Buried Hearts

This is the first drama I've ever watched where I've been so hooked that I've eagerly waited each week for the next episode. It's such an exciting and thrilling ride that I can't get enough of it... like, seriously, it's so good, it's almost addictive. I've never experienced anything like this before! The plot, the characters, the twists - it all comes together so perfectly that I just have to talk about it all the time. In fact, I was so passionate about it that I ended up creating an IMDb account just so I could rate it and share my thoughts with others. I really wanted to make sure more people discover this masterpiece, because it deserves all the attention it can get. I can't wait to see where this drama goes, and I'm already thinking about watching it again once it's over. It's just that amazing.

Koreans are really good at doing revenge dramas. The Glory is a fantastic example but this one is very good too. The story of Seo Dongju a man with a fantastic visual memory navigates the dangerous tides of a chaebol family (conglomerate) while trying to save the woman he loves.

This intertwine with bad guys trying to eliminate him as he has in his memory the password for a secret fund worth 2 trillion Won.

The intrigue goes vertical, from the notion of society all the way to the Blue House (The Presidency).

Park Hyun Chik dazzles in this drama. I usually swoon over him when he's doing romance but here, he proves he can do a different genre with gusto.

Really worth watching.

Seo Dong Ju (ML) is the standout character in this drama. Have you seen the pictures of him? Just look at the impeccable hair on this man's head, with each strand perfectly styled for every scene. You watch this show solely for him alone in his pursuit for revenge, while opposing forces attempt to uncover the secret code to a 2 trillion won political slush fund stored in his head.

Yeom Jang Seon, primary old man antagonist to our main lead, does a remarkable job of making you hate him every episode. What's worse is his hair is crazy too!

Female lead? Fuhgeddaboudit. This show's major flaw is the minimal role that Yeo Eun Nam plays in the overall narrative. The promotional images led me to disappointment. The initial episodes are the strongest because both the ML and FL are in it together, but as the drama progresses, FL just ... drops out of the picture.

The final quarter of the show features some messy writing. Things are wrapping up but the drama appears to set up for a potential second season, which may or may not happen. This leads to some unusual and unexpected character shifts in hope of securing another season.

Episodes 1 to 6 are a solid 9 stars; it feels like smooth sailing. However, there's a sudden shift starting from episode 7 through to the finale. The script becomes messy, and you can definitely feel the change. After watching the ending, I understood that they are planning to set up for a season 2. The reason I rate it 5 stars overall is that I don't like how they structured season 1 just to justify a season 2. Starting from episode 7, you can notice the deliberate prolonging of situations that don't make sense. The production team and scriptwriters didn't seem to bother adding anything to make it feel less forced, resulting in a messy, boring, and disappointing experience. 5 stars is only for the consideration of amazing acting of the cast.

I expect product placement in Korean dramas but usually it is subtle, in this one it breaks the scenes and the actors seem to suddenly be in an advert for kopiko which detracts from the tension.

That aside this is an enjoyable revenge drama where Seo Dong-ju (Park Hyun-sik) is the assistant to a chaebol and has an ill fated relationship with Yeo Eun-nam (Hong Hwa-yeon) a granddaughter in the family. Dong-ju steals a massive political slush fund from Yeom Jang-sun (Huh Joon-ho) and all hell breaks loose with the murderous consequences. It is an enjoyable drama but seems to lose its way a little in later episodes with the plot and pacing. The ending is left open with unresolved plot lines so hopefully there will be a season 2.