An eye for an eye will make the world blind and turn us into the monsters we are trying to punish.

The writer has a strong concept for a revenge story, focusing on how the pursuit of revenge impacts those around the characters, rather than just the perpetrator and the victims. However, while the ideas are solid, the execution falls short in key areas such as plot development, editing, and direction. The pacing is slow and predictable, with too many unnecessary flashbacks and drawn-out scenes that overemphasize the melodrama. Important details that should have been revealed later are given away too soon, undermining the mystery of the male lead and making his revenge seem shallow, while excusing the female lead's motives. This reduces the characters to clear-cut villain and hero roles, rather than allowing for more complex, morally ambiguous portrayals. The missed opportunity for deeper layers of complexity and tension could have made the story far more compelling for audiences to dissect. The plot holes are also quite glaring, especially given that the male lead is portrayed as intelligent and manipulative, with ample connections and resources, yet he only pieces together certain facts much later—while the female lead relies on a quick web search and a contact with a reporter to uncover them.

Despite a strong story that suffered from poor execution, the cast delivered stellar performances.

1st Half: Dominated by Kim Nam Joo, whose portrayal of grief is hauntingly painful yet profoundly raw. Special mention goes to Kang Ae Sim, whose powerful depiction of a kind convict with a complex backstory set a crucial dramatic tone for the drama, highlighting how revenge can affect others.

2nd Half: I’m genuinely surprised by how Cha Eun Woo took over the second half of the show. For the first time, I felt like I was seeing his character, not just the actor himself. While he may not have been as strong in earlier roles, I admire his commitment to improvement. He consistently chooses roles that challenge him, rather than just opting for what’s popular among actors his age. His mature performance in this drama truly stole the scene; he portrayed sorrow and pain so physically that you could feel it shaking his whole body. Special mention goes to Won Mi Kyung for being the heart of the drama.

If Kim Nam Joo portrayed her grief with subdued, suppressed raw emotions that eventually burst into flames, Cha Eun Woo depicted his grief with intense, explosive anger and desperation that ultimately fizzled into a sorrowful sense of helplessness and hopelessness. When they are together, they create a compelling dynamic that both balances and challenges each other. Their conflicts and disagreements become a catalyst for their personal growth and mutual inspiration. In this way, the writing seems to get it right.

Highly recommended if you don't mind diving into heavier topics.