This review may contain spoilers
This is the first time I would actually describe a KDrama rich in makjang in terms of ´cool´.
"Cain and Abel" from 2009 presents itself in the best KDrama tradition of early 3rd Millenium makjang productions. In the background, the OST is repeatedly setting the rhythm proclaiming doom with implacable beats. The dramaturgical motifs are basically familiar: there are 2 more or less competing brothers, a wicked stepmother, a comatose father, amnesia in the meantime, two queens of the heart ... and what the hospital environment (specifically the neurosurgical department) has to offer is not just a brain tumor... It´s makjang at its finest. Eventually the scene is temporarily shifting to China, there also focusing on the unfortunate issue of North Korean refugees. It becomes action-packed and exciting. All in all, the plot doesn't seem too surprising at first glance, but as it progresses you might all of a sudden realize, how the story has long since grabbed and pulled you in.This is the first time I would actually describe a KDrama rich with makjang in terms of ´cool´.
Admittedly, here the bad guys are actually truely bad guys. Forgiveness is not a foreign word, but sometimes one may want to question this concept in principle, regarding the unscrupulousness and maliciousness of the perpetrators.
Title and story explicitly refer to the biblical motif: the first murderer case in human history told in Christian terms, where the older brother chose his younger brother as a victim. Out of envy. In the competition for recognition. Here it is the recognition as a brilliant neurosurgeon ... by the father, by the professional world, by the supervisory board (as head of a new center for neurosurgery) and as a man (by his queen of hearts). The mother wickedly helps and sows the bad seed, which grows effortlessly.
This fraternal quarrel (in which obviously not everything is and always has been quarrel) comes to live with high intensity by the performance of So Ji-sub (who appears in a quite bold manner for long stretches) and Shin Hyun-joon (who has already perfected his characteristic ´sad look´ in "Stairway to Heaven"). The two really get into their roles and take the viewers with them. The story gains as 'little Abel' covers a good distance in a parka and among refugees in China. So the story not only takes place in the elitist world of doctors, between surgical gowns and suits, but also gets more down-to-earthness in the struggle for survival of simple and non-privileged people at the opposite pole of social life. The two female leads Han Ji-min and Chae Jung-an also embody the contrast of these worlds in their own way.
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So Ji Sub and Shin Hyun Joon, what more could a viewer possibly ask for? I’m so glad, genuinely glad that I waited 7 years to watch this! Why? Because it made me appreciate it even more than I would have back then considering that NONE of the recent dramas could ever match up to. We tend to value things more if we know it’s no longer available and is no longer easy to get by, thus I value this drama very much now.
Let me say this, a huge part of this review is dedicated to SJS's and SHJ's phenomenal performance! Because with all do respect to the very well-written story, those two wonderful men will steal you from the very first scene before the story gets to take a place! Their chemistry, is simply breathe-taking and heart-wrenching at the same time!
SJS’s trademark is his “sad eyes” and people have known it since I Am Sorry, I Love You (and what a trademark it is!) Trust me it is not easy to show such a sincere sad eyes like he does when he acts. His “sad” act, his crying scenes…he looks so damaged and destroyed it looks so real that you’d lose where you were at when you watch him act. His sincere-heartfelt act changes the “too overused” plots into a piece of art and a classic one even if it is a 10/20 years old. If you want to truly "feel" SJS, it has to be I Am Sorry I Love You and Cain and Abel.
Cho In has became my favorite character for SJS because he is a warm-hearted decent person, with cute smile and soft voice. This character has allowed SJS to show different side of him, different expressions… mixture of many expressions that I’ve seen for the first time while watching him. I loved Cho In’s kindness, naivety, innocence, sweetness, softness and vulnerability.
If SJS’ Cho In is half the reason why I loved this drama, Shin Hyun Joon ‘s Sun Woo is definitely the other half! This is the 2nd time that this man pushes me to tears (first time was in Stairway To Heaven). His portrayal of the antagonist is simply majestic and too beautiful to be put in words. Sun Woo is definitely a worthy rival of the great Cho In.
