ACTING/CAST: Nice cast, they do a good decent job acting. BTW: I used the cast names as they are in the list. I don't know Chinese, Pinyin, or anything else.
MUSIC: There's a real cool song sung by Xin that I wish was translated. The video I watched had audio quality issues so I'm not really how to grade this.
REWATCH VALUE: Nah.
OVERALL: The best part of this series are the BL moments. The rest was rather boring. You might be tempted to watch the fan-edited clips that omit everything but the BL. It's not bad to do so but the boring bits do add overall to the story and explain the funky ending. The worse part about the BL is that it's all one-sided romantic love. Xin is "waiting" on Chu to fall in love with him (do people really do this?). It's true, Chu loves Xin but "not in that way." Super annoying. And to have to sit through 4.5 hours of it!? Xin deserved better than that. Oh yeah, the ending: it's not bad or good, just open ended, like a cliff-hanger. Nobody dies. It just...ends. This story is simply unfinished. Also apparently the first 8 episodes deal with Chu and Xin, the second 8 episodes are a different story/cast. I can't seem to find those though.
TL;DR: Well, if you want to watch a slow, one-sided, unrequited burn that ends abruptly, this is your ticket.
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Waste of the cast
When I first heard about the movie, I was pretty thrilled to see all of these actors in one place. Despite that, one of my favourite genres is horror. As a result, I was even more excited to watch it. However, I admit, my excitement was for nothing.I can't even explain how much potential this movie had/has. It has an excellent cast, an exciting story. Yet, the results were more than disappointing for me. Since the start of the movie, I had no idea what and why was happening. I had to go through some comments and reviews so I can understand what was happening. I feel like the writing was not it; They should've hired another writer.
Despite how boring the movie was, all of the actors did an excellent performance. I couldn't take my eyes off just because of them. I wish to see Kim Yoo Jung and Nam Da Reum working together again but in worth production.
Summary: I must say I do not recommend this movie. I believe that there are people who might like the movie. Nevertheless, this wasn't for me. According to me, this year's Netflix movies were kind of disappointing. I hope to see better productions by Netflix in the time!
Note: I am not trying to bash the hard work of the people who tried their best to make the movie. The review is based on my experience while watching the movie. Also, I apologize if any grammar mistakes appeared, English is not my first language :)
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On the one hand this movie is a really sweet, young love, romance story. I liked that a lot. It was so cute and both main characters did a very good job portraying their age and love for each other.
Now, on the other hand, the love and story seems incongruent to what is actually happening. Jenny is 15?Korean years? and she becomes pregnant. This is where I had the problem with the story. When it ended I really was left wondering what the point of the whole movie was.
The pregnancy situation was EXTREMELY UNREALISTIC,IMO.There were no consequences to becoming a teen parent. No moral, physical, social, etc. consequences. The girl didn't even get morning sickness or lose her flat stomach. Having a baby is a beautiful thing, but it is also difficult and a huge responsibility. The movie showed none of that. Everything was sweet, rainbows, and roses.From what I could see. There was really no conflict, and the little conflict there was, was not presented strongly enough.
Were they promoting teen pregnancy? Sex education?.IDK Even the sound track was very childish. There was even a scene were they show a video on what happens in an abortion that was very one sided. I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with abortion, just that the scene was presented in what in the USA is called, ProLife, kind of way.
Anyway, it was sweet, but the topic was handled in very unrealistically.
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How can i even review this marvelous story!
I had watched this drama with the title "THE ROSE IS POISONOUS" and totally got blowed away by the fantastic story and the two mainleads that totally put it on fire with their EXPLOSIVE chemistry! Its about redemption, survival and recovery. A quite cruel and heartbreaking story actually, what the poor heroine had to do to survive the hell she had endured for 10 years. Even the badass Male hero cried his heart out for her misery. Both of them had some Anti and villain characteristics that could be conisdered redflags-but they matched even more for that! The beautiful Male hero never wavered in his commitment and love for his heroine, every step of the freaking way!Was this review helpful to you?
"Happy of the End" : Toxic Bonds and Healing Journeys!
The heart of 'Happy of the End' is the turbulent life of the characters with a raw and poignant exploration of love, trauma and healing. It captures both the passionate life and shadowy corners where pain and beauty coexist.The series beautifully explores past trauma with their present struggles.
