Reviews

Your typical rom-com filled with many cliches. However, the show is quite addicting and it quickly builds empathy and sympathy. For rom-com fans, I'm sure the show offers everything they want in a show like this. For others, this is more of a guilty pleasure. Satirical depiction of husband/wife roles in traditional Korean society is quite funny and on point. The obliviousness of the super-rich is also hilarious. Again, a strong cast with exceptional acting carries the show forward. However, there is no denying the fact that the show is way, way too long. Each episode is nearly 90 min (x 16 episodes). Because of the sheer length of each episode, you will inevitably have to sit through a lot of filler scenes in each episode. If the show was cut to 75 min per ep for 16 ep or 90 min per ep for 12 or 14 eps, this could have been a much, much better show.

The premise of the show is interesting enough. The first episode quickly introduces the main characters and enough suspense to grab your attention. However, everything pretty much spins out of control thereafter. I'm on ep. 3 and I believe that's a good place to jump off. First of all, the ridiculously over dramatic music is impossible to ignore. Secondly, there is a scene where the show decides to show the audience an elaborate booting sequence for an AI system. It's as if the showrunners want to tell the audience "hey, look at this awesome CG we incorporated into this show." However, it's completely unnecessary and almost laughable. Now, these are minor issues that most viewers would be willing to stomach. On the other hand, the plot holes and complete non-sense that the show tries to force feed will be less than palatable for most intelligent viewers. For example, the main female character does not trust her bodyguard. He's been on the job for one day, yes, just one day. Instead of reassigning him or simply firing him, there is a long drawn out scene with her confronting her bodyguard. There is nothing worse than creating a highly intelligent, competent character and making that character act unintelligent or incompetent, over and over, just to carry the story forward. Speaking of one day on the job, a lot of events take place throughout ep 2 and 3, and someone says "it's only his first day on the job." That includes the entire living room and kitchen busted up in the afternoon, only to appear spotless within few hours when the guy returns to his home.

In conclusion, it's an interesting story with very poor execution. Once the show is over, I may just read what happened. Not really interested in sitting through 8 full episodes.

The original Believer (Dokjeon) was very good. It's not flawless, but definitely worth watching. It was no surprise when it was announced that they would make another movie based on the original story. While many expected what would be a sequel, the director decided to make a "midquel." Okay, so the new movie is trying to fill in some of the events and details that make the first movie to make the entire story a more complete story. Well, the problem is that you have a different director, different actor playing one of the lead role, many of the characters that made the first move so interesting have already died, etc. Even with these obvious flaws, they had a chance to create a decent movie here. But no... This movie completely ignores some of the fundamental storylines from the first movie. There are so many plot holes that it seems the director who made the second movie did not even watch the first movie. Very, very disappointing for a movie that many fans had eagerly anticipated.

I was on the fence on whether to watch this show or not. I've seen enough hospital dramas and figured this show would be filled with similar cliches that we've all seen dozens of times. I gave it a go and I'm glad I did. It is a medical drama set in a psychiatric ward and the main storyline focuses on the nurses (and doctors to a lesser degree) who work in that ward. There are 12 episodes in total and I did not, actually could not, binge all of them at once. The main reason for not binging was some episodes made me stop and think about what I'd just seen. The show compelled me to review and rethink about mental health.

The show is filled with cliches. Some of the scenes, I can anticipate exactly what would happen and what would be said by which character. There are scenes where conversation between the characters is highly unnatural and is there simply to provide background information. There are some plot holes as well. Despite these factors, the show was entertaining and interesting enough to make me want more and more. Some random acts of kindness that pop out of nowhere, words that seem meaningless that leave a lasting impression.

I surprisingly found the show to be quite immersive, and I also found that immersive experience was almost therapeutic, as I laughed and cried together with the characters. I would highly recommend this show.

This is certainly an ambitious show. Anytime you're dealing with any type of super human abilities, you are going to draw comparisons to Marvel series and other successful predecessors. This show definitely has elements of the Incredibles and X-Men series. The camaraderie among the high school students also gives the audience a bit of Harry Potter vibe. All of these elements combined sets up what appears to be a very enjoyable show. The cast is filled with many proven veteran actors and actresses and their performances certainly do not disappoint. For those who are not familiar with Korean actors and actresses, the show did manage to assemble a team of "Avengers" level performers. I have watched up to Ep. 8 now and I'm somewhat eager to complete the 20 episodes as they become available. I think this could certainly be an entertaining show for many. Perhaps many more seasons may follow.

