No spoiler review : part one
Just binged part 1I won’t lie at the beginning I was getting kinda disappointed as it didn’t live up to my expectations.
Some scenes were boring and dragged and the romance aspect didn’t mix too well here and there nevertheless it started to pick up its pace in the last few episodes which were interesting and tensed. However some parts didn’t make sense realistically, I won’t spill any spoilers but if you’ve watched the show then u might know what I mean but other than that
Ep seven where part one ends had a good ending cliffhanger so I am eager for part two as I hope it’ll be packed with action and drama.
Actors did an amazing job as always
The monster is not bad, it’s a bit predictable compared to the monsters in sweet home but that’s fine.
Anyways I’ll update my review after part two airs
Was this review helpful to you?
You sly dog! You caught me monologuing!
It's not monologuing that weighs down "Gyeonseong Creature" as much as it "dialoguing".There's some very credible attributes of this drama and it deserves some accolades. The photography is terrific. The pyrotechnics and slow-motion shots are stunning. There's a few low light scenes in the countryside that are jawdropping. The score is solid. The wardrobing, at least to this layman's level of expertise, is exquisite.
There's some solid supporting characters and actors . Jo Han Chul, in particular, is as good here as he has ever been. There's several great actors that just don't have the character depth unfortunately though. The talents of Im Ki Hong, Im Chul Soo and Ok Ja Yeon are almost completely wasted. For the villainry, Kim Su Hyun and Hyun Bong Sik and Choi Young Joon all play extremely terrible and awful monsters. But then there's a lengthy list of other wrongdoers and each time one of them absorbs any of the focus, it detracts from developing the main antagonists.
And there's plenty of bloat all around. Kim Hae Sook is listed as a lead but there's no need for the character to appear at all. Wi Ha Joon disappears for vast stretches and when he is visible, is bland and forgettable.
As for the leads, when given the opportunity to showcase their strengths, they deliver. Han So Hee and Park Seo Joon deliver in the action set pieces and exhibit all the grim resolve a viewer can handle when things get dark. Sadly, these moments aren't enough.
While the structure of the show is compelling, the ground-level narrative is twisted so badly with unnecessary side- and back-tracks, incomprehensible gaps in plausibility (the ventilation shaft that literally holds an entire squadron of soldiers is particularly laughable), interminable stretches where the highlight of the program, The Creature, is forgotten and, egad, the dialogue! The production team apparently thought nothing of stopping gunfights and melees and action to have some of the most saccharine and cliche and dull exchanges between characters. Of what had most likely been hundreds of pages of script, they needed to be reordered on a wholesale basis and almost every line rewritten. This was a concept that begged for a brief backstory up front and then a deep and long and uninterrupted dive in to a suffocating, claustrophobic, dark and forbidding place. Instead, "Gyeonseong Creature" is a tedious mess.
Was this review helpful to you?
Forced chemistry but good story
Gyeonseong creature takes us back to one of the hardest and struggling phase of Korean history and mixed it with an appealing sci-fi plot and created a perfect recipe for mass entertainment. ( Read summary for plot you will get the basic idea) From cinematography to cast everything is well thought and I am sure it was something that people who are sucker for some more 'stranger things' and 'sweet home' would like to watch.First episode started with a bang especially the opening that already set the tone for the drama and you will find yourself at the edge of your seat from the suspense and the horrifying things that the army was doing to create their biological weapons and the tension between the two countries and then we are introduced to our main leads. FL: Cold, bold and have a mysterious aura. ML- Typical perfect, rich, know it all character but obviously with a difficult past. I love both of them however the more I loved their scenes separately I did not find myself feeling any chemistry between them whenever they were together. Even in the first meeting, that chemistry building looked very forced ( some people might not agree with me). That slow motion scene just took me out of a perfect action moment that was going so well. ( very typical Kdrama scene). I do not know why but ML is one of my favourite actors but here I just couldn't feel anything for his character same goes for FL. Like I really couldn't connect with his or her character throughout. I had nothing to watch so I continued watching it. I don't think this show needed romance arc but it garners more audience with that subject matter so why not... anyways that is just my opinion. The creature created good suspense in the beginning but the moment they showed it...it wasn't really that much frightening tbh. The mother and daughter arc was really good though and I really enjoyed the performance of all the side characters . And they could have explored their characters a lot more but they remained just side characters. There will be a second season and it remains to be seen how it will turn out. Overall it was a good drama no doubt but predictable after some time. Not much for a re-watch but yes definitely a one time watch for sure.
