This review may contain spoilers
Fortune telling works. In fact, it works all too well. Simply because we choose to believe in it. A bit like merit.Right from the first episode, we hear a line that, as a true Balzac fan, I simply couldn't help but notice : "But I refuse to be poor. I want to make a lot of money." Trapped first by this necessity, and then by the social pressure to become rich. She will stop at nothing, and where it becomes incredible is seeing her in action : she struggles, she loses all her illusions and only becomes more ruthless, going from one debt to another. Even more interesting is the perspective of the author tasked with transcribing the memories of this seemingly cruel old lady. The whole narrative aims to provide an insight into the Japanese mindset regarding "success" and to allow us to reflect on it in turn.
"Better to deceive than to be deceived", a statement that Vautrin would certainly not disavow. In a world where money is king, we are all its slaves ; we are left with no other choice. We choose to believe that if we want to, we can. And it has always been the other way round. By taking the example of a woman who gets rich through her hard work and the sacrifice of her soul on the altar of the golden calf, it only makes this truth all the more glaring.
We find ourselves in the company of a rich and powerful celebrity who fantasizes about her memories of poverty and a penniless author forced to work a side job. It might be tempting to dislike a character like Hosoki Kazuko (Erika Toda), but she embodies the values of her time. This isn't about passing judgment. She chases after money, she spends ostentatiously, she brags about her successful bets, she recounts her petty acts of revenge. And the figure of the Buddha reappears in nearly every episode... everything remains an illusion except for the suffering of this life. We're already straight in hell. This character endures abominable things. (the grip of the yakuza… those leeches as violent as they are arrogant and always detestable) But we are confronted with a terrible thing : it is she who tells the story… a little too well to be honest.
The series doesn't depict the real life of this person who actually existed at all : "Hosoki began managing Tokyo clubs and coffee shops while still a teenager, eventually running up debts to members of Japanese organized crime" says Wikipedia. And that's not a problem, because the form matches the content. That is the series' focus, its vocabulary, purpose and reason for being.
"Self-Portrait of a Trompe-l'œil"
The cinematography is simply magnificent. A visual delight. The nightlife, the illusory wealth, the facades, the contrast between extreme poverty and luxury, the dirt-floored rooms and the beautiful apartments. Behind the scenes lies a ruthless exploitation of oneself and others.
Everyone gives a wonderful performance. That's essential when there are so many long takes and short single-take sequences. The director gives plenty of creative freedom to his lead actress, Erika Toda, who delivers a phenomenal performance in this role spanning 60 years of life. Her style, demeanor, and personality traits evolve with the character's supposed age and depending on who tells the story.
"I don't believe in fortune telling."
At the end of Les Illusions Perdues, Vautrin launches into a long monologue in which Balzac has him say the following :
"Success is the ultimate motive behind all actions, whatever they may be. The act itself is therefore nothing in and of itself ; it exists entirely in the idea that others form of it. [...] When, after having legally amassed a fortune, you are rich and a marquis, you will allow yourself the luxury of honor. You will then profess such refinement that no one will dare accuse you of ever having lacked it."
Isn't the parallel with Straight to Hell striking ?
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“I've finally caught the shadow that haunted you. From now on your world will only have light.” And now we understand the dream at the beginning. The subtext, children. The subtext ! Subtlety and finesse are... two words from the dictionary.God, it's beautiful. It's constantly changing, as if someone couldn't accept that we might get bored for even five seconds. All the night scenes are colorful and bright. The light in this series ! The episodes fly by without you even noticing. The same goes for the music ; you don't even notice it. It's mean to say this, yes, but it never stops, so it loses its effect. The moments when the music stops suddenly become unsettling. However, the song whispered in silky vocals stands out.
It's so unfair to see Yifan facing so many trials alone, all those disgusting guys (ordinary ones, let's be clear). We hear about other cases of abusers around her, she has to work on this subject as a journalist, but she's never given the opportunity to talk about what she herself has been through.
We are shown how the family unit takes precedence over the suffering of the victims, which is realistic. A mother who does not come to her daughter's aid, who does not listen to her cries for help or her later requests to be left alone as an adult... Forced to cut off all means of contacting her to pretend she didn't survive the assault, since that's all her mother understands : the right victim is the one who dies. It's a very good choice not to offer redemption to the mother. But on the other hand it's a shame, though, that the series leads a little too easily to the conclusion that, fortunately, there are good guys out there to protect women. (Will we ever get over this ?)
Anyway.
Then I was shocked. What kind of teachers get involved in their students' romantic relationships ? And the family taking over ? Excuse me ? It's even more outrageous when you know the whole story.
And everyone drives a Porsche, apparently. The famous Chinese brand, so inexpensive. Quite normal for Sang Yan, who works at a video game company during the day and owns a posh bar at night. What a hard worker.
