This review may contain spoilers
An Addictive Drama without any Ground
..To be addictive at all!It was more like a sophisticated Soap Opera.And i do hate Soap Operas.But i kinda liked this one.Well, i don't really know if the word "like" is the most suitable,though.It's complicated!I hated it so much and i ended up finishing it within 3 days.I was watching non stop.No,it wasn't a "guilty pleasure"It was something different.
As i just finished it i have so many scattered thoughts and so much to write,i don't really know where to start.Iam the first to write a review for this,so i'll do my best.
The story is about a man who lost 10 years of his life.Kidnapped and captured in a cave,away from home.A very intriguing idea,indeed.
And then we follow his return back home,his interactions with family and friends, his struggles to adjust back to his normal life,to take control and gather himself.
The start was really strong and had so much potential,promising for a captivating story to have you glued to your seat.Fast paced and a nice introduction to all characters.
I have to say here that every character in the first few episodes was such a sweet,kind,helpful and caring person,i was confused if this was a Happy Family Drama instead of a Crime/Thriller/Revenge story.
Only exception was the Sister in-Law.Every time she was on screen i wanted so badly to punch her face,lol!
The problem about this Drama is that the writer was too ambitious and had too much on his plate!
Every story has its main and supporting characters.Here,for a reason i cannot really comprehend,every char had more or less the same fair amount for stardom!
What i mean by this,is the fact that we get to know almost each character's backstory,which thb,was unnecessary and totally irrelevant with the main story and the protagonist's life.Ok,not all of them but yet this is one of the reasons the story was so damn dragged and get me bored quite a few times.27 eps-actually 28 as the last one is 1,5 hrs long-please,why??15 or less would be ideal!Anyway,it is what it is.
Let's do more digging into characters.
Vincent,our main lead.
He literally returned from Hell.And after all he went through,i thought i would sympathize and feel for him.And although i stand for his anger and totally understand his need to take revenge and find out why all these happened to him,i couldn't relate to this character.I couldn't feel his pain and i can't justify any of the decisions he made.To start with,Vincent to me was never a good person.He was always in the grey zone,cocky and arrogant prior his captivity.Cruel,insane,short-minded,after.I dont know this actor.I have bookmarked few of his works but this was the first Drama i watched him starring.I wasn't overwhelmed neither by his acting nor by his role itself.And this is bad as he is the ML!!
When he returned there are few nice moments,him united with his family.And we see how gradually regains his physical health.
But what about his mental health??I mean,seriously.This character SHOULD attend like over 500 sessions with the best psychologist of the country!Ok i know iam exaggerating but still,this was the most lame,unreasonable and unrealistic detail of the whole drama.Having your family's support is not enough after being in captivity for 10 years!
Max: Vincent's friend and apprentice, the second victim of the kidnapping,who managed to escape.He suffers from PTSD,he caries the Survivor's Guilt and he has a "death wish"He is shown as an adrenaline junkie,participating in extreme sports to feel the "rush" He feels obligated to Vincent,he is unable to say No to him,and he always ends to be his partner in crime.Actually he was the most innocent among all the characters.The only char i really sympathized.
And yes Vincent Wong is one of my ultimate obsessions but it pains me to say that not even him could save this Drama.And to be completely honest,this was the first-and i hope the last -time i didn't enjoy his acting!Way too average for Vincent's talent.I blame the writer and the role,not him!
Cathy the wife:Presented as a saint,a pure angel,never gave up searching of her husband.Spent alot of effort,money and time.A loving and caring wife.She ended married her childhood friend and seemed conflicted after Vincent's return.
She holds some cards.She has few secrets.This character could be more interesting and with much more depth but it failed.
Yan,Cathy's hub and Vincent's friend:Such a pathetic character to me.Creepy and fishy all the way.An ex mercenary,a skilled killer.But he was driven by jealousy and nothing more.Another character who had great potential to show more but once again failed.
As this review is already too long and iam sorry about this,i won't continue with the other chars.Well everyone else was more like a filler and the writer could easily omit them from the story as not adding much to it.(am i a bitch??)
Few last thoughts:
I was really tired by the Love Triangle and all the jealousy included.
Too many unnecessary characters and stories revolving around them.Nothing essential,ended a messy plot and lost focus from the main story.
I wanted more about the kidnapping,the period Vincent spent in the cave and the period after he was rescued.They devoted just 2 episodes in total,which is a shame.The story could be more intereting if they developed those aspects more.(instead they gave us the soap-opera gossip-like vibes)
Too much melodrama.Really wasted potential.Mediocre acting.Too much shit to take.
A nice cinematography for a HK Drama,it was a plus especially the scenes in Vietnam.
They really must improve the visuals in fires,explosions,blood,wounds etc...
Don't ask me why i got addicted,watched and finished it.I don't know!
Did i regret it,though??
NO!
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