My second viewing of this series, one of the finest KDramas with a great cast of among the best Korean actors, also excellent writing and directing. I love both MLs and their carefully developed characters, but want to give a shout out to the FL, Nam Sang Mi, who handles all the wrist-grabbing and emotional and physical manhandling from these gorgeous but twice-her-size guys with grace and toughness. Also, the central bad guy is definitely a dangerous thug, but with moments of humanity that make him much more complex than usually seen in these plots. This series is relatively early in the Korean Wave, but the use of the dreaded amnesia trope is central this time and works well. Strong recommendation for South Korean crime series at its best.
6 Reviews
A Greek tale, told in Korean
haabijaabi27 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This particular serial is an old one, and the production value is clearly dated. Yet the power of this serial is so strong that it is impossible to ignore it. The story, the acting, the editing and the direction more than make up for the age of this serial.
Many have spoken of the outstanding job done by Lee Joon Gi. Being a die-hard fan of JLG, I will not go there yet lest I do not stop!
The beauty of this story is that it is more than a revenge story. It speaks to the complexity of human relationships that your dire enemy can potentially be your cherished friend, if you did not know their past, that your most cherished relationship can be with your mortal enemy. These and other questions make this story telling so different and so outstanding.
As usual, any great Kdrama depends on its myriad characters to truly make it shine. This one is no exception. The combination of a fantastic female lead, a supporting male lead, and a truly bad ass Mr Jekyll and Mr Hyde persona of the male lead (led by the inimitable Lee Joon Gi) makes this a cut above the rest. The bromance of the two male leads is a delight in itself. Their relationship really shone, and grew with a tacit understanding all the way through the twists and turns. The romance was suitably red hot. LJG played two very different personalities and the romance was a constant through it all. Watching the female lead react to both of these very different personalities but be drawn deeply to both was wonderful.
In the end, I and many others would have appreciated a little more of that bromance and romance if possible.
However, perhaps the most interesting relationship was between the male lead and the villain of the piece. The villain was beautifully played by Choi Jae Sung; larger than life, complex and layered. The interplay of the two personalities with the villain was brilliant and even in the end, the denouement underscored the pathos of the situation.
It is reminiscent of a Greek play, with its themes of the vagaries of fate and man's constant attempt to make sense of destiny. Highly recommended.
Many have spoken of the outstanding job done by Lee Joon Gi. Being a die-hard fan of JLG, I will not go there yet lest I do not stop!
The beauty of this story is that it is more than a revenge story. It speaks to the complexity of human relationships that your dire enemy can potentially be your cherished friend, if you did not know their past, that your most cherished relationship can be with your mortal enemy. These and other questions make this story telling so different and so outstanding.
As usual, any great Kdrama depends on its myriad characters to truly make it shine. This one is no exception. The combination of a fantastic female lead, a supporting male lead, and a truly bad ass Mr Jekyll and Mr Hyde persona of the male lead (led by the inimitable Lee Joon Gi) makes this a cut above the rest. The bromance of the two male leads is a delight in itself. Their relationship really shone, and grew with a tacit understanding all the way through the twists and turns. The romance was suitably red hot. LJG played two very different personalities and the romance was a constant through it all. Watching the female lead react to both of these very different personalities but be drawn deeply to both was wonderful.
In the end, I and many others would have appreciated a little more of that bromance and romance if possible.
However, perhaps the most interesting relationship was between the male lead and the villain of the piece. The villain was beautifully played by Choi Jae Sung; larger than life, complex and layered. The interplay of the two personalities with the villain was brilliant and even in the end, the denouement underscored the pathos of the situation.
It is reminiscent of a Greek play, with its themes of the vagaries of fate and man's constant attempt to make sense of destiny. Highly recommended.
This drama has everything, gangsters spies, revenge, intrigue, amnesia, bromance and even the romance triangle
jgardiner-871-72672924 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's a bit stressful this kdrama. I'm puts you the viewer through every emotion.
I watched it before. It's not that I don't know the story but the drama, the emotion and the heart beats. Wow!. It all comes back to the viewer.