I was also surprised by the slapstick humor. Pleasantly so. I didn't expect to see that in this kind of story.
What a beautiful love story, though. I'm talking, of course, about Yifan and her adorable little cat. That brave little creature is so well-behaved, bravo to her, she's the best. The real star of this series.
Meanwhile, it's beautiful how Sang Yan sends messages indirectly and tries to understand Yifan, giving her the choice to respond or avoid the subject ; he is there for her. Without saying a word, he puts protective covers on the furniture to protect her while she sleepwalks. On the other hand, when they're young, this obsession is a bit awkward, but luckily he keeps his distance and is ready to support her.
This young adult couple tortures each other, and circles around each other, repeating over and over how impossible it is to live together, while living together. You're already a couple. Damn it !
Besides that, they are incredibly mature and give good advice about other people's relationships. It's a real running gag.
This attention and listening between the characters is one of the strengths of the show.
However, their friends and the little grandpa, even their coworkers, everyone is so kind and attentive, ready to help, and yet... Yifan suffers alone. She will want to disappear. Leaving her friends devastated, wondering if it's their fault. Far be it from me to accuse her ; this is normal behavior when you experience trauma. I'm certainly not one to judge her. There comes a time when survival becomes unbearable.
The last part of this series is designed to break us into little pieces. And then try to put it all back together again... by refusing to give us the glue for that.
In episode 21, the circular shot in the apartment with their lives playing out over several days in one go, the music rising in intensity... it's as if they want to make us cry. They've succeeded. But I'm not congratulating you, cruel writers.
“Yifan. You deserve the best. Stop saying sorry.”
“There is nothing shameful or humiliating about this. You did nothing wrong. You did the right thing. You protected yourself. You were brave. You should be standing tall, fearless, in the sunlight. That villain is the one who belongs in the gutter.”
“I usually cried all night. But as the pain got worse, I grew quieter, little by little. Until one day, I couldn't even cry anymore.”
I'm so sorry for what happened to you.
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This K-drama's good reputation is well deserved. It achieves a lot with very little. The plot isn't actually very complex, but despite that, we want to know what happens next, right now.It's funny to see the same synopsis as a Stephen King short story but with a completely different treatment. King Stephen takes the unique perspective of the elderly wife who discovers that her husband is a serial killer and talks about the collapse of her world, her fading memories, how everything was just a mirage, a life wasted with a cruel manipulator. In this series, the focus is entirely on the investigation, and the relationship between the investigating wife and the alleged serial killer husband serves only to add suspense and tension to the main story. It's the plot that drives the show. We don't even care about the victims ; they're just pawns.
There are a few flashbacks here and there, but they only make this couple seem even more unlikely. I don't understand how she can fall in love with a guy who is so dishonest, cold and distant towards her, and who takes five seconds to feign the appropriate emotion. He is described as a master manipulator, but frankly, no, not really. The guy is more suspicious than my cat in front of a glass of water on the edge of the table. And this is coming from an autistic little guy. (me) We're asked to believe in his good intentions after all the harm he willingly caused by hiding his past from his wife. Fortunately, this criticism comes from his colleague, Choi Jae Seop, one of the most interesting characters. And the last episode touches on it again without really confirming it.
The questionable aspects : several times we are denied information so as not to move too quickly, and that really annoys me. I had understood the involvement of the doctor's son some time ago (and I'm not very smart), but they drag it out for a looong time.
The sister could help with the investigation from the start, she wants to do so, but... we don't know, she takes her time, she has other things to do. A little hypnosis session to recover her memories ? Come on, let's believe in this psychobabble.
And the couple's daughter, Eun-ha, disappears when the writers don't know what to do with her anymore, and the grandmother is kind enough to take care of her.
And the journalist with round glasses who followed the sister everywhere and watched her at home and tried to break into her house at night, he gets away with it, which makes me anxious.
Finally, the same musics comes back far too often. It becomes redundant.
Not cool : investigator Cha Ji-won threatening to kill a suspect because the police sometimes kill people who resist arrest. And this is presented as positive and proof of her professional qualities. I'm not sure I agree with this kind of discourse when we're still being led to believe in ‘suicide by cop’, a myth invented by the police and repeated in TV series.
In fact, she is infinitely more badass when she traps her husband to push him into the corner of his own inventions. He has put himself in this absurd situation and doesn't understand what is happening to him. Otherwise, he could tell her the truth right away if he really loved her. He cares too much about his own comfort. The only time he expresses regret is when she corners him and he risks losing everything : a classic strategy to avoid having to face the consequences of our actions. But that's not what the series says. It says that he loves his wife tenderly, that he is changing for the better, and that love always wins in the end... This character's behaviour is really the big weak point of this story. We save him because the real murderer is even more odious. What's more, we're supposed to feel sorry for poor Do Hyun Su, who threatens his wife with a knife and then dares to complain that she gets angry. He makes her feel guilty after the hell he puts her through ? No, stop ! The last episode tries to make up for all this, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I didn't buy it.
