This review may contain spoilers
This may not be something profound or life changing story but it's really entertaining to watch..
This is really good. The plot was complex but never convoluted. I think it has a right blend of Crime/Mystery/Politics/Comedy with some heart warming moments. The only thing lacking was a bit of romance, but it's just me the hopeless romantic..I like that even if the show portrayed a really crazy and corrupt world, they also showcased a beautiful fraternal love between the main characters. They maybe crazy, they may steal, cheat and beat everyone that crosses them. But they're fiercely loyal to a fault, they have each other's back and they're so protective of their sister. It's touching to see these brute and crude guys care for a badass woman.
The actors are great too, plenty of familiar faces everywhere. Matched with a good OST and musical scoring, it became pretty entertaining.
I wouldn't mind watching a second season, but as usual for Korean dramas, they rarely do sequels so I'm good with that too...
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Good ride
very slick well written and planned and well-acted thriller with plenty of action like the best K-drama of its genre〜the concept is not that original but it is well done 〜reminds me of 「Mission Impossible」except it is not one completed story for every episode but leaves cliffhanger and there emerges an underlying backstory and plan behind the targeted individuals〜 you have to focus to follow the detail 〜this is binge watch quality which is rare for me。Great cast both main and support。 you really want them to get those low-lifes in high places。Song Seung Hyeon was also in similar genre「 Black」（also with Kim Won Hae） and 「Time Slip Dr Jin」 that I liked but his main career roles seem romance or melodrama〜Kim Won Hae also has a long distinguished career in similar roles （main and support） such as 「Nine Times Time Travel」、「Black」「 I am Human Too」 「Hotel del Luna」 to name a few it would have been good to see a follow up with these actors as they developed good chemistry。Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is one of the K-dramas that I watched that I actually finished. I don't finish K-drama's even though its a must watch or very popular. One of the reasons why I like this one is because of Krystal, yes I watched this one because of her. I was finding some dramas of snsd or just some dramas that were made by Krystal or Jessica Jung. Then I found this one on Iflix and I watched it in a very blurry quality but because of her I kept watching then suddenly I just fell in love with the drama itself. It was so good without very nau·seous scenes, some very r18 up scenes, or scenes that are just too much for my weak heart. It was so good, their friendship like the last part where they escape and It's an open ending. I still want for it to have a part 2.Was this review helpful to you?
Fast paced & fantastic fight scene choreography!
Player is a very well written and well execute drama. The plot is not convoluted, it's straightforward, and I really appreciate that the drama wasn't dragged out (it's only 14 episodes rather than 16 or more). The story isn't terribly complicated to figure out and there's no big revelation, but the story is fast paced and the action was on point. The choreography for all the fight scenes was FANTASTIC.The comedy was sparse, but the relationships between all 4 con men was envy-worthy. The 3 men, Ha Ri, Byung Min, and Jin Woong were like brothers. I was skeptical about adding Ah Ryung, but was very happy with her addition once they established her relationship with the 3 *brothers*; the way they all came crashing in to protect her and fight for her as her older brothers was beautiful and gave me goosebumps and envy! Even further, I love how the 4 con men worked together to protect Prosecutor Jang - he too was a wonderful character!
I really enjoyed and adore this OST - Player by Dok2 was fabulous. The placement of this theme song had me perking up EVERY time.
Player isn't necessarily for everyone, especially since it doesn't have romance. BUT if you like revenge plots, con men, and action, this is a drama you don't want to miss out on. If you enjoyed Switch: Change the World, Miss & Mrs. Cop, and/or The Dude in Me, this drama will be your speed.
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Enjoyable!
I've seen this drama around before, but always passed on watching it. Finally, I decided to just give it a go and found myself really enjoying this drama.The story was entertaining, although some parts felt a bit draggy, I was still invested in the story. The episodes leave you on a cliffhanger, so when you say "just one more episode", it's never just one more episode. You have to start the next one to find out what happens.
The OST was fine. Nothing great, but it worked.
The characters/actors are what made me enjoy this so much. I think they chose the perfect actors to play these characters. When it comes to Song Seung Hoon, his dramas are usually hit or miss for me. This one was definitely a hit. I thorougly enjoyed his portrayal as Ha Ri. Krystal was also a stand out for me. I enjoyed her portrayal as Ah Ryung. In fact all four of them fit together really well. The friendship between them was there and I really enjoyed the dynamics between the group. You definitely grow attached to these characters.
This is definitely a rewatchable show! Overally, an enjoyable show that will keep you invested throughout!
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The game is afoot
What a funny ride, this drama. As a headache-free tv-show, this drama never intends to get uselessly complicated and simply provide a pure entertainment. It's easy to follow yet interesting, as the plot revenge emerges to link the funny cons and tricks to the lovely characters.And while some villains just can't offer much in the balance against "the good guys", some others are scheming quite the challenge, which offers a good counterpart from the con artists and never gets boring. To me, this drama succeed in making the intentions of every character very clear, but while keeping the tricks used as the mystery element to keep the viewers stuck on the show. Since the show remain simple and accessible, it works quite well even if here and there you end up finding some flaws as the plot favors the main characters a bit too much.
Still, to get the show this enjoyable while avoiding some grandiloquent and over-the-top devices and twists is the sign of a skillfull director and staff, loving what they do and showing it. This is particulary true in this drama, when everyone on screen seems to have fun.
Now, maybe that's exactly what others may find lacking in this drama : a more powerful scenario with more entanglements, pressure or challenges but honestly I'm not that sure, for myself, that I would have loved the show if it was planned as such.