Was this review helpful to you?
A historically pertinent car ride that's uncertain about what it wishes to be
Quick appraisal: it was okay, not bad, not great. On a superficial and technical level, my impression is that Han So Hee's acting was honestly pretty good, while for Park Seo Joon it was not his best work. I think the scientist antagonist is the most interesting character: he has an unusual motivation by k-drama standards, but considering the heavily implied allusions to Unit 731 and the parallels to the figurehead of that operation Shiro Ishii, it's not unexpected in this context. Editing was hit and miss, occasionally a little too choppy though thankfully not so frenetic as to be dizzying.Soundtrack is jarringly modern and anachronistic considering the historical material and setting. I feel like the romance was not entirely necessary, there's a theme of loyalty and duty that runs through the series and the dynamic of the main characters could have operated purely underneath the same umbrella to better results.
There is so much tonal whiplash within even the first 10 minutes of the first episode. Because the subject matter is so necessarily grim and horrific that the unceremonious segues into classic k-drama comedy with Park Seo Joon's character are kind of uncanny. Perhaps that's why his casting has received as much criticism as it has? I don't even think his acting is weak but the way his character is written and intended to act in the broader context of the series feels a bit misplaced.
The most rewarding aspect of the show is how they don't bat an eye at nor downplay the atrocities committed in the name of medical/scientific exploration by Japan in World War 2. The visuals are unbelievably grim at points which is why its unfortunate that there are so many detractingly blithe stylistic choices - the music, the atmosphere, the acting, the comedy - that dissent from this critical element. The series also plays with tension well but this is compromised on occasion by some frustratingly blatant plot armor and deus ex machina to keep the protagonists chugging along.
As a thriller and rom com, this is an underwhelming, unevenly concocted but serviceable work. As a historical expose, it manages well to convey the dread and barbarity that the topic necessitates. 6.5/10 for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
This uh... It's like a mixture of a lot of things
I don't feel like the supposed main couple has even a little chemistry, sorry, they really fell in love instantly and don't even look good together.I think the beginning is too slow for my taste, I feel like they tried to establish the characters, but none of them are interesting enough to capture my attention or sympathy.
The story has potential, especially with the Japanese invasion theme, but I feel it is wasted and handled very poorly. It's identical to every other story of the style, I already knew what was going to happen in each chapter before it happened, the dialogues for some reason feel awkward. I was bored out of my mind while watching it, but my friend forced me to watch it to the end.
Was this review helpful to you?
Too many unnecessary scene
I would have given it a higher rating if they cut out all the "romance" scene altogether. It's just too much and so unnecessary. They just had to, don't they?! What a waste of screentime. Man and Woman can work together without romance, you know l, why can't writers get that!! Instead of putting those unconvincing romance, they should've focused more on the angst and internal conflicts of the characters. It's also lacking on the action scenes, it's very slow paced. Too many prolonged dialogue and blank stare. Also, I can't stand the FL, she's too stubborn and not too bright, not very convincing as a 'famous todugun". The synopsis must be wrong LOLWas this review helpful to you?
Good Watch!
First of all the story is really engaging, the writer did a good job.Then, THE ACTING guys!! the whole cast did a fantastic job, especially the main leads (PSK and HSH) and yes Han Soo Hee can act, i really like her acting, in all the dramas she has been she always delivers. I am looking forward her next projects and i wish her love and happiness in her private life, she derserves it.