I criticise, it's wrong, what a shame, I feel guilty ! I'm a disgrace to this universe. But I liked this series. Nevertheless, I think it's ranked too high, and 16 episodes ? Too long for what it ultimately offers us.
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Baek Ah-jin attacks the powerful and cruelly destroys them. First with her gaze, then with the means at her disposal. It's difficult to support her, even more difficult to hold it against her. Clearly, she never just defends herself ; it goes further than that.It is very interesting to see that in the first episode, the school lesson focuses on Xun Zi, a Chinese philosopher from the 3rd century BCE who believed that humans were fundamentally evil, selfish and destructive, and that strict education was necessary to force people onto the right path: that of Confucian obedience. Since humans are inherently evil, they dislike work but enjoy gain and pleasure. A brave fellow, or not. In any case, he predates Thomas Hobbes by 19 centuries. And we are more inclined to teach the Englishman's work than that of the Chinese philosopher. We can probably do without both of them and still believe in humanity.
Some of Ah-jin's vile schemes are pretty far-fetched. And painful for her as well as for us viewers. Each stage unfolds over two episodes, and you have to accept that you won't know all the elements needed for the trap to close, sometimes on a target, sometimes on the heroine, you never really know, which can be frustrating. (Episode 10 was terribly long)
Ultimately, I'm not sure what point they're trying to make here. Are they telling us that a strong sense of justice can backfire? That helping others can be dangerous? That women manipulate men for their own gain? I have no idea. Most of the time, people disturb Ah-jin as she goes about her quiet life. I don't understand how these men fall under the spell of someone so cold and indifferent, who, moreover, gives them no hope. But the slow (too slow) descent into hell of everyone around Baek Ah-jin/Kim Yoo-jung fascinated me. It's exciting to follow someone who appears infallible (or so we believe, for a while), with diabolical actions, taking on school bullies, exploitative parents, all-powerful employers, and a manipulative husband. Every aspect of a poor woman's life is scrutinised... You can never guess what the plot has in store. That's what makes the series so interesting: the surprise and the fact that you find yourself on the side of the victim who has become the tormentor.
Kim Yoo-jung knows how to skilfully play with the image she projects. Her caressing gaze, filled with opals, suddenly empties and comes back to life in the blink of an eye. She can be attentive one moment and cold the next, crushing people in her path. She takes no pleasure in attacking others ; it's just her nature, like a cornered animal fighting for survival.
This is an amoral K-drama, or at least one that tries to make us believe it is. There must be a moral to be found in all this, but I haven't figured out what it is yet. Baek Ah-jin reflects the violence of a world that hates her. The final scene of the penultimate episode illustrates this masterfully, drawing a parallel between a film shoot and a real execution. This brings us to the final phase, the top of the podium and, consequently, the fall. The media cycle continues.
What a surprising and fitting ending. Cruel survival. A sad victory that tastes like defeat.
"In a hell like this, hope is a luxury we cannot afford."
"Apologies are for when you've done something wrong."
PS: Yoon Joon-seo, truly the most terrifying of them all. To be honest, I don't understand how he managed to live so long, find a girlfriend, publish a visibly moving book, and feel nothing but emptiness. It's difficult to feel empathy for him and his mother, nonetheless. He got on my nerves the whole time.
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still on cloud nine
As I always say, you shouldn't mess with a female butcher. I always say that. Always.Warning : I've got nothing constructive to say. (as usual) I finished this series a few days ago, and I'm still on cloud nine.
How BEAUTIFUL ! The production is simply epic. Everything is so magnificent, the costumes, the sets, the direction, the lighting, the fight scenes, the music, the wig budget... hmm. A success across the board. A wonderful world where it snows all the time and no one ever feels cold. It's just too beautiful. The homes (even the most modest ones) are adorned with sumptuous wooden furniture and delicate fabrics fluttering everywhere. Teapots and incense blend their delicate scents with the wax of the carved woodwork. I can smell it.
Fan is incredible. Truly phenomenal ! Both the character and the actress, Tian Xiwei. Protect this woman at all costs. That charisma, that presence, that otherworldly beauty when she makes those tender expressions. She masterfully plays on the cliché of the seemingly fragile woman who becomes menacing and a deadly enemy in the blink of an eye. Her character is meant to be a tribute to a real-life female general, as in about half of all Chinese series. (Legend of a Female General, a very good C-drama)
You can feel all the despair that overtakes her midway through the series, during the turning point, when her village is ravaged and all her loved ones are massacred... those scenes… such sadness. We've been made to love these characters. We enjoyed life in that village, but now we must bury them and abandon it. And then we move on to war. Then to palace intrigues. What a journey.
