Great promise with bad execuation

The idea of this film was very promising and attention-grabbing, especially for lovers of action films and thrillers (for me!). However, the execution and direction of this film just weren't satisfying enough.

In the beginning of the story, I was already doubtful after seeing the sauna scene - "Carter", a single man with no memory, manages to kill over 20 (probably 30+) men, all with knives and other kinds of weapons, basically single-handedly and without a scratch. Even the best-trained killers wouldn't be that capable. The opening already tells you how the story will go. The action scenes are way too unrealistic, almost fantasy-like. For a film that's classified as an action thriller, that's not so good.

The one-scene one-cut technique used during the camera work was nice and refreshing at the beginning but later on became frustrating. A lot of "empty" scenes showing empty rooms, the underneath of a car etc...just absolutely unnecessary scenes.

The non-Korean actors ruined the show for me. Their acting was simply bad, very amateur-like and mediocre.

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Wasted potential

I was absolutely whipped for this drama when it first started. The chemistry between the FL and ML was terrific. I used to look forward to new episodes. However, I wasn't a fan when the ML and FL started dating and their personalities changed a lot. ML, who was known for his cold gaze and strict behavior suddenly acted like a schoolboy. I would've been happier if their dating was written differently...more subtle changes rather than throwing it all the at viewer's face.

Another thing I don't understand is the recent trend of inserting murder mystery and/or crime into a storyline. It felt out of place and absolutely unnecessary, especially for episodes 11 and 12. The story would've be so good if it was 'just' an office romance with a sparkle of supernatural. The last two episodes made me feel like I was watching a completely different drama.

I still liked the drama as a whole but the more episodes I watched, the more my interest decreased. The writing had a lot of potential in the early stages but somewhere around episode 7, it started to go downhill. Overall, I hate to say it's an okay drama. The ending felt rushed and could've been executed better.

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Story like an onion

The drama started off strong but after a few episodes, it was getting too boring and long. The attempt at melodrama with excessive use of sad songs and long shots of crying/sad people started to be irritating towards the end.

The plot was too simple for a 16-episode drama. 12 episodes would be sufficient enough. There were episodes that were so unnecessary I can't even remember them. Too many side stories and boring dialogues just to make a 16-episode drama. Like an onion, a simple plot idea wrapped in too many layers to make it into a standard-length drama.

The premise and idea were good but executed poorly in terms of twists and turns. The melodramatic attempt became irritating. The story got boring not even halfway through, a lot of the main characters' decisions didn't make sense (weren't rational) and were made only to prolong the story. However, I did find Gye Hoon's relationship with Da Hyun rather adorable. Both leads did a great job portraying their characters.

Overall, it's an okay drama. The story gets boring around halfway through and it's average but watchable.

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Short but sufficient

Mixing a murder mystery with Lee Kwang Soo might be a great idea! The drama itself is short but every scene adds to the plot and ensures you will never be bored. Lee Kwang Soo's acting and chemistry with Kim Seol Hyun was absolutely amazing. Lee Kwang Soo's performance in the finale was absolutely phenomenal! You could truly feel Dae Sung's despair as Yul was taken and how much he cares for that little girl. You would have guessed the drama will be a comedy considering that is what Kwang Soo is known for but his acting really showed through this show.

Another thing that will capture the viewer is the constant suspicion that keeps jumping from one suspect to another. At the moment you will feel like you know who the killer is, another lead shows up and changes the direction.

I loved this drama very much. It not only showcased that Kwang Soo is capable of taking on a more serious role but tackled the topic of domestic violence (both parent-child and husband-wife). The drama is short, about 8 hours long and will not keep you bored. Highly recommend!

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Cold delivery and predictable ending

I will start by saying this: Shin Sung Rok as Jayden Lee carried the whole drama from the beginning to the end. So Ji Sub did a decent job. However, his delivery felt too cold and emotionless most of the time. While his expressions showed a little of his character, the tone and delivery of his line were the same throughout the whole series and in the end, it started to be annoying. I couldn't connect at all with a character that was adamant about taking down a medical center and its chairman but didn't show much character.

The FL was annoying. For a prosecutor, she felt too emotional and overly dramatic with constantly spilling the ML's plans to the enemy and then was surprised when the enemy was a step ahead. The romance between her and So Ji Sub (the ML) was so little that it wouldn't make a difference if there was no romance at all. It also seemed absolutely unnecessary for the plot to continue their romance (or non-existent romance) after the five-year-jump.

Overall, the show felt overly dramatic, especially the entrances to the courtroom. The finale was kind of predictable. The ML's and FL's acting (So Ji Sub and Im Soo Hyang) was average compared to other actors like Shin Sung Rok, Lee Kyung Young, Kim Tae Gyum and Woo Hyun Joo.

The drama is decent. Not too great and mind-blowing but not boring either.

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Why??

Too prolonged with boring and old plot twists
Usually, I am someone who prefers long, 16-episode dramas but this one felt too long for my personal liking. The romance in this was absolutely unnecessary and did not feel genuine. The romanticizing of the teacher/student relationship with a huge age gap was too much. The speed at which the ML and FL got together was too fast and during the whole drama, it did not even seem that the main leads were in love. It would be better without the romance.

Also, the story got boring pretty fast. The first half of the drama felt okay (except for the romance) but the more episodes aired, the more boring it got. The script was poorly written. The main mystery of who killed Chan's sister and why was too simple for revenge and politics-oriented drama. The whole plot/story could have easily been told in 10 to 12 episodes. This drama brings nothing new, it hardly keeps the viewer entertained.

It was a huge let-down for me.

