torn between loving and loathing this show.
On one hand, i want to give 10 stars for the incredible directing, acting, set design and interesting plot. On the other i want to give 1 star because of how tone deaf this show is sometimes.Killing yourself is NOT a sin/evil/selfish. I think it is harmful to portray it that way. Especially since most suicidal people just don't kill themselves because their life is a little hard, they kill themselves because living is more painfull than death and because they are MENTALLY ILL. They often don't think rationally, they don't make sense to a rational person that doesn't want to die. They also think the living are better off WITHOUT them.
Not only that, ML has a support system. Many people do not have that. Telling suicidal people to live on because they have "loved ones" is naive. Not everyone has a support system and getting one can be very hard (especially when you are poor/homeless/are in an abusive situation etc.)
I hated that they changed Death's reason from the webtoon. In the webtoon, death didn't care that he killed himself, she was just pissed off that he called her "a means to an end" and unimportant, so she wanted to show the ML how powerfull she really is. I don't get why they changed that and forced some boring christianity-plot into it.
So all in all, i love everything but the preachy "other peoples lives are worse than yours, stop complaining" aspect.
Was this review helpful to you?
Seo In Guk delivered an impressive performance, masterfully portraying the different facets of his character. Park So Dam, known for her versatility, once again showed why she’s one of the most talented actresses of her generation.
Kim Mi Kyung: Her performance is emotional and nuanced, standing out in her role.
Kim Ji Hoon: He’s been praised for his intense and convincing portrayal.
Kim Jae Wook: His acting is charismatic and powerful, capturing the audience’s attention.
Sung Hoon: He brings a unique and vibrant energy to his character.
Lee Do Hyun: His performance is sensitive and deep, resonating with viewers.
Lee Jae Wook: He’s been recognized for his ability to convey his character’s emotional complexities.
Oh Jung Se: His acting is versatile and full of life, adding an extra dimension to the series.
Each of these actors has been praised for their ability to embody their characters and convey their emotional complexities. The chemistry fully, among the cast, and the consistency in Yi-jae’s portrayal across his different lives are a testament to the talent and dedication of these actors.
The performances in Death’s Game are one of the main reasons the series has been so well-received. Each actor has brought something unique to the series, bringing the story to life in a way only such a talented cast could achieve.
The production of Death’s Game is top-tier. Each episode is meticulously designed, with cinematography that enhances the series’ dark and mysterious atmosphere. The visual effects and artistic direction are outstanding, creating a world that is both fantastical and deeply emotional.
Visual Effects (VFX): The visual effects in Death’s Game are impressive and have been a highlight of the series. The production significantly invested in VFX, with a budget of ₩3.35 billion. The special effects are not only visually appealing but also add a layer of realism and depth to the fantasy and action scenes.
Original Soundtrack (OST): The soundtrack of Death’s Game is equally remarkable. Composed by Park Sung-il, the music perfectly complements the series’ atmosphere. The OST includes emotional and powerful tracks that enhance key scenes, helping to convey the deep emotions of the characters. Songs like “Even If There’s No Miracle” performed by Seo In Guk, and “It’s a Lie” by Sondia, have been particularly well-received by fans. The music doesn’t just accompany the narrative; it becomes another character in the story, elevating the overall experience of the series.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Controversial drama with disappointing ending
Controversial drama with disappointing endingThis drama has stellar cast and production quality is superb, but the plot and message behind it are very controversial, to say the least.
The first 4 episodes were a solid 9, though heavy-handed, insensitive religious patronizing can be clearly seen from the very beginning. But after episode 5 it rapidly went downhill. Episode 6 was like those countless crime dramas about exaggerated corruption and untouchable chaebols with over the top acting and resolutions. Very meh.