As a result, the Marquis of Wu'an, the male lead, becomes first and foremost a supporting character ; he's the knight in shining armour. He's supposed to be the hero, but the story constantly reminds us that he takes a back seat. I love it.
They're so lovely, the two of them. They're completely devoted to one another. Their love is pure. I feel silly writing such nonsense ! I want them to be happy together. True love is killing your enemies together with the same weapon and checking if your wife's wrists are sore. And taking a bath… my goodness, the bath scene. It was daring. I didn't see anything, I swear I looked away.
They love each other so much that they get married twice, under two different identities. [stands up, banging both hands on the table] Now that's what I call Love ! He knows her secret, he supports her, and he doesn't tell her until she's ready to reveal it to him. [points at an imaginary listener] And he takes a hundred lashes rather than betray her !
Pardon. Je me suis emporté.
The attention to detail, my goodness ! There's so much going on, all the time. Like the characters who've been struck by an arrow and who, at last ! don't pull the arrow out. A whole gallery of characters unfolds before us, and they're all believable and interesting.
There are so many endearing ones. The little sister, the villagers, the Pig Butcher Squad, the old man carrying stones, Marquis Wu'an's generals, the Emperor's sister and her maid. We care about every single one of them. That's rare in productions like this.
The only downside : why this "what if" ending ?!? What if nothing at all. It's over. We can't imagine things from 17 years ago now.
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Episode 17, TW : forced kissing.
It's portrayed for what it is, without any romanticisation. The woman cuts ties with the man. But to be perfectly honest, she, in turn, drugs him without his knowledge to take his place on the battlefield. It's all square, back to square one. (No idea what that means. I'm learning new expressions : to be on cloud nine, success across the board and this square thing)
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(TW: incest, grooming, gaslighting)It goes so deep in what it exposes. And it does it so well. The manipulator manages to be both charming and insidious. He seems so sincere. His emotions are genuine. We find ourselves wanting to believe in him. Even though we understand right away what's going on, the series makes absolutely no secret of it, and yet… we doubt for a moment.
The real issue is this : anyone can be manipulated. We think we're too smart for that, or that it only happens to other people, but the reality is that we already accept a lot of unacceptable things by convincing ourselves they're no big deal. We're easily gaslighted, and also quick to judge the victims...
The fact that this guy, Dr Luo, is a psychiatrist seems spot on to me. The thought and behaviour police. The worst scum I've come up against from childhood to adulthood ; they turn what we tell them against us and pathologise us, not to help us but to serve the capital and the State.
This man meddles in the life of this single mother without being invited. And what's brilliantly written here is how he's not the central character ; after all, the story is primarily about a system. He's just there, this snake slithering in on the coattails of his well-educated status, playing out his little drama in the lives of Yan Ling and her son.
Besides, those pickup artist courses are painful to sit through. And embarrassing. The way they reduce women to a single stereotype, a target to identified. Their dehumanizing logic is spine-chilling. "Broke her self-esteem"… The same tactics as managers,really. I don't want to live in that kind of world.
Yan Ling's mother, what a horrible person… Never a kind word for her daughter. Verbal and physical abuse. She idolizes her deceased husband and fully participates in upholding the patriarchal system that allows pedocriminality, incest and grooming. (All of which are interconnected) The series clearly shows how victims are ignored and how they have nothing to gain by speaking out, everything to lose.
Should we blame marginalized people who choose to step on others to keep their (precarious) place in this system ? I'm tempted to say yes, but there's no right answer. So it's good that the series shows both female and male examples : everyone participates in this system. The mother's redemption… why not ? It comes from the person most directly involved, so let's say it works. In any case, the series is smart enough not to limit itself to portraying men as bad and women as good by nature, because that kind of oversimplification would erase a great deal of power dynamics and reality. It takes an entire family to silence a victim of incest.
The way Yan Ling is manipulated just when she's at her lowest and most miserable is just sickening. It makes you furious to watch it happen, feeling powerless to do anything. And the parallel with the other women Luo Liang has destroyed before adds even more rage, if that were even possible. The "hot-and-cold" treatment, the love bombing, all these horrors work. As horrible as it is : it works. As long as we don't change the foundations of this society, it will continue. The predator isolates you, creates a comfortable cocoon that becomes a suffocating cage, then a source of comfort, then hell all over again ; you can't get out of there without losing absolutely everything, including a part of yourself. Confronting the perpetrator will inevitably lead to a tragedy. He says "If you want to leave, you can, at any time" knowing full well that it’s not possible. Power over others is all that interests this kind of person.