Chihiro is a man grappling with the aftermath of rejection both from his family because of his sexuality and haunted by the break up of his ex-boyfriend. His encounter with Keito, a charming yet very troubled figure marks the beginning of a relationship based on shared sufferings.
Chihiro is lonely and longing for home while Keito's backstory is a harrowing tale of abandonment and survival.
Somehow both of them became each other's refuge and mirror despite the chaos and trauma they were subjected to. Both the characters's journeys were heartbreaking but seeing them receive affection from each other was heartwarming.
The flashback scenes were powerful adding the layer as to why the characters are as they are. I liked the seamless transition plus the clear contrast between present and past. You can feel and know that both the lead characters need serious therapy but you still keep watching it for the rawness and athenticity.
Kaji was another character that I liked. Throughout he was such a good friend to first Kieto and then to Chihiro. The unconditional friendship and found family. <3
The series deals with serious themes like homophobia, child abuse, prostitution and animal abuse (Please read trigger warnings before starting this) faced by those living on the margins of society, it also speaks loudly about acceptance and capacity of love to heal even from the deepest wounds. This was dark and toxic but at the same time hopeful and happy. I know it doesn't make sense but at the end of it, it was actually 'happy of the end'.
However, it does feel rushed at times but that is due to the short run time. Maybe 2 more episodes would have justified the ending better and might have done better justice to this Art.
Overall, recommended if you're okay with dark themes, but please consider the trigger warnings. Again, be sure to read the TW before starting. It’s not all shining stars, but you can see the light throughout!
8.8/10
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Yes this is a seriously dark movie, and at times it had me feeling nauseated and extremely infuriated. But was any of that towards the script, author or the industry? No, for once it was out of empathy. This was absolutely horrible, and that's what it was trying to deliver, the worst parts of society. It was extremely immersive and acting was just so convincing that at the end, I had almost forgotten this wasn't a work of fiction. The blood effects and other props were on point as well.
This movie absolutely killed me inside, to project yourself into the protagonist or just empathize with her was a purely painful experience -- but it felt so very real and that's what mattered. The rape scenes weren't excessive, and I liked that, in the sense that the development team wasn't trying to capitalize on cheap semi-nude shots like almost every movie similar to this -- which usually just feels like insult to injury.
I honestly cannot think of a better actress for the role, the subtle displays of dismay, suffering and unconditional love from her.
Cinematography was on point as well but at times it felt inconsistent, although the overall quality was still good. Fight scenes had room for improvement, and South Korea's attitude towards weapons had this movie switching between conventional and unconventional weaponry and fight scenes.
The music was absolutely perfect, resonated very well with the highs and lows of the movie and delivered heartbreaking moments very well.
You're not going to feel happy watching this and you're not supposed to. Don't blame the movie for how you feel, but blame yourself for not knowing what to expect.
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“Violent delights have violent ends”
Emerging from the darkness, covered in brutality, comes the King of Pigs and whispers “There is no creature in the world more cruel than human being”. And just like this, it haunts you. It makes sure that watching this drama will be something you won’t forget anytime soon.‘The King of Pigs’ is a psychological thriller drama that is, as already implied, not for the light-hearted. It contains a lot of violent, gore and psychologically heavy scenes which make it almost unbearable to watch. Prepare yourself, because what you are about to watch is a very rough ride.
The story
The drama’s story is based on a 93 minutes animation film ‘The King of Pigs’ by Yeon Sang Ho which is also based on a true story. As I’ve watched the animation film too, I can say that the drama is lightly based on it. Actually, it feels like the drama took the original story, evolved it and ended up making its own and unique story. Thus, there is no point in comparing them.
Without giving away the plot, the story deals with the trauma caused by intra-school violence and how it affects the victim and the perpetrator. Specifically, the story explores a series of events of school violence which took place 20 years ago and the results of these events in the present.
The uniqueness of the story is that it doesn’t refer to these events passively, as something that happened in the past, but as something that started in the past and is still progressing. In other words, the story emphasizes on the dynamic nature of these events and successfully manages to show how greatly the victims were stigmatized and how even the perpetrators were affected by it.
The story denotes that an act of violence is not a simple act. It’s an act which opens the Pandora's box and destroys everyone involved without an exception, because an action always provokes a greater reaction. Thus, in the end, “these violent delights” can only “have violent ends”.
