This review may contain spoilers
Just as dark and captivating as the first but missing the X Factor of the first
Not as tight as the first Stranger but the romantic tension between the leads is still a hook. I still like that the romance is never at the forefront but more of, you think its gg to happen but if not it doesn't matter kind. Love how the continuity of the first show is still evident but allows new joiners to just join without the backstory knowledge.While the villains and the story isn't as intriguing as the first, it still held it's own.
Can't wait for Stranger 3 and 4 and 5! Let's make Cho Sheung Woo's acceptance speech wish true, shall we :)
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Prosecution Vs. Police
STRANGER. (Forest of Secrets/Secret Forest/Bimileui Sup) This k-drama is definitely one of the best crime shows I've watched. It seamlessly blends the genres of Procedural Crime, Mystery, Thriller, and Drama perfectly. It was a highly addictive watch, an unforgettable experience.Let me first start by saying, the cast is simply fantastic, especially our two main leads, the apathetic and stoic Prosecutor, Hwang Si-mok (played by Cho Seung-woo) and the feisty, quirky Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin (played by Bae Doona)-who both have one thing is common-the desire for justice and to purge their departments of corruption, no matter the cost. Since there begins to look like there is corruption everywhere, the two end up forming an unspoken alliance. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable and interesting.
While the entire cast and characters are great, even side characters and antagonists are interesting and relatable. My only complaint, and it is a pretty minor one, is that I often wished for more character backstory and depth, especially in side characters. However, I grew to love and care for many of the characters regardless, even without extensive character details and history. Not many series are able to pull that off.
Cho Seung-woo (Prosecutor, Hwang Si-mok) brilliantly plays an apathetic character type, and somehow manages to give him so much depth, heart and expression, again almost all in subtext and subtlety. He really stands out among all the "cold genius" archetypes and by Season 2, has become one of my all time favorites. He is such an odd mixture of apathy, cunning, and bluntness all the while being polite, passive and quiet. While he is certainly brilliant it never seems that his work is ever easy for him. It is always difficult and challenging-he is just stubborn and driven enough to find the truth and seek justice.
On the other hand, actress Bae Doona (Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin) manages to portray an equally interesting character. She is quirky and eccentric, lively and outgoing, that you can't help but love her. Her strong and yet compassionate persona make her the perfect counterbalance to Hwang Si-mok. The two leads really propel the series along. They are almost complete opposites but for their shared sense of justice and duty, and together make a brilliant team.
I think what I really loved about this series is the realistic character portrayals. No one felt or looked like a fashion icon or typical drama idol. They were all flawed and unique and make the series highly believable.
This series storyline is incredibly complex and well thought out, with a very tight, intelligent plot. There's a lot of suspense. Often, I find a common issue with procedural crime shows, in that they tend to be slower paced and drag along. Not so with this series. The pacing is quick and sharp. Also, I love how it never tries to dumb things down. You really have to follow along with it, because it wastes no time trying spelling things out for viewers and there can be quite a bit of subtext going on. This all proves the great writing and direction. I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a fast paced crime thriller. A MUST SEE.
[NOTE: This Review is for Season 1 & 2]
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This review may contain spoilers
This is Drama is really good..
I want Season 3 on this Drama..same Character and Have Romance for the two main leads.. Please make it happen for us all the fans of them..🙏🙏🙏🙏this is really good Drama that's why we need Season 3 with Romance please I really really Love them..Jebal ..make make make it happen please.. please..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 really want to see them again.. they are always good together.. want to see them with Romance also..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I've already missed them although I didn't finish yet the Season 2..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏Was this review helpful to you?
Now that's out of the way, let me just say how the the second season picks up years after the events of the first season. Prosecutor Hwang Si Mok has been assigned somewhere remote and Superintendent Han Yeo Jin has been assigned to the head office. The first season broke my heart with all the deaths surrounding it but it was needed to be done in order for the characters to grow. This season introduced new characters and gave the kind of reunion only Si Mok and Yeo Jin would have. It also depicted a plot that would put both of them at the different sides of the spectrum. It focuses on the ongoing war between who should hold the power to grant a warrant: will it be the prosecution or the police. What I liked about this is that even though Si Mok and Yeo Jin were pushed into the middle of years long fight, they still trust each other with their life. That is how they are loyal with each other. That even though both the prosecution and the police were plotting against each other both of our beloved leads still share information with one another. Every character in this season held their weight and it didn't feel like this was all on the shoulders of Doona Bae and Cho Seung Woo.
For me, romance between Si Mok and Yeo Jin isn't the most important part of the show. Heck, I will be even okay if they did not introduce any hint of romance because their relationship goes beyond romance. They will always be partners no matter the circumstances and that is what's most important.
Also, am I the only one clamoring for a third season? Please? Universe?
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The web of stories were all important
Without a doubt, Stranger is the best kdrama that I've seen. S2 has been released last year and I still cannot find myself getting this obsessed with another kdrama.Some of the reviews I've seen hated the intricate web of stories that the writer shown in S2. On the first watch, I kind of agree that the first half is a bit dragging and I didn't see the relevance of telling these smaller storylines... but they are all part of LSY's bigger picture. In reality, prosecutors and police don't just work on a single case. So if somebody got abducted or killed in their line of work, police needs to go through all the previous cases and see if anyone might have some grievance against them. It is but natural re-investigate these cases, especially since SDJ has taken quite an interest on them.
