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It might be a medical drama, the plot is not what you expect! There is no rivalry between characters, no fighting for a higher rank in the hospital it is all about a doctor who wants revenge.
Go Kyung Pyo's acting is amazing in this and since I've only seen him in much softer roles such as Strongest Delivery Man and Reply 1988 it is really interesting to see him star in such a dark and suspenseful drama.
Jeon So Min is also great in this drama as I've only seen her on Running Man, it is quite interesting to see her play much more serious roles where she doesn't have to joke around as much.
Every single episode keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to watch the next episode as soon as possible. The amount of times I got scared due to the intense and suspense throughout this drama is numerous. Although there are some predictable parts throughout the drama, they did very well in delivering it even if it is what you expected to happen.
There is nothing much I disliked about the drama at all. The pacing of the drama is great, they don't drag certain parts and I understand each part of the plot clearly. It is definitely worth a watch!
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First of all, Go Kyung Pyo's acting never disappoint especially when it comes to serious role, he definitely nailed it!! and the other casts also blend well with each other.
The storylines is truly good and it gets better on every episodes. Each of the episodes will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to watch the next eps as soon as possible and end up marathon-ing it LOL. I also love how the writers do not desperately include romance in this like some dramas have.
I do not remember not liking any ep of this drama and I do not even skipped any parts of it because it deserves every seconds and minutes of your time and that just how precious this drama is. I might sound like I am exaggerating things but please give this drama a chance and you won't regret doing so. I do not usually write drama's review but I wrote one for this drama because I feel like I would regret it if I don't write one hehehe
So, have fun watching! xoxo
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A “Dark/Noir” Medical Drama
I am surprised that I am enjoying watching “Cross”. The surgical scenes involving cutting into and working inside a patient’s body in the hospital operating theater are convincing and not too frightening to watch. I am not very fond of any dark/noir story; however, I decide to watch “Cross” because the “method” actor Jin Yi Han/Kim Ji Han is on this drama.The story involves illegal organ harvesting and trafficking. It is rather an eye opener for naïve people, how cruel the illegal organ business is.
In the beginning episodes, Actor Go Kyung Pyo as Dr. Kang In Kyu with his cold and unfriendly stare appear to be unnatural. He seems to be hesitant in interpreting his character, but he grows into his character and his stare softens when he is dealing with dying patients. His performance is engaging when he is showing his gentle side.
Both female lead characters, Dr. Go Ji In (actress Jeon So Min) and Dr. Son Yeon Hee (actress Yang Jin Sung) make “Cross” drama lighter with their bright smiles. Their appearance is a welcome and brighten this dark/noir drama.
As always, Heo Sung Tae does not disappoints portraying a ringleader in this illegal organ harvesting and trafficking, Kim Hyung Beom. He accomplishes his interpretation as the evil character that I dislike passionately.
I am unhappy to see character Dr. Go Jung Hoon (Portrayed by Actor Jo Jae Hyun) is eliminated in the middle of the drama series. He is a fine actor. Dr. Go works as a catalyst in the story; he is an authentic, benevolent, and empathic doctor that sticks to his principles and moral values.
However, when Dr. Go Jung Hoon is killed, character Dr. Lee Joo Hyuk (portrayed by actor Jin Yi Han/Kim Yi Han) appears more in the subsequent episodes, and he seems to be taking over the catalyst personality and moves the story forward. Dr. Lee’s coconut bob haircut seems to indicate that he is a rebellious and righteous son that always disagrees with his weak doctor father regarding medical ethical matters. It is a delight to watch actor Jin Yi Han in “Cross”.
The mutually collegial respect between Dr. Kang In Kyu and Dr. Lee Joo Hyuk with their own personal goal and need tie the loose ends in the last four episodes that conclude the drama.
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Overal - good show.
Rewatch - onces is good.
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Along with the unexpected side, the sense of hunger for revenge cracked the opportunities to reveal big secrets behind and torn between saving people while sacrificing instances. This drama deals how to bring justice, to forgive, to accept the things that cannot be redone, to be strong from painful experiences.
When people made you suffer and took away the important people in your life, how would you like to be at peace? Put them behind the bars while justice serves or slay them with your naked hands?
This drama will answer everything.
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Go kyung pyo is such an effective actor, he really makes you believe that he is the character.
I like that the first few episodes started at the prison setting and eventually making his way to the hospital which made it set apart from the usual medical dramas. I also like that there's no love interest because it usually takes away from the core of the drama.
One thing though, I thought that he's "special vision power" is unnecessary to be honest, I mean if you're going to write a character with a special ability, you better make sure that it plays a vital role and is used all throughout the series.
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This review may contain spoilers
A drama Worthy of the Watch
Cross has been on my watch list since I officially started watching South Korean dramas in 2018. When I started the drama as is typical, I wasn't sure what to expect but loved that it's a medical drama, one of my favorite genres in Korean dramas. Hence, it was only natural that I was interested and intrigued by it, but more it's the concept. A dark, suspense medical drama-thriller tells the story of a gifted young man, Kang In-Kyu (Go Kyung Pyo), who becomes a doctor out of a desire to avenge his father's murder -- a victim of an organ trafficking syndicate in South Korea fifteen years ago. Finding out Go Kyung Pyo, Jeon So Min, and Heo Sung Tae was part of the cast was the icing on the cake, so to speak. I had previously seen Go Kyung Pyo in Jealousy Incarnate, a delightful drama; Jeon So Min in Something About 1 Percent, a drama worthy of the watch; and Heo Sung Tae in various dramas none as impactful as WATCHER. At its, onset Cross seems like any other revenge drama, but as the story unfolds, one realizes it’s about more than just revenge. It's guilt, love, hate, blame, responsibility, illegal donor trafficking, and much, much more.Right after Kang In-Kyu's father is murdered, a renowned surgeon Dr. Go Jung Hoon (Jo Jae Hyun), adopts him and his sister, who suffered from long-term heart disease. At a very young age, Dr. Jung Hoon's kindness and skill as a doctor inspires In-Kyun to become a doctor, but eventually, his sister succumbs to her illness; after her death, Kang In-Kyu discovers Dr. Jung Hoon donated her organs without his knowledge, which causes a strain in their relationship, rifting them completely apart. His sister's passing and the circumstances of his father's death start to sow the seed of revenge in Kang In-Kyu, and he grows determined to uncover the truth at all costs, even if it meant him becoming a doctor that takes lives rather than saves it.