Moving on to the structure, the story has great coherence. As the story is dealing with trauma, it has many flashbacks that interrupt the present story. The transitions from the present to the past were very meticulously made so they don’t end up as tedious flashbacks but on the other hand, they help the story develop and escalate making the story impactful.
The story’s pace can’t be called fact paced because the events don’t unfold quickly yet, as the episodes are very tense, it can’t be called slow paced either. What is certain, is that the drama pace is balanced and manages to keep your attention until the very end.
Lastly, it has to be noted that the story isn’t perfect. In fact, it has some minor flaws as some illogical things occur. Fortunately, they don’t affect the general plot and also, they can easily be ignored or pass unnoticed by the audience.
The production
From my point of view, the production of the drama is almost flawless. ‘The King of Pigs’ is one of the most well-made and well-executed dramas I've ever watched. The directing is on point and manages to perfectly render the dark tone of the story’s theme. The drama consists of beautiful frames, great scene transitions and camera angles which combined with the dark color palette, make the drama visually stunning. The drama’s soundtrack is the cherry on top, as it works as the last stimulus which makes you shudder and frequents you emotionally with the moment.
As far as the acting is concerned, every actor did a pretty good and decent job as every emotion was delivered with great success, the interpretations felt very realistic to the point that the scenes became more traumatic and tense. Both Kim Dong Wook and Kim Sung Gyu had great chemistry and were great in their roles. It has to be mentioned though, that the young actors, especially Choi Hyun Jin, Sim Hyun Seo and Lee Chan Yoo, stole the show.
Conclusion
‘The King of Pigs’ is technically speaking, a very decent drama which deals with a very sensitive and heavy theme. Thus, it is a drama you can’t watch easily just for enjoyment and also, it may not be to everyone’s liking. If you are a thriller lover, I believe that you should give ‘The King of Pigs’ a try. For me, ‘The King of Pigs’ is a very impactful and unique drama that really deserved my time.
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This review may contain spoilers
A decent drama
I have mixed feelings on this drama to be honest. While I enjoyed some aspects of the show, there was also a lot that I didn’t.I will start with what I enjoyed. I absolutely loved Mijoo and Kangho’s relationship, they were truly the best part of this show for me. I really liked the fact that they actually acted like a couple and did miscellaneous and mundane things that an established couple would do. As much as I love kdramas for the build up to relationships, they often lack any substance afterwards or throw about 15 problems the couple’s way to keep them apart. Which, after 12 episodes (at least), of waiting for a couple to be together can be quite tiresome. This made Kangho & Mijoo such a breath of fresh air, because even when they weren’t together, the longing they both had for each other and the life they could have was very apparent.
The acting in this show was also fantastic! Not that I expected any less from the three leads. I don’t think this show would’ve been as successful if the actors who portrayed the main characters were not who they were. Also shout out to little kids who played the twins! They were adorable and hilarious and I am impressed that they could act so well at such a young age.
I also thought the finale for this show wrapped everything up nicely which definitely does not always happen with kdramas. Now, there are still some things that I did not enjoy or felt frustrated by in this show that kept me from giving it a higher rating.
First, Youngsoon. While I appreciate a complex character and like the fact that she wasn’t one-dimensional, I am left wondering what the writer wanted to portray from her character. It took up until the final few episodes for Youngsoon to admit any wrongdoing that she did to Kangho and when she did admit to it, the drama made us feel like she was doing it only because she loved Kangho. While I believe that Youngsoon loved Kangho very much, that doesn’t excuse her actions and rectify anything she had already done. Youngsoon also never seemed to grow as an individual in the show. I mean she was still blaming Mijoo for things out of her control in episode 12! Any time she would show any progress in her behavior, she would go back to doing the same thing not even 30 minutes later! I just don’t know what the writer’s ultimate goal was with Youngsoon’s character. This is also no hate against Ra Miran, she did an excellent job with what she was given, it’s just the character she portrayed that I struggle with.
Also, the side characters. I really did not care about any of them for the majority of the show. None of them really stood out to me or had interesting depth to them whatsoever. They were kind of just…there, in my opinion. I did warm up to Sam-sik by the end of the show but I don’t know if that was due to me liking the character or liking the actor who plays him. Also, the two henchmen turned farmers were fun, but that was about it.