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Almost nonexistent plot line, basically just sex

*tw: rape, abuse, sex talk*

The acting was, without a doubt, absolutely amazing. Especially Bible (Vegas) and Build (Pete) as well as Apo (Porsche) delivered outstanding performances. As someone who didn’t read the book or saw the film, I was going into this completely blind and oblivious.

I didn’t like the toxicity in every relationship. The relationship I couldn’t stand at all was Kinn and Porsche. The writers glamorized rape, mental abuse and physical abuse as if it was a normal relationship. Kinn mentally abused Porsche throughout the whole series, gaslit him and stabbed him in the back multiple times.

I’m not saying Vegas and Pete’s relationship was a good one but it was honest and open. Definitely more enjoyable to watch than the main couple.

In the end, I don’t even recall WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT. In the beginning, there seemed to be a storyline but the more the show progressed, the more it was focus on sex and less on an actual story/plot.

If you want a BL version of 365 Days with a tint of fifty shades, go for it, but if you’re looking for a nice and action packed mafia romance with a good and watchable plot, this show is not for you.

Would give 7/10 but just for the performances of actors (if I were to review just the plot line, it’d be 4/10).

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Is it better than the original?

As someone who watched and loved the original Money Heist (La Casa De Papel), this review will be based on both similarities and differences between the two.

The beginning of the series, Tokyo's backstory, is captivating and original yet takes elements from the Spanish (og) version. It was nice to see the screenwriters take on a more Korean style while sticking to the original story. It was fast-paced and not much of the story before the heist was shown which was slightly different from the original series but it's understandable considering the writers tried to squeeze as much of the original story for the first heist in 12 episodes (as the original version had 23 episodes meant for the first heist).

I do wish the remake showed a more original and unique approach as the show was mostly very similar to identical to the original.

The acting was, in my honest opinion, average. There were moments and actors that I adored like Park Hae Soo as Berlin or Lee Joo Bin as Yun Mi Seon (OG Monica/Stockholm) and her chemistry with Kim Hi Joon aka Denver. However, the acting didn't exceed my expectations. I still enjoyed the first half of the show that aired so far.

The cinematography and directing style was something that I truly enjoyed. The shots weren't necessarily long (most of the time) and the brightness and coloring of the show were pretty to watch.

In the end, I will say that the original version is better than this remake but it still is enjoyable to watch.

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Promising start failed to carry on

The first few episodes seemed promising. Na In Woo was fun to watch and Seohyun's cute behavior while playing Seul Bi complimented each other. However, soon after its start, the show became stale and boring. The plot felt stuck when Seon Min Joon kept looking for Seul Bi and after finding her, he decided not to forcefully take her back but instead let her live with Soo Kwang (Na In Woo). This storyline kept on going until it became boring. The action picked up in later episodes (I'd say ep 13/14).

I can't even say what exactly the drama was about as its plot seemed to be extremely slow, almost frozen over the middle of the drama. To me, this drama isn't worth it unless you are a fan of someone from the cast.

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Very well made and unique series.

A man working as a courier who will do everything except murder is given the task of finding out detailed information about the reporter whom he will eventually find out that they have a common past. This is probably Ji Chang Wook's most versatile work as an actor. Screenwriter Song Ji Na was able to beautifully combine humor and action and capture realistically evolving relationships between the main cast. The plot didn't drag on unnecessarily either and its occasional complexity managed to attract the attention of the viewer. I also have to praise the action scenes - they didn't seem to be too over the top, and they looked realistic (in my opinion) which is often not the case with Korean dramas. The series was pleasant to me, given the fact that the show aired in 2014 and even now, in 2022, the show remains unique with it's originality.

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Chaotic, slightly problematic but perfect

One of the best 2022 dramas. The cast was perfect. I loved how this romcom was filled with multiple love stories and more than one storyline (the focus wasn't only on the ML & FL's story) so you were never bored. All the friendships were super sweet and genuine, the whole cast fit perfectly together.

Yes, the first two episodes had problematic themes with racist aspects. The show (writer) did reference Africa as a country and it was brought up occasionally during the whole show. HOWEVER, it didn't affect the storyline at all and was talked about very rarely. I do agree that there was no need to reference Africa as such or do at least a minimal effort and chose one African country. They did reference Korea as a state so they should do it with an African state as well. I did find that rather problematic. After the first two episodes, it got so much better.

If we look past the Africa thing, the show was really light-hearted and funny. Great humor that didn't feel forced at all. A big plus for all the healthy relationships. The ending was very sweet and beautifully finished the story.I do highly recommend this drama!

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Unique and absolutely the best

This show is a must-see! From the chemistry between Cha Woong (the ML) and Seul Hae (the FL) to the absolutely gorgeous friendship between Cha Woong and his ghost employees who never stop roasting their boss. Thanks to that, the show is absolutely hilarious with beautiful aesthetics. The last two episodes (especially episode 15) were so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The finale, overall story, and the graphics of the last episode were top tier.

While watching, we got to see how past lives affect the lives now, as the drama showed Cha Woong's and Seul Hae's past relationship from 2 00 years ago. The plot was written very nicely and the flow didn't feel too rushed or out of place. The transition between only being able to see ghosts into a more supernatural plot looked natural. Great friendship-oriented drama. It's definitely a 10/10.

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A Hollywood level Korean must-see film

Ma Dong Seok will never disappoint. From the very beginning, the film engulfs you, especially Dong Seok, as a cruel gangster, attracts the viewer. The action scenes were brilliantly filmed. The director and the cinematographer evidently played around with different styles and angles while filming which had a positive effect on the overall quality. I liked the idea of collaboration between a gangster and semi-rogue detective to catch the killer. The idea was great and well done. I'd say it's one of the Korean action "classics" and wouldn't be scared to say it was of Hollywood quality. I definitely recommend this film, especially to action lovers.

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