Completed
Nine Puzzles
39 people found this review helpful
Jul 21, 2025
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

Unfortunately, it really shows that this is a Disney+ production.

Lack of clues and details to build theories:
Over the course of 9 episodes, there’s not a single hint that makes the viewer want to come up with theories or even guess who the villain might be.
Do you think the death of the main character’s parents has anything to do with the story? Nope.
Do you think the classical music theme matters? Not at all.
Do you think the fact that the main character lacks some social skills plays a role? Nope.
What about the male lead being stuck in the same position for 10 years because of an unsolved case — think that’s important? Nope.
Basically, any detail you think might be connected to the murders before episode 9 becomes totally irrelevant, because for 9 whole episodes, they only give you one suspect.
And surprise — in episode 10, they tell you that nope, he’s not the antagonist after all. So all your theories are basically pointless. Only if you watch a lot of K-dramas like this, you probably caught the phrase “construction company” and maybe figured out where the story’s heading.

Cast:
The producers of this K-drama clearly have no idea how to make the most of their cast’s potential. Honestly, if any other actors had done this show, it wouldn’t have made a difference — they use so little of the actors’ range that it feels like they never even watched their past performances, whether lead or supporting.

The antagonist:
The antagonist in this story apparently has super strength or psychic powers or something, because there’s no explanation or detail about how they kill. People just show up dead, and that’s it. The only death that’s actually interesting isn’t even caused by the antagonist — it’s done by a side character.And the worst death is the final one — Puzzle 8 — because you literally have to use your imagination to make any sense of how the body ended up way up there with no help at all.

P.S. For some reason, in the episodes around the second murder, there’s this weird POV shot of the main character’s hand gripping the car keys. I have no idea what they were going for with that scene — it’s just odd, and to make it weirder, they only use that POV once. Just that one scene.

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Completed
The King's Affection
39 people found this review helpful
Dec 14, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 5.0
It started on a very strong note with the great performance of Choi Myung Bin. This story needed a good foundation with a background story and that's what the first two episodes served. And I thought wow, with this intense start this ride will be action-packed with surprises, a lot of tension, and game of thrones but then... it fell from the cliff, with every episode I was waiting for action, something big to happen, it'll get better.. something more than just fluff, and miserable humor when that moment comes 'Damn not the action starts' it just gets back on its fluffy track as an addition to my boredom.

The writer seems to have forgotten logic for most of the parts, or we viewers are taken as IQ like those naive FLs in CEO dramas. I'll just point out some parts.

~Identical Twins:
The most important part of the drama is biologically impossible. How on the earth twins with a different gender are identical? There is only one case possible but then girls always have turner syndrome. Oh, please don't tell me about sesquizygotic twins they only share 50% DNA so they can be half identical.. or identical as babies but not as growing teens. (Sorry for starting biology class here.) Though I was impressed by Choi Myung Bin I can't let it slide how illogical it is.

~Sexual Orientation:
First I do not have a problem with the concept of love without thinking of gender, or loving person/human. But I'm very disappointed how sensitive issues like this are handled carelessly in the drama. Ji Woon was more bothered that he fell in love with CP than the fact that CP is a man.. damn how can he not question himself for a single time that his first love was a girl how his preference change overnight.. then he starts to imagine Lee Hwi as a girl, but then says he likes her as a person, not gender.. damn what a mess? I mean we have seen Han Gyul (Coffee Prince) getting tormented in the twenty-first century... we like talking about Joseon Era, but no the male lead should be perfect he shouldn't question his love... even if it looks way unrealistic.

~Attack on CP:
In the envoy drama that happened, his guard u̶n̶intentionally attacked Lee Hwi and he just gets away with it.. okay it that possible? first, it was clear that the attack was intentional but even if it was unintentional how can a mere guard get away after attacking the CP of the nation... it's a very big thing.

The story itself is grand as cross-dressing is on a big level... it's not like she's dressing as a man to become Eunuch, or to get in school or university but as the future king of the nation which is a big thing.

Romance is bland, politics completely sucks... action, is there any? just some bits. The writing is inconsistent, it lacks substance. The king's affection is an absolute example of lazy writing with poor characterization. I was hoping for some great, well-written politics, mind games...Politics, what can I say? probably all budget went over a shot of Rowoon carrying flowers around the palace... as I have never seen court this empty with just a few ministers (sometimes it suddenly has a lot of ministers)... with only 2-3 who can talk. but not it has nothing to offer. I don't think this setup needed 20 episode format as most of the part feels like filer.. even the main thing romance. Love-pentagon most unnecessary thing, it doesn't even create that much tension it should have.

The most problematic character of the series is the male lead Ji Woon.. no it's not like he's a douchebag or something.... he's clueless, legit he has no freaking purpose for his existence other than being a love interest of Lee Hwi. He's a typical nice, goofy guy who does nothing but fangirl over Lee Hwi for half of his screentime. His character is written one-dimensionally... there's nothing particularly interesting in him that makes me root him with Lee Hwi lol

Lee Hyun is more interesting than Ji Woon.. at least he is three-dimensional with different shades, he's not that nice guy all time but can take action when it's needed. I liked Ga On from the very start he has that mysterial aura around him.. that made me take interest in him, generate curiosity about his back story.. and I was waiting for that BIG revelation all time, then when it happened it all goes flat. All mystery they tried to create.. and what was delivered is a disappointment, but I'm very glad they didn't drag him in love-pentagon to make it hexagon. I like So Eun but she has a very bad first impression... It took me forever to get warm with her due to it, but then I adored her. Ha Kyung clumsy, little stupid girl... she's the only person with whom I sympathies in the whole thing, coz she's nothing but an innocent, pure soul who got dragged into this mess... just coz she loved a man, who's not a man.

The best thing about the drama is Eun Bi, she's phenomenal... the Lee Hwi she portrayed was charming. Most of the time voice is neglected in cross-dressing dramas, but we can see Eun Bi also worked on her voice so that she can sound like a guy. This is one of the very few believable gender-benders where FL can pass as a boy... yes her weight, height is not ideal for the role but the body language, her presence, the way she acts... make her perfect for the role.

I adore and respect Lee Hwi, this character had so much potential (kinda wasted with romance)... there were many changes to how she can be a great, wise king but fewer actions prove that. The character growth was less explored due to induced fluff. In more than one half of the drama, she doesn't have a purpose why she remains as CP, king is a good person so power isn't in the hand of the wrong people... but her king gonna lead her grandfather to get power and her becoming pawn in power play. And it's not like that many people's lives are on skate as other than Eunuch and Court lady no one knows her secret. When she gets purpose... as the story forwards it's already too late coz drama has lost its charm.