Overall, I did enjoy this show despite my grievances and looked forward to it every week. It’s not one of my favorites but I don’t think I wasted my time on it either. Mainly due to Kangho, Mijoo, and the twins lol.
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could have been amazing...
Overall: I would have given it an 8 if they had ended this at ep 6, but I deducted a half point for ep 7. It could have been poignant with exploring more serious topics, but there were several missteps. Aired on Viki and GagaOOLala (depending on your country).Content Warnings: self harm, harassment/bullying, slaps, held against will, trauma/grief, vomiting, another major content warning that happens off screen in the past
What I Liked
- intro with the music and the animation/style of it
- archery integration and Da Yeol's plotline related to it was well done
- happy Tae Hyun told off his aunt but wanted to see more resolution
- Da Yeol's actions in episode 6/standing up for himself
- production value (but the too light make up and red eyeliner was not for me)
Room For Improvement
- struggled with their initial dynamic, it did get better though
- they tried to cover too much plot and as a result there was not enough resolution (aunt? dad? did Tae Hyun try to work on himself/go to therapy???)
- toilet humor and the comedy sound effects did not mesh well with the serious parts
- time jumps scream lazy writing to me, it should have been shorter and then not have episode 7 or saved that for a second season, speaking of....
- episode 7 was a huge letdown, these are 2 guys in their 20s, I think the production chickened out and catered to the minority of these idol actors' fans which was detrimental to the story/their characters, it felt so unrealistic that it took me out of the story
- the production also modified (unfortunately) that beginning scene in the nurses office from the source material (it was exactly what Da Yeol thought it was), it also made the "friend's" actions in the series kind of head scratching
- not clear how much time passed in the beginning episodes
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1STORY (No spoilers)
Aside from an initial round of confusion when watching your first run of the first 3-4 episodes, there is nothing further I can think of that really mars the perfection that exists for this drama - storywise.
And may I just say that even the initial confusion of the first 3-4 episodes which is mainly due to the large number of characters being introduced, and the fact that you are thrown literally right into the show without any prior setup of what's going on, no longer exists upon re-watching.
In fact, you will actually realise and appreciate just how intricate and how detailed the writer has been because lots of foreshadowing and information actually exists within the first 3-4 episodes which would have flown by your head upon a first watch, but which makes complete sense upon re-watching.
It really gives you a sense of respect for the writer who has clearly and thoroughly thought through how her story would flow, and has been diligent in embedding subtle but key information throughout the episodes so that as the series progresses towards the mid-way mark, those individual and seemingly disparate threads then come together to form a brilliant picture which then takes your breath away.
The story appears simple - a man who survived a tragedy returns to the capital 12 years later under a new identity to re-dress the horrific wrongs committed.
The execution of the story, however, is FAR from simple.
Like a grandmaster, this man kick-starts things into motion which will change and transform everything, and the way he does it is simply masterful and marvellous to watch.
The pacing of this show is neither fast nor agonisingly slow. The show takes its time to dwell on certain threads longer than others, which may come across slow and a little boring for some viewers, but patience is a virtue with this series and if you patiently keep on watching, it will become evident that the time spent on those disparate and seemingly unconnected threads will bear much fruit when things come together. You will find yourself marvelling at the level of care and craft that has gone into the storytelling, I promise you.
The best analogy I can give is that of a master sculptor working with a block of wood or ice. At first, all you see is a block. Then, he starts hewing and hacking at certain parts of the block and slowly, a rather vague shape is being formed. As you keep watching the sculptor at work, seeing how he starts to focus on first this section, then that section, the vague shape becomes more discernible and you're able to get a glimpse of the art he is producing. Keep watching and observing and you will see that what was once a block is starting to be transformed into a beautiful piece of artwork and at the end of it, as he puts on the finishing touches, the little carvings here and there, you then marvel to yourself at how amazing it is that he is able to visualise and produce such an outstanding piece of work from just a block of wood or ice.
Since there isn't a section that talks about the cinematography or the sets or the camera-work, I will mention it here.
The cinematography, the scale of the sets and the camera-work is just beautiful. I was informed by friends conversant with the chinese netizen community that some of the directors for the show were art/photography directors, which explains why almost each shot being framed can be screenshotted into a piece of art in itself with its colours and its composition. This makes the show an incredibly beautiful one to watch with every frame and shot a feast for the eyes.
