The Great Gatsby meets Mafia
The thing I liked most about this drama was the complicated characters. The demarcation between the good guys and the bad guys was blurry, and you find yourself questioning why you're rooting for who you're rooting for. As the drama goes on, you get to see the characters develop and question their choices and grapple with the past and future. This drama reminds me of The Great Gatsby because of the complex and muddy characters, but Vincenzo takes this theme to the next level with Mafia tactics and high stakes.If you are someone who only enjoys lighthearted dramas with straightforward themes (and there's nothing wrong with that), then this one might not be for you. But if you're someone who likes to think a lot while you watch your dramas, then you might like this one.
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NEVER LOOK AT RATINGS OR BAD COMMENTS BEFORE WATCHING ANYTHING
Another reason why you shouldn't look at ratings before watching any drama, this was my first time seeing all the casts in this drama except for the ceo of wusang firm. The only complain I have about this drama is how they made the villain to be a man instead of a woman because let's be honest, miss lawyer Choi rocks, she was the villain in it not Hanseok. She was the mastermind behind everything, Hanseok didn't lift a finger and even I got to say he literally did nothing. I super love this drama, I like how Vincenzo didn't change who he was, he was truly a mafia through and through, he didn't backed down from anything and he always made true his threats. This drama was all about Vincenzo anyway. Also I didn't like the female lead acting much, it was too overacting and too exaggerated. Sad to see it finish, might rewatch another time. I already miss my Mr consigliere and my corn salad family.Was this review helpful to you?
Less serious than expected
Started watching this maybe around a couple of months ago due to all the rave reviews, watched episode 1 and it didn't catch my interest so I dropped it. I decided to give it one more try, and I'm glad I did.Highly unrealistic plot, but somehow still manages to be very entertaining. Almost perfect mix of comedy and seriousness, and the acting and cast was top notch. The villain storyline definitely dragged on a bit near the second half of the show, but nothing unwatchable and I felt the everything was wrapped up nicely in the end.
And while I loved all the cast (even the villains), I'm going to be honest, Vincenzo/Song Joong Ki absolutely carried the show for me. The character of Cha Young I felt like they could have done more with... I really wanted her to show off her skills (I mean, she's supposed to be a great lawyer!) but I didn't see much of that at all. In fact, the court scenes were almost non-existent lol. Also, the romantic storyline between Vincenzo and CY... I don't know how popular this opinion is but I definitely did not feel any romantic chemistry between the both of them. I loved their friendship, though! Seeing the two of them kick ass together was A++.
Overall, great production, cinematography, OST, cast, etc etc.
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This review may contain spoilers
Very entertaining yet frustrating at some points
Watching this for the first time was such an entertaining experience! I loved most characters and I felt that the balance between comedy/ heartwarming scenes and action/crime scenes was nicely done but at the same time it felt like there was no cohesiveness?Our characters would jumb on a new quest each episode to dig more dirt on the villains or overcome the next obstacle the latter throw in their way but it never feels like it's all part of a bigger plan( apart from the episodes leading to the first court) , so in the end when all they 'bad guys' get killed by vincenzo it feels kind of unearned. It feels like more like an act of revenge ( due to the recent loss of his mother and other innocent characters) than the result of all this time's work COMBINED with the revenge both vincenzo and chayoung wish for.
In my opinion they should have made the characters have a clear plan from the start which, in the end, would lead to the villains finally getting arrested and losing everything which I believe would be a much more satisfying ending.
Despite that, I still rated the show highly because it has a special place in my heart and If I ignore the ending I can still enjoy it for what it is
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A Power-packed Drama which may not please everyone but personally loved it as a whole!!
At first I must say that this drama is not everyone's cup of tea. This is my first review as I saw many reviews bashing it and that could be misleading, at least for someone like me who could love everything about this.From my POV, it is neither overrated nor underrated. The actors did their part perfectly. Song joong ki and Taecyeon is not just about looks as we all know. Jeon yeo been may seem extra for some but I loved her her character, beautiful, bold and "careless" about other's backbiting which I appreciate a lot. The plaza people were annoying at times, but I loved them a lot in the last episodes. Kim yeo Jin who played the role of prosecutor Choi has made me hate her a lot because of her acting which was unbelievably perfect. Kwak dong Yeon who played Han Seo became everyone's sweetheart at last.
Vincenzo's Italian was so accurate and I really liked it. It has a lot of slow motions which some people may not like, but I did like it. The story is quite new to me as I haven't watched any dramas like this before. A mafia fighting for justice despite the bloody laws in the world was quite new. But the story was predictable at times. Every episode ends with a cliffhanger and I watched it in a one go. I still regret being not able to watch it as ongoing because of my exams. The thrill could have been of another level for the ones who watched it ongoing. I am so jealous of them.