I'd forgotten how even more gorgeous LJG is when he was 15 years younger and just a little bit chubbier and fuller in the face. He was the cutest no wonder we all fell in love with him after watching all of those older dramas. We were just swept up by his totally overpowering charisma and fascinating magnetism. Woah!!!
His chemistry is just electric. His face looks more mature and natural in this drama and not so perfectly flawless.
As you keep watching the drama it gets stressful. I'm not sure at that time he had such high quality martial arts skills as he has today and I hated seeing him hit by that bodyguard. His pistol shooting skills are high caliber though. He get more and more emotional as he thinks he has found his mothers killer and is not in full control. He is soon overpowered by the more experienced killer. His acting skills are superlative. He is unparalleled and peerless in his craft. So amazing to watch. He is extraordinary and remarkable, especially in area where he has to show his character under stress and over-emotional. Woah! He is so fascinating and incredible to watch. What matchless driving skills. Just watching his ever changing facials is extra satisfying. He goes through them all..... confusion, sorrow, fear, determination, vengeance, insane laughter, shock, horror, uncertainty and pain. It is totally etched out in his face. It was especially evident in that last showdown fight. I screenshot them all.
Then he does those dangerous death defying stunts of driving the car into the water actions and simulates drowning. Why do they always to this him? I've seen it happen to him too many times. Stop doing this producers!
I'd forgotten how really excellent this drama is. I can see why some viewers classed this one as better than Moonlovers. Even Lee Joon Gi himself said that Kay was the better character than Wang So. Myself I'll stick to Wang So he is already filled his home in my heart but this drama is totally awesome.
This has everything, gangsters spies, revenge, intrigue, amnesia, bromance and even the romance triangle. The two brothers in love with the same woman. When you start watching this you never want to stop but I have watched it before. So I want to drag it out and make it last so I can admire everything about this superb actor Lee Joon Gi. Justify, clarify and soak it all up. I love his longer hair in this. It's flipped back, slightly tousles, frames his face and off his forehead. He looks so beautiful. It gives him a daring and audacious image.
When he loses his memory and become K. He become completely a different person more competent, confident and self assured. He doesn't have his usual hang ups and worries about his mothers death. He smiles more and actually seems happier. He even becomes a bit flirty. Seems like his feelings for Seo Ji Woo / Liwarat Ari comes to the fore. He even becomes charming. But... he has become ruthless with gangsters and ordered them to be killed. Once he recalls his memory be becomes the wary agent once more.
How can we as the viewer live without his fighting actions. So scary but meaningful. Significant, compelling and obligatory to the entertainment and enjoyment of the story and hooks the viewer right into the action where they may even cheer or encourage him as a combatant. Oh! It so good to see him almost defeated but then come back on top. We just so love that....... Producers we feel that you put our hero in danger. He got hurt so much in this drama. The last showdown was so hard to watch.
The end was kind of crappy though. Still everything before it made up for its unwieldy ending.
I watched it before. It's not that I don't know the story but the drama, the emotion and the heart beats. Wow!. It all comes back to the viewer.
I'd forgotten how even more gorgeous LJG is when he was 15 years younger and just a little bit chubbier and fuller in the face. He was the cutest no wonder we all fell in love with him after watching all of those older dramas. We were just swept up by his totally overpowering charisma and fascinating magnetism. Woah!!!
His chemistry is just electric. His face looks more mature and natural in this drama and not so perfectly flawless.
As you keep watching the drama it gets stressful. I'm not sure at that time he had such high quality martial arts skills as he has today and I hated seeing him hit by that bodyguard. His pistol shooting skills are high caliber though. He get more and more emotional as he thinks he has found his mothers killer and is not in full control. He is soon overpowered by the more experienced killer. His acting skills are superlative. He is unparalleled and peerless in his craft. So amazing to watch. He is extraordinary and remarkable, especially in area where he has to show his character under stress and over-emotional. Woah! He is so fascinating and incredible to watch. What matchless driving skills. Just watching his ever changing facials is extra satisfying. He goes through them all..... confusion, sorrow, fear, determination, vengeance, insane laughter, shock, horror, uncertainty and pain. It is totally etched out in his face. It was especially evident in that last showdown fight. I screenshot them all.
Then he does those dangerous death defying stunts of driving the car into the water actions and simulates drowning. Why do they always to this him? I've seen it happen to him too many times. Stop doing this producers!