The costumes and the sets were apparently incredibly faithful to the time period in which the show is set, down to the bronze teapots and hand warmers. Court etiquette and forms of greeting and respect were appropriate and in-line with the time period too and apparently the actors had been rigorously trained by experts so that their carriage, their conversation and their movements all conformed accurately and naturally.
A great deal of care and diligence had been put into producing the series and it shows.
ACTING/ CHARACTERS
The show being so large and sprawling with its cast of characters, there is insufficient time to dwell on the merits of each one of them. Suffice to say that each supporting character played their parts to perfection, nary a redundant character or scene in this series. Every conversation bears some significance or the other.
Another marvel is that, in most drama series, supporting characters, even those that pitch up for maybe just an episode or two, tend to been given short-shrift in terms of their characters or personalities. Not so here. There is hardly a one-dimensional or caricature personality here. All come across real and believably alive in this series whether they be a passing character, or an antagonist, or a protagonist.
This show is alive and full of layered, nuanced and complex characters whose motivations, goals and actions are believably real and understandable, if not sympathetic. You understand where they are coming from and why they behave the way they do as more about them gets unveiled. This is a brilliance of not only the writing, but also the acting of actors playing those characters, in being able to bring them so wonderfully alive and to come across amazingly real.
Spotlight on the main lead.
HU GE, playing the main protagonist of the series is simply outstanding in his subtle, layered and nuanced portrayal of his character, Lin Shu/ Mei Changsu/ Su Zhe - why does he have so many names? Please do watch to find out, and no, it is not confusing in the slightest. Powerhouse performance from Hu Ge who has to play a sickly, restrained and controlled man who, for good reasons, have to hide his true self and keep many secrets and cards close to his chest. His quiet and subtle responses to events and news which directly affect him but which he cannot allow to give him away is mesmerising to watch, and utterly heart-breaking to see. Simply stellar stuff which I've not been able to see the equal of since.
MUSIC
There is not a lot of soundtrack for this series. 3 songs with vocals, and all employed sparingly but impactfully throughout the series. Most of the series is carried by brilliant moments of silence and traditional chinese instrumentals which heighten the tension where it needs to be heightened, and gives poignancy to the scenes which require poignancy. Another masterpiece in music direction as nothing detracts from the scenes but only enhances. Beautiful.
RE-WATCH VALUE
Can i just say that this show is an absolute MUST for re-watching. Not only because it is just THAT GOOD, but also because of the level of intricate detail and storytelling that goes in it. A first watch will never really allow you to fully unpack and appreciate the masterpiece that you have just seen. Scenes, conversations, camera close-ups on objects that seem inconsequential, all of these which did not make too much sense upon a first watch will make complete sense upon a re-watch, causing you to marvel even more at this show.
Seriously, if you have time to watch episode after episode of some sub-par K, C or J-drama, why not spend that time re-watching Nirvana in Fire instead?
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Not worth a watch!
One of the worst BL'S I've ever seen! There was no real plot, the acting was subpar and it felt all over the place. Not really sure what this was. The kissing scenes were the only thing that looked realistic! The NC scenes were pretty bad; as if the actors were trying to force these scenes to look good, yet failing miserably. Where was the story behind this BL? I managed to get through the entire series somehow( dislike leaving things unfinished), yet I never should have started watching it in the first! It really was pretty awful.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Wasted talent
I won’t lie , the first 3 episodes got me OBSESSED. The acting was so good, the chemistry was chemistrying so hard and the guys were so GORGEOUS that I was wondering where those guys came from and why didn’t I know of them because they weren’t even rookies , they acted in more stuff that I thought. Ok, the plot was basic and cliché, true, the setting was a simple house and a beautiful pier and the budget was what they had in their wallets but despite all this I was so entertained with their interactions … And then the bitchy female villain showed up (gee, what a surprise) and everything turned into a melodramatic soap opera with OTT acting, teary eyes and intense feelings after only knowing each other for 4 days. The kid suddenly wasn’t sassy, bold and cheeky but rather a dummy led by the nose by that woman and although he was paid to have baldie’s back he was actually voluntarily chased away by that woman’s sob story. Meanwhile baldie was acting like a dramatic heroine in a South American telenovela, walking around all teary-eyed and sad while waiting for the kid to come back and at the same time trying to convince the fiancé ’ from hell to go back to hell and let him live happily ever after. From a 9 rating to a 6 in just 2 episodes. The kisses were decent but something was still missing. It also had a censured explicit beginning of a sex scene. I know how it sounds but trust me, it’s a thing. Like, they kiss and touch and start to undress and you’re there all tense waiting to see some skin . And when they finally remove the shirts suddenly there’s a tank top underneath. So , you see, this is what I call a censured explicit sex scene Chinese style hehe. The scene was still beautiful though and more than I expected from a Chinese show, however I still feel that this was a bit of a waste of acting talent on a subpar and way too short script.Did I mention how beautiful those men are?
