Death to Snow White

Every episode is a full course meal. Sixty minutes of an episode is full, complete, and compact, leaving the audience full with stories, wonders, and emotions. Writing, direction, and editing really work well together to complement one another.

'Snow White Must Die - Blackout' succeeds in making everyone in the village a suspect thanks to the actors' brilliant acting. They can both portray good and bad so perfectly as the shadows change by the light. Kwon, who plays a chief of police, is the best of all. Even in the seconds of frame he can be from extreme good to extreme bad just with his face.

Cognitive dissonance from all characters in all different situations is well documented. It's even cathartic to see the real ugliness in the very inside of each character. I see them raw and naked, that complicated intrinsic greed and selfishness as delicately and elegantly as possible.

I find it's unfair for such good drama to be under the radar so much just because the kdrama fans aren't talking about this enough. The criticism about no originality in plot is ridiculous with so many kdrama out in a year, it's bound to have similarities and kdrama fans can catch up quick about who's who and feels like every characters are suspicious. Why singling out this drama.. To me I kept on watching because I want to know WHY the things happened the way it is, what went wrong in their relationship for it to be like that.

The statement that 'actor Byun Yohan acting saved this drama' is not a drag because any good drama/movie aren't made of just good scripts but most importantly good director and actors. I can name many drama with good acting scenes but still can't save the work because the scripts are bad.

Also seen criticism about him being student and adult instead of casting a younger actor, but to me it's not bothering me much since there are more mature looking teenager in real life. Although the twist are expected to me, but the overall story are thrilling and won't leave the viewers bore.

To be fair, this show is probably for people who may like (guess only) kdrama shows similar to : Miraculous Brothers, Longing for you, Flowers of Evil,. Kidnapping Day, Let's get grab by the Collar.

Structure wise, it's not tight at all. First episode is solid. Then all seems to be on autopilot and went downhill with over the top melodrama, empty threats and rhetorical questions.

A classic innocent man story, that adds characters half way through the story ... and then some. To me that's cheating. The conspiracy seems all too obvious and yet overwhelmingly ..... what's the word..... ridiculous.

Just way too thin, substance that is. So thin that there's constant flashy backs and plot replays/reminders at episode beginnings. I just finished The Frog and so much more unique, creative and well written on all fronts : characters, plot, timeline and meaning.

Thin, when compare to (plot, execution, direction) other kdramas the likes of Somebody, Beyond Evil, Mask girl, Shadow Detective, Mouse, A shop for Killers, A Killer Paradox.

Overall, it's a melodrama disguised as a thriller.

Only saving grace is acting, that's it.

The show is based on a famous novel. I have not read the book, and even if I had, I would not compare the show to the book as I believe shows like these should be rated on their own merits. So, is this a show worthy of investing 15 hours or so of your viewing time? It's a maybe for some, but a definite "No" for me.

The biggest problem with the show is the pacing. About midway through the show, I Googled the show to get some background info. It turns out that the show aired on one of the major broadcast networks in Korea. That explains why the show is (or had to be) 16 episodes long. It feels like a story that could have been 10 to 12 episodes (or even less) was stretched out to fit the 16-episode format, which explains the slow build up and many repeated scenes. Sure, there's enough intrigue and you quickly build empathy for the main character. You get the sense that just about every character knows "something" and you're eager to find out. The plot line becomes more and more interesting as the "mystery" and the involvement of each character are revealed. However, when everything is revealed, you cannot help but shake your head. It's like waiting in line for 2 hours for a new ride at an amusement park, and when you finally get on the ride, it's only 2 minutes long and is a dud.

You have to take a big leap of faith to accept that two highly unusual events can take place in the exact same place on the same night, just minutes apart. Then, the final reveal in the final episode pretty much ruins everything. I won't give away any more details for those who might insist on watching this show anyways.

Other annoyances in this show: The acting, especially the main characters, is excellent. However, there are few minor characters whose performances stick out like a sore thumb. Perhaps most audiences would find this bearable.

Poor attention to details. There's a scene where A (in a cop car) is trying to discreetly tail B (in a black car). Yes, that's right, A is trying to discreetly tail him in a cop car and stays less than 20 yards behind the black car the whole time. What is ridiculous is that when shown from the perspective of the cop car, the black car is in the #1 lane and cop car is in #2 lane. When the camera cuts away to the black car's perspective, the black car is miraculously in #2 lane and spots the cop car over his left shoulder in #1 lane. This is just one example. There are plenty more.

Poor editing. This goes back to the length issue. There are way too many scenes that are unnecessarily long. A scene of a woman crying that could have been impactful with just 30 seconds drags on for nearly 2 minutes. Conversations between some characters become unnecessarily long. Maybe the editor's hands were tied. Who knows.

If you're a huge fan of any of the actors/actresses and must watch the show, sure. For others, with so many shows available on so many different platforms today, I think you'd be better off investing 15 hours elsewhere. If you're still interested in the show, perhaps it might be better to find a reaction channel or one of those channels that offer condensed 1 hour summary.

A masterclass in suspense, centered around a gripping murder case that reinterprets events to reveal the ugly truth of human nature. Byun Yo-han delivers an electrifying performance, bringing his character to life with such intensity and nuance that you're never sure what to believe. His seamless shifts between emotions add layers of complexity, keeping you constantly guessing with each twist.

Go Jun is equally impressive as the determined detective, perfectly embodying the relentless pursuit of truth while grappling with his own struggles. The dynamic between Byun Yo-han and Go Jun crackles with tension, elevating the drama into something truly extraordinary. With a powerful script, top-tier performances, and genuinely surprising twists, this thriller not only captivates but also delves deep into the darker aspects of human nature.