Many may not like the drama cause even if they are lawyers, Vincenzo's character is a mafia, an antihero who does not abide the law in many ways. But it was convincing compared to the current law system which depend on the conglomerates. This story is about a man who was an evil punishing another Evil and yeah, some people can't take the fact. We could see "logic-less " scenes which are common in kdramas. This drama is of course not for people who love romance genre as it includes very less romantic cliche`s and skin ships. It could be viewed as a thrilling, yet comedy at many levels. TBH, I laughed with excitement while watching this rather than the comedies. Many scenes were hilarious while others didn't make me laugh at all. The Corn Salad and Vincenzo fan club was quite funny for me. I really loved the Cassano Family who played a great part in comedies.
Finally, I should say that the villains were really amazing. Their acting has made me even hate them for real. Taecyeon and the prosecutor Choi did their role perfectly. I was amazed by their character transformation. The final episodes was exciting, heartbreaking, and really thrilling.
An unsatisfactory drama won't achieve the excellent kdrama award and a 2 digit rating in Korea, right?
To Summarise, I really really really liked it. Recommend it for everyone who like thrilling dark comedy series.
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Best drama i've ever seen, just watch it.
truly awesome, must watch just watch it.It is the best one for me.It is one of those special we only get to see in a very long time. All the actors are great, all character are great , ost is superb, fighting scenes are great story ,just seeing the initial 5 min i felt it was going to be awesome, and it was way greater than my expectation. Superb comedy main leads are good looking and have good chemistry. It is the first one i'm writing a review for. Don't know when i will be able to something great as this. It was great combination of comedy , action, a little bit of romance , have mafia, mind battles etc. Just put it at priority , stop watching currect series if watching any just watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best drama that contains various genres without making it lousy
I’ve read so many bad reviews of this drama and because of that I refrained from watching this drama. Though I’m not exactly a kdrama fanatic I’ve been watching them for a while now and have never stacked to one genre alone. So I guess I can comment on this drama impartiality. I didn’t have a favourite actor in Korean industry since I appreciate most of their acting but I became a fan of song Jong ki after watching this drama .It’s not easy to act as a cold person with not much emotions but having occasional emotional outbursts ,be it anger or sorrow. My opinion is that he handled it well. Also the female JYB who was the female lead handled her slightly eccentric role without getting on our nerves contrary to most actors who irritate us and makes us fast forward their scenes.Ok Taecyeon was very exceptional in his acting as an eccentric villain. I don’t think the casting is bad and anyone who says that must watch the series once again.I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion.But still rating the BGM and casting below average is a bit too much.The bgm is apt for each scenes and does not take your attention from the scenes but adds a little something extra to the scenes. .There were some plot holes in the kdrama as a whole but still the drama managed to maintain our attention.The story was a little unbelievable( the whole Italian mafia coming to Korea,fighting a conglomerate in another country),but to be honest we’ve watched more such unbelievable stories and have given them 8+ ratings. The cast and their acting makes up for that .Anyway I’ve rewatched the drama a few times and still finds it unique. As someone said the drama jumps between genres without becoming lousy like mr.queen and the romance in this does not take away from the main aspect of the drama which is teaching the evil a lesson.Was this review helpful to you?
Netflix's latest k-drama ‘Vincenzo’ takes the viewer on a tumultuous ride from the first episode of Italian mafia games to later episodes of dark undercurrents of South Korea’s own real estate mafia. Adopted into the Cassano family, our k-drama lead Song Joong-ki is a formidable lawyer with a bloody past & a dormant but deviant streak of ruthlessness. Repurcussions of family wars in Italy see Vincenzo heading over to his home country where he gets entangled with a snarky law firm and a rag-tag bunch of small business owners fighting to save, of all things…a mall. 'Vincenzo' starts off on a dark note but quickly dovetails into comic-thriller-meets-revenge-drama. Adding to the multiple plot lines, Vincenzo Cassano has his own “mission” - to find his gold.
What works?
'Vincenzo' revels in startling all k-drama enthusiasts with its slick shots, tight storytelling and visionary casting. The series starts off with glimpses into our dark hero’s journey back to his motherland while subtly weaving in each of Geumga Plaza’s characters until they form the black-suit-and-sunglasses clad “Cassano family” halfway through the series. Jeon Yeo-bin shines as Vincenzo Cassano's partner-in-crime, and her evolution from an amoral lawyer to a fighter for justice ticks all the right boxes.
Song Joong-Ki as the consigliere-turned-saviour is mesmerising to watch. As Vincenzo Cassano, Song Joong-Ki effortlessly showcases the anti-hero, a far cry from his cute & loveable acts in the wildly popular k-drama classics 'Descendents of the Sun' & 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal'. Ok Taecyeon’s descent into darkness is deliciously unexpected, and somewhere along the way the viewer can be forgiven for completely forgetting Ok Taecyeon’s winsome portrayal in ‘Hey Ghost, Let's Fight’! The budding bromance between Vincenzo Cassano and Jang Han Seo is also heartwarming to watch.