Music is forgettable... it's high-quality production serving great visuals but the color scheme is bright, not ideal for watching on the big screen as it's too bright.

Don't bother if you are expecting great Sageuk with the realistic portrayal, action as most of the time it's just filer romance with lack of chemistry (I just don't feel anything for this couple) and try to disguise with some bits of action here and there splattered. Apart from Eun Bi and her Lee Hwi, nothing is amazing or mesmerizing... it's only grand with the name and set up but everything is just mediocre.

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Completed
Bad and Crazy
39 people found this review helpful
Jan 28, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

Is It A ‘Bad And Crazy’ Decision To Watch This Drama?



Crime and action dramas can often a tricky to tackle for screenwriters. Nevertheless screenwriter Kim Sae Bom ( ‘ Uncanny Counter’) and director Yoo Seon Dong ( ‘Uncanny Counter’, ‘ Vampire Prosecutor 2’ ) are able to turn a passé “ buddy cop” premise into an adrenal-kicking ride with Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon taking front seats.

The storyline focuses upon the titled ‘ Bad’ guy of the series Detective Su-yeol (Lee Dong-wook). Su-Yeol’s original passion and drive to deliver justice has been lost over the years as a consequence of trying to climb up the social ladder. However Su-Yeol is soon hit with some home-truths when he is incessantly haunted by the ‘ Crazy’ and self-proclaimed helmet-wielding " hero" K ( Wi Ha Joon). As the main lead begins to struggle with battling against the mysterious hero fanatic in his daily life, he soon becomes involved in uncovering a greater web of lies and corruption at the heart of justice. Reluctantly he enlists the help of quirky hero K, his ex-girlfriend and witty detective Lee Hee Kyum ( Han Ji Eun) as well as good-natured rookie cop Oh Kyung Tae ( N) in order to bring down a greater threat from the shadows.

It should be clarified that the initial plot setup of “ corrupt cop becomes good again” isn’t an inherently new or exciting concept to K-dramas. Nevertheless, Kim Sae Bom was willing to add a retro flare to the narrative through the action escapades of K and Su-Yeol facing against bumbling and brutish thugs, convicts and adversaries in weekly episodes.

There’s a fairly comical undertone during many early exchanges between K and Su-Yeol ( without spoilers). Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon’s onscreen bromance chemistry could admittedly come off as slightly strained under the weight of loose threads in the plot at times, but the jovial bickering between their onscreen counterparts will certainly generate a chuckle or two for audiences. However despite the drama’s coverage of some lighthearted comedy sequences and interactions , Kim Sae Bom was not afraid to delve into darker subject areas also.

Naturally this brings up the discussion of the cast lineup. Venerable actor Kim Dong Wook starred as one of the main star-attractions of the production as Su-Yeol. The veteran actor admittedly did feel slightly typecast to the role of the “stoic and mysterious” archetype once more. However whilst goofy initial charm seemed to define Dong Wook’s character, later complexity surrounding Su-Yeol, truly gave his onscreen persona a definitive edge .

Yet whilst later episodes did present some heartfelt moments to explore vulnerability within the tougher character-build of Su-Yeol, the main lead’s earlier interactions with his family rarely foreshadowed or hinted a buildup towards Su-Yeol’s feelings. Of course , it is important to establish that although screenwriter Sae Bom did slowly develop Su-Yeol from the outset, it could often feel as though elements of his character were rarely fleshed-out with more depth .

Then of course there’s the discussion surrounding “ K”. Played with a daring boyish charm by Wi Ha Joon, “ K” acts as the second mysterious main lead of the series.


Without definitive plot spoilers, it is important for viewers to note that “ K” seemingly embodies everything that Su-Yeol strives not to be ; anarchic, comical, unpredictable and possessing a great hero complex also. Understandably “ K”’s greatest character-drive comes through his developed bond with Su-Yeol. Yet whilst comical ( and often fractious ) interactions between the main leads could be entertaining and sometimes complicated , it often felt as though “K” was rarely given a more serious presence in the storyline . ( Until later events when Kim Sae Bom deemed his character as a necessary plot-device; mysterious but often being used merely to expedite plot.)

Costarring alongside the two main leads was Han Ji Eun as female lead and love interest Lee Hee Kyum. Hee Kyum is an intriguing character with her own reasons and problems and especially due to her “ complicated” relationship with her ex and main male lead Su-Yeol. ( Especially with consideration to her somewhat acrimonious and unexplained breakup.)

On the other hand, whilst Hee Kyum was a necessary asset for the events of the narrative , there was a notable flaw at times with the main female lead; she lacked a definitive edge. Arguably it is noteworthy that Hee-Kyum is fairly resilient in the face of adversity and is quick to stand her ground also. Yet sadly Hee-Kyum rarely had opportunities to be explored outside of necessary plot-line . It was fairly sweet and engaging to witness the unfolding and potentially rekindled flame between the former-lovers onscreen. However, there were many notable aspects of Hee-Kyum’s intriguing backstory ( mentioned only several times as passing references), dreams, familial relationships and reasons for becoming a detective which were often left disregarded throughout the narrative .

Admittedly Lee Hee Kyum wasn’t the only victim of absent character backstory . Second male lead Oh Kyung Tae, a necessary character from the beginning, is dismissed through a “ necessary plot point” from being actively involved in the series. Whist this was arguably crucial to allow the events to unfold, Kim Sae Bom rarely measured opportunities through screen time to “ get to know” a key player in the drama; he’s altruistic, clever and observant but that’s also the problem. Oh Kyung Tae never truly felt as though he was a realistically flawed character.

Other side characters of the storyline included detective Yang Jae-Sun( Cha Si-Won)- Su-Yeol’s loyal work colleague and slight sycophant , shady but knowledgable psychiatrist Yum Geun-Soo( Choi Kwang Je) and the mysterious and unnerving professional psychiatrist Shin Joo-Hyuk( Jung Sung-Il). Whilst these side characters played important roles in various parts of the drama, predictability soon arose ( in parts) for the roles due to the evident writing-setups for these characters .

On this note it is important to bring up the nature of the opposing forces of the narrative. Admittedly ‘ Bad And Crazy’ never truly established an “ overarching” antagonist per say until later events of the storyline . Whilst the series did gradually veer towards having a final “ threat” during end events, the storyline instead placed multiple adversaries for the main lead such as corrupt politician Assemblyman Do Yu Gon ( Lim Ki Hong), the big kahuna of a drug gang Boss Yong ( Kim Hieora)and her right-hand man Andrei Kang ( Won Hye Joon) as potential “ red herrings”. Whilst these side characters did play their necessary role within the events of the narrative and help to buildup to the finale, the ending admittedly felt somewhat anticlimactic as a result of rarely presenting these antagonists with more profound character-qualities.

