Don't expect heart-racing thrills

I would expect a heist show to be fast-paced, high-tension, and high-energy. But this was strangely flat, slow and pretty dull. Heist movies and shows need one of two things to succeed: a tight, well-structured plot, or complex and rich characters. This tried to have both but ultimately had neither. There were interesting moments here and there, particularly towards the end. But the characters were too thin and the plot was too loose to make this an engaging watch. But since it's only 6 episodes, it's a pretty quick binge (supposedly there is going to be a part 2 with 6 more episodes, but I'm not sure if/when that will come out).

Acting-wise, Kim Yunjin is definitely the standout. The rest were pretty average. Park Haesoo's Berlin is probably the most interesting of the heist crew, but it feels like they could have gone in harder on his (and everyone else's character).

The setting (reunified Korea) is probably meant to give the show a different spin. But I feel like they didn't make full enough use of it. They could definitely have exploited the tensions between a newly reunified North and South Korea a lot more. Even things like tensions within the negotiating team could have been used to create a lot more tension.

There was also not much soundtrack or BGM in this. Music is usually quite an important part of this type of movie, as it can really heighten the mood. But it was basically non-existent here. It's almost like they forgot.

This wasn't a bad show. It's an okay watch if you have some time and don't want to get too attached to a drama. But given the nature of the source material and the strong cast of actors, it was quite disappointing.

Read More

Good premise that runs out of steam

I like morally grey protagonists and I was really excited to see Lee Dong Wook take on this role, especially after his stellar performance in Strangers From Hell. The first few episodes didn't disappoint. The story of a corrupt (but not evil) detective being forced down a more righteous path by his own split personality was an original one. However, about halfway through the drama transitioned into a typical "main character uncovers mystery from his own past" type thing which has been done to death. A lot of things were also left unexplained. While I'm ok with having some things left ambiguous, you at least have to explain enough that the story makes sense. Unfortunately, especially in the last 2-3 episodes, there was a lot left out. So while the premise was interesting, the execution didn't live up to the potential of the story.

There were some positives: The acting was pretty good from all involved. There were a few funny moments. Great OST. I liked the more lighthearted tone of it.

Overall, this would probably make a pretty good weekend binge, provided you don't think too deeply about it. On the whole though, I have to say I was slightly let down by this drama.

Read More

A Slightly Bumpy Ride

TL;DR: This isn't a perfect movie. But you can easily overlook the questionable bits thanks to how well made it is. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours. It's what any film should aspire to be - entertaining. Just make sure you don't have a flight booked anytime soon!

The first 2/3s of this movie was great. Fast paced, thrilling and suspenseful action. However the last third of the movie was a bit over the top, with the story going into more of a melodrama territory.

Acting was great all around. Im Siwan especially was really, really good. Kim So Jin and Kim Nam Gil were also great.

The production value was top notch. The cinematography and sound design were really incredible. It really helped make the stakes seem a lot higher. It had that realism that I find lacking from a lot of Western movies (especially nowadays with heavy reliance on CGI). I'm sure CGI was used here too - but it was so seamless.

Overall, a really fun flick and a good theatre experience (I don't think this will have the same impact if you just watch it at home, especially because of the sound). Just go in and switch off your brain (really, don't think too much). You'll have fun!

Read More

Nothing to write home about

This drama had the beginnings of an interesting premise, but nothing much was done with it. There were too many different story threads, and so no one storyline was developed enough to be satisfying. Vigilante dramas are nothing new these days, and I don't think this one did enough to stand out.

Acting was generally okay, with Kim Hee Jun being far and away the best and most engaging performer of the cast.

Production-wise, there was some effort to create some interesting and quirky cinematography, but it didn't go far enough. It would have been better if the show could have sustained a unique visual style throughout rather than just in one off moments.

Overall, this is quite an entertaining watch if you have nothing to do over the weekend. But I don't think anything from this drama is going to stay with me for long.

Read More

Throw out your brain

To enjoy this drama, you must forget all knowledge and common sense about how police, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, gangsters, lawyers, prosecutors, and criminals behave. Once you have done that, you'll be able to enjoy an entertaining crime/action series with pretty slick production, fun performances, and (mostly) interesting stories.

This series works best in a case-of-the-week format. The individual mysteries are all quite well planned out and it's fun watching the characters solve them. These episodes are all fast-paced and fun to watch. However, when the show tries to do the corruption/gangster conspiracy storyline that seems to be compulsory in every crime drama, it fails. I am not a fan of these storylines, as they are usually pretty cookie-cutter and boring. These storylines can make for exciting dramas if done well. But that is not the case here. The conspiracy storyline seems half-baked and doesn't add anything to the drama. Fortunately it doesn't take up much screen time so it's not that big an issue in this season. Fingers crossed that they continue the episodic format in season 2.

