Not only the monsters are bad
This is a great drama I've already watched twice.The main and supporting cast all give excellent performances, including the children.
The effects of living in an environment where society has broken down leads to very different behaviours for the characters, as they really need to pull together in order to survive. The changing opinions and morals of some, as it becomes apparent no one is safe from infection, makes for many characters developing with each episode.
Our human establishment is yet again to blame for messing with things that shouldn't be and fearing everything different. Tarring everyone exposed, with the same brush, can also be seen as the way in which so many laid blame after the outbreak of Covid. Lessons never seem to be learned, as this has and will, happen time and time again.
The pace is a mix of slow burning, menacing and violent. It isn't a particularly happy watch, but there are many touching moments.
The soundtrack is excellent too.
I believe Netflix are waiting for ratings stats before committing to series 2 and I so hope it goes ahead, otherwise the ending is less than pleasing; that would be my only complaint.
I LOVED it.
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Enjoyable
So whilst this wouldn't win any awards, it mixes comedy with drama and I didn't greatly dislike anything about it.The cast are very good and the story, whilst bending what's anything near plausible at times, is still a decent watch.
If accepted for what it is, a piece of light entertainment, with romance, silliness, surprise guest roles, lots of clichés and some mild threat, then it really can be enjoyed.
I did feel the King was a little hard done by, but it was neatly tied up at the end. Really not that bad a watch.
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Magical
Fab-u-lous! I loved everything. The casting is perfection, with so many good actors (both female and male) and unforgettable characters. I can't even pick favourites. Lee Rang really touched my heart though, especially the scenes of him as a young Gumiho half breed. His feelings of abandonment were palpable. Kim Bum is so good.The myths included are wonderful, as ghosts and devils are battled.
The child actors are so good too, especially Kim Tae-yul as the young Imoogi, Lee Joo-won as young Lee Rang and Jung Shi-yool as Kim Soo-oh.
The pace of the drama, whilst having exciting scenes, is relatively gently paced, which fit for me; a central romance spanning 600 years can't be rushed!
The ending didn't disappoint either.
I loved the BTS episode 17 on Viki, with the delightful Hwang Hee (Gu Shin-joo) and lovely Kim Yong-ji (Ki Yoo-ri) ~ these 2 seemed to genuinely get on and have fun together.
A must watch and one I know I'll return to more than once. Magical.
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Disturbing
First off, great cast and very good acting. I'm a big Woo Do Hwan fan, but all the leads wete excellent, as were supporting cast.I found the first few episodes quite disturbing and not an easy watch. I really hate bullies and those that treat physical disabilities as though that makes a person less or stupid.
S.Korea is so often portrayed as a country where those with power, position and/or money, can get away with just about anything. This drama is no different in that respect.
The friendships that are tested and the struggles to "do the right thing" are well portrayed... blood is often thicker than water, as they say.
The story got a bit far fetched at times, but the tension and feelings of threat were well written, directed and acted.
It would need a long time before I'd watch this again, mainly because of now knowing what happens.
I kind of enjoyed it, but watching was also unpleasant at times. Means it's a well made programme though.
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Complex
I loved series 1, but enjoyed this follow-up even more.Whilst a completely new story and set of intriguing cases to be solved, there are references to the suicide and scheming of season 1.
Both Bae Doo-na and Cho (Jo) Seung-woo are excellent and I love their chemistry, together with the relationship between their characters; she just gets him and he seems to have actual care and cocern for her, something he usually struggles with, having impaired emotions from his childhood surgery.
From the outset the pace and intrigue never let up. There was stuff I thought I was figuring out, only to be slapped off course, as the story within stories twisted its way to the final episode.
This series, like the first, is intelligently written and well directed. It needs concentration and isn't a 'light' watch that can be dipped in and out of, although in truth, if you're like me, you'll be desperate to watch one after the other.
Great cast of characters so well portrayed by a great set of actors ~ not a weak one amongst them.
I know it's not a romance, but I'd love for Shi-mok and Yeo-jin to get together.
Quietly hoping for a season 3 🤞🤞
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Gritty Drama
Perfect casting of great actors, added to a well written script, really make this drama a cut above the rest.It is very hard hitting, with many of the crimes portrayed being distressing and brutal.
The lives of the rookies this story follows, from jobless to serving police officers, is so good.
The stressful, unappreciated and abused role they fill is at the fore, countered by the few corrupted members on the force, who sadly tarnish them all. Couple this with internal politics and an establishment happy to throw those with less power under the bus to meet their needs, makes me wonder how anyone would choose policing as a career.
If this drama is based on the reality of the Korean police and legal system, it is damning. However, it also shows the closeness of a team, of partnerships where they see more of each other than their own loved ones at home and the impact of betrayals on the moral of everyone associated.