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KBS Drama Special 2012: My Prettiest Moments
24 people found this review helpful
But I would definitely not mind watching this again. :)
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The script needed a red apple
Honestly for me, the only (and most) enjoyable part of this series was ragging on it in the comments with the other fans/prisoners of this show.Like I think they had pieces there to make a good series for me. But it just didn't happen. I'm totally fine with slow burn and build up and tension building, but this series was ridiculous. It was so repetitive but also literally nothing happened. A lot of cryptic comments and stares and standoffs. It was an ugly love dodecagon of people pining over people who were obviously uninterested in them because the liked someone else.
Then at some point, we get one of the most one dimensional villains ever who was campy and almost fun but for the low ceiling of this series. Her motivations were non-existent. Her plans were kill her way to the top and then rule with an iron fist, except she had 3 goons who couldn't find 2 people living in pretty much the most obvious place to search for them.
This series was just.... a mess.
Peterpan and Noh were stealing the show but then the "plot" came for them and they separated and this slow af series got even slower. I really want to see them in another show.
The fencers were frustrating as they both were chasing each other sorta, and other people sorta, and one was so mean for no well defined reason to the other one. Then they end up banging outside a house party.
Sun and his MANY cardiac events and red apples and fainting and grimacing. Like dude.
Also at some point, I swear, they gave Kim psychic powers or something like that. Like literally? Maybe? It was very unclear. But it seemed like he had powers. Maybe that's why his brain was bleeding and he was losing memories later.
I don't know.
I still think Snow White was behind it all. That would have honestly made this series make sense.
Please Peterpan take another role in a different series.
Kan too.
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The Unveiling
The direct translation and original English title for this production is The Black Sun. This probably refers to the solar eclipse in which the sun appears black. As far as this drama is concerned, it perhaps represents the metaphor where the truth is concealed, hence the befitting title of The Veil. Viewers will find that there is more than just the one piece of veil that covers the hidden truth; there are layers upon layers to be unveiled over the course of the drama, before answers to all questions are finally revealed.The Veil is MBC’s 60th anniversary special drama with an enormous production budget of 15 billion Won. It is the first drama project by screenwriter Park Seok Ho, who had previously written miniseries for which she had won two MBC creative screenplay awards. The award-winning and prolific composer Kim Jang Woo serves as music director while the production is helmed by MBC’s inhouse producing director, Kim Seong Yong. Being a pre-produced drama, it wrapped up filming in August 2021 right before the lead actress Kim Ji Eun was diagnosed as Covid-19 positive. The drama had reportedly altered its airing time after 4 episodes in an apparent attempt to boost viewership as it was competing against SBS’s One the Woman in the same time slot. A 2-episode spin-off focusing on the backstories of characters played by Jang Young Nam, Park Ha Sun and Jung Moon Sung is scheduled to air by the end of October 2021.
From a technical point of view, the execution is excellent, which is to be expected considering the huge production budget. The standout aspects are the action choreography, stunt sequences and the special effects. From the very first minute of the first episode, the drama exudes Bourne Identity vibes in terms of the action scenes which the quality camerawork captures beautifully. I also noticed that the picture quality of the drama is noticeably different compared to the usual fare. The application of muted colour combinations and high contrast grading contributes to a somewhat subdued and desaturated visuals, which I suppose complements the overall edgy and gritty tone of the drama.
The story is set on the premise of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) waging a war against a homegrown drug cartel with mainland Chinese ties. In the not too distant past, the NIS was always depicted as being engaged in espionage cat-and-mouse games against their North Korean counterparts. However, perhaps due to the current political climate, it is much less politically sensitive to cast drug lords as the primary villains, which is the case here. That said, other political affiliations do get their fair share of mentions - China’s Public Security Bureau and NK’s own intelligence outfit. Aside from the action scenes, the ML’s character development is reminiscent of Jason Bourne’s own character arc with the presence of the amnesia plot and his quest to regain his lost memories.
