it could have been so much more than the convoluted mess we got

this drama could have been so good if everything was like the first 15 minutes. The tone and atmopshere is very uneven, jumping to somewhat dark to lame slapstick comedy (that feels a tad too juvenile at times). Here's the thing, I don't give af about the tenants of the building, and their over the top acting pisses me off lmao just throw them all away. Everyone is raving about the chemistry, but the characters aren't developed enough for the relationship to really feel meaningful. I mean I still got to episode 15 and will still keep watching for those little bits of potential I can see that are hidden under layers of unnecessary comedic filler. I think the ml carried this lmao, he was impeccable and I would have been fine if he just yeeted out of Korea and spent the whole drama in Italy cuz that's where shit goes down. Also did I mention he was hot? Because that's also a huge reason I keep watching. I guess a dark noir mafia drama was too much to ask for huh. Basically, like dude should kick ass but he doesn't which pisses me off

OMG EP 16 ROCKED. DUDE this is the scene I have been waiting for dude. OMLOMLLMOMLL. Serious Kaz Brekker vibes and I'm loving it. Okay, the ending was lit and dark, As the show went on, I think I begrudging accepted that this juvenile exaggerated comedy is here to stay (unfortunately), doesn't mean I have to like it though! I remained disinterested in the tenants' storyline to the end. I would have liked to see Vincenzo been challenged more, because he basically never is, and plus that cliche move of making Hong Chayeong a damsel in distress was just not the move bro.

I'm very grateful they didn't shy away from vincenzo's moral greyness though, and didn't try to reform him, so there's that. Also, most people liked Hanseo, I personally find him a bit one-dimensional. Or mb I just don't dig his character lol, Idk anymore. Honestly I feel like there was weak characterization all around, and I didn't feel the chemistry between Vincenzo and Chayeong at all, especially near the end. Ughhh, there's this weird exaggerated tone that the drama has that just throws the whole thing off, which makes the drama feel very cartoony (sitcom-esque), and undermines the somber tone and themes they are trying to establish. It really doesn't mesh well.

I think I can sum this whole drama to two words: wasted potential. Like Peaky blinders was fab can we have more of that in kdramas? Basically, this drama is trying to be two things: a lame ass comedy and an edgy mafia thriller, and fails miserably at both. I mean, I did tune in for this drama each week, so I guess that's sometthing (they are really good with cliffhangers lol, like the whole episode will be filler and in the last 5 mins, something interesting happens and you're like oh shit i need to pay attention now). This is the first k drama I've watched as it aired, and I must say, it's great cuz I haven't lost any sleep over this, on the bright side.

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overall: weak characters, interesting premise, ehhh execution

this wasn't worth my hl essay worktime and my chem exam study time. Also, this is purely a rant of disjointed thoughts about my irrelevant opinion, ofc.

- first of all. It's blatant police propaganda lmao i swear this shit was funded by the police there was no nuance at all
- second, wtf was the ending. Why were they in the time loop?
- the ending was basically a massive, dragged out sob story
- plot wasn't as tight as I would have liked. The beginning dragged dude. The amount of dramatic shots i can't.
- the edge of tomorrow did this premise better
- the girl was boring. Sorry she's basically a portrayed as a saint with no character development. Her naivety pissed me off. Can we have cool female character that doesn't act like a 10 year old kid for once?
- the two leads have no chemistry. The kiss was abysmal, the usual for cdrama kisses.
- i think this is every gamer's wet dream. I think that statement is explanatory in itself. tbh he was sort of cute, but again underdeveloped, and i didn't like him very much.
- beginning half was better. Seriously how did this become a cop drama in the last few episodes? (also: how many shits did i give about the cop almost dying? 0). The ending? Basically the cop said, trust me bro. And the man was like ok dude I will. ???
- also isn't it funny how china lets you see graphic severe burns where the skin is literally molten but refuses to air some cleavage? smh puritans. Make it make sense ccp
- I did like how they subverted expectations several times and how the villains were understandable, like we got their motivations. Also i may be tripping but I swear the antagonists better developed than the protagonists themselves?
- the crazy wife was good but dude she overdid it sometimes. LIke bruh we get it ur crazy.

- messages: don't judge ppl by how they seem, the perils of keeping silent with sexual assault (omfg the moms rant about wearing short skirts shut up boomer), the consequences of police failure, etc.

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a stark, one note exploration of the dark side of the miliary

dang it started off with a bang bro (that NAIL?)

alsooooo the military police trash they need a better protocol

it shocks me how often they resort to using their fists lol a glaringly obvious excuse to have fight action choreo (like a multitude of situations could have simply been resolved if they had used their words rather than their fists. the dude (ajh) crashed into the police and let the victim escape, like couldnt he communnicate

mb i didnt understand some shit since im sleep deprived, but i feel like some themes could have been explored better, developed better. For example, an joon hos relationship with his mom randomly got resolved for some reason, which is hella confusing. I don't get why he suddenly forgave his mom for not escaping his dad....

i have no qualms with the unhappy ending, reflective of reality where justice is rarely achieved (i think I'm cynical lol)

the ending of him literally breaking away and defying authority was a bit on the nose, if they wanted to show him literally breaking away from the military ideals/environment, which led to him to be a bystander.

some arcs felt so abrupt (that girl and her abusive bf? hello)
- I'm trying to think of the significance of that arc (her last parting words, don't pity too much. Perhaps it's a commentary on how people who are soft hearted in this world/military get screwed over)
- sometimes, it felt like suffering for the sake of suffering...or mb that was the purpose: just trying to shock its viewers into the idea that damn, the military be dark
- i think the issue is I felt like it was heavy handed. Lacked nuance? because this thing is basically exclaiming, MILITARY ACTUALLY BAD, in large caps, which is valid i guess (if it's a new concept...).
- it sort of got ridiculous at the end, i never really got a feel for the main characters i think. They were a little bit underdeveloped.

interesting:
- suffering begets suffering, bullying begets bullying ( basically everyone bullies each other)

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