dharmathug

I sort of didn't want to watch thinking it would be predictable but the reason I did is because it was short at only 7 episodes. So I gave it a shot, fully ready to switch it off after 1st episode if it didn't deliver.

Boy was I rewarded.

Basically an ultra violent revenge flic, a la John Wick, it separates itself from that movie series by actually having a plot, and as the relentless protagonist advances on his quest to wipe everyone out who was involved in his brother's murder, he sees how deep and convoluted the parameters are.

The lead also does a great job of showing his hidden emotions behind his facade of implacable stone, while his fists of iron and fighting mastery do most of the talking. Great choreography, tense fight scenes, impossible escapes, endless pools of blood, it's all there, driving the action to its forgone and inevitable conclusion. The title says it all.

The supporting cast is excellent, adding depth and color to support the nefarious deeds, double crosses and code of dishonor they live by. Surprisingly, dark humor shines through as well, occasionally lightening the unfolding carnage.

I rarely give 8 stars to anything- this show is a home run!

Yet another K romcom that has as much sex appeal as a bathtub full of rubber duckies.

Which is what to expect when the emotional intelligence EQ of the 2 leads has remained at elementary school level. What's with these endless coy K dramas that keep the leads in arrested development for the whole show and likely their whole lives?

How can the titular film director expect to do more than make insipid "melo lite" movies when her romantic experience is nil? And same question goes for the film critic boyfriend who has no life experience other than a sick brother and an emotionally stunted best friend - he's going to be a popular film reviewer?

This may be the first time I've seen a K drama when the second leads have a more interesting and believable relationship than the stars. Not that their relationship had a lot of insight or maturity either but at least they had some growth and realization. The leads? I doubt they will ever have kids because they haven't discovered the meaning of passion and sex. Children forever who only have a modicum of careers because the writers gave it to them.

The show had promise until about E5 and then it just went into stalled car mode for the rest of the movie. Even the tragedy that happened was barely addressed and didn't show any growth or deeper connection for the leads.

5 stars for the first 5 episodes.