Admittedly ‘ Bad And Crazy’ was a slight anomaly when it boiled down to pacing . Whilst some dramas can notably suffer from the classic problem of possessing strong beginnings and weak endings, ‘ Bad And Crazy’ presented the opposite: a weaker beginning notably gave rise to a lighthearted introduction to characters, whilst the second-half focused heavily upon crucial details of plot and heavier topics.

Whilst this wasn’t necessarily bad per say and did allow for audiences to establish the key players of the drama, tedious pacing during early conflicted dilemmas for the characters contrasted by quick-paced action scenes during fights, often rarely allowed golden-opportunities to delve deeper into the ins and outs of the storyline. As a consequence, the ending is admittedly dependent upon expectations; some may enjoy the final events of the series with satisfaction , whilst others may feel disappointed and letdown by the final result.

Then of course there’s the discussion surrounding Yoo Seon Dong’s filming. Whilst Seon Dong could captivate a certain ineffable charm under his directing reigns with fast-paced action sequences and chases, Seong Dong’s camera work could often be amateurish at times also. Admittedly this isn’t entirely the fault of the director per say. The addition of pacy editing and cut scenes in order to make up for the usage of sloppy fight scene choreography and punches highlighted mixed-results throughout the camera work. On the other hand, the OST did often help to draw attention away from these scenes through an eclectic mix of generic instrumentals and unpredictable tempos - in particular ‘ Bad and Crazy’’s EDM opening song helped to capture the adrenal-infused mania and atmosphere for anyone willing to stay along for the ride.


Overall, ‘ Bad And Crazy’ is a series which felt somewhat shoehorned at times by plot, characters and pacing. Nevertheless whilst predictable and niche at times , the twelve-episode series was surprisingly delightful in parts with a pacy narrative allowing opportunities for viewers to become intrigued within some of the drama’s touching depictions of its main characters. Fast, thrilling and not without its rougher edges, ‘ Bad And Crazy’ will perhaps not serve as one of Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon’s best performances to date for some watchers , but it certainly can offer an adrenal-infused binge-watch for those intrigued from beginning to end.

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Ongoing 14/14
Love by Chance
46 people found this review helpful
Nov 5, 2018
14 of 14 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
Love By Chance is a series like no other in the BL genre. They seem to have made a list of all clichés, tropes and plot contrivances common in the genre and decided to subvert and destroy them one by one. Characters talk to each other and solve their problems in an adult manner instead of dragging miscommunication for the entire series… Obstacles are introduced and dealt with in the same episode or the next, without overwrought melodrama. It’s really refreshing and a masterclass in good writing. What in most series would take 13 episodes to overcome here is solved in episode one!
Instead of a “will-they-or-they-won’t” plot, which all romance, include Western, does, they show the natural progression of a relationship, through various stages, with all the adaptation and negotiation that it involves, in a very adult-manner. While that could easily be boring, the cast is magnetic, photography stunning, and they really have great dialogue and a lot of chemistry. A *LOT* of chemistry. This series often takes your breath away and a whole sequence in episode 7 is a steamy classic in itself.
You also see a lot of conversations regular shows completely skip over, about sex, jealousy, consent, compromise. The series is romantic and sexy, but also very realistic in the depiction of a healthy relationship.
As a viewer, I was always waiting for the traditional BL mode of throwing a wrench into the plot at some point, but that, thankfully, never happens. Instead, they make a bold decision to, in the last third of the series, essentially switch the protagonists and make the main couple supporting, which gives us a unique opportunity: see the main couple live their happily ever after on screen, because now there are news leads carrying the weight of the drama.
If one criticism is to be made is that there are other two possible couples on the posters and peppered throughout, but they are given little screentime and have very little connection to the main plot, feeling completely throwaway. It’s not a huge issue, as they don’t show up that often, but it’s glaring, especially because the stories deal with rape and are very misplaced in a series that explores consent so well, otherwise.
On the production site, as I mention, the photography is gorgeous and there are many different locations, making the show visually very interesting.
The act is superb and even the supporting actors are on point. There is one weak link in Plan, who plays Can, but the other actor he mostly shares scenes with is so good that balances that out.
I cannot recommend Love By Chance enough. It not just a great BL, it’s a great series, standing tall among Eastern and Western programmes as well.

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Completed
Mouse
46 people found this review helpful
May 20, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

Mouse; A Masterpiece or A Mess?


The best way to describe screenwriter Choi Ran’s "Mouse" is somewhere between a masterpiece and a slightly disjointed mess in certain parts.

It’s wrong to entirely slander that " Mouse" wasn’t a good series. Without a doubt, the main cast were absolutely brilliant. ( Especially Lee Seung Gi’s hauntingly profound portrayal as Ba Reum, truly defining his talents as an actor.) Additionally , " Mouse" arguably had some of the best character development seen in a mystery- crime series in a long time. The portrayal of psychopaths felt haunting for the most part, whilst main characters Ba Reum ( Lee Seung Gi) and Mo-Chi ( Lee Hee Joon) had some shockingly profound character developments and twists. Even seemingly superficial side characters in the beginning such as Oh Bong-yi ( Park Ju Hyun) and the suave Choi Hong-ju, or " Sherlock Hong-Ju" ( Kyung Soo-Jin), had a lot more to their characters than first meets the eye.

However whilst it would be easy to give this drama a decisive ” 10/10” and write it off as flawless , it is undeniable that it isn’t without its faults either.

" Mouse" is undeniably a collection of surprising twists and turns which soon become a little disorientating. Whilst rooted in real—life depictions of a serial killers with a slight "fantasy twist" intriguing plot points soon become slightly predictable and mundane in the latter part. It was almost as though screenwriter Choi was running low on ideas ( despite the endless supply of unanswered questions left open for viewers) and decided to group together a cluster of feverish flashbacks, dismiss more intriguing characters peppered throughout the storyline and manoeuvre deux ex machina solutions for the resulted ending.

So, is " Mouse" actually worth watching from all the hype? This depends a lot on personal preferences. Whilst not flawless and a little clunky in the second-half, "Mouse” was undeniably filled with good acting, intriguing plot, characters and profound themes.

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Completed
The Shipper
53 people found this review helpful
Jun 12, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers
This has been a series I’ve been looking forward to since the initial trailer was released and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. From the very beginning the story has been consistent, heartfelt and funny. The Shipper is a perfect example of a fujoshi’s imagination, including how far it can be taken and how far from reality it actually is. Initially promoted as a BL, the story soon takes a different turn, a very good diversion.I myself am a BL lover and the reason I started this series was actually to get my replacement for 2gether the series, but this turned out to be something I very much enjoyed. I’m still very confused about as to who to ship, but that’s what makes this show itself- it’s extremely unpredictable. One minute you’re on a BL ship, the next a heterosexual ship and the next, ( I’m actually ashamed to say this ) a sort of incesty ship. But that’s what makes this series so good, the fact that it’s realistic, but at the same time doesn’t take itself too seriously.