However, I do want to warn anyone who has not seen the show about some of the problems they may have to deal with. The biggest problem for me was the inclusion of so many unnecessary scenes that make the show almost unbearable at times. There are too many gymnasium scenes, too many "vending machine" scenes, too much information about "Bungaeman" that really did not add any value to the show (I have a feeling there's more of this as future episodes give background info on other pivotal characters in the show). The show is based on an existing webtoon. Perhaps the slow pace works well for a format like webtoon. However, the slow character development simply does not work very well for the video format. Perhaps the commitment to create a 20-episode series is the reason or perhaps being too faithful to the source material is the problem. Whatever the case, the show will test the limits of your patience at times. This show could easily have been 9/10 or even better.

If you are looking at these reviews to decide whether to give this show a try, I would eagerly recommend that you watch season 1. The merits of season 1 have been mentioned in many of the reviews posted on here. Once you finish season 1, just stop and move on to a different show. After the brilliant season 1, season 2 has morphed into an absolute disaster. The second season has 3 separate deserter stories. Unlike the gritty realism of the first season, which made the show so captivating, the second season relies on cheap dramatization to make the stories seem more "heartbreaking," I suppose. The scene with the mother of the killer and the mother of the victim facing off while everyone else is just standing around is just ludicrous. The second story could have been and should have been the highlight of this season. However, for whatever reason, the show runners decided to add absolutely ridiculous chase scenes that completely ruin the storyline. I understand that it doesn't hurt to add some levity to break up the tension, but the slap stick comedy, ala Three Stooges or Benny Hill, simply does not belong in this show and kills the mood. Instead of continuing with what made season 1 so successful, it seems the show runners consciously decided to make season 2 more dramatic, funnier, and engaging, but failed miserably. Again, watch season 1 if you haven't yet. Pretend season 2 never happened.

A very popular genre with proven actors and actresses. So, what can go wrong. Well, quite a bit. You see some mixed reviews on this site. I will side with the crowd who would not recommend this show. As many have mentioned, there's nothing special here. Unless you are massive fans of Richard Madden and/or Priyanka Chopra who swoon at every breath they take, you're not going to find much excitement with this show. If you're still doubting some of the negative reviews, just go ahead and watch the first 13 minutes of episode 1. After you see the completely asinine dialog and very static action sequence, I highly doubt you'll want to continue.

Is this show worth close to 10 hrs of your time? I think most would say "yes," but not enthusiastically. The basic plot line is interesting enough. The acting is good for the most part. However, it did feel like couple of the characters were miscast. There are several plot holes and sequences of events that defy logic.

I almost stopped watching it couple of times throughout the show, but decided to stick with it. After finishing the show, the best way to describe my viewing experience is that I just watched a rough draft of a potentially very good show. There are actions sequences that definitely could have been executed much better and some other details that left much room for improvement. I just wonder what may have been if this show was produced with a bigger budget and with input from other talents and experts.

This may be archived to show future film makers what not to do when making a crime drama. Whether you are familiar with the TV series or not, there is nothing redeemable about this movies. Simply having some reputable actors cannot revive a crappy script or poor directing. For anyone who watched the whole movie, I truly admire your patience. For anyone who gave a score of 8 or above, I feel sorry for you, because that would mean you have not seen truly phenomenal crime drama movies worthy of a 9 or 10 score.

I kept convincing myself it's gonna get better, it's gonna pay off. But, I just couldn't watch beyond the point where Luther went to Norway and things happen in that house... At this point, I have absolutely no interest in what happened beyond that point, whether the bad guy goes down, who survived and who didn't, etc.

If you haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favor and save yourself the agony.

The story is loosely based on a real-life story. The story itself is absolutely fascinating, how a Korean criminal mastermind built a drug empire in Suriname and the efforts to bring down that empire. The acting for the most part is just outstanding, mixed with some cringeworthy acting by few minor characters. In addition, there are obvious plot holes and scenes that will make people shake their heads. Korean shows do a great job on most things, but they rarely deliver when guns are involved.

