This review may contain spoilers
No Way Out: The Letdown..
The drama had a slow start.. With the production quality being average right from the beginning.. The first four episodes were particularly disappointing and didn't hold my interest.. It wasn't the pacing that was the issue.. But rather the lack of any real engaging content.. Honestly the only reason I continued watching was for Greg Hsu and his character.. Who should have made his appearance sooner..
One of the most frustrating parts of the storyline was how unrealistic it was for the wife to wait 13 years to file for divorce.. He was a convicted serial rapist and murderer.. No court would have denied her divorce petition in such a case.. And she would have obviously got the child's custody as well.. This plot point was not only illogical but also stupid..
Despite his limited screentime.. Greg Hsu a.k.a Mr. Smile was the highlight of the entire show for me.. His undeniable charm and compelling presence stood out.. I was glad to finally see him at the end again.. Hinting that he will have a significant role if there’s another season.. He absolutely deserves his own drama.. And with rumors that he might be getting one.. I am hopeful we will see more of him.. Especially since his character's still alive..
One another major disappointment was the music.. None of the scenes had good bgm.. Which was disappointing..
Overall.. There really weren’t many good things to talk about.. Just an average drama with a half baked story and poor execution..
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IGNORE THE RATINGS AND GIVE THIS AMAZING DRAMA A CHANCE!
I'll start by saying these are one of those times where I doubt peoples tastes in rating dramas because this deserves higher ratings....This drama was the kind of thriller that kept you on the edge of your seat no matter how simple the plot seemed to be...in short the plot was something refreshing and executed in a way that kept me engaged for eight episodes straight.
There plenty of reasons I'd give as to why this drama deserves a chance to be seen by many but I'll cut them down to three...
1. THE PLOT
This drama tells a story of a criminal who gets released from jail and a masked man who puts a bounty of 20 billion won on him for whoever kills him....just the sound of this sinopsis arrouses curiousity..you going to have lots of questions and trust me all will be slowly answered as the plot or story flows....
The pacing of this drama was neither fast nor slow but rather enough to keep you entertained and the hoping for more....the story it's self was intense..there was some amazing and captivating action that will keep you on your toes as you watch.
2. THE CHARACTERS
The drama it's self had multiple main characters and I love how they introduced each one of them per episode..each character had their own different story, personality and more and I love how each one of them connected to the main plot....the characters were written in a way that was interesting and despite the short episodes they felt complex and each contributed to the charm of the series.
3. THE ACTING
This drama has lots of familiar faces and most were veteran actors and actresses so the acting was strong and impactful from the entire cast.
BONUS: The show had some intense and catchy back ground music...
DO I RECOMMEND IT?
Absolutely, if you want a riveting, entertaining and exciting thriller then this is it
I REALLT HOPE FOR A SEASON TWO SEEING HOW THEY HINTED ON IT AT THE END??
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This review may contain spoilers
A Rollercoaster of Missed Opportunities
No Way Out: The Roulette had all the makings of a gripping Korean drama, with a promising premise and a cast of talented actors. However, the execution leaves much to be desired, as the series often drops plot points and characters, leading to a narrative that feels disjointed and incomplete.One of the most glaring issues is how the show introduces characters with potential only to abandon them without explanation. For instance, An Myeong Ja, the mayor, initially appears as a typical political figure—corrupt, manipulative, and seemingly crucial to the story. But after a key event, she literally "disappears," her role abruptly cut off without any resolution. This lack of follow-through on her character arc leaves a void in the storyline that is hard to ignore.
Similarly, the fate of Park Eun-Jeong's body after her tragic death is another mystery left hanging. The show never clarifies whether her body was found. This kind of storytelling, where significant details are left unexplored, ultimately weakens the impact of the plot.
Adding to the frustration are the numerous irrational and unbelievable scenes. The police in the series often act in ways that defy logic, making it hard to take the drama seriously at times. The main antagonist, for instance, seems impervious to harm, no matter what happens to him, which becomes repetitive and strains credibility. While some moments, like Mr. Smile’s scenes, are fun to watch, others just feel silly and take away from the overall experience.
It's clear that the series had potential, but the fast-paced plot, crammed into too few episodes, results in a messy and unsatisfying narrative. It's not that the actors were wasted—far from it—but the writing didn't give them enough to work with, making the show feel like a missed opportunity.
That being said, if there's a season 2 with Mr. Smile chasing down the pastor, I'll be curious to see how it unfolds. Despite its flaws, No Way Out: The Roulette has moments of intrigue and entertainment, leaving just enough curiosity for what could come next.
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Much better than the rating...MUCH!