THE STORY:
This is what I imagine fujoshis to be like. It’s very realistic, you know, except for the soul swap stuff. Seriously though, this series has an extremely investive story and very real, very flawed characters. The ones we never get to actually see on our screens. The characters who make mistakes and are able to admit it. The characters who sometimes act before thinking, just as actual humans do at times. The characters who have problems and don’t have perfect lives. The characters who very much resemble ourselves and the characters who are actually worth rooting for. Although I would have loved to see Kim in Pan’s body, I can’t say I’m disappointed. They gave us the exact story that they promised, in a well written way too.

THE ACTING:
Perfection. The acting is perfect. Each character is beautifully portrayed and written. Every single member of the cast is perfect as their character and even out of them. If I mentioned every actor and how well they’ve been portraying their role, let’s just say this would be a very long review. I’ll say just this, this series hit the jackpot with the cast. The way every emotion is clear and correct for every scene is very rare and this is some of the best acting I’ve seen in a while.

THE PRODUCTION :
The production has been spectacular. The level of production has been significantly high in GMMTV shows, but this is a cut above the rest. The premise may be repetitive,what with the soul swapping, but this series has genuine life lessons and a well executed plot. It may be unrealistic at times, but I believe that was the point production was trying to make.

THE OST:
The OST honestly slaps. It’s sweet and light hearted, very much like the show. The video for the OST though! That’s the cutest s**t I’ve seen in a long time. The second track though. I have a feeling that after this finale, I might cry a bit every time I hear it and I listen to it a lot. Like, a lot!!

THE NEGATIVE:
Now I know the student- teacher relationship was needed to move the plot along, but come on! She’s 40 ( sorry 39 ) and he’s 17? I cringed so hard at those scenes. Also, violence is never okay. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. VIOLENCE IS NEVER OKAY. One thing I have to say is never, ever expose someone’s life or secrets. We may never know what it is that they’re going through, so stay considerate.

THE ENDING:
That’s the ending you’re going with huh? I was honestly hoping that WayKim would have a happy ending, but it is what it is. My heart is broken and guess that’s that. Despite that, the finale was quite good. Everyone got their happy endings and the last frame of the series makes me believe just a little bit that WayKim will have one too. I really hope there is a second season. ( God, please let there be another season! )


The great thing about this series is that so many of us started watching it for the BL, but we seem to have continued watching it for what it truly is, a beautiful and heartfelt story full of laughter and tears.
This series has quickly become a favourite of mine and for good reason. Despite having low viewing and not much exposure. I hope everyone gives this show a try. The cast and crew deserve that and more. Hope this review has been helpful to all you confused individuals out there. If you do decide to watch it and are confused about who to ship, don’t worry, I’m pretty sure the characters themselves don’t. Thank You!

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Completed
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
53 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 5.5
Story 3.5
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers
I haven't seen the Japanese source material for The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, but I don't think any of my criticisms here would be ameliorated had I seen that version beforehand. I guess it's possible for me to exonerate the South Korean version of its faults and just attribute every outrageous plot point to bad writing elsewhere, but for the love of the gods above, can't we get an adaptation that improves upon its source rather than a beat-for-beat reconstruction of popular garbage just because?

Here's where I provide full disclosure: I only started watching this because I generally like Seo In Guk's work, and I've liked several other cast members' work in other dramas. I don't seek out the thriller and mystery genres, I tend to stick with art house cinema or comedy romance shows, and I stray out of those areas when I feel like I'll be rewarded for experimenting or when I'm feeling tired of the same obscurantist shit or poorly written bubbly junk food. This show was unbelievable, and it was unpleasant, and it encouraged me to return to my usual fare for a while.

Spoilers, obviously. If you haven't clicked out, this is your final chance.

The characters' motivations, actions, and the consequences (or lack thereof) were outlandish to the point of offense. Irrespective of Moo Young and Yoo Jin's uncontrollable lust for one another, the fact that Yoo Jin even entertains the idea of shacking up with Moo Young after he emotionally cheated on her best friend WITH YOO JIN and openly bore some responsibility for her death is LUDICROUS. Moo Young's infuriating antagonism when he's being investigated in a murder case is absolutely insane. That Yoo Jin was even willing to be in the same room as her brother after he stabbed her super special boyfriend and miraculously didn't even lose his cop job is incredibly ridiculous. Why did Yoo Jin agree to date Moo Young ONLY on the condition that he actively self-improve, and neglect to provide any sort of schema or apparatus for Moo Young to achieve whatever it is she's envisioning, if she was just going to essentially drop the subject entirely as Moo Young continues to lie to her? Why does her character turn from observant and assertive to naïve and acquiescent to the whims of the guys?

I couldn't buy into the drama, because the premises and conclusions were nonsensical and inconsistent. The people in this universe don't seem to understand the weight of others' transgressions, or else SOMEONE in the police department would have pulled Jin Kang's murderous stabby-mc-stabber brother in for questioning. I don't know any decent person who would get involved with their dead BFF's unfaithful, manipulative ex. Even a sociopath would know that they have to make some claim to their innocence when a cop starts stalking them. It's like the showrunners thought that suspense equates with whimsical, destructive, unchecked trickery on the part of the characters.

Stories only remain suspenseful insofar as the viewer can suspend their disbelief and immerse themselves in the urgency of the situation. But nothing here had any repercussions until everyone started shooting each other. The moment some threat was posed to any of the main or supporting characters, it was immediately quelled by folks who are disturbingly comfortable with their loved ones' violent urges or that thread was dropped entirely. Yoo Jin would be in fucking therapy for what went down with Seung Ah, is what I'm saying. Sleeping with a dude your friend fucked is awkward enough, never mind the weird-ass sociopathic shit and the death.

I couldn't buy into anything this show was selling. Basically, its overarching mysteries were boring and predictable (obviously Moo Young isn't the killer??? He's not the one stalking random people?? You can clock most of the murderers in this show based on how many people they're stalking until episode 15) and its twists were so stupid that they divested from whatever wisp of a suspenseful tone the rest of the plot succeeds at sowing. The whole thing plays out like a sensationalist novel that started out as erotic fan fiction on the internet. It's like there's no need to reconcile the various parts within the whole because it's more important to use to just throw out whatever shocking crap we can to keep people tuning in every week.