I went into this drama fully expecting a highly exciting and action packed thriller filled with explosive gunfights, slick unarmed combats, high-speed car (as well as speedboat and helicopter) chases and plenty of non-stop adrenaline-fueled agency and urgency. As it turns out, the focus of the drama is not so much on the action, which is still present but not as abundant as I had hoped, but rather on the cloak-and-dagger aspects of investigations into uncovering secret agendas amidst the convoluted internal politics of the clandestine organisation and its major players. A crucial plus point - depending on your standpoint - there is no romance involved in the story as far as the leads are concerned, which is just as well due to the limited duration of the drama. However, there are brief instances of misplaced humour involving primarily a certain data analyst co-worker. Sometimes I wish I could tell K-drama screenwriters directly to cut that crap out and just focus on being consistent with the serious and dramatic tone of the drama.
There are essentially 2 parts to the narrative; the first part concerns the flashbacks, backstories and process of unraveling the web of deceit while the second part sees a unified team fighting against a common enemy. Most of the action happens in the second part which begins from episode 10 onwards. The initial arc unfolds during the first 9 episodes, which I feel takes too long and becomes rather over complicated as well as convoluted than is necessary. In truth, the plot really is quite straightforward and the catalyst that triggers the entire chain of events comes across as somewhat weak, which is shown to viewers in the final reveal. Long story short, the psychologically-induced disorientation along with the long-winded mind games takes up the bulk of this 12-episode drama which, in my humble opinion, finally comes alive in the final 3 episodes despite kicking-off with a bang in the first couple of episodes.
This drama will most likely be remembered for Nam Goong Min’s dedication and commitment in preparing for his role as NIS super agent Han Ji Hyuk. He reportedly began training, via a gluten-free protein-enriched diet and 4-hour daily gym workouts that added 10 kg to his body mass, in January 2021 to transform into the powerful physique and achieve absolute conviction in the portrayal of the character. Additionally, he performs his own stunts in the brutal and savage fight scenes which further enhances the believability of the characterization. From the very first minute of his appearance, I simply could not recognise him both from the facial features (even after his character eventually loses all the facial hair) and the body language which have completely changed. This is not the NGM that we all remember. Amazing! Aside from the physical aspect, NGM also manages to showcase a nuanced depiction of the emotional depth written in Han Ji Hyuk’s character arc.
The main female characters are portrayed by Park Ha Sun and Kim Ji Eun, as NIS agents Seo Soo Yeon and Yoo Je Yi respectively. I think Park Ha Sun is quite compelling but, unfortunately, her character of Seo Soo Yeon is a wasted potential, for obvious reasons. Perhaps the character would be more fleshed out in her spin-off origin story slated for release later this month. On the other hand, I’m not so convinced with Kim Ji Eun’s character. Yoo Je Yi is more suited as an analyst rather than a field agent and even towards the end, is lacking in development. However, this is more an issue with the writing rather than the actress’ performance which is quite decent given what she had to work with.
As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the veterans impressed me the most. Jang Young Nam and Lee Kyung Young as Deputy Directors Do Jin Suk and Lee In Hwan respectively. Both these two experienced actors are no strangers to playing such powerful and authoritative characters, as can be seen from their past performances. Yoo Oh Sung who plays Baek Mo Sa feels somewhat more subdued and has very minimal dialogue this time around, although he still manages to expertly infuse his character with subtle shifts in aura and demeanour that fit the narrative.
The soundtrack features 4 OSTs while the dramatic score composed by Kim Jang Woo generally fits with the overall vibe of the drama.
요아리 Yoari - Reason
일레인 Elaine - Stay With Me
요아리 Yoari - Searching for Reasons Why
이정민 Lee Jung Min - Get Ya
In addition, Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight gets some significant airplay in the drama as well.
All things considered and truth be told, I had rather high hopes for The Veil because it has been quite a while since we had a proper espionage-themed drama the likes of the Iris series and Athena: Goddess of War. As fantastic as NGM has been, this drama falls short of my expectations. Fortunately, it does finish as strongly as it started which is the saving grace in the end.
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