I don't like the term "narcissistic pervert". (which isn't used in the series) Firstly, because it comes from psychoanalysis, so it's off to a bad start. (Paul Racamier created the term in 1986. "Pervers narcissique" in french) Secondly, because it individualises the problem. These are traits inherent to the hetero-patriarchy that allow men to behave in this way, rather than an individual problem or a wholly personal choice. Though it is that too, a personnal choice... But that does not allow us to grasp the tangible reality of emotional and practical manipulation thanks to the whole system that supports it !
With someone like that, who says one thing and then another depending on what suits them and always has an answer for everything, there's no point trying to make them admit their lies. You need to cut all contact with them immediately ! They'll destroy you. And you won't be able to change them.
"Watching the women who love and trust you crumble in front of you, thinking you're clever and smart. You're wrong. You being able to hurt us doesn't mean you're smart. It's because you have no bottom line. You have no heart. [...] You're just a clown who bullies the weak and fears the strong."
Anyway. It's nice not to see the cops too often. But the way they uncover clues and their personalities make them likeable. (acab nonetheless) The investigation winds its way through its dark twists and turns, with a few surprises in store as it unfolds. In the end, it's not the right people who drive the story forward, and that's precisely what lends it a sense of realism. With the production quality on a usual C-drama level, it's all the more impactful because it's so well made and performed. The occasionally non-linear narrative helps us better understand the logic at play, rather than leaving us lost as is so often the case.
The series morbid atmosphere fits its theme perfectly. That scene with the bathtub frozen in blood…
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Shin Hae-sun, full stop....
One of the best actresses around today, in any category. She's phenomenal as an authoritarian, ruthless, even hurtful, boss. You can't possibly contradict her when she gives orders. She's so funny in this role. A complete contrast to The Art of Sarah, yet still excellent. Gong Myung broke my heart in Way Back Love ; he's also a brilliant comic actor. Both are flawless in every respect. Great chemistry ! I didn't know it was possible to end up in each other's arms quite so inadvertently. What a pair of clumsy fools !
"Isn't it be easier to be honest ?" I often ask myself that question, too.
There's nothing particularly original about this K-drama, but it's a good rom-com. They make a huge fuss about their relationship, even though they're both single. It always surprises me. You're not committing any crime, you know ? It's no big deal. Just love each other ! (my French side coming out, sorry)
For the most part, I really enjoyed the way the story unfolds day by day, with genuine conversations between them. They talk all the time, about everything. Literally. What chatterboxes ! They share so much. I'm not so keen on the melodrama at the end ; it felt unnecessary. But judging by the bloopers at least, the atmosphere on set must have been a lot of fun.
Still. South Korea. A country where beating and abusing someone doesn't land you in court, but where a mere suspicion of infidelity costs you your job and all your friends. Such hypocrisy. On the other hand, defamation is a very serious matter in the eyes of the law ! Which makes sense, since a defamation lawsuit is the weapon of the guilty. All's well that ends well for half of the population.
12 episodes where practically nothing happens, and it almost felt too short to me. Yet office dramas really stress me out, and how ! The trauma of those years trying to work despite my disability ; I totally burned out my brain and body with all that nonsense. Anyway.
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Some episodes show superb direction. A very gritty, hard-hitting thriller, ruthless, even. You can feel the Ringo Lam influence, with its raw, unflinching violence ; this isn't meant to be a feel-good watch. It's deliberately infuriating. It really gets under your skin. Everything is rotten to the core. A very good series, but one that leaves you seething with rage by the time it's over."You're just a thug with a badge." We call that a cop, yes.
The story of a sadistic serial killer, set toward the end of the military dictatorship in 1988. We see despicable cops and a prosecutor acting with complete impunity. (Those cowards) We see men behaving as a patriarchal society naturally encourages and rewards them to do. We see female victims who are considered guilty in the eyes of others. We see high-ranking officials who are full of themselves and never take responsibility for anything. We see police repression of pro-democracy demonstrations.
"The public no longer trusts the police." I think that's a sign of good health.
The acting is incredibly intense. Serious stuff. A cop protagonist who's been through the worst and is forced to work against his will with one of his former tormentors. He thinks the police protect people, he believes they bring the guilty to justice… A constant in this kind of crime series : the cops are terrible at their investigations and ruin people's lives by wrongly accusing innocent people left and right. I don't know to what extent this is intentional. It comes up so often !
Not to brag, but I figured out who the killer was right from the start. My only flaw : too good. It's a fact. (Everything screams him, right there !) The solution doesn't come at the end but along the way, so it doesn't matter and doesn't ruin anything. It's the kind of series you can still enjoy even if someone with bad intentions spoiled it for you beforehand.
The culprit is every bit as cunning as those who claimed to be hunting him down. The theme is the rot at the heart of the social order. The back-and-forth between 1988 and 2019 confirms that nothing ever changes. The killer bears as much blame as the police and the justice system.