What doesn’t work?
Song Joong-Ki aka Vincenzo Cassano showcasing his “human” side, including the comic touch of his relationship with the pigeon Ansagi occasionally dents the black aura of an Italian-returned mafia leader. The soundtrack though pleasant, becomes predictably repetitive invoking a mismatched sense of déjà vu from the previous episodes of the series. There’s also a blatant disregard for the legal system; court proceedings & lawyer arguments look frivolous, demoting the overall gravity of the plot line. This seems almost intentional, the screenwriters exercising their creative license by showcasing a flexible judicial system. Barring this particular storytelling ploy, for the most parts, 'Vincenzo' is quite grounded as k-dramas go.
Last thoughts and verdict
In a nutshell, ‘Vincenzo’ doesn’t follow k-dramas’ well-known tropes. The writing is fairly “real” while twists & turns are logically explained away. As the viewer sinks further into the series, each character’s dealings & their importance to Vincenzo Cassano is effortlessly peeled away. The Netflix series named after Song Joong-Ki’s titular character actually involves all of Geumga Plaza’s residents. 'Vincenzo' is a story of revenge, slow-burn romance and a smidge of gang violence. Stunning visuals, top-notch production and a stellar cast only make this a captivating watch.
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Questo edificio è mio!
The best drama of 2021. Everything was AWESOME! the story, the cast, the acting. I laughed a lot, cried, got angry, shipped the protagonists.There were only two faults: Hanseo's death - I cried a lot despite the fact that since the beginning when he started to be against his brother, we already imagined that he would end up dying. We already expected but we weren't prepared for this moment.
ChaEnzo's ending: yes, the focus of the drama wasn't romance but I thought they needed more work on what happened to their relationship. Would ChaEnzo date from a distance? Would ChaEnzo each go on with their lives in their respective countries? Would ChaEnzo just be friends with benefits when Chayoung came to visit him in Malta? It was very vague.
Anyway, I want a second season!
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This review may contain spoilers
Questo edificio è mio!
The best drama of 2021. Everything was AWESOME! the story, the cast, the acting. I laughed a lot, cried, got angry, shipped the protagonists.There were only two faults: Hanseo's death - I cried a lot despite the fact that since the beginning when he started to be against his brother, we already imagined that he would end up dying. We already expected but we weren't prepared for this moment.
ChaEnzo's ending: yes, the focus of the drama wasn't romance but I thought they needed more work on what happened to their relationship. Would ChaEnzo date from a distance? Would ChaEnzo each go on with their lives in their respective countries? Would ChaEnzo just be friends with benefits when Chayoung came to visit him in Malta? It was very vague.
Anyway, I want a second season!
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This review may contain spoilers
wow, this was a hectic show!
PSA INCLUDES SPOILERS!LIKED ABOUT THIS -
- the little romance
- the fighting scenes
- how prepared he was
- his smart & unexpected moves, he hits them 10x harder & they retaliate
- the chemistry between the main leads. & how their connection with another is very trustworthy & cute! Also when they lost one of their parents, they were there for each other & helped each other. + their kiss scenes were amazing ngl! They weren’t little pecks!
- the tenants at the plaza, they had many talents like wthele. You could have never expected that!
- everyone’s love for one another, they are were all devoted to helped Vincenzo win
- I basically loved everything
HATED ABOUT THIS -
- HOW MANY FREAKN PEOPLE DIED! ALOT OF PEOPLE DIED & I WAS HONESTLY GETTING USED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE DYING TBH CS IT KEPT HAPPENING!
- WHEN HIS MUM DIED, THAT BROKE MY HEART! HE WAS FINALLY GETTING TO KNOW HER BUT FROM HER DEATH ON, HE JUST GOT MORE RUTHLESS! WHICH IS KINDA GOOD BUT STILL HEARTBREAKING
- WHEN HER DAD DIED , THIS ONE HIT HOME TOO! IT WAS SO SHOCKING & I FELT BAD FOR HER SINCE HER LAST WORDS TO HIM WEREN’T NICE
- WHEN THAT GUY DIED AT THE END ( I FORGOT HIS NAME ) BUT THE GUY WHO VINCENZO SHOT IN THE ARM TO MAKE HIS STORY MORE BELIEVABLE
- THE ENDING TBH, WHY COULDN’T SHE PROVE HIS INNOCENCE OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF HIM RUNNING AWAY.
- WHAT DID THEY DO WITH THE GOLD ? DID THEY SPEND IT ? HOW DO YOU GET THE MONEY FROM THE GOLD ?
& I NEED A SEASON 2, WITH A NEW VILLAN! MAYBE HIS BIOLOGICAL DAD ?
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