The sixteen episode standard didn't benefit this narrative either. It DRAGGED, and from what I understand, the Japanese version was only 10 episodes long. Cut the flashbacks, cut the repetitive conversational loops and cut to the chase: are these sociopathic weirdos gonna bang or nah? That's infinitely more intriguing than drawn out conversations while people sit around tables and cry intermittently, running in and out of that top-floor apartment incessantly because we couldn't afford another set.

Waiting for Moo Young and Yoo Jin to finally seal the deal was excruciating, because they had to play out a coy dance as if Yoo Jin ACTUALLY cared about Seung Ah, as if anyone was actually thinking about Seung Ah (including the writers). Yoo Jin had a thousand chances to be a good friend, or a decent human, to Seung Ah before she finally agrees to bang Moo Young, and she never rose to the occasion, so I don't understand why there had to be this pretense that Yoo Jin was conflicted for eight episodes when she clearly wasn't??? She literally sexed her dead best friend's boyfriend like two days after she died??? So cut four of those episodes out! Seung Ah dies, boom, we get the nookie. There you go. Millions of dollars, saved.

Oh, I figured it out - the real monster is Yoo Jin. She pretends to have emotions and morals, meanwhile she somehow pulls together a bunch of murderous wankers to annihilate her messianic, perfect, lovely friend before they burn the world down, and her with it.

I feel like I wasted my life. I'm giving this a 10 in rewatch value because I think it'll be great material for a drinking game with my friends.

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Completed
Signal
53 people found this review helpful
Aug 14, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 4.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
Pros - Great acting, Past main character ( will butcher the names so ) was the best part of the show.

Cons - Main character is not that smart. He does not use the transmissions to it's full potential. Could have changed a lot things but he chooses not to and the show does not provide any good explanations on why he would not do anything worthwhile in the whole show ( don't wanna spoil). The cases were very predictable and the only reason criminals didn't get caught is because every other cop other than the main characters are either corrupt or incompetent. The criminals themselves do things that don't make sense. They are smart enough to avoid getting caught for many years but get caught in the end because of something very stupid that nobody would ever do. One thing that pulled me out of the show was that the criminals or victims in the cold cases don't look any different or their lives changed in any way. At the very least, characters who were 30 in the past should have some white hair or their careers or others part of their lives changed in 20 years. Everybody seems to have just been doing the same thing for over 15 years. Nobody moves on or do anything else(ex. photographer).

conclusion - I went in to the show expecting good storytelling, exciting cases and changes with time. I was expecting the characters to use the transmissions more effectively and do something that changes the time or character development. They used the transmission like around 6 times during the whole show. I am not seeing what everybody loves about this show. The only thing I got from this show is great acting, good cinematography, great scenes and bad plot.

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Completed
Reborn Rich
60 people found this review helpful
Dec 25, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 8
Overall 3.5
Story 2.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

(DISAPPOINTING) DIRECTOR,WRITER BRAIN DAMAGE , TOTAL TIME WASTE ,NO SENSE

Fu***** Mockery!

If any other Kdrama team wants to learn how to ruin a perfect drama they can watch RR, i am just so devastated after finale that how someone can turn a really good drama to depression.this is supposed to be based on WEB NOVEL you can change the ending but at least see if it is suiting or not this make no sense
It was all going great for the first 15 episodes which was 94% of the whole show and suddenly they put their illogical reasoning towards finale.
I am with no words right now instead of cursing to put it here.
People who are going to watch this just avoid this to save your precious time…
I was going to write a 9/10 for this show before ep15 ending and now even wants to give it 1 just because of this finale but because of 15ep have to give it something better ,the writer here tried to subvert expectations with a nonsense ending for no reason but to create controversy and inflate her own ego, and by doing so not only stabbed the novel this was based on but also tarnished what the title of the drama indicated, the main character by going back to his poor body went against what the title of the drama was indicating, "Reborn rich", everything the ML did and experienced on the journey to the end became meaningless, which means anyone who watched this drama to this point has wasted their time too.

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Completed
Sword and Fairy 1
20 people found this review helpful
by xiaxia
Apr 19, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers
"Sword and Fairy 1" is like a warm hug from an old friend, whisking me back to the golden days of Chinese fantasy dramas while adding a dash of new excitement. Even with a new cast, the magic of the original characters shines through, making me fall in love with them all over again.

Credit must be given to He Yu for his portrayal of Xiao Yao, infusing the character with a rare blend of charm, vulnerability, and unwavering devotion. Xiao Yao's romance with Ling'er was adorable. Though I wasn't rooting for them, I love how in this version, he stayed loyal all till the end. His heart was set on Ling'er. Yang Yu Tong did great as Ling'er too. I couldn't help but compared her to LYF version, and though she was very beautiful and did well with the character, I still can't imagine anyone else playing Ling'er other than LYF. In the end, XY and LE has always been lovers, meant to find one another and fall in love all over again.

Now...on to my favorite character- From the moment Yue Ru graces the screen with her presence, she commands attention with her vibrant personality and unyielding spirit. Headstrong and loud, she was definitely a force to be reckoned with, unapologetically carving her own path. Something that had always stood out to me about Yue Ru in both version was her remarkable depth of character. Beneath her fiery exterior lies a heart of gold, brimming with kindness and unwavering loyalty to those she holds dear. Despite her flaws and imperfections, she remains true to herself, refusing to conform to societal norms or compromise her values for the sake of acceptance.

I have always rooted for XY and YR to be endgame. They're chemistry stole my heart. Xiao Yao and Yue Ru are like fire and ice—constantly bickering and bantering, yet undeniably drawn to each other like magnets. Xiao Yao and Yue Ru had unwavering loyalty and fierce determination to protect one another. Despite their differences and frequent squabbles, when push comes to shove, they stand side by side, ready to leap into action without a moment's hesitation. They may not be romantically involved, but in each other, they find a kindred spirit, a confidant, and a true soulmate.
*I loved that in episode 34, they used the same OST from the '05 version for LYR*

What this version did well was the trio's dynamic, XY, LE, and YR, is the unwavering support and devotion they show towards one another. No matter the obstacles they face or the dangers that lurk in the shadows, they stand united, ready to lend a helping hand or leap into action at a moment's notice. XY never wavers in his commitment to protect and support his friends, even if it means putting his own life on the line. Likewise, Ling'er and Yue Ru prove time and time again that they're more than just damsels in distress—they're formidable allies who can hold their own in the face of adversity.