"Admitting your mistakes and asking for forgiveness takes even more courage." And that's how we move forward. That's why people in positions of power never admit their mistakes. They don't want things to get better for others.
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Lim Ji-yeon plays her role so convincingly, completely transforming from one character to the next. Here, she's clumsy, uncomfortable in her own skin, yet unstoppable,a fighter for justice. And Lee Jung-jae is hilarious as an actor who can’t handle his fame, which he feels he never deserved. He's the kind of guy who’s nice to everyone but doesn't want anyone to know it.
Their romance works surprisingly well. People who hate each other in real life but adore each other online. The rice cooker idea... incredible, so good. Even if it leads to a situation we'd call somewhat questionable. They make it into something funny, but it’s really a bit of emotional manipulation…
Anyway, we can't say it enough : there are two things that are essential in this world. Rice cookers and umbrellas.
On the other hand, an 18-year age gap… and diametrically opposed levels of income and fame. Just pretend I didn't say anything.
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I want to live long enough to see the end of the world, too.
"Zero skills. Maximum chaos." Talking about me?The heroine steals a child’s ice cream ; Shadow the Hedgehog would be so proud. I became a fan from the very first episode. We share the same references. (That said, I do hope Park Eun-bin can move on from the quirky, sassy roles she always seems to play)
The bloke whose daughter is both ashamed of him and feels sorry for him at the same time, I love him. He's always hanging out with his mates. The ultimate unfit dad.
They're all really touching and funny. Their powers turn out to be really well used, and we all love Katamari Damacy. All the Korean shows about superpowers are a massive hit these days. (Episode 6 !)
This antagonist is truly the worst of all the manipulators.
Nothing interesting to add : it's just excellent. Despite such a serious subject. And they've done the whole thing about conflicts being passed down from one generation to the next. To think that everything could be sorted out simply by talking. It's always the rich people's fault.
A sequel ! Now !
The opening credits are brilliant, aren't they ?
The only downside : I hate Radiohead, I cannot stand them, I don't want to hear them. Go away.
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A gripping psychological thriller, albeit a bit slow. The scenes with the Sino-Korean thugs were unnecessary. But the way everything is resolved works well. The clash between two worlds. The reputation of some means more than the lives of others. And once again, we see how a manipulative partner becomes dangerous when confronted with their lies.
Hwang Se-in (with her resemblance to Kim Da-mi) really stands out.
Ep04: was that homophobic bit meant to be funny ? I didn’t get it...
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She's right, Stoics are lame. Get lost, Zeno of Citium !I've always seen this actress in supporting roles ; I don't mean to be mean, but it's easy to see why. (who am I to say this ?) With her porcelain skin and her mother-of-pearl face perched atop a mantis's neck, she's the only one we see on the screen, but she doesn't have a particularly wide range as an actress. In this case, we're not asking for much either. It's a light-hearted, lovely and cute romance. Ok, it touches on subjects like suicide, domestic violence and child abandonment... but at the end of the day, it's a feel-good, funny series. Yes...
A super-basic story and unbearable music. No real stakes : everything was fine, actually. Ideal for times of intense anxiety.
_The two teenagers competing for their grades are just too cute. They show more maturity than the adults.
_That little dog !
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How awesome when the hero says : "This is where the law stops... And I start... Sucker."Or maybe it was just some cheesy American guy wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night, I can't remember.
The premise of the series is good, but there are a lot of slow bits, far too many ! and a lot of repetition. I skipped loads of pointless scenes. As for the first two seasons, I don't think they're very well made or well-paced overall. And to be perfectly honest, Lee Je Hoon really isn't a very good actor. He has a likeable quality about him, yes, and I enjoy seeing him on screen, of course, but he acts poorly ; always overdoing it or not doing enough at all. And that's the case in his other roles that I've seen him in before.
The thing about this series and its seasons is that you can pause it at the end of each segment. Watch something else, then come back to it. That’s what it's designed for. So that's what I did. The overarching storylines add absolutely nothing. And it's a pleasure to catch up with this fine team of avengers. Always ready to take down the scum.
But at times, I could no longer indulge my lowest instincts for revenge. You have to know when to take a break. Especially since we always assume that criminals are driven by pure malice. They choose these cases for that reason, of course, but what about all those who are criminalised simply because they're trying to survive ? We don't see them and no one takes revenge on them ; that wouldn't fit with the spirit of the series.
We remain on the side of the victims, whose tormentors are set to get a taste of their own medicine.
The team is always one step ahead. Just when you think the protagonists are cornered, it turns out everything was planned from the start. At times, this is reassuring and comforting. Given my anxiety, I'll take it.
I get the feeling that every case is based on real events... People settle their scores here.