The are many reasons why I loved this drama and why it worked so well, but the main one is its predictable characters in a most unpredictable plot. Most times than not, it's pretty easy to figure out who the hidden villain(s) are in a Korean drama. The transparent body language such as movement of the eyes and brows, side glances, hand clasps, sudden lean on the chair provided apparent hints of a person's real character. I commend the writer, director, editor, and actors for transforming the intensely suspenseful elements in the story to uncover the many hidden intentions.
Secondly, the suspense was more than worth it. The story's build-up from episodes 1 to 4 and the escalation thereafter made the drama an excellent watch. Thirdly, the outstanding cast: the actors and actresses in this drama performed brilliantly with the utmost care and talent. Fourthly I liked that Cross, despite alluding to a romance between Go Ji In (Jeon So Min), In-Kyu, Lee Joo Hyuk (Kim Ji Han), and Son Yeon Hee (Yang Jin Sung) it doesn't force it. I think it's probably what made it even more potent, the undercurrent in those relationships and the flow of the story.
Last but not least, Go Kyung Pyo. Cross was not the first time I had seen Go Kyung Pyo in action before, but his acting and the way he delivered his dialogues are what made me continue watching the drama. Still, episode four is when I realized, above anything else, that I made the right decision when added and decided to watch Cross. I would be remiss in not mentioning Heo Sung Tae for his brilliant depiction of Kim Hyung Beom as a man totally devoid of human empathy, morality, and understanding or even reasoning of right and wrong.
What makes Cross unique is that despite it being about a young boy who devotes himself to becoming a top medical officer and finding a way to slowly and painfully kill rather than save those who were responsible for his father's death, it quickly morphs into a dilemma that ranges from the ethical to the moral of treating all patients regardless of their status or background to the best of sworn medical officers’ ability, and to the preservation of life. The revenge part of the drama and the events that unfold because of it and its effect on the lives of all involved throughout the dark and, at times, the lonely journey is what makes this drama and those in it so special. It is a drama with an unequivocal message that it's not how the journey starts that matters but how it ends. As they say, sometimes it's the journey that teaches one a lot about their destination, the crossroad of choices, and the consequences thereafter.
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The story is very interesting and done well, I just think there are a view unfinished thread. The first one third of the story focus on the prison, but they never seem to bother showing us what happen to the prison by the end of the story. I also think the second half of the story focus more on the crime solving than the medical aspect of it. It’s not bad, but I wish they give more time for the medical side of it.
I have to give the show praises for the use of realistic looking organs and operations. I really like the medical aspect of the stories, especially how our male lead grow as a doctor and his relationship with the people around him. How he start to realize what it means to be a doctor and the real reason he become one.
Go Kyung Pyo as Kang In Gyu give an okay performance, it looks a bit force when he try to show that he’s a bad guy, I think he should stay being the nice guy and develop more acting skill before attempting another bad boy role. He looks and act really well when he’s being nice and sympathetic, but all the evil glare and wild eye look just come unnaturally. In Gyu character was developed really well through out the show. We could see he’s transformation from being a doctor for revenge to being a real doctor. I quite like he’s bromance with Lee Joo Hyuk, played by Kim Ji Han, I wish they explore it more. I also like his complicated relationship with Go Jung Hun and Go Ji In.
Jo Jae Hyun as Go Jung Hun is good as usual, despite all the scandal. It’s sad that his character has to leave the show early, because it’s definitely noticeable. They gave him a good enough ending, but I think the story would benefit more for having him and his character stay until the end. Jung Hun is such an interesting character because he’s such a good doctor but he definitely a mess of a father.
Jeon So Min as Go Ji In is nice, I like her more on the first half of the show, because she’s such a badass but the writer seems to forgot that aspect of her by the end of the show, which is a shame. I wish they give her more development through out the series, but I like her again by the ending.
I must say Heo Sung Tae as Kim Hyung Beom give a very good and memorable performance. He has only little on screen time but when he is he stole the show.
The music is good, giving the show a mood that it needs. I really like ‘I Swear’ by Salt&Peper.
I will rewatch this show, but I probably watch the first half of it more. I really like it as a medical drama, not so much as a crime solving drama.
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Amazing doctor drama
This drama is my top 5 lists from my medical kdrama, at first I didn’t find it interesting because thought it was just gonna all be about getting revenge, or just a doctor killer. For me when it comes in medical kdrama I just hate watching when they fight over position in the hospital and I’m glad this drama didn’t have any of that. The plot of the story is interesting, because at first I it was just about illegal organ selling. But to come find that the ML dad was killed just to save someone else was quite sad. Also sucks that they have to send the ML adopted dad off like that to, he was such a great manWas this review helpful to you?