There you have it : a good drama about con artists should be able to con its viewers into thinking that it was at least that good.
I fell for it almost all the way so, you've been warned : you could also get conned into loving this drama.
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Player: The Ultimate Heist Drama That'll Steal Your Heart!
Holy moly, this cast is on fire! ?Dream team of con artists? Song Seung-heon as Kang Ha-ri is like the Korean Danny Ocean, but with better hair and an even more dazzling smile. His charisma practically oozes through the screen! And don't even get me started on Krystal Jung as Cha Ah-ryung. She's not just eye candy; this girl kicks butt and takes names, all while looking fabulous. It's like watching a fashion show and an action movie had a baby!
But wait, there's more! Lee Si-eon as Lim Byung-min is the tech wizard we all wish we had in our corner. His one-liners had me cackling like a madwoman. And Tae Won-suk as Do Jin-woong? This guy could probably bench press a car, but he's got a heart of gold. Together, they're like the Avengers of the con world, and I am HERE for it!
But here's the thing that really got me – amidst all the high-stakes action and nail-biting tension, the show manages to weave in these incredibly heartwarming moments. The chemistry between the team members is off the charts. The way they grow from a bunch of strangers to a tight-knit family is just... it's everything, folks. There are moments when they're risking everything for each other that had me clutching my chest and trying not to ugly cry.
I swear, I could feel the protective big brother vibes through the screen.
It's perfectly paced, folks! Each episode flies by, leaving you breathless and immediately reaching for the next one. There's never a dull moment, but it also never feels rushed. It's like they found the Goldilocks zone of pacing – just right!
What really blows my mind is how well everything is packaged together. It's like they took all these great elements – the acting, the pacing, the humor, the action, the music – and wrapped them up in this perfectly balanced package. Each element complements the others, creating this seamless viewing experience that's just... chef's kiss.
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I definitely watched this because of Kim Won Hae-the prosecutor. He has tremendously grown on me in the dramas I've seen him in. I wasn't too fond of his character in Strong Woman but he played it well. I even laughed a bit at his scenes. He even played a Russian in Fiery Priest!!
I also loved Tae Won Seok. The way he just walked up to people and just slapped them was hilarious!! The main lead and the tech were OK.
Since I've watched the five seasons of Leverage on a few occasions, I could do the same with this as well.
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When I first read the drama description, it reminded me so much of Bad guys 2: City of Evil. In terms of how they utilised bad guys to fix the corrupted justice system. However, Bad guys 2 didn’t unfold well and I was afraid that this drama will turn out the same way. It was also my first time watching a drama written by Shin Jae-Hyung. But eventually, I decided to trust the cast in delivering a good drama.
Storyline:
This drama is a typical good prosecutor (+ Bad Criminals team) tries to overturn the corruption in the justice system. It unfolds by solving a case (every 2 episodes) which eventually leads to the bigger picture. The drama first started out very light with multiple hilarious moments. But as the series goes on, it takes on a more dark and serious tone. Overall, the balance between the serious scenes and the funny moments made the drama unique compared to other crime dramas.
This drama is definitely fast paced. Perhaps due to the relatively short air time compared to other Mini Series Dramas (Typically 16-18 episodes). There were a couple of loose ends here and there. But it didn’t really affect the main storyline. Overall, this drama would suit people who loves fast paced, light crime drama (with focus on corruption).
Acting (Main Cast Only):
Generally, I believe that the main casts did a great job at acting their roles. Especially, Song Seung Hoon and Kim Won Hae. Every time I spot Kim Won Hae in a drama, I feel reassured. Probably because I know that he is able to portray his character well.
Out of the 5 main cast, I would say that Krystal needed a little improvement to her acting. There were some scenes where her acting is downright cringy. However, compared to her other dramas, her acting in this drama did improve. As a fellow Idol-turned-Actor Supporter myself, I believe in Krystal’s potential of transitioning to a great actress in the future.
As for the other side casts, I didn’t really pay attention to their acting, therefore am unable to provide comments.
Music:
The OSTs in the drama was particularly well made. I love how timely the music is and how it suits each scene. My favourite OST from this drama would probably be Dok2 – Player (ft. Jin Sil from Mad Soul Child). Other notable OSTs are: JK Kim Dong Wook – Yesterday & The Vane – Changer.
Rewatch Value:
6 out of 10. I typically don’t rewatch crime (focused on corruption) dramas. Simply because having to know how the story ends, spoils the fun for me.
But if this drama made another season, I would not hesitate to watch it.
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To me there are 2 important factors to make this show enjoyable - solid plot twists that will take the viewer by surprise and great cast chemistry. In terms of the cast, they're alright. Song Seung Heon is polished and sleek, Krystal does a decent job, and Lee Shi Eon serves his purpose as comic relief in the team. But in terms of storyline and plot, this show was somewhat lacking. At several pivotal moments in the show, I could predict what would happen next in the story. Plus some of the cons pulled off by the characters were almost too smooth and easy to be believable or true. Of course, this is a drama so it requires some suspension of belief. But still, I was not that impressed.
Still, for all its predictability, it was an enjoyable show.
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So Perfect
I really love it when series like this has a good dose of humor. You will be crying during a particular scene, and before the end of the scene, you find yourself laughing uncontrollably.The casts were just right for their roles. The main leads has so much chemistry with one another, it's almost crazy. I will be watching the second season as soon as I can even though I don't like that Krystal was changed ?
Btw, I think this is the first series I am watching that has the ML, I will be adding him to the list of my favorite actors.
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