Looking forward the second season, i hope it is already in the making, i can't wait1.
8.5/10
Was this review helpful to you?
Waiting for season 2
LIKEHow Joong Won and Chae Ok always gave in their all to complete any given tasks
How Sung Shim protected Chae Ok
The way Tae Sang always looked at Chae Ok - hilarious on all occasions especially that particular time where he caught her and he nearly choked.. HAHAH
DISLIKE
Selfish Ishikawa and Joon Taek
Ichiro, Soma and Gato - words could not described how terrible they were especially Gato
MUSIC
Nice but not my fav
REWATCH VALUE
Five for now
Was this review helpful to you?
Evil and Gore
Well this was bloody, very bloody and kind of gross most of the time... between the gore and the blood there was also a pretty good story about oppression, control, fighting the power, putting blame where it belongs and even a hint of completely unrealistic love...Teaching us viewers once again that all ll is not fair in love and war.
There are a few slightly annoying characters but over all Id say the characters where decently portrayed, some lacked depth. There are some plot holes here and there, not as many as holes in humans bodies but Id say those of you who remember the 1990s may find yourself remind of Bruce Willis. As the leads spend more time between walls than outside in the open as well as seem harder to kill than Bruce Willis in Die hard... There was alos a slight hint of Armageddon in this making me think even more of Bruce Willis in the 1990s....
That said both me and my husband kept pushing for that next episode button and where at times kept on our toes. So a pretty decent watch, making me look forward to season 2.
Was this review helpful to you?
I Need Season 2
The writing seemed a bit slow in the starting episodes but it picked up pace later which is good. I Watched Gyeongseong Creature for Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee and i loved it. I like the drama cuz it was soo goodWhat I dislike is nothing because im a big fan of historical and 1900s. I knew this drama was going to be good as it stars two of my favorite actors.
OSTs were so good in fact my fav OST is "FOREVER" by Suho.
the acting was good and cast was pretty good
Can't wait for season 2 as more thing are coiming in season 2
19/06/2024 The End?
Was this review helpful to you?
Wasted Potential and Good Actors Talents
This drama would have been a good horror mystery if the lukewarm-lame romance were removed from it. I would have preferred that the ML stayed cold, arrogant yet strong and over-confident throughout the drama. While I was watching this drama, I find myself shouting often at the TV screen to tell the characters to keep on running or escaping or not waste time during suspenseful scenes because of the imminent dangers around their corners. There are crazy Japanese soldiers or monster running around all over the dark places! And yet, those people were busy either talking trash, or arguing or crying or just making googly eyes at each other (yes, the ML & FL) trying to foster some fake romantic vibes for the drama! There's no feeling of urgency about the danger or fear. No tension or suspense. It's like the main characters knew they were super human, they have great plot armour and they know they will survive.Compared this with Train to Busan drama, this new drama is as scary as some B-grade Hollywood Halloween film. Even the Korean "Kingdom" historical zombie horror-drama is 2x better. LOL... hehehe...
Anyways, this is only my opinion (plus my sister's too as we watched it together).
Was this review helpful to you?
Boring
I expected so much more considering the subject matter (Japanese atrocities and occupation of Korea, unit 731) at the beginning...but it ended up being super boring. i couldnt wait for it to end. The characters are underdeveloped. And the love story they forced into the series just didn't fit or make sense and took away from the rest of the story. it was like they were trying to do too much. it was highly fictionalized, it did not dive deep into what actually happened at the time, or what unit 731 did beyond just vague "human experimentation." the whole series ended up coming across as a bit too vapid for me. personally I would have preferred a real historical drama regarding this subject, with real names, real people, real events, real places, such a drama would have served the subject matter better. I just feel that the way this show treats the subject matter is too light and even maybe trivializes what happened. would have liked it better if it was more deep and serious. I did loved Suho from EXO's song that was part of the soundtrack.Was this review helpful to you?