Firstly, if you are a fan of J-dramas or Korean short dramas, the style and speed of the storytelling will be up your alley. The Japanese can tell one helluva story in 8-10 episodes. Most don't end with cliffhangers and while you may want more, you're satisfied. That's what No Way Out is like. It's well crafted and told. On the plus side, there are no flashbacks that make an episode unnecessarily longer. I've never understood the padding of an episode by showing a flashback of a scene we just saw earlier in the same episode. There's also no unnecessary romantic tension or romance whatsoever. Just flawed and, let's face it, not so good people doing not so good things. That's not to say if you're a fan of Korean 16+ episode dramas you won't like it. It's just that all the extraneous showy bits that viewers are used to and perhaps enjoy is cut. Does it answer every question and wrap things up in a tidy bow? No, but who cares? What's not answered has nothing to do with the show at hand. I'm not saying it's perfect. Far from it, but it's damn good.No Way Out is gritty-esque. It's filmed more like a movie and the actions and language are like that as well. The lighting even during day scenes is dark which helps convey the overall feel of the show. The directing was solid, which would be difficult if the script was not well written.
The acting is great from the leads to the guests and/or supports. I am so happy Lee Kwang Soo took the role of Chang Jae. He's played no nonsense characters before (Puck! and Tazza come to mind), but never someone so desperate, creepy, and villainous. It seemed as if LKS and Jo Jin Woong wouldn't interact or share a scene like in Entourage, but they manage to share a rather good one. I've seen You Jae Myung in a new light as well. He was fantastic. Jo Jin, well, he was just Jo Jin aka he was excellent.
Uncharacteristically, the re-watch for me is high. I think I may have missed a few things. The music was good. It fit the scenes and helped convey the overall feel of the show.
What can I say? If you like crime dramas and stories where everything isn't black & white; where the cops look like cops and not fashion models; where the bad guys sometimes win the battles, give No Way Out a watch. I'm pretty sure you'll like it. Score: 8.5 up to 9
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I swear, this is two different series in one!
I will start off by saying that you, yes you who is currently reading this review, should give this one a shot, cause it is not as bad as the ratings suggest.No Way Out: The Roulette was definitely a ride, messy at times, but still fun to watch (for the most part).
What I liked:
PRODUCTION QUALITY
They surely invested some money on this series. Nothing more to say.
ACTING
If you are watching Kdramas for a while you will see many -and I mean MANY- familiar faces. Generally, even though there was some overacting here and there, the performances were pretty good and one of the best aspects of the series.
Yoo Jae Myung as the evil Kim Guk Ho, Sung Yoo Bin as Seo Dong Ha (Kim Guk Ho’s son) and Kim Sung Cheol as well as the actor that portrayed him as a child did a truly amazing job with their roles.
MR. SMILE
See how I didn’t mention Greg Hsu above? It’s because that man deserves a separate mention. Was Mr. Smile the most fun to watch character in the series? Yes. Would that be possible without Greg Hsu giving a freaking great performance? No. I am shallow, I know, but that man did so well and his sexy voice while speaking English -that didn't sound cringe for once- was like the cherry on top.
THEME OF JUSTICE
Again, if you have been watching Kdramas and Kmovies for a while, you know justice is a prevalent theme. This series may not be the best in the long catalog of "moral dilemmas dramas", but it is definitely a good one.
VIOLENCE + DISTURBING/SENSITIVE THEMES
I like my dramas extra violent, and this one delivers in that aspect. Of course, because this is an OTT drama, there is zero censorship, something that adds to the atmosphere they are trying to create.
SOME GREAT SCENES AND EPISODES
No Way Out is a bit divided in my head. It had some truly amazing scenes, with great directing and fantastic tension and some that were exactly the opposite -but we will get to that later-.
For me, episode 5 was the best episode of the series and the one that truly reminded me of Korean cinema.
UNPREDICTABILITY
Now, “unpredictability where?” you will say and you will be right. Despite the fact that the show has many predictable moments, I can’t help but praise the fact that there are also some things I did not expect to happen.
FINALE
Generally a pretty entertaining ending, but those last ten minutes or so where a bit unnecessary.
What I disliked:
MAIN LEAD WAS NOT MAIN LEADING
Baek Jung Sik is the main character and he is -of course- a police officer. My problem with him, besides the fact that he is either purely unlikable or uninteresting most of the show, is that he is again a typical police officer that you have probably seen in many Korean series. What do I mean? He can get (very) dumb! And that aside, at times it seems like he changes personalities, like when he suddenly remembers he is a police officer…
CHARACTERS
Don’t shoot me (pun intended). The series had some pretty great and generally well written characters like Mr. Smile and Dong Ha. BUT, it also had some plain bland and boring ones, like the mayor and that lawyer.
There are two things that went very wrong with these two characters -there are others that were bad, but these two take the cake-. One, the approach of the scriptwriter. It is a typical technique introducing characters separately and then as the series proceeds, heading slowly to the climax. However, in this case, the characters were not only super boring, but basically felt like plot tools to keep the series going. Two, they were such typical Kdrama characters, especially the mayor. Like think of any political figure in a Kdrama (you know the corrupt, evil one) and there you go.
PLOT ARMOR
Some of the characters and mostly Kim Guk Ho have a crazy plot amour. They literally feel like the superhuman characters you see in comics, where they just do not die no matter how much someone tries.