Not every character's journey resonated with me quite as deeply as others. For instance, the romance between Tang Yu and Ah Nu failed to captivate my heart in the same way as the original version did. Perhaps it was the portrayal of Tang Yu by the actor, or maybe it was simply a matter of personal preference, but their love story didn't leave as lasting an impression on me as others did. However, amidst the myriad of characters, one stood out —Liu Jin Yuan. Despite his frail appearance, Liu Jin Yuan possesses a strength of character and wisdom that far surpasses his physical limitations. His intelligence, kindness, and unwavering courage make him a truly admirable figure, earning him a special place in my heart.

Let's talk about those fight scenes—nicely choreographed! The choreography is on point, the actors did great with all the moves. It's like watching a dance, but with swords. The OST's were great.

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Completed
Canola
20 people found this review helpful
Nov 29, 2016
Completed 1
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This film was quite good in my opinion, but I found it shouldn't be watched when sad. It is not an uplifting film in any way.
Personally, I think the beginning was very well done. The child actors did a good job within the film, especially given it was such a big part. When it got to when she was older it got a bit confusing I thought, but after a little thinking you can understand. The story line was good, but I think it had a bit too many concepts thrown in. I wish it was a simple "girl returns to grandmother and has to adapt to life" sort of thing, but I understand that for a lot of people, that wouldn't sell. I also don't like how there are hints at romance within it, but then that is abandonned - you should either leave it or put it in. However if that sort of thing doesn't bother you then this film is pretty good.
As I said, the cast is quite good. The young children within the film do a good job, as do the grandmother and Hye-ji. The acting can't be flawed too much, but I don't think it was a perfect performance by anybody.
Overall, I would rewatch it possibly. I think it is a nice film and it does give you something to think about, which I enjoy. It was a good film.

Sadly, I can't tell you where to get English subtitles online. I'm sure they will come out soon. I watched it on a Cathay Pacific flight, so that's the only way I can tell you to get it (nice holiday in HK)

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Completed
Single’s Inferno Season 3
20 people found this review helpful
Jan 15, 2024
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 2.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 1.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

It doesn't worth the time

It was the worst season of them all. I just caught myself passing through the episodes to reach the end and it doesn't became better. I don't think I'll watch Single's Inferno again if a new season comes in.
Some episodes were like 1h and a half of Gwan Hee talking to girls and just random conversations that were not even interesting, it all revolved around him and it was really tiring to watch because the things were in a surface level that don't make us excited to watch. I should have dropped
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Completed
Only for Love
20 people found this review helpful
Feb 1, 2024
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Cellphones Do Not Have Silence Options in the Only for Love World

Okay…

I started this despite not being a fan of modern/contemporary Chinese romance dramas because these usually feature nonsensically convoluted plots and too many misunderstandings. However, I like both main leads and wanted to watch something with Dylan since I will not be watching his other dramas from this year. I thought that having other cast members, like Bai Lu, Wei Zheng Ming, and Lui Dong Qin, all of whom I also liked even if I didn’t fully enjoy the shows they were in, would make it more bearable. It did not. I never expected a masterpiece, but had hoped for a decent story with relatable characters or at least characters who would allow me to live vicariously through them. This, also, did not happen.

The premise of the show was all based on a misunderstanding which dragged on for too long. On top of this, there were other couples whose dynamics were fun at first, but later entered the realm of toxic and stalkerish. As if having already three dysfunctional couples wasn’t enough, at around the 20th episode yet another couple was added.

Another part that bothered me was the romance between the main leads. I usually like slow burn romances, it gets me excited for when the fire finally consumes them and they cannot “fight that feeling anymore”, but for the love of all sacred monkeys, this wasn’t even a slowburn, it was almost no burn and the damned cell phone ringing was the main character, as one of the watchers so aptly commented. Someone wanted to clarify something, the phone rang. Someone wanted to confess, the damned phone rang again. Someone was about to kiss, you guessed it, the phone rang. It’s as if they didn’t know phones have silence options.

On top of this, some scenes that looked like they were finally going to get things rolling ended too abruptly. For the first kiss scene, I blinked and almost missed the kiss. There were too many filler-like scenes which featured their workplaces, business dealings, conferences, introduction of new antagonists, and talking about things I had no desire to listen to, or more specifically read about since I read the subs, especially in Shi Yan’s case. So I fast-forwarded these scenes or, in later episodes, just watched the drama as background noise. This leads me to another issue, this is a romcom. This drama is 36 episodes and personally, I believe romcoms should not be this long. This drama would have probably been a lot more tolerable to watch than it was if they had focused on less, because sometimes less is more. The addition of all those unnecessary subplots made it draggy and boring.

I don’t remember the OST and I do not plan on rewatching or recommending this to anyone. I added .5 because despite the drama being terrible, I still like Dylan Wang , Miles Wei, Lui Dong Qin, and Bai Lu.

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Completed
Love of the Divine Tree
20 people found this review helpful
Feb 13, 2025
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Trees gives courage to the soul , so I'll be honest...

(positive : 🌿 green leaf
Negative: 🍁 red leaf )

The drama stars with Su Yi Shui the disciple of Mu Qing Ge the demoness , killing her to save the world. Qingge cursed Yi Shui and her sect , so Yi Shui didn't had any choice but to offer his half core to the divine tree and help her to reborn to lift the curse. But as the story continues we get to know the reality was completely different.

**Cinematography and production**:🌿
Have to praise the cinematography cause it's really good. The production and editing team did amazing job to make it feel natural and grounded. It giving high budget Vibes. And we got sword fights, real hand to hand combat and amazing action scenes that is stunning. Not your typical xianxia hand gesture fighting ! I didn't had much expectations from it but LOTDT gave a pleasant surprise.
The costumes and makeup is not overly done either so , it's pleasant to eyes. No whitewash, no flashy set and you can feel how carefully they created the setup .

**Male lead**🌿
I liked the male lead so far. He's smart, strong and scheming .... Su Yi Shui is that savage character who can slap or choke the annoying characters for us !
And have to say Deng Wei did amazing job in portraying Su Yi Shui.

**Female lead**🌿🍁
First time watching Julia. Her acting is admirable .She portrayed Mu Qing Ge and Xue RanRan so differently that it feels like they're different person. I developed girl crush on Mu Qing Ge. As for Xue RanRan she's your typical bubbly xianxia female lead. who can get away with anything by luck, without any consequences. Still the good thing is she improves in her cultivation .
I'm personally not a fan of childish characters. Initially I liked her but as the series continues , XRR turns into a bothersome character - like behaving like a child , forced smiling and over talking . Personally I think the voice actress's voice doesn't suits XRR at all .