Anyways, as mentioned above, the fact that this is loosely based on real-life characters and events makes the show interesting enough. The show is only six episodes long, meaning there are very few unnecessary filler scenes. I do think it's worth the investment of 6+ hours for this show.

While some may debate how realistic the show is and whether some plot holes seriously jeopardize the show, the fact of the matter is that watching this show will simply put a smile on your face. It is a thoroughly enjoyable show.

Wow, what a disappointment. I'd eagerly waited for this show, hoping a Korean version would offer a new twist to the basic premise of the original show. For anyone who has seen the original show, there is absolutely nothing this version offers. In summary,

Pros: 1) Familiar faces: Negotiator (from Lost), professor (from Old boy), Berlin (from Squid Game), Tokyo (from Burning), and mint director (dungeon guy from Parasite) 2) South Korea, North Korea dynamics: The South and North set up created natural conflict and dynamics.

Cons: EVERYTHING ELSE.

For non-Korean speaking audience, they won't catch the poorly executed regional accents. There are some cringe worthy acting and plot holes, which also plagued the original show. In conclusion, just a very lazy effort.

A show comes along with rave reviews... Being a Korean American, I am deeply invested in this story from the start. I watched the first two episodes with great anticipation and I was not disappointed. It truly is a captivating story of the immigrant experience, shot with breathtaking cinematography. I was planning to watch two episodes at a time, allowing some time for the indelible images and impactful storyline to simmer and set root, building up renewed anticipation for two weeks to watch the following two episodes. Then, something unexpected happened. I came across a story about what one of the main characters had done several years ago, something that I personally find to be very offensive. Then, I saw what this same actor wore to the show premier, which I found to be even more offensive in light of how he had treated Korean women. I am torn. There is a beautiful show that I want to continue to watch, but it has a person who I find repulsive. Sure, people make mistakes. But, I can't unsee what I've seen. I think I will just settle for the book.

ANOTHER UPDATE: I want to make sure someone unfamiliar with Korea is not deceived by this show or some of the information on this board. It seems I also have to define what "dramatized" means. The Korean legal system has a special set of laws for kids under 14. That is the main issue the show is trying to tackle. Some of the crimes depicted in the show did happen. However, the show has purposely lowered the age of the criminals to make it more shocking and fit the narrative of "under the age of 14." Lastly, "NO," judges in Korea do not go chasing after suspects. When you take an actual event and embellish it with outrageous details, that's dramatization.

UPDATED REVIEW: I've managed to watch a few more episodes. Unfortunately, I am lowering my rating from an 8 to a 6. While the subject matter is interesting and the acting remains strong, the show fails to deliver on many ends.

The drama attempts to tackle a very serious issue that has been at the center of controversy in Korea for a while. The show is stacked with a solid lineup of veteran actors who have demonstrated their acting skills in dozens of works and I have no doubt that they will not disappoint here. Having viewed the first couple of episodes, I do find that the story is somewhat over dramatized. Perhaps the show runners felt that taking a more realistic approach may lessen the entertainment value. I think a more subtle approach may have been more effective in bringing the issue to the forefront of discussion.

As some have written, the main story is a familiar one that has perhaps been overplayed. I also somewhat agree with some reviewers complaining about the first part of the movie being very slow. However, it may have been a deliberate effort on the part of the director to lull the audience before hitting them with what was in store in the second half. The acting was superb, and despite some plot holes, the movie itself was quite enjoyable. Soak in the first hour and your patience will be rewarded.

With any zombie movie or drama, you accept the basic premise of a fictious life form that does things that are unreal. However, it does get frustrating when the show is filled with unrealistic human behavior. The zombie outbreak at the school starts with a girl opening a cage that was rattling. I had a sense of deja vu since another zombie show, Kingdom, had two people fighting to the death, but stopping suddenly to open a rattling crate, which let out the... zombie... Are there that many people in this world who cannot resist opening something that rattles? Please, please... If you hear suspicious rattling from a box or crate, call the authorities or move away from it. Do NOT open the damn box!!!