CONVENIENCE
There are some things happening way too conveniently for some of the characters, something that made some scenes look quite dumb and unbelievably irrational. You know, like things conveniently appearing somewhere to help the characters.
PACING
Now, second half of the drama was definitely better overall, but first half and especially episodes 3 and 4 were draggy and boring as hell. No Way Out could be a magnificent and suspenseful series, but it was impossible cause of the pacing and (half of) the writing.
MISSING CHARACTERS
There are some characters that feel super important to the plot -or at least they are important enough- and they just simply disappear. I expected to find out what happened to some of them, but no, ending was like ''we don't remember of their existence''.
All in all, this is one of the better Kdramas than you can find on Disney+, but it does feel like two completely different series at times. One that is draggy with some typical Kdrama characters and boring moments and another one that is super entertaining with some fun to watch and intense scenes. I feel that the series would be much better if it focused more on Guk Ho and less on the officer or even if it focused on the attempted murders and the stories of the people behind them. There is only one conclusion though. No Way Out: The Roulette may be flawed in many aspects with the worst being the pacing, but it is certainly worth the watch.
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a really great watch
I think everyone who likes a good mystery, thrillers, and an interesting plot should watch this. Honestly, it was time well spent, and what's more, for an 8 episode drama that covers a lot of characters (like a bunch), it's very well done. You get to understand why the characters were the way they were and what made them like that which to me is a really important part of understanding any story.I'd just like to point out the physical ability of these people, like, how do you get hammered three times and the next second you're on your feet? That was funny. Still, the action scenes were equally great.
I hope it gets a second season because it really deserves it, even though I think the possibility of that happening is really high given the post-credits scene which, once again, was really cool. Highly recommend.
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Very boring
دراما مخييبة للآمال جداااا يعني وصلنا للحلقة 6 باقي بس حلقتين و لحد الآن ما في شي يشد المشاهددراما تجيب النوم حرفيا ...
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Wow.waht a crazy ride...captivate me with its simple yet effective storyline and exceptional acting.
OMG! I didn't expect it to be so addictive! Once I started watching it, I couldn't stop. You'll be hooked from the first episode. I love how each episode introduces well-developed characters that are intricately connected, making the concept engaging and cohesive.The storyline is simple yet so effective, as sometimes less is more. The acting performances are top-notch, with each actor bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. I love the concept, and each character fits perfectly into the story.
I like this new take on getting justice, as the legal system doesn't really work.
I don't understand why the rating is so low. You see, great Disney dramas tend to have very low ratings and are not very well known. The series deserves wider recognition and could gain immense popularity if aired on a platform like Netflix.
I really wish for another season!
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You should definitely watch it and ignore the rating.
Such an underated drama. I loved all the actors and the plot was really interesting. I think they portrated important themes along the way. They made a smooth transition between new actors that they added through out the show. It's also not too long so it doesn't put you in a slump. It was exciting and I was really looking forward for new episodes. I'm hoping that there will be a season 2, because i would surely watch it. The lead actor deserves more recognition. More people should watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
IS IT OVER? OK...
At various moments watching this drama, I thought I was watching "The Killing Vote" again. They are dramas with very distinct synopses, but with the same purpose: to punish those who are spared by the law. The execution was very good and the choice of cast only shows how much Disney invested. Jin Woong, playing the protagonist police officer, had a reasonable performance. It seemed like he was on autopilot, but his lack of mobility to walk and run was embarrassing, it seemed like it was torture for him to do either of these two things. Now, we have to praise and applaud the high-level performance of veteran Yoo Jae Myung, playing the social scum of GukHo.The drama left openings for a second season. I am neither for nor against, I am indifferent. If there is one, I will watch; otherwise, life goes on.
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Worth the time
See first of all it's not a big drama of 16 episode or of 12 episode in just 8 episode they have portrait a great story where the main protagonist have the character development and the other characters also played their role very well at some point its look very messy or it felt that it's being too boring but it's impossible to ignore.But I feel bad for the lady officer overall I think there could be a season 2 and more expectations
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This review may contain spoilers
Great acting, good premise, basic execution
Being so short, yet so repetitive and yet so underdevelopedThe cop, kwangsoo, and Mr smiles were the interesting part
the 20billion honestly felt like valid reasoning xD
The one target till the end ruined the mood, especially since his targeters were his victims
And he never died… so many attempts…
then it got political and a total snooze
The masked guy, was disappointing, he was like the son? A victim? Idk it was so out of place and rushed over
Like, when there’s a murder mystery, it’s either someone they show or someone new, so in this case it was someone new and his story especially since the whole thing revolved too much on one target, made it detached
Tho the cop getting the money made it sad cuz of what he did to his daughter, he stole from thieves and put his family in danger, he doesn’t deserve happiness
Tho he didn’t stop chasing the masked guy so he’s not fully satisfied?
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