cultures, I can't think of an actress with her star power, and unique presence. She's just amazing. She's so stunning, but her acting is just beyond, and she's capable of comedy, being coy and flirtatious, icy and remote, regal, what a range. Also the budget of this drama must have been through the roof, to enhance her role with costume, special effects, etc.

Totally agree. I can no longer see the character she plays, only PMY looking fragile and unwell.

Yes it had rave reviews

I'm so much enjoying this drama. For me it was a bit slow in the earlier part where Si Mu was either touching everything, then smelling everything, like a small child with DX happily exchanging his senses for her. The cinematography, set design, special effects and costumes though once they get to the void, are beyond, they just have to win an award for this alone. I watched DD in Love on a Turquoise Land and I was totally blown away by her acting. I feel the same about this one, she's just phenomenal. I have seen Arthur Chen now in L & P, Love Story in the 1970.s and this one, and I also think he's fabulous. For a guy of 25, he's killing it. I can see a lot of people are critiquing the casting but for me it's perfect, the whole experience of watching this drama is an amazing escapist trip, especially in the later eps. Also for me the fight scenes, both in the battle and street action are so well done. Arthur Chen is able to transition from a powerful, super confident general in the army to a boy who is totally infatuated, really so impressive. The plot is complex, and sometimes I have to take a minute to get what exactly is going on, there are a lot of sub plots. It's definitely up there with the best dramas I've watched in ages. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Yes true re apartment etc. I guess CSA has an agency, pumped up with money at one point from Lee Yang Mi. Who knows whether BTS has gotten payoffs on the side, he has a lot of dirty intel. about higher ups! I think your spin on the ending is interesting and I hope that's it. There's still a lot to be resolved, what happens to all the other main players? I feel the drama has changed pace, lots of chopping between past and present, and an uneven theme, switching from makjang to serious noir thriller and exposé/revenge arc. I'm really interested to see how it resolves, it sure has elicited some "interesting" responses on MDL!

She made Secret Garden in 2010-11, she lost her dad in 2016, and her brother sometime later. I think this is part of the reason she took a break from acting for a while. Her younger brother and fellow actor, Jeon Tae‑soo, died in January 2018 after struggling with depression, and his death dealt another devastating blow. Following his passing, Ha Ji‑won canceled all scheduled activities and essentially withdrew from the entertainment industry for a few years.

Also HJW's father passed away during this time, and also her brother who suffered from depression. So there were lots of issues.

Yes probably I agree with you, it was disgusting to watch him pander to one of the higher ups and bring a pack of cigarettes, and ignore what was obviously going on with JiSoo. I suppose there will be some clarification about that scene further on.

Oh great, thanks, I thought it was a small plot error lol

Thank you so much for saying this, I don't know what is going on with this particular drama, but some of the comments have been so aggressive and inappropriate. that I have blocked a couple. I also have rarely seen these kind of comments in MDL.

Yes, I would applaud these women for even trying, given the "Weinstein" nature of the business, although hopefully that's changing. I also think it's interesting how Cha Joo Young is female but also an enabler of sexual favours, to the Mayor, who is also female. That's what is fantastic about this drama, nothing is black or white. Admittedly there is a lot of violence/assault etc associated with the men who perpetrate the sexual assault of the actresses, it has actually made me sick to watch. I really get that Sang-Ah is sick with revenge and grief. The young guy actor who agreed to get with the mayor did it willingly as a leg up into the industry. Pretty sad also really. Personally the moral ambiguity extends to BTS also, he was possibly aware of what was going to happen to Jisoo, but looked the other way, he is also ruthlessly ambitious, but trying in the background to help his wife, with whom I believe he is very much in love. That's my take, see if it pans out.
This drama won't appeal to anyone looking for cute, formulaic lightweight entertainment. Sorry for the rant but I'm really impressed by Climax, I have so many theories, looking forward to see what happens.

It's also a challenging, confronting plot with a huge amount of intentional ambiguity, it's sophisticated and intelligent, and would not appeal to everyone.

Neither of the lead actors are pure evil, FL is struggling big time with dealing with her past, probably sexual assault, and her career, her lack of trust, her grief over her friends probably suicide, and how to balance all these factors, surrounded by manipulative, power driven sociopaths. ML is equally trying to navigate a world of crazy psychos, within which he is power hungry, and ruthlessly ambitious, but also aware of the shit that is going down. One of the biggest drivers in this drama is revenge, but ambition and also personal feelings/love play a huge part.

I just watched this again, I really was entertained despite all the flaws. I just have one silly question, how could FL and SFL have the same dresses at the end function and jewellery. The dresses are supposedly Haute Couture made especially for Sarah Kim, so how can there be 2???

Well said, I guess other dramas like The Glory, Hyena, Dear X, The Price of confession, The Art of Sarah to name but a few also explore this type of "morally complex female character is you put it so well. It's great to see and incredibly interesting.

I was just thinking the exact same thing, he's a great actor but I've never seen him in a role like this. He normally has more reserve somehow as BTS he's more exposed and vulnerable, can't exactly put this into words. His character is so complex. Equally HJW - her performance is so raw and captivating. Same with all the cast actually.

Love this drama. Just one issue, if Tae-Seop wants to run for President, he'd have to be pretty sure that no one saw him beat up Choi Ji Ho and Park Jae Sang to a pulp.

Ditto for me. What is your take on Siren's Kiss?

Loving it! Great cast, every single one. Very gritty, noir plot. It's smart and it's exactly my kind of thing. Can't wait for the next ep.