The story is very well written plot-wise and character wise. It struck me as slightly slow and scattered in the first episode, but things quickly gathered together and progressed in a way that really draws in the viewer. The characters and settings that were introduced kept things new and exciting without being overwhelming or hard to follow. I especially appreciated Young Ji because she was flawed! But not in ways I found to be cliché. She felt real to me! Which something I don’t normally see when it comes to the main female character especially this genre.
I have always for *some reason* thought that this is a revenge-themed drama but to my surprise this drama had so much more to offer other than plain revenge and for a revenge drama fan such as myself I still loved it very much, that didn't disappoint me at all, so kudos to the writer!
The OSTs are wonderful, the painful lyrics make the drama even more sad which contributes very well to the story. I loved it.
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Story- Very intense throughout. I liked not exactly knowing what was going to happen next. I liked that it took place in different settings. It helped to keep the story fresh and watchable till the end. The episodes have a good pace. The wea point of the story would be the romance. It was kind of not believable at certain times just because Cho In was so obsessed with the first gf for a long time. Solid ending.
Acting/cast- Solid acting by the 4 leads. So Ji Sub was very good at playing both the Dr. and Young Ji’s fake cousin. He pulled off the two different characters well. Now even though the acting was top notch, I just could not get invested in the characters. First, I was turned off by So Ji Sub’s character in the beginning. His decision to date his older brother's love just because he had been gone a while, just didn’t sit right with me. Now as odd as it sounds, I actually was rooting for the villain Sun Woo. Yes he did unforgivable things but I kind of understood where he was coming from. I was rooting for him to see the light and be reunited with Seo Yeon. Ha Ji Min’s character was sooo annoying. Not only was her North Korean accent she had throughout annoying but also her actions just made her character not likeable. She also asks too many questions! Let’s just say it was really hard to root for her. I liked the supporting cast. The villains were villainy and the side Dr. couple was funny/cute.
Music- it fit the scenes but I didn’t really like it.
Rewatch- I don’t think I’ll be watching this again but it is rewatchable.
Overall, on the surface Cain and Abel is a high quality drama but I just didn’t get that feeling you get by the end when you really enjoyed a drama and are sad to see it end.
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The title already warns the viewer about what kind of relationship to expect, but it was even worse than I thought. This is sibling rivalry, and jealousy, at it's most toxic. There are some sweet, & amusing, moments, but it's mainly a revenge drama. Those in the mood for comedy should know that Lee Cho in's story is a depressing one.
The reason to watch this is So Ji Sub. He's intense, heartbreaking, charming, and he thankfully likes to linger in the shower ; ) I had no interest in watching an extreme hospital drama, which this show basically is, but he grabbed my interest from the start. As Cho In, he goes through an intense emotional transformation, and the beauty of his performance is the complexity in it. When parts of this drama became a little too over the top for me, So Ji Sub would bring just as much excitement while keeping it grounded in his honest portrayal. From episode 1- 20 he reminded me why he is one of my favorites. But seriously, did they really have to shoot him in the head AGAIN? And that's just the beginning...
I would definitely rate So Ji Sub's acting as a 10, but I had mixed feelings about the rest of the cast.
Shin Hyun Joon as Lee Seon-Woo, plays a worthy evil rival. I blame writers for giving his character barely any room for sympathy, but his performance was strong. I think he occasionally relied too much on wild eyed-stares, which sometimes came across as overacting. Overall I'd still give his performance a 9. He has one scene in particular, with So Ji Sub, towards the end of the series, that was absolutely heartbreaking. Their relationship is the core of this show, so his ability to match So Ji Sub's intensity is a huge plus.
In general, the evil characters are written to be cartoonishly evil, so over acting can' t be blamed on the actors. The biggest victim of this is Kim Hae Sook, who's character only makes sense if she is a violent sociopath. The same goes for Baek Seung Hyun as Choi Chi Soo. Their performances do add to the suspense, but I found their actions too unbelievable, even for K-Drama. They definitely portray characters that you can hate completely, but they were also let off the hook too easily, and way too many times, for my taste.