My other gripe with this is that the drama focuses too much on the police, despite being billed as a story about the collaboration between paramedics, firefighters and cops. I hope next season the firefighters especially get more to do.

Acting wise, Kim Rae Won is the MVP. His character Jin Hogae is the biggest reason to keep watching this drama. He's funny, irreverent, and just a delight to watch. Since the firefighters don't get much screentime, Son Ho Jun is sadly underutilised. Hope to see more of him next season.

Overall, this drama is quite a good way to pass the time if you want an exciting watch that you don't have to think too much about. But if you like your dramas to be logical and not have any plotholes, this might not be the drama for you.

PS. One pet peeve I had is that there's way too many characters with unique surnames in this. How can there be so many people with double character surnames in one police/firefighting precinct??

Read More

This is not a love story

This is not a romance kdrama. This is a story of 4 people trying their best to find companionship in a world that is often too cold for them.

To be fair, I can see why people don't like this. The plot is very slow, the characters are quite downbeat and it doesn't seem like there's any point to watching this. People like watching kdramas to see leads get their big happy ending. But this drama is definitely one where it's more about the journey than the destination.

The main 4 characters you'll be taking the journey with are very complex, nuanced and realistic. They make bad decisions because people make bad decisions. They hold back their words and feelings because very often, it is hard to be brave and outspoken with someone you like. They get into relationships for the wrong reasons because that's what happens in the real world too. No human or relationship is perfect, and this drama reflects that.

If you want to watch this drama, you have to accept that you will be frustrated. You will be annoyed at the leads. You will wish things happened a little faster. I had all these feelings. But you also grow to understand them. You can see why they make the decisions they do, even if you don't like it. But just like you can't judge the decisions of a friend, you can't judge these characters' decisions either. You just have to let them make their mistakes and hope that they get their happy ending.

The 4 main actors did a fantastic job. They bring every facet of their character to life so vividly. And they're the main reason I stuck with it to the end. This drama has flaws for sure. It is slow and can become quite repetitive. But I liked it all the same, because it really is like a window to 4 human lives, in all their complexity and contradictions.

You'll like this if you enjoy dramas like My Mister or My Liberation Notes (though it isn't on the same level as those). If you're a traditional rom-com enjoyer, this isn't for you. There are no big gestures, dramatic plot twists or majestic words here. It's just 4 people doing everything they can to find someone they can be at peace with. If you want to see that journey, then watch this.

Read More

Great characters, okay story

I thought this drama was going to be a "case of the week" format where each episode would feature a different client of the two main characters. And I won't lie, I would have preferred it to be that way. I am not generally a fan of revenge plots because they always become too over the top. But this one was well-executed enough, without too much melodrama (although there was still quite a lot).

I'm still giving this series an 8 because of the two main leads. Their acting and chemistry was on fire, and it made the show a real joy to watch even when I wasn't 100% on board with the story. The side characters were also decent and the ending was fulfilling and realistic within the universe of the drama.

I hope there will be a season 2 with the case of the week format!

Read More

Good premise, rushed execution

As a rule, I prefer shorter dramas. My number 1 gripe with most K-Dramas is that they are just too long and bloated and eventually drag, especially in the middle. The recent trend towards 10 and 12 episode series is highly welcome as it makes for tighter stories overall. Unfortunately, Dr Brain is a case of the other extreme - what happens when K-Dramas are too short.

The premise of this drama was highly exciting for someone who likes science fiction and Lee Sun Kyun. However, this drama was just very rushed. They didn't explain a lot of things, and this really hampered the emotional impact of the storyline, especially the end. The relationships between the characters also changed abruptly without explanation. There were also, frankly, one too many illogical things that happened that make it hard to suspend your disbelief. I get that it's SF and I'm prepared to accept a few loose ends here and there, but some of the stuff that happened was just nonsensical.

Ultimately, it was still a good attempt at the SF genre. Great acting all around (except for the female cop, sorry), great production (you can tell this show had that Apple money behind it), and really good sound design. It's always nice to see K-dramas branch out, and I always prefer to see K-Dramas attempt something ambitious and fall short rather than play it safe and succeed at being boring. Give this a watch if you like slickly made dramas. As it's only 6 episodes, it makes for a good day's binge.

Read More