The toll the job takes on personal lives is also touched on, with not just the case stories, but those involving the main characters' families being played out too.
Whilst disturbing, incredibly frustrating and upsetting, it is also funny at times and uplifting at others.
I am so pleased I watched it and would recommend this drama to others.
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The storyline at the start of the drama got completely lost. The plot suffered due to this as well, with Fighter & Tutor's episodes completely overshadowing Zon & Saifah's.
That aside, the stories were good, especially F&T's, which felt quite realistic.
Sometimes the actors didn't seem entirely comfortable in their roles (a little wooden), but that may have been due to the series' problems or lack of direction. The last ep felt very rushed. Such a shame, as would otherwise have been a 10 rating for everything!
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Started strong but dragged.
May 2026.A modern day office worker finds herself transported into the realms of cultivation, and ends up serving a cold and powerful Grandmaster, sealed in his mountain palace for half a century.
She is a master slacker who just wants an easy life.... which she obviously doesn't get!
There is a lot of humour in the early episodes, but as the story progresses, truths get revealed, and feelings grow, things become more tense, as battles for power and freedom take over.
I liked the cast, but didn't feel the FL made a convincing leader, as the story moved forward.
The ML I thought conveyed his power and frustrations well, but he didn't feel different enough as his character changed.
That is a fault of the writing and directing, to my mind.
I found the earlier episodes flowed better, but got bored with the drawn out feuding.
The supposedly most powerful were often too easily blindsided and overcome.
The story moves through lifetimes; a concept which I liked, but was wasted to an extent, I felt, by not being fresh enough when that happened ~ instead carrying over a too similar plot line.
I was never moved to tears by this story, although there was no shortage of tragedy.
The ending wrapped things up very neatly and on what I felt was a positive note, however.
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Starts as it means to go on.
May 2026A very violent, sometimes darkly amusing, gripping film.
JDY is certainly a diverse actress, and acting in some very adult productions in the past, certainly hasn't harmed her career, or pigeon-holed her
For a 50-year old actress (at the time of film's release), I think she looks amazing.
I liked her character in this; independent, never played the victim, and whilst shaped by her childhood, it didn't affect her own role as a mother... her daughter being her world, although balancing her 'profession' with a normal life, was always going to be challenging!
I felt, after watching, that rising to the top and standing out in this field, even with the financial gains, was not worth the isolation, which was a result of being the one successors wanted to topple to prove their worth and become the best.
Relationships felt fleeting and friendships superficial. Family, frankly, became a potential weakness, weapon for opponents, or leverage opportunity.
Esom's character in this (Cha Min Hui), was loathsome, and she seemed to play her with relish!
It seems the family profession might be continued, too.
Mixed characters, pretty fast paced, and very watchable.
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Love born from mutual respect.
May 2026.I really enjoyed this intelligently written and enthralling drama that kept me engaged from start to finish.
The FL character, Qiao Man, is incredibly bright, an ace strategist, and very determined. Raised differently to most women, by a doting grandfather who recognised her sharp mind and capabilities.
What starts out as a marriage of necessity, however, becomes far more.
There are many obstacles, grudges, and mistrust, but those things, when overcome, can lead to the strongest of bonds.
The ML character, Wei Shao/Zhong Lin, is extremely stand offish, does not trust anyone from her clan, and shoulders a lot. He's also intelligent, brave, and can be ruthless. His mother is awful (I didn't like her from start to finish ~ well played by the actress, though), but his Grandmother is excellent, and they are close. There's also a delulu female who wants our ML for herself.
There is action/battles, but this story isn't swamped by them. The romance builds gradually, with mutual respect sparking it. However, it's more about overcoming grievances, letting go, and moving forward. The overall pace is relatively gentle in comparison to some, but that fits, and I never got bored.
I also loved many of the supporting characters, especially the Wei generals /personal guards, who were so funny at times and had great camaraderie.
Definitely worth watching.
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Touching.
May 2026.I so looked forward to these episodes dropping each week.
Very much a 'feel good' drama, with a soft and gentle natured lawyer, who can see and communicate with ghosts, after moving into offices formerly occupied by a Shaman.
More concerning is a sometimes side effect, of which he'll have no memory.
I loved the different clients he gets, none of whom can remember who they are. To enable their memories to reconnect, they must first remember their name and d.o.b. ~ something I-rang helps investigate and then whatever issue is keeping them from crossing over.
So many things start to be revealed as having links to I-rang, and a personal injustice his family have been carrying.
There are some really touching scenes and I thought the final story/2 episodes were excellent.
I also loved the cast and characters.