**Story** 🍁
Of course we get a flashback that showed the past perfectly within 4 episodes and made us fall for Qingge too . And in ep 8 we come back to the present smoothly and the story continues .but the pace slowed down. Apparently it gives different dynamic between our leads
Flirty and badass fl x villainous ml
Bubbly fl x cold ml
Your shifu x I'm disciple
I'm shifu x you're disciple
The Plot is not completely original or unique . The storyline felt very weak compared to the production to me .
*Check*
Let me sacrifice for you, no I'll die for you ✔️
It's okay if you misunderstand me cause I'll die for you ✔️
I'll bring you back to life ✔️
ill fated main lead who has evil bone ✔️
Annoying second female lead ✔️
Obsessive second male lead ✔️
Cutesy bubbly female lead ✔️
Evil and hypocrite immortals ✔️
Clown brainless villains ✔️
Amnesia ✔️
It feels kind of mixture of all xianxia dramas specially it is showing significant similarities with "Till the end of moon".
I felt like they tried to create Dejavu effect by repeating the plot like shifu-disciple or giving similar circumstances to SYS as MQG . It works for a certain period but after that it feels draggy and boring .

** Chemistry**🌿🍁
Mu Qing Ge and Su Yi Shui's chemistry is the best part for me in this story. I loved how Mu Qing Ge cared for him and he developed crush on her. I liked the scenes when Mu Qing Ge opened the door for him , him secretly kissing her forehead...
She approached the potential devil with kind intention and tired to save him from the beginning. Unlike other xianxias where ml or fl tries to save the ill-fated person only after they fallen in love with them.
As for SYS and XRR , it is like cold ml and bubbly fl dynamic . But the chemistry between XRR and SYS feels forced to me . we got more chemistry between MQG and SYS in 4 episodes than all episodes with XRR and SYS .

**Cultivation**🌿
I love how the drama added the real xianxia novel or Donghua cultivation here . And it gives us an idea about the power system. They cultivate , practice and improves .

**Villains**🍁
The villains are one dynamic with background story. I get it that they have a hidden villain but the visible villains are like **Team Rocket**.
They have their reasons to do the evil works .But still they're unrealistic.
Given their background it was possible to add some new theme and dynamic !
Take example of Mu Ran Wu, (personal opinion)
yeah I know she's evil , selfish and beyond redemption But if you think logically,
Mu Ranwu is not heavenly gifted. she was repeatedly compared with her talented sister. From her viewpoint her sister cared about others more than her so her spirit root got destroyed . She lived in MQG's shadow, others saw her as a burden and the person she loved fall for her sister !
Then she does a lot of evil things from killing her sister to stealing her talents and identity blah blah .....yes she is annoying and dumb clown and my problem is this same "annoying unrealistic villainess trope" . Who's sole purpose is to make the "Heroine" shine !
But it was possible to make her a realistic character, there was a potential to create a decent villain who can make us feel sympathize with her .
If not then at least give her brain !?

not to mention "Wei Jiu" who is a cheap version of demon villains . He's here to get beat up by SYS and add some comedy .
These villains are giving some nice comedy....but not much threat or weightage to the plot .

**Supporting characters**🍁
I have not found a supporting character whom I can root for. They're in the plot, but they don't have much value or important roles. Let's take example of some problematic supporting characters--

Su Yu : A character I don't know what to feel about. Sometimes he feels like a nice guy and other time obsessive 2nd lead . He's shown as a smart character but as he knew both MQG and MRW he should have been able to recognize her first. Guess what ! Even people who didn't know MQG personally could recognize her. As MRW *openly showing* her true nature . But he is just *suspecting* her for more than a year!
He's obsessed with *Mu Qing Ge* he doesn't care about her change in behavior or wrong doings as long as it's *her*.

SYS' mother: she doesn't has much screen time but I felt something is wrong with her character. She physically and Emotionally abused Su Yi Shui when he was a kid ! She literally tortured him , abandoned him in snow (where he could die) . And she did it cause of his future? So he will not live a poor life ?
How many times she checked on him after he went to the prince villa ? What about her having a happy life with her lover+ child and shut the door in his face after he already became a prince and came to visit her in his birthday?
I felt it wrong how they normalized *child abuse* here .....
I can't take the fact that she *sacrificed her life* for Su Yi shui and got redemption and respect !

**Finally**🌿🍁
I have kind of love-hate relationship with "xianxia" genre . I can't tolerate dramatic xianxia tropes but I love fantasy very much. The starting was strong but as the story continued it became draggy , repetitive and lost it's initial charm !
The action scenes, costumes, visuals, production and CGI are really good . I will not say the world building is best here, but it's not bad either. As we are given a chance to explore the Mortal realm , divine realm, conscious realm, royal family, immortal-demon sects etc. Also the ost is really beautiful.
So , if you love xianxia or Wuxia you can give it a chance .Overall LOTDT is okay to me .

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Completed
Rookie Cops
20 people found this review helpful
Mar 16, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 6.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.5

Kang Daniel And Chae Soo-Bin Are Reporting For Duty In ‘ Rookie Cops’…



‘ Rookie Cops’ is a sixteen-episode streaming series which has earned intrigue and controversy amongst watchers and drama enthusiasts alike; dispute as a consequence of its limited availability on streaming service Disney Plus, as well as fascination due to its casting choices, setups and characters.

Main female lead Eun-Gang( Chae Soo-bin- ‘ Love In The Moonlight’, ‘ I’m Not A Robot’ and ‘ Where Stars Land’) is a bubbly, optimistic and outspoken individual. Often having felt left out by her parents due to their seeming preferential treatment of her sister Go Mi Gang ( Son So Mang- ‘ Queen Of Mystery 2’, ‘ Mr. Queen’), Eun-Gang has often felt pressured to take up a career which will gain her parents’ respect.

Eun-Gang’s prayers are finally answered when she discovers that her first-love has enrolled in the academy in order to become a police officer. Determined to enter the academy in order to get close to him as well as earn the respect of her parents, Eun Gang seems to be living the dream. However, reality, as Eun-Gang soon discovers, can often be harsh.

Meanwhile the narrative introduces viewers to main male lead and Eun-Gang’s polar opposite, Wi Seung Hyun( Kang Daniel). The level-headed and reserved son of top-ranking officer Wi Ki Yong (Son Chang Min- ‘ My Fair Lady’, ‘ Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘ No Matter What’), Seung-Hyun has felt the need to uphold the reputation of his father, ex officio.

However Seung-Hyun and Eun-Gang’s worlds collide even prior to entering the academy. After an awkward first encounter, Seung-Hyun and Eun-Gang are shocked to bump into one another again at the Korean National Police University.