I'd forgotten how really excellent this drama is. I can see why some viewers classed this one as better than Moonlovers. Even Lee Joon Gi himself said that Kay was the better character than Wang So. Myself I'll stick to Wang So he is already filled his home in my heart but this drama is totally awesome.
This has everything, gangsters spies, revenge, intrigue, amnesia, bromance and even the romance triangle. The two brothers in love with the same woman. When you start watching this you never want to stop but I have watched it before. So I want to drag it out and make it last so I can admire everything about this superb actor Lee Joon Gi. Justify, clarify and soak it all up. I love his longer hair in this. It's flipped back, slightly tousles, frames his face and off his forehead. He looks so beautiful. It gives him a daring and audacious image.
When he loses his memory and become K. He become completely a different person more competent, confident and self assured. He doesn't have his usual hang ups and worries about his mothers death. He smiles more and actually seems happier. He even becomes a bit flirty. Seems like his feelings for Seo Ji Woo / Liwarat Ari comes to the fore. He even becomes charming. But... he has become ruthless with gangsters and ordered them to be killed. Once he recalls his memory be becomes the wary agent once more.
How can we as the viewer live without his fighting actions. So scary but meaningful. Significant, compelling and obligatory to the entertainment and enjoyment of the story and hooks the viewer right into the action where they may even cheer or encourage him as a combatant. Oh! It so good to see him almost defeated but then come back on top. We just so love that....... Producers we feel that you put our hero in danger. He got hurt so much in this drama. The last showdown was so hard to watch.
The end was kind of crappy though. Still everything before it made up for its unwieldy ending.
Superb Spy/Crime Thriller
captloucostello27 February 2010
The Time Between Dog and Wolf is the twilight hour when it becomes difficult to distinguish between good and evil, or friends from enemies. This series is a wise guy spy thriller of the first order. The script is tight and fast paced, the acting superb, and the photography is most excellent. The acting and character development for a very interesting grouping of supporting characters is excellent. One even begins to like the bad guy. Actor Lee Joon Ki's (Le Grand Chef, Sweet Spy) portrayal of the conflicted NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent Suhyun/Kay, a spy who finds himself accepted as a son by his gangland Triad boss is one to be remembered. This show is well populated with a host of very memorable and well developed characters. On location filming in Thailand and Korea adds considerably to the gritty underworld reality of the film. Directed by Jin Min Kim. The very good English subtitle work by David Bannon makes this film very watchable for the non Korean speaking viewer. This series is so good that I unreservedly recommended it most highly. If you enjoy superior quality viewing entertainment then this belongs in your collection.
My best Korean drama ever!!
lamiaa-117572 June 2021
Story Holds Up Well despite production values
kefacatoncu16 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's 2023, and this drama held my attention. The production value is dated, but the storyline was intriguing and the suspense and plot twists were worth the watch. And a rewatch.
The bad guys aren't all bad, and the good guys are questionable. I think the chemistry between Lee Joon Gi and Jae Sung Choi make this series. The biggest flaws are the total idiocy of Sang Mi Wans character Ari , who makes stupid and risky decisions over and over, but the character comes through in the end. Also, the failure of the series to emphasize how much two years of fighting in Thailand could have altered Soo Hyun's appearance, which would have made the return more believable.
I wish they would have gone a different way with the ending, letting Mao live, that's how much I sympathized with his character, and it would have justified Ari's idiocy.
I like the title, to me the Time between dog and wolf was Kay's period of amenisia when he turns from a dog to a wolf.
The bad guys aren't all bad, and the good guys are questionable. I think the chemistry between Lee Joon Gi and Jae Sung Choi make this series. The biggest flaws are the total idiocy of Sang Mi Wans character Ari , who makes stupid and risky decisions over and over, but the character comes through in the end. Also, the failure of the series to emphasize how much two years of fighting in Thailand could have altered Soo Hyun's appearance, which would have made the return more believable.
I wish they would have gone a different way with the ending, letting Mao live, that's how much I sympathized with his character, and it would have justified Ari's idiocy.
I like the title, to me the Time between dog and wolf was Kay's period of amenisia when he turns from a dog to a wolf.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