I read through some of the reviews and it became clear why such dichotomous scores appear here. For those who have not seen the show and are considering whether to give it a try, your guidance on review scores is as follows:

Scores of 2 or below: The setting of this story is 2075. The devastation mankind is facing is water depletion. Rationing of water based on some kind of class rank system, which also includes "no pets" policy. Due to this basic premise, you are going to have few climate change deniers and animal lovers bombing the reviews with low scores.

Scores of 9 or higher: With so many plot holes, these high scores represent nothing more than show of fandom.

The show has a somewhat interesting premise, but it truly fails to live up to its potential. Some of the military crew members act emotionlessly on purpose, and as a result, some scenes are simply monotonous. There are too many plot holes and implausibility that cannot be accepted even for a sci-fi show like this. I can go on and on, but the conclusion is that the show is very average at best. If you're a fan of this genre and have seen all of the Alien series and others, this might be an interesting take with a new form of "danger" the crew members must deal with. For others, I highly doubt it will worth the time invested.

I was truly looking forward to the latest work by director Yeon Sang-ho. I enjoyed Train to Busan very much and his drama "The Cursed" is one of my favorite from the past couple of years. Mr. Yeon certainly has his own world of zombies and the paranormal, and as with some of his work, many have been thrilled to go along with the ride. Unfortunately, this isn't one of his best. The convoluted storyline, frenzied action scenes, and poorly developed character backgrounds make this a very turbulent ride. There's no point in giving any summary of the story. Unlike some of his finer works, where you didn't want to get off the train even after it had arrived at the final destination, this made you want to jump off the train midway through. There was no denying the feeling that I had gotten on the wrong train after the first couple of episodes. It's a shame.

As I was watching this show, I kept trying to convince myself that it will get better, it will get better. For what it's worth, the acting was great. I think Han So-Hee clearly cemented her place as a top female actress in Korea. Park Hee-Soon and Kim Sang-Ho never disappoint. The problem was that we've all seen countless iterations of this story. It's just a question of is the person seeking revenge a male or female? Whose death set the main character on the path of vengeance? Who's the really villain? Does the end justify the mean? Etc., etc., etc. The show runners made sure not to miss out on any cliches. But yet, I tried to convince myself to like it. Hoping for a surprisingly refreshing ending. Then, in Ep. 8, the director could not resist the temptation to throw in a mid-city car chase/crash and a completely formulaic love/sex scene. By the end of the show, the sheer cliche overload was exhausting and I was simply happy that it finally came to a stop, albeit very predictable end. If you're a big fan of Han So-Hee, why not. For all others, you might want to invest 8 hrs of your life on something else.

Despite some plot holes, Season 1 was thoroughly entertaining. There were many twists and turns and interesting characters kept the story moving. Season 2 got off to a good start with the main characters facing new challenges and different dynamics. Then suddenly, the story started to veer off course and ended up in Moldova. I won't spoil it for those who wish to watch the show based on recommendation from others, but I don't know too many people who can buy into the story line that unfolds in Moldova. No offense Moldova. I'm seriously torn. Do I skip the rest of Season 2 and start on Season 3 or just cherish Season 1 and leave it at that.

Great plot line, solid acting. I like the fact that all 8 episodes were tightly packed with pertinent scenes and no time-fillers. I suppose this could have been stretched out to 10 episodes, easily, but the producers chose not to and it pays off with face paced story telling. Having said that, I had to knock a couple of stars off since I really could not buy into the dynamics between Jack and Harriet and between Harriet and Max. It's not must-see TV, but it will provide you with 6-7 hrs of solid entertainment.

First of all, I cannot rave enough about the acting. The casting for this show seems just perfect and everyone, from the main characters to those with smaller parts, truly bring this story to life. Some may feel that this is just a regurgitation of same story about a socially stigmatized single mother trying to raise her son the best way she knows how in a rural setting and finding love along the way. However, the rich character development and great acting make it seem like something original. Rather than trying to grab the audience's attention with fast-paced action and shock element, just for the sake of shocking, the story builds interest through empathy. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in taking a glimpse into the lives of these fascinating characters and becoming immersed in their daily lives; sometimes exciting, sometimes mundane, like real life.