By the second half of the drama, it became clearer and I understood the writer's intention and reason for introducing the smaller plots. It might be dragging if one watched S2 on a week by week basis vs binge watching it.
Somebody asked me which season I liked best and I honestly cannot choose between the two. S1 is all about the story. S2 is all about the character development. I have rewatched the two seasons for several times and I have plans to continue doing so. New nuances come up with every rewatch making me appreciate the writing, directing, acting, editing, scoring all the more.
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Story
There are only a few Drama series that contain all aspects that make a series brilliant and this was one of them. Stranger and Stranger 2 were superb. I have seen other series by the same Director and knew it would be worth watching. The Script was full of twists and turns.. and the gathering of some of the best Korean actors to date. I couldn't wait to see the next episode and in the end binge watch the two series. You know a good series from the first episode if it catches your attention.It's top of my list for one of the best dramas ever with
Goblin.. Devil judge.. Angels fall sometimes.. Taxi Driver.
SKorea is up with best producing and directing great KDramas... ❤️
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Stranger.
This was an excellent drama, course I do look for more. it was well written to me, did have some spots that could have been cleared up a bit. loved the mystery and intrigue, the actors were awesome to me. I am one of the people that look for more. so clear up the mystery, but some strings left hanging! anyway still all was good, one of the last things, you know that guy doesn't smile, I mean heartfelt smiles. oh, you will get a surprise at the end. no I am not telling, you gotta watch!! twists and turns edge of the seat tooWas this review helpful to you?
Contemporary Crime Drama
StrangerK-Drama
Ep 32
Two Seasons
PG-13
I like Contemporary stories and Crime / Murder mystery so when I heard this was a mix of both I was excited!
Sadly it was just okay for me.
This show had great actors and 97% of them played morally grey characters. The only exception were the leads!
Let's do some pros & cons
Pros:
◇The acting
◇How it wasn't as dark and gory as it could be 👌 (Definitely PG-13)
◇The Leads
Cons:
◇It felt like it dragged at times
◇The plot twists were okay
◇The writing at times
◇Wanted more friendship & chemistry
Over all I am happy I watched this show. Would I recommend? If you like slow crime dramas then yes, if you like fast past thriller type then maybe not.
Rewatch? No
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Kick-ass women and stellar cast!
So far, I am four episodes in and am LOVING it!!! Bae Doona, who is one of my absolute favorites, is as usual killing it in this role. I like it that she and the other women are all tough and they kick ass!!! Bae Doona for sure is the best part of this series. Jo Seung Woo, who plays Si Mok, is brilliant as usual. Lee Jun hyuk, who plays Dong Jae is such a great actor, he is not only hot AF so a nice bit of eye candy, but he excels at playing a character who is supposedly on the 'good' side, but just barely so, he seems so weasely and sleazy/sketchy at the same time. I'm not even sure I understand everything yet, but I am waiting for the build up and twists like in season 1! Even the music is dramatic, for sure this is a high quality drama with stellar cast. Can't wait to see where this goes!Was this review helpful to you?
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O drama que mais aguardei este ano não foi nada do que esperei :(
É inegável que minhas expectativas estavam altas, eu amei a primeira temporada que antes mesmo de terminar já havia se tornado um dos meus dramas favoritos. Amei tudo na primeira temporada, os personagens, o enredo extremamente bem feito, a fotografia...enfim, tudo mesmo.O que a segunda temporada de Stranger nos entrega é uma história sem sal e morna. No início pensei que o clima embaçado dos dois primeiros episódios logo seria dissipado por um grande esquema que me deixaria empolgada e que me consumiria com aquela mesma sensação eletrizante que a primeira temporada me trouxe.
A sensação de que algo grande aconteceria e que as coisas esquentariam foi por água abaixo por volta do episódio 8 quando percebi que meu lado fangirl estava superestimando o enredo. Não me entenda mal, não é que a história seja ruim ou que não faça sentido é somente porque a primeira temporada foi surpreendentemente incrível que a segunda não conseguiu manter o ritmo.
Ainda não entendo porque transformaram a Han Yeo Jin que antes era vibrante e cheia de vida, ávida por mudar o mundo em uma personagem passiva e inexpressiva. Quanto aos personagens secundários também não gostei como ficaram apagados nesta temporada. Nada a reclamar do meu promotor maravilhoso nesta temporada, ele continua o mesmo.
Resumindo, não sei se mudaram o diretor, o roteirista ou sei lá o quê mas fiquei com a sensação de que faltava alguma coisa, que algo não estava no lugar a história simplesmente não decola o que é uma pena.
Se voltaria a assistir esta temporada? Definitivamente não. Se indico? Talvez para quem não tenha assistido a primeira temporada e decida começar por esta temporada possa até funcionar mas para quem assistiu a viciante primeira temporada não consiga dar uma nota superior a um mero 6 no máximo. Se assistirei a terceira temporada? Sim, afinal minha esperança nunca morre!
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