However as the polar opposite main leads become involved with one another on a gradually frequent basis at the cadet academy, Seung-Hyun, Eun-Gang and their peers soon find themselves facing dilemmas, chasing dreams, and struggling to comprehend feelings on the front line of duty…

‘ Rookie Cops’ is the creation of screenwriter Lee Ha Na. The same writer behind predominantly melodramatic productions such as ‘ Cunning Single Lady’ and ‘ The Time We Were Not In Love’, ‘ Rookie Cops’ attempted to offer viewers the best of both worlds; a lighthearted youth series through Ha Na’s signature vivid tone, as well as a moody cop drama revolving around crime and emotional dilemmas for the main characters.

Admittedly this was necessary to a certain extent for viewers. Despite a noir-style opening, ‘ Rookie Cops’ was heavily invested with giving an introduction to its main leads Eun-Gang and Seung-Hyun, as well as introduce the other key players to the scene.

In particular these reoccurring characters and fellow students of the academy included apathetic as well as studious Ki Ha Na ( Park Yoo Na- ‘ My ID Is Gangnam Beauty’, ‘ SKY Castle’ and ‘ True Beauty’), athletic judo prodigy Kim Tak ( Lee Shin Young- ‘ Crash Landing On You’, ‘ Bite Sisters’ and ‘ How To Buy A Friend’), eccentric yet passionate Woo Joo Young ( Min Do Hee- ‘ Reply 1994’, ‘ My ID Is Gangnam Beauty’ and ‘ Clean With Passion For Now’), sprightly social butterfly Yoo DaeIl ( Park Sung Joon- ‘ Sweet Munchies’ and ‘ Run-On’) as well as amiable student Shin Ah Ri ( Cheon Young Min- ‘ Foolish Mom’, ‘ What’s Up With These Kids!?’ ) and principled youth Seo Beom Joo ( ‘ Voice 2’, ‘ A Piece Of Your Mind’ and ‘ Military Prosecutor Doberman’).

In addition to the students, Professor Cha Yoo Gon ( Kim Sang Ho- ‘ City Hunter’, ‘ Kingdom’ and ‘ Sweet Home’), Professor Bang Hee Sun ( Choi Woo Ri- ‘ Queen In Hyun’s Man’, ‘ Matrimonial Chaos’ and ‘ The Bride Of Habaek’) as well as Dean Kim Soon Young( Seo Yi Sook- ‘ You’re All Surrounded’, ‘ Mother’ and ‘ Hotel Del Luna’) played active roles as the reoccurring members of staff at the University.

Nevertheless it was noticeable that the second-half of ‘ Rookie Cops’ shifted in tone in comparison to the first half ; angst-ridden and with a several surprising plot twists, though admittedly a little inconsistent at times due to quick-paced events.

As mentioned previously, Chae-Soo Bin and Kang Daniel star as the main leads of the series and deliver fairly consistent performances throughout. ( It is admittedly praiseworthy to point out that despite Kang Daniel’s good reputation as a celebrity talent host and soloist, ‘ Rookie Cops’ marked the idol’s first acting debut onscreen.)

As for the main leads’ onscreen romance , Daniel and Soo-Bin’s potential chemistry is admittedly stunted at different stages of the narrative. In the first-half of ‘ Rookie Cops’, shoehorned embarrassing scenarios and encounters were purposefully placed to enforce tension and awkwardness between the main leads onscreen. Yet it’s hard to deny that as plot progress, Daniel and Soo Bin’s onscreen chemistry is admittedly a lot more natural also.

Then there’s the supporting cast. Although there were admittedly several moments of overblown dialogue, the supporting cast delivered fairly solid performances. In particular, Lee Shin Young, Park Yoo Na and venerable actor Kim Sang Ho particularly stood out due to their charisma onscreen.

As mentioned previously, ‘ Rookie Cops’ is divided almost into two-halves by its tonal shift; a fairly easygoing introduction ( aside from its initial opening), gives ways to a darker second-half with several unexpected twists and revelations for viewers.

The first-half of ‘ Rookie Cops’ admittedly downplays a lot of initial tension from the opening, as well as future events to come. Instead, ‘ Rookie Cops’ fixated upon character introductions, early dilemmas for the characters and potential setups, before plunging into the deep-end with a pacy and angst-ridden second-half with varying results .

The tonal shift did help to keep viewers intrigued and intensify the climatic events of the second-half. However, this also caused some drawbacks for ‘ Rookie Cops’ also.

Although some of the intriguing counterplots of the series such as the rocky friendship between Kim Tak and Seung-Hyun, Eun-Gang’s gradual maturation as well as emotive themes such as anger, loss and love as well as focusing upon other subject areas such as corruption, peer pressure and corporal punishment, there were several subplots which were admittedly poorly fleshed-out. For example, Seung-Hyun’s estranged relationship with his father and the escapades of other side characters such as Shin Ah Ri were often disregarded during key moments.

Through the directing lens of ‘ Kim Byung Soo’ ( ‘ Queen In Hyun’s Man’, ‘ A Korean Odyssey’ and ‘ He Is Psychometric’), ‘ Rookie Cops’ is a fairly slick and glossy production.


Admittedly early episodes of the series seemed to place a heavy- budget emphasis upon frequent cut scenes of the academy; with little variance in tone or schemes. However as the second-half dawned upon the series, ‘ Rookie Cops’ took a different approach to filming by helping to captivate through Byung Soo’s leadership, the emotional tones through gradients and palettes of the characters at different times in the series . ( In particular off-whites, golden hues and blues were frequently shown onscreen during key scenes and interactions.)

The OST of ‘ Rookie Cops’ is predominantly composed of a compilation of schmaltzy ballads and pop tracks. Admittedly with some tracks more memorable than others, LUCY’s contemplative and guitar pop track ‘ Police Class’ from OST Part 2, ‘TIME’, an upbeat song performed by singer Kwon Eun Bi from OST Part 4, as well as Kang Daniel’s adrenal-infused tempo song ‘Hush Hush’ featured on the Special OST were surprisingly ear-catching tracks .

The finale of ‘ Rookie Cops’ was admittedly dependent on expectations. Although there was a shocking twist for the audience, the execution of the sudden plot-twist felt admittedly last minute; quickly thrown in to the storyline narrative in order to add edge and surprise , though failing to help impact the characters or the falling action.

Lighthearted, angst-ridden and surprisingly profound at times, ‘ Rookie Cops’ is a series which offered viewers with a lighthearted and sugary coming of age tale, as well as moody crime-drama in parts also. Nevertheless despite some brilliant acting performances and an intriguing setup, ‘ Rookie Cops’ did admittedly suffer slightly under the weight of execution by underdeveloped subplots and several overindulgent tropes. However for those looking for the best of both worlds through both sweet and darker themes, ‘ Rookie Cops’ is a fairly entertaining binge-watch also.

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