Occasionally choices made were somewhat implausible, and the writing 'hicupped"; still one to watch ☺️
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A classic feel in its style.
April 2026.I really enjoyed this. Nice cast, usual sageuk characters, and a 'classic' style.... apart from the body-swapping twist!
Unusual choice of actress for the FL, I thought, given the character's scenes when in their hidden identity. I do like the actress, however, and it didn't spoil my viewing; just something I contemplated at the end.
FL character is the type I often like; positive, pragmatic, sharp and clever.
I found the ML character interesting, and open.
There's wit, action, romance and a pace that fits. An engaging watch.
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Gripping
March 2026I got into this pretty quick and had to force myself to stop watching.
I'm late to the party, so with no hype or spoilers, didn't know how the story would unfold.
Initially I found the character of police woman Cha Soo-young to be somewhat insipid, especially given her unique talent.
However, whilst she wasn't always adept at defending herself, her character did grow.
I found the arc for Hwang Hwa-young to be a bit odd, and I honestly didn't get her sometimes.
The push from above to get cases resolved at any cost, isn't new in dramas, but it sure came at a price in this one.
Some characters were loathsome, and I liked that they paid for it.
Jang Hyuk as Oh Hyun-jae was excellent and there was no over acting or unnecessary shouting, which seems to sometimes be written into his characters.
Some lighter moments, but mostly drama and action.
I found the storyline for Soo-young a little disappointing; there was a lot of mystery around the event that drove her, but I felt its culmination a bit lacklustre. It felt very much like it took a major back seat.
The main plot, however, was well done. Twists, turns and surprises.
I'd readily watch this again some time.
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Engaging and pertinent.
Feb 2026I really enjoyed this, at times gritty, drama ~ more than I expected to.
Wanting something light to watch, there was actually more to it than I anticipated!
KJY is another actor who plays characters in a more understated way. He doesn't go OTT and can convey a lot purely with his eyes.
The story twists and turns, as Maeng Si-na (CSY) battles to clear her Idol, Do Ra-ik/Laik (sorry, but a very weird stage name, I thought), of murder.
Of course a romance blossoms, but it didn't overshadow the rest of the story, for me.
A mix of characters, nice cast; Kim Won-hae has been in a lot lately, and I liked him in this ~ he's a huge favourite!
Most characters looked like the culprit at some point, which I liked.
Some characters were awful; one redeemed themselves; another kind of did, but was still impossible for me to like.
It got very cheesy at times, and the way Si-na continued to fan over Laik, even though her boyfriend, was too silly for me.
There were actually some very pertinent messages in this drama, too. Mainly, how Sasaengs can ruin an Idol's life, never mind their mental health. Also, how the family of a celebrity cannot be chosen, and their behaviour / activities are beyond the control of any star. How Idols are pushed, controlled, restricted and basically abused in some cases, is also well highlighted. The effects of any/all these issues, really do lead to tragedy, in too many cases.
I just wish these issues were taken more seriously, and could get through to those with the power to change things. Let's hope one day they will.
I was kept engaged, looked forward to episodes and would happily watch again sometime in the future.
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Mayhem
January 2026.I do love the cast, and my goodness did they have to put themselves out there.
It's a while since I watched S1, but it's a favourite... what happened, Disney+?
OTT I can handle. A little slapstick, dry humour, silliness to cut through the suspense & more visceral scenes ~ all that I can happily handle; but this totally lost its foundations compared to S1.
The weak and childish plot had everything thrown into it... cheap laughs, awful toilet humour, the cast made to act like clowns, drag (though KMG looked weirdly pretty 😆), novelty 'musical' scenes (not uncommon in some American shows), plus pops at S.Korea's seemingly woeful legal system, with a liberal dose of strong violence for good measure.
The constant, and weird, American dialogue from character Park Gyeong Sun (Lee Ha-nee), really irritated me, too.
The look of it was more polished than S1, but that's the only thing that's an improvement ~ the rest didn't come close.
The violence was still pretty strong ~ a drug Lord (the straightest acting in the series, from Sung Joon playing Kim Hong Sik), who didn't mess about with his philosophy of a life for a mistake.
Then there was the torturing of a female intelligence agent, featuring a mallet and lots of screaming... the outcome of which was funnier than a lot of the so-called humour.
That was this drama's biggest problem ~ it swung from violent and trying to be an action plot, to all out slapstick comedy. It did not work. If it's an action drama, any comedy needs to enhance the story and be a little more subtle, or clever, but this was far from either.
I did get the feeling the cast probably had a great time making this (Lord I hope so), but for me it was pretty awful. Sadly.
Can't believe it's the same script writer, and the Director was Asst Director, for S1. A let down.
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