S01
_The part about videos uploaded to an adult website (filmed without the victim's knowledge) is discussed by Stephanie Soo in her podcast. The series even includes the boss who wants to kill chickens with a sword. (Yes, really) A boss who, in real life, apologised on camera by reciting a text he'd learnt by heart. Why ? Who helped catch him ? We'll never know. (Probably an employee...)
_Maria, the first victim the heroes come to the rescue of (and who returns in season 3), has her employers using her identity to take out insurance policies and launder money. It reminded me of that Chinese talent agency that used to do that. Their clients obviously have no idea. It happened to the sadly departed Yu Menglong (may he rest in peace); he was starving to death whilst his identity was being used to move colossal sums of money. (When Chinese celebrities are convicted of tax fraud, one can't help but wonder whether they themselves knew about it before the police arrested them and the courts convicted them...)
_The episodes about bullying at school, the same thing happened to me. Two bullies were waiting in my living room ; they were chatting to my mum as if they were my friends. Seeing them when I got home was really hard. You don't feel safe anywhere. I still tremble when I think back on it. I can easily imagine that these episodes are based on a real-life incident.
S02
_The bit about phone scams and people being held captive abroad: there’s also a Korean film on that subject. Citizen of a Kind (2024). A decent little film.
_The section on the cult, how can you not think of the JMS Church ? Not treated at all here as it has in Save Me. An extraordinarily intelligent series that perfectly captures the grip of religion. Watch Save Me !
_BlackSun, I don't think I need to go into detail. When the team started taking an interest in the club, I was pleased, even though they were throwing humour at such a serious matter. But actually, it's a good thing the sense of comedy is there, as it makes it bearable. With the courts unwilling to do anything, and the police equally unwilling as they're completely involved, the K-dramas are taking it upon themselves to punish them… a very small consolation for the many victims whose lives have been destroyed.
S03
_The Japan storyline isn't exactly gripping. I'd already watched season 1 of Tokyo Vice, and it wasn't great, so I'm not particularly excited about this "crossover".
_Ep.04, music from Paprika, correct ? That bit about the submerged cars wasn't very interesting.
_The section on the idol agency is by far the best. Sadly, all too many real-life stories fit the bill. They recruit very young women (or men), control every aspect of their lives, separates them from the world outside, shape their minds and bodies ; how on earth could that possibly go well ? Exploitation in its most basic form : making people believe that working hard to line the pockets of the rich is a privilege. "She's an idol, she can't say anything to anyone"
(Kang Na Eon is excellent as the tyrannical, manipulative manager. She reminds me of the one in the documentary about Katseye)
Go, Elements ! or not. Whatever.
_The episodes about fake adverts that turn into harassment, there's a Korean film on the same theme : Don't Buy the Seller. What a living hell. Absolute nightmare.
_On the island, I thought it was going to be about AHAE, but actually it wasn't. The whole phase of exploring the place works well ; you wonder what mystery awaits them. And the Rainbow taxis that waste the scammers' time were both funny and satisfying.
_The latest investigation involving the army… I hate the army. A profoundly disgusting institution that destroys even its most ardent defenders. Here's the proof. What's more, South Korea has a very dark history of people being killed on charges of communism, whether true or false. To justify its existence, the authorities see threats everywhere, and if they can't find any, they make them up.
"Unity !" behind the guys with guns, I guess.
_No ! I'll NEVER buy your "Kopiko" ! If I want coffee, I'll make it my-self.
_Why is the OST synthpop ?
Ready for a season 4, comrades.
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This review may contain spoilers
There will be neither forgiveness nor glory.
"There will be neither forgiveness nor glory."Forgiveness can mean many things. And it is telling that the Pie Jesu Domine from Fauré's Requiem is the last thing we hear in the final episode, as the two protagonists enter the prison. From a Christian perspective, it means entrusting oneself to God and choosing to accept things as they are. "Lord, forgive those who have offended us." Mortal justice would serve no purpose. That kind of forgiveness does not grant absolution. A loophole that can sometimes save lives… Or impose silence and impunity, depending on who offers it. The heroine chooses neither option. She will take her revenge. They will pay for it, just like in that first scene at the motorway checkpoint.
It's exhausting to stay angry. A destructive emotion. It feeds on itself and needs to be fed. You mustn't lose focus and must keep in mind the source of that inner rage. But at times we allow ourselves joy because we're entitled to it ; those moments prove that we're alive... How many days does that add up to in total ? Not many, no doubt. Revenge doesn't change the past and we have a lot to lose, of course, but what about someone who has already lost everything ? The truth is that harassment seeps into the flesh and revenge destroys everything. The two are completely unrelated.
Not understanding it means you're in luck.
An ideal role for Song Hye-kyo, who had just learnt of her divorce from the press whilst she was in China. Her cowardly husband is forcing her to make this choice in public. A rather disgraceful attitude.