Out of the supporting cast I loved Lee Cho In's bromance with Oh Kang Chul. They share a lot of great action moments together, and touching bonding scenes. I also love the cute relationship between Drs Kim Hyun Joo & Kim Jin Geun, which added some much needed light moments. The most underrated performance is definitely Jang Yong, who had some great acting moments using just his eyes & finger.
I had mixed emotions about Han Ji Min as Oh Young Ji. I liked her chemistry with So Ji Sub from the start, and that it walked a fine line between flirty, and almost platonic playfulness. Eventually I grew bored with her being wide-eyed, and naive. For a character who was supposed to be so street smart, defected from the North, and survived on her own, she seemed way too dumb. At the same time, her innocence was sometimes cute when she was the victim of Cho In's spontaneous charm, and a few of their romantic moments are worth rewatching. This is also the first time I've seen her have a first kiss scene that didn't completely suck. That must be the power of So Ji Sub! lol.
The most disappointing character to me was Chae Jung Ahn as Kim Seo Yeon. She hit all the emotional notes, and cried very well, but she bored me. This is surprising since, unlike many of the other character's, Kim Seo Yeon was actually written with some depth. Her opening "love" scenes with Cho In felt flat, and lacked any chemistry. Her moments with Seon-Woo were written to move me, but they didn't. He seemed more like her stalker than someone she actually cared about. The fact that I didn't like her character, made the whole love triangle/square storyline a lot less effective for me.
I'm still not sure about recommending this drama or not. As much as I have complained about the writing, I must say that both the direction, and the soundtrack, are great! Fans of suspense may want to check this out, because the excitement over the uncertainty of what will happen next is consistent from beginning to end. Fans of So Ji Sub should definitely watch this because it's imperfections are worth sitting through in order to watch him be awesome for 20 episodes. I admit that I was never bored, but If another actor was in So Ji Sub's place I probably would have dropped it early on. I also can't see myself watching this again, unless I'm in desperate need of a So Ji Sub fix.
Wait, have I mentioned that I really like So Ji Sub? ; p
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The brother rivalry between the male leads is what made the drama good.
I am a So Ji Sub fan and I think that he is a great actor. He did really well playing the character of Cho In. Cho In goes through a lot of traumas and finds truths about his life that changes his personality. Although his character changes in some ways, he is unfailing when making a choice between life and death. If it weren’t for So Ji Sub, then I can’t honestly say I would have watched this drama.
Shin Hyun Joon did a fair job of playing Seon Woo. He seemed to overact a little. I think it actually worked for this character, because he was mentally unstable. It is not hard to feel sorry for this character. If you just listen to his pain, it is easier to understand where his actions are coming from. I’m not advocating his actions because they are unwarranted. It is just that once the ball was rolling, I don’t think that he knew how to stop it and finally didn’t want to.
I am also a Han Ji Min fan and her role as Young Ji was played perfectly. Young Ji is a sweet and loveable character even when she does things she shouldn’t.
Oh Kang Chul was a major character that had beautiful moments with Lee Cho In and I believe helped set Cho In’s new course in life.
I really didn’t like Seo Yeon, I found her strange and indecisive.
The other bad guys (there are too many to name) are a little over the top and some of them are completely unbelievable. I also thought that the writers let the bad guys look stupid and let them get away with way too much. I guess it wouldn’t be a drama without them.
The music is ok.
This is a great watch, but I probably won’t watch It again.
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Some things that I liked:
- Everything - The acting was top notch, the actors were the characters themselves. The music was eloquent and vengeful. The story uses Cain and Abel, the story of 2 brothers, as a template and creates a brand new perspective.
