fruitless
Los Angeles
An Interesting Cross-Genre Concept Executed Well
I'm alone on an empty street.
The sun is shining brightly.
The clock which is never wrong says it's midnight.
I wonder, is it day or night?
This recurring line (copied NOT verbatim) really hooked me into the premise of this show. The real answer is revealed in the show and while it doesn't exactly translate to a true life lesson, it's interesting in its own way.
Let me begin by saying I LOVE crime/romance hybrids: Flower of Evil, *chef's kiss*, Come and Hug Me + Cruel City, *thumbs up*. This is why I couldn't help but be a little disappointed to find not so much external romance as internal romantic motivation; which, while still nice, is not what I expect from a romance tag.
Add in some fantasy/sci-fi elements, splashes of comedy, and you have all the makings of a drama tailored to my tastes, maybe yours too.
The story is interesting, paced well, and developed in ways that I didn't expect but still made sense. Many characters get their time to shine in different scenes without dragging the drama down.
The cast chemistry is strong throughout and I found myself particularly enjoying Seolhyun/Hye Won's character and journey. Nam Goong Min brings his trademark charisma to this role. His scenes with Lee Chung Ah/Jamie were particularly entertaining as characters who understood each other well.
A weakness or dislike for this drama would be the villains. There are a few and I never really found myself invested or interested in their motivations. They were generic, sometimes weak, but it is easily overlooked IMO because I don't consider the villains, or their POV, to be necessary here. They exist as a set-up, a vehicle for the conflict, and I'm accepting of that. Would it be more intriguing if they weren't this way? Of course, but they're not so I'm moving on.
That is not to say the villain roles were not played well; on the contrary, there were many standout performances, notably Ahn Shi Ha/Hyun Hui/Mad Scientist. I enjoyed every terrifying moment she was on screen.
If you're looking for a well-executed crime thriller from beginning to end with bits of romance feels on the side, definitely give this a try. Thank you!
The sun is shining brightly.
The clock which is never wrong says it's midnight.
I wonder, is it day or night?
This recurring line (copied NOT verbatim) really hooked me into the premise of this show. The real answer is revealed in the show and while it doesn't exactly translate to a true life lesson, it's interesting in its own way.
Let me begin by saying I LOVE crime/romance hybrids: Flower of Evil, *chef's kiss*, Come and Hug Me + Cruel City, *thumbs up*. This is why I couldn't help but be a little disappointed to find not so much external romance as internal romantic motivation; which, while still nice, is not what I expect from a romance tag.
Add in some fantasy/sci-fi elements, splashes of comedy, and you have all the makings of a drama tailored to my tastes, maybe yours too.
The story is interesting, paced well, and developed in ways that I didn't expect but still made sense. Many characters get their time to shine in different scenes without dragging the drama down.
The cast chemistry is strong throughout and I found myself particularly enjoying Seolhyun/Hye Won's character and journey. Nam Goong Min brings his trademark charisma to this role. His scenes with Lee Chung Ah/Jamie were particularly entertaining as characters who understood each other well.
A weakness or dislike for this drama would be the villains. There are a few and I never really found myself invested or interested in their motivations. They were generic, sometimes weak, but it is easily overlooked IMO because I don't consider the villains, or their POV, to be necessary here. They exist as a set-up, a vehicle for the conflict, and I'm accepting of that. Would it be more intriguing if they weren't this way? Of course, but they're not so I'm moving on.
That is not to say the villain roles were not played well; on the contrary, there were many standout performances, notably Ahn Shi Ha/Hyun Hui/Mad Scientist. I enjoyed every terrifying moment she was on screen.
If you're looking for a well-executed crime thriller from beginning to end with bits of romance feels on the side, definitely give this a try. Thank you!
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