"I am not looking for a prince, but for an executioner who will join me in my dance of sacrifice"
I've read that the bullying aspect was exaggerated and too violent. But the (talented) screenwriter drew on a true story. Those wealthy young people who brutalised, confined, burned and SAed a disadvantaged pupil at their school : it really did happen, as the first episode shows. The school, the doctors and the police failed to defend the victim and instead protected the perpetrators.
(Seeing Shin Ye-eun as a sadistic villain wasn't something I expected at all, and her cruel smile is truly cold-blooded)
"Why do poor people believe that good always triumphs ?"
The mere mention of Kim Eun-Sook's name in the credits usually suffices to make you want to watch it. The story unfolds brilliantly, with each element falling into place according to its own logic. And the plot builds tension skillfully, knowing exactly how to show rather than tell, and then confirm without imposing. Exceptional.
I absolutely love the way the protagonist doesn't even try to make these privileged pieces of [redacted] feel guilty. They don't understand what she wants. Simply unthinkable to these people that anyone wouldn't want to make them confess their crimes or squeeze money out of them. And they feel no guilt whatsoever, so it becomes unbearable in their minds. Their "enemy" doesn't think like them ; that is the worst torture they could face. "When one has the intelligence to understand, one has the sense not to ask", wrote Balzac. They will ask, take offence, drive themselves mad, turn on one another, but they will never have the intelligence to understand. Too used to seeing things work out for them. How could it be otherwise ?
These wealthy families inflict violence on others and on themselves. That is simply what Dong-eun, their victim, exploits. Their world is violent ; to survive, they must be violent, to stay at the top of the hill of wealth. People underestimate the violence of the rich. Consequently, revenge isn't even particularly satisfying ; it is simply a continuation of this oppressive logic. Dong-eun derives no satisfaction from it. A clever narrative choice. Very clever. No doubt the reason why some people find the series disappointing or boring ? I, for one, find it fascinating.
The music remains understated for the most part. Bowed strings, violin harmonics, a shift from one chord to another with a pad added. At times it becomes lyrical, with strings and a piano taking centre stage. Kim Joon-seok and Jeong Se-rin do a fine job.
_Sa-ra, the painter, her paintings are reminiscent of Olivier Debré’s. Clearly beautiful.
_The alcoholic mother sent to a psychiatric hospital... I’m not a fan.
_A fine performance by Lim Ji-Yeon ! you almost feel sorry for her character whilst hating her.
_Yum Hye-ran, always in roles as mothers having a rough time on this earth.
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This review may contain spoilers
"I don't believe in the law any more than you do.And you're saying that to a prosecutor ?"
An illustration of how the law criminalizes the poor and does not punish the rich. The justice system protects those who created it by upholding the social order. You can't win a game when you didn't write the rules.
The story manages to stay interesting even though, at its core, they're really just a bunch of scoundrels playing the stock market... But what really caught my interest was its moral dimension, without being preachy.
They say people have to take responsibility for their choices, that's what the former prosecutor says. She has the luxury of being able to resign. When you don't face irreversible consequences, you can indeed allow yourself to take responsibility for your choices. But regarding Eun Yong's friend (who, for his part, remains in the service of loan sharks), it's made clear that if he'd had the chance to meet good people with the means to support him in life, he wouldn't be in this situation. It's refreshing to see this nuance. And to see that a person addicted to substances isn't held responsible for their misfortune. (No drug phobia, please.)
Overall, the series aims to portray the gray areas of the characters in a relatively neutral light. As a result, characters shift from enemies to allies without any lingering animosity, that's just how this society works. Our employers will never be our friends. The law will never be on our side.
I just think it's a shame that, in the end, it turns into a game of cat-and-mouse. The hero always manages to stay one step ahead. We know nothing can stop him, so it loses its impact. It pretty much undermines part of the amoral narrative that had been so compelling up to that point.
Strangely enough, the flashbacks add something and give the characters more depth. In the final third, they disappear, along with some of the characters, for that matter. The brother and sister share a beautiful, tender, and affectionate bond as they struggle through the vicissitudes of life. Sometimes you have to work in less-than-glorious places to support your loved ones. I like that it doesnt wallow in these people's misfortune. And I wish the series had focused more on that rather than revenge.
The power struggles among prosecutors are quite ruthless. It seems quite realistic in a world as corrupt as the justice system. The antagonist prosecutor, who brings down someone just as corrupt as himself, is also in an unbearable situation from which he tries to escape. The law serves the powerful, and those who are even more powerful.
Life in prison involves brutal, indiscriminate violence in stark contrast to the civilized, bourgeois violence of the corridors of power. The creators of this K-drama do a good job of portraying class struggles. It's right there in the title : money and power.
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