Some things that I hated:
- Nothing.(Personal Opinion)
This Drama is one of the best that I have watched. It is something that I personally recommend to people that are a fan of K-dramas. This is one that if you miss you are really missing out on one hell of an awesome Drama ^.^ (oh and I watched this drama 3 times lol)
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A fun fact for those who do not know the story of Cain and Abel: they are sons of Adam and Eve. According to the story Cain was the first child of Eve, and the first human to commit the act of murder. Eve's second son was Abel, the first human to die. Despite the story of these two brothers being found in the Christian Bible, Muslim Quran, and Jewish Torah there are no solid details as to why Cain killed Abel. Many speculate that it was out of anger and jealousy - just as with what fueled the plot for this drama.
STORY: The first episode seemed to be a little slow and scattered, but it quickly picked up pace and built to high levels of suspense. There were times when I felt certain things were too dramatic or unnecessary but quickly realized I was wrong. Everything that happens keeps the plot new and exciting, and the suspense builds until the very end.
SETTINGS: The locations for this drama were really beautiful and had a lot to offer to the story-line. Nothing too hard to follow, either.
CHARACTERS/CAST: Everyone did a phenomenal job, especially So Ji Sub with playing two characters. I can easily distinguish between his playing Lee Cho In, Oh Kang Ho, and everything in between. (You'll understand what I mean when you watch.) I especially loved Young Ji because I was able to relate to her actions and personality; it seemed to me that she needed to be reassured of things because of what she had been through. She was flawed, but not in ways I found to be cliché. Though Seo Yeon is listed as a main role, I ended up feeling disappointed at the lack of development she got as a main role. Kim Hyun Joo might have had better development than Seo Yeon.
MUSIC: There are good songs included, with catchy lyrics that I actually learned pretty fast. Even the score is catchy - albeit a little annoying after a while. I get that this is also a melodrama, but I don't think the score had to be as dramatic as it was.
OVERALL: I found this really addicting (as in, this is my fastest finish) and I enjoyed the fact that it was inspired by a classic story (but not obviously so, save for the title.) I think there could have been more detail and accuracy in the legal aspects of things. Despite this small details I think the show is worth watching and even re-watching!
*I cannot say for certain if this drama is factual where the medical field and issues in North Korea are concerned, but either way i found it to be really believable and well done.
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This review may contain spoilers
Very good acting
I don't understand why this drama insn't more famous it was one of the best I've watched, you can't find kdramas this good nowadays. One of the best things about it is the acting of the main leads, So Ji Sub and Shin Hyun Joon are incredible actors, I've read that some of you think that the villains and Sun Woo were overacted but I don't think they were at all, they were very well played and the guy who plays Choi chi soo was amazing . I think koreans do very well with melodramas and I liked that this had a heartbreaking but closed ending. I admit it laked a bit of romance and I would have liked to see more chemistry and romantic moments between Cho in and Yeong Yi but I understand it isn't the main point of the drama since the poor guy goes through a roller-coaster of shocking events and founds his own family wants him dead while having done no harm to anyone.Was this review helpful to you?
Let’s start with what I find enjoyable, which is a short list.
I like So Ji Sub acting as the main protagonist, it’s not over the top but you could feel the emotion. Love the evolution he did for the character development. I also enjoy the last 2 episodes and the beginning.
And now for the okay factor. The pacing of the drama is ok, some beautiful scenery. The plot is cliche but not boring. The music is standard, not bad, but also not memorable.
Other than those, I found the drama to be lacking. The story is too stark, all black and white, there are no shades of grey. All the bad guys are evil and the good guys are angel. The acting of the villains are so over the top and theatrical, full of screaming and evil glare. All the packets are stupid and the masterminds are not that bright either. No subtle nuance to bring another layer to the character.
I find the political aspects of the hospital and evil schemes are without depth and too cliche that you know they wouldn’t work from a mile away. Too many forced events to move the story forward.
Another thing that really annoying is the female lead character, that is only one dimensional. She stutter and pouting or getting confused through out the series.
I really wish the story could be told in a deeper and layered way, not just black and white character which is quite boring.
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