And the last two episodes were drilling on the same message - suicide is a selfish act, it's not about you, you should keep on suffering for the sake of others. The only insightful part was about a suicidal salary man, who basically started the chain of events that lead ML to his own suicide - it showed ML the ugly reality of that dream he so desperately wanted to have, the one the government and society kept on brainwashing him to strive for since he went to school. But they never delved anywhere further with that. Instead of guilt shaming ML with his mother for the whole episode they should have explored what ML really wanted in life, how can he be true to himself like he said he wanted to. Is being a cog in an uncaring corporate machine what people really should strive for in life? Just such a waste of potential here narrative wise.
But as it is, this drama didn't try looking into the cause, didn't try to resolve any of the problems SK's society has that leads people to commit a staggering amount of suicides every year, like poverty and unemployment, it just tried to guilt shame suiciders through religious and societal dogmas. Makes one think that it was sponsored by SK's government, who seems to be impotent in solving this serious country wide issue and now just resorts to such cheap shots like this drama. Maybe it will work better on Asian audience with their traditionally communal mentality, but it's a very hard sell for individualistic West.
The suicide topic here is viewed from such narrow perspective, it really started to piss me off by the end. No exploration of mental health state of suicidal people or various circumstances that lead to this hard decision. Yeah, in ML's case perhaps he was too rash in attempting suicide since he had a caring mother and a girlfriend (though seeing how lonely he was with his problems at the beginning, these people have shown him lack of moral support when he really needed it, and his mother was later shown hoarding money for him, which she should have given him years ago to help cover his education debts he was paying off for many years). But what about people who have no such people in their lives? What about terminally ill/severely crippled/mentally unwell people who see themselves as burden to their relatives and society? What about kids being beaten by their own drunkard parents and nobody cares? What about people who are living in miserable poverty with no hope for a better future? They should also keep on suffering for the sake of others and their country or go to hell? So many unique lives with unique problems, but this drama had no compassion or desire to explore any of that. It's like that cartoon meme: Nope, stop talking, go to hell.
As for the ending, well, ML got a second chance in life and that's a win (?). But consequently it also invalidated everything ML did in other people’s bodies and all those who were supposed to die will die, including his girlfriend, and all the bad guys, including two serial killer psychos, will still be walking scott free.
So all in all, this drama just left me kinda perplexed as to how to score it, because, on the one hand, the quality and cast were superb, but controversial message and disappointing ending made me feel like I've wasted my time watching this.
I guess I'll score episodes 1-5 with 8.5 and 6-8 with 7.0.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
‘Common stuffs become unattainable goals’ resonated within me?
It’s stressed me out everytime Yi Jae had to die in different bodies but I always look forward to his next ‘role’. I felt bad for Yi Jae tbh because I felt bad bad, he didn’t deserve this pain. But I guess this drama was about the people he left behind when he chose to die. Plus there’s something else hidden along with his death. I think he wronged someone else.So far I’m really attached to these characters:
- School student’s reincarnation, Kang Hoon nailed it of course. I can’t forget the innocent face he made when he’s confronted by the senior iljin? sneaky Yi Jae with his smart solution using high school style. The scene when he was murdered was so tragic tho, I was shocked.
- The dramatic gangster in love Jung Seung-Joo’s character, his scenes were like action movie for real with the impressive camera works for the bike chasing and action scenes. It was so cool imo but too bad he’s killed by the woman he fell in love with, poor dude. Kudos to sneaky Yi Jae for his sneaky plan to hide the money tho.
- The aspiring MMA fighter Kim Jae Wook! This is my fav reincarnation so far because he nailed the emotional acting and action scenes so well. KJW’s acting was really good here even for short appearances, he really delivered his role. I like how he taunted the fake psycho who killed his school’s student reincarnation. Dude should rot in the jail and go crazy. This reincarnation also had good plot twist about how he died. I didn’t expect the father of the hit & run victim to come and stab him. But he ended up dying in the hands of his so called prison bestie instead. Very well done reincarnation so far imo.
- The model Lee Dohyun’s character where he finally met his ex-gf and his mother. LDH nailed his emotional acting like LJW. These two had the heaviest emotional reincarnation. The last part when Ji-Su died…it was too cruel to Yi Jae.
- The baby was cute but it’s too cruel even tho they tried to make it lighter with Yi Jae’s voice over.
Seo Inguk was good, but I think he’s kinda overshadowed by his reincarnations, especially by Kim Jae Wook & Lee Dohyun. But I think he gonna have more scenes for part2, his emotional outbursts during the ending of ep4 was good, I want to see him to lash out to the Death. I can’t say much yet about Park So Dam since her scenes were so limited here, didn’t challenge her acting yet, probably she will have more parts on part2.
I think he has entanglement with Death tho. He probably wronged her somewhere. My guess was he accidentally killed her when he killed himself. I can’t wait for part 2!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
PERFECTION✨
The storyline, the acting, the cinematography EVERYTHING is impressive. Seo In-guk's acting skills are amazing and I felt the sorrow of his unluckiness and the other characters! Most dramas that gather all the outstanding famous actors don't go well, but this drama makes it stand out every single performance!! I absolutely love the chemistry between Yi Jae & Ji Soo, and this drama portrays life & death beautifully, also of course, So Dam nailed it too! Even in only 4 eps, I felt connected to each of the characters and their past shows how outstanding, and this drama keep me hooked! I am waiting for Part-2 :)Was this review helpful to you?
Fast-paced and unpredictable
This show has an amazing script. I haven't read the webtoon so I can't say how accurate this show is or how much of the script's "goodness" is due to the good quality of the webtoon, all I can say is that the script is awesome. I feel that all of Yi Jae's reincarnations will have a joint story arc since we are already seeing some of that at the end of part 1 of this series. I also like the overarching commentary about suicide and how strongly it can impact a person's loved ones and oneself if they survive the attempt. I think it was impactful and tastefully done. Other themes that this drama touches are also well done in my opinion. Please check the trigger warnings because some scenes and situations can be disturbing!!!The actors and acting are also pretty amazing.
I don't know much about camerawork and cinematography but those drone shots were cool.
I can't say that the music is very memorable but it didn't annoy me so that's that.
Was this review helpful to you?
I enjoyed the plot very much, despite a few boring scenes here and there. The thriller aspect kept me going, and I was constantly curious about how he would save himself each time. The cast was amazing, with many actors portraying Seo In Guk’s character, and they did a great job conveying the emotions.
The continuity of the stories was well done. Even though his soul went into different bodies, each living their own life, there was always a common thread, and we got to see what happened after their “death.” It was very interesting!
Was this review helpful to you?
"You've just been taking everything for granted"
Death’s Game at first glance appears to be a simple repudiation of suicide. Death’s thin skin takes it personally when Choi Yi Jae said he wasn't afraid of her and as she says, “You are guilty of coming to find me before I came to find you.” At second or even seventh glance as Choi is doomed to be reincarnated into 12 lives on the cusp of death, a grander scheme begins to reveal itself.Choi Yi Jae was having a bad week, preceded by a tough seven years. When he made the ill-fated decision to jump from a roof he found out just how bad things could get when he met a disgruntled Death who decided to teach him a lesson by having him reincarnate into 12 different lives at the end of their span. Some of the lives were over in a blink, others were further developed. Each reincarnation showed how other lives were suffering or prematurely cut off. They also showed how his own limited thinking and actions led to fateful outcomes. Choi’s myopic vision never let him see how his actions affected others or the dangers lurking about him. I’m looking forward to his growth as a character in the next four episodes.
I had not perused the cast list and was shocked at how many famous faces appeared in Choi’s different lives. These actors weren’t phoning it in either, they gave performances worthy of their own characters’ dramas. It will be interesting to watch Choi finally begin to pull together the different experiences to comprehend what he needs to learn to save his life and afterlife. He’s going to have to move past being cocky and self-absorbed if he wants to win Death’s Game. He’s finding that “wherever you go, there you are.” And I’m not sure the reason for the game is the one he thinks it is. As Choi and the audience come to see how at least some of the lives are interconnected, the goal posts may be moving in regards to what his motivations will be. Admittedly, a few of the revelations were not shocking and I was waiting on them to finally be shown. There was one that should have been a tear jerker or shocking but when it happened, I burst out laughing in the way it was overplayed. For the most part, the short life experiences were moving and effective.
Death's Game is one of those thrillers that felt more like a shell game. Nothing was quite what it seemed and I don't think the real meaning of the episodes or even his death will be fully understood until the second half plays out in January 2024. I hope the next four episodes are as tightly written and as well acted as the first four.
28 December 2023
Was this review helpful to you?
My opinion about series
The first thing you must know to watch this is that it isn't about something funny or entertaining like I was thinking.I want watch it because of the edit from TikTok so my first thought was like yeah this must be funny but it was just my thoughts.
In first episode I could see that this is about. My feelings change to more serious and I more thought about my currently life I have right now.
In each episode I can see the same conclusion
"What is dead to me" and in every episode I have to think about that is it. I can tell it's hard and a little scary to answer this question but you have to face it someday.
While when you will be watch it you an fell angry, lonlynes, sadness or just fell empty this emotions I had.
I can recommend you this series because you can change your time about something or someone and the most important thing you can just clear your minde and look for something with new mind.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Gripping show that ultimately falls flat
I don't really write reviews, but this drama had me thinking as soon as I finished it, and I really had to get my thoughts out.First, the positives. Death's Game is a gripping show. It hooked me from beginning to end, and I binged the entire show in one sitting. The acting is phenomenal, although Death was a little one note, but what can you really do when playing the immortal personification of death itself? The serial killer subplot in particular was probably my favorite part of the entire show, but I mostly consume crime related dramas so that's no real surprise.
So, the negatives. Death's Game takes a very reductivist attitude to suicide in a way that bothered me quite a bit. If you boil down the main message the show seems to be trying to convey, it's essentially "Be grateful you're alive, your death would hurt the people around you." Or even something like "Keep living and trying just as the ones before you, look how hard others have it compared to you."
The sin Death spoke of very early on in the show is revealed to be Yijae not even thinking of how he hurt his mother (and Jisu, although Death only really seems to focus on Yijae's mother). Should Yijae have considered how his actions would affect those around him? Probably, but suicidal people are not in the frame of mind to be thinking of others. If you have reached the point in life where you are seriously considering jumping off of a building, you need psychiatric care, not the personification of Death cuffing your ear and telling you you're ungrateful and selfish. Death's trials were entertaining and made for a good story, but the ending really left a bad taste in my mouth, even if it was technically a happy ending.
One last thing, which is probably nitpicky but I'm writing this, so I might as well. Jisu's death was a part of a series of dominoes falling that led to Yijae getting his second chance. Yijae waking up and getting that second chance essentially means she will never be there to be hit by the psychopath (I honestly forget his name). This means the series of events changes, so Yijae will never get his second chance? Or will Jisu still die just as she did? Did the things Yijae do as others still happen, or do they not since he did not jump? Which means psychopath man 1 and 2 are still out there? I love time travel fiction. Unfortunately it is rarely done well, due to the nature of the concept. Time travel is incredibly difficult to write well due to the plot holes and impossibilities that always emerge. This show is no different, and I think the ending is so brief because the writer knew this. You are meant to take the ending as a happy moment and immediately move on, since thinking about it for even 5 minutes makes it fall apart.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Now that is an interesting adaptation
I have read the webtoon but the drama made it so much better. I am glad that they did not faithfully follow the webtoon but instead changed it a little to make the story flow better. The connection of the reincarnations to one person wasn't in the webtoon but was a welcome inclusion.As expected, Lee JaeWook and Lee DoHyun slayed in their roles. I was quite surprised that Yoo InSoo would fit and play his character as the weak bully so well since I never imagined he could be like that at all. He really is the kind of actor that embodies the characters he play. I loved him in Alchemy of Souls, love-hate him in The Good Bad Mother, and utterly hated him in this drama.
I never thought that they would release only the first part of the drama so I am quite disappointed right now but still they chose a great cliff hanger. I hope they release the second part soon.
Was this review helpful to you?
