This review may contain spoilers
Good concept, poor execution
Let me preface this by saying I have bones to pick with the story itself and the director(s), that's it. Spoilers abound.
I came for the whump and stayed to see how they'd swing the ending. Ehh. Let’s start with the good, since there’s so little of it.
What I liked:
- The acting. It’s fine, good, I’m not really here to talk about that although I’ll say potential was wasted on this show. Hell even the music is better than the script.
- Taemin’s outfits. Nope, seriously, that flowy jacket/sweater he’s got is basically my third favorite character.
- Taemin’s haircut. They played him right to the camera (as you should), that’s all. (My fourth favorite character)
- That one moment Kano Risa took down a suspect all kick-ass.
- The whump. Then again, not enough of it for all the potential of it.
- The ending. Sort of. (rest below)
What I disliked/wished was better:
- THE PLOT!? It's a great concept, if a bit far fetched, but honestly it was sloppy and/or lazy writing and execution.
- I won't get into too many details (but I could, good grief), but I didn't understand why they spent sooo much time on Ryo's side story of finding his mother. She sucks, you hate her, check. Please stop repeating unnecessary flashbacks, it doesn't make them sadder. Did that resolution change anything for him?? Unnoticeable if yes! That whole arc felt like wasted time that could've been better condensed and maybe spent giving us more about Sion's/Minjoon's life at the beginning, to know what he lost, or what he did during those 2 years after waking up or or or. Sigh.
- The dialogue. Or what little we get. I do like the occasional scarcity in dialogue, like when some characters only chime in when (fill in the blank), but this was... taken too far? Both main characters were quiet, which is fine, but for the love of relationships please at least show their developing trust or SOMETHING?? I couldn't really grasp their friendship (are they even friends?) because their interactions are so... rare? Quiet?
- Seriously, "Sion are you okay" has got to be the most commonly asked question, and he typically never answers these (because he's either in pain or unconscious).
- Getting shot in the head and getting asked “are you ok,” I mean, top 3 worst lines of all times?? Lol
- Ryo and Sion don't really share a decent conversation until episode 6? Then again it's still about 6 sentences each, so.
- The filming. I like action cams, when it’s done well. And I wish this had been done better. There were 2 or 3 episodes directed by someone else towards the end and I liked those better.
- Lens flare. I love a good lens flare, but not this, whatever this tried to be. The director must’ve tried recreating Star Trek/JJ Abrams vibes but can we please stoooop with the overkill??
- The overly simplified (medical, etc) procedures. Time crunch, I get it, but seriously don't they shave the hair for any kind of head surgery? (Then again, his hair is the 4th character so... I understand, BUT STILL.) He's also out of the hospital way too quickly??
- The casual racism. Why is the random dude threatening Kana’s life black? And *of course* the terrorist cell is from Iraq. You're telling me Japanese people are incapable of cruel and crazy crime? (No.) This might’ve gone unnoticed when I was younger, but now it's obvious and I can’t unsee it.
I love an ambiguous ending, but this one left me unsatisfied. Now I'll have to check if this was based on anything and hope the source material is better (if it exists). I'm still glad I watched it because I have 2 new songs to love, but if it'd been a regular length drama I probably wouldn't have finished it.
I came for the whump and stayed to see how they'd swing the ending. Ehh. Let’s start with the good, since there’s so little of it.
What I liked:
- The acting. It’s fine, good, I’m not really here to talk about that although I’ll say potential was wasted on this show. Hell even the music is better than the script.
- Taemin’s outfits. Nope, seriously, that flowy jacket/sweater he’s got is basically my third favorite character.
- Taemin’s haircut. They played him right to the camera (as you should), that’s all. (My fourth favorite character)
- That one moment Kano Risa took down a suspect all kick-ass.
- The whump. Then again, not enough of it for all the potential of it.
- The ending. Sort of. (rest below)
What I disliked/wished was better:
- THE PLOT!? It's a great concept, if a bit far fetched, but honestly it was sloppy and/or lazy writing and execution.
- I won't get into too many details (but I could, good grief), but I didn't understand why they spent sooo much time on Ryo's side story of finding his mother. She sucks, you hate her, check. Please stop repeating unnecessary flashbacks, it doesn't make them sadder. Did that resolution change anything for him?? Unnoticeable if yes! That whole arc felt like wasted time that could've been better condensed and maybe spent giving us more about Sion's/Minjoon's life at the beginning, to know what he lost, or what he did during those 2 years after waking up or or or. Sigh.
- The dialogue. Or what little we get. I do like the occasional scarcity in dialogue, like when some characters only chime in when (fill in the blank), but this was... taken too far? Both main characters were quiet, which is fine, but for the love of relationships please at least show their developing trust or SOMETHING?? I couldn't really grasp their friendship (are they even friends?) because their interactions are so... rare? Quiet?
- Seriously, "Sion are you okay" has got to be the most commonly asked question, and he typically never answers these (because he's either in pain or unconscious).
- Getting shot in the head and getting asked “are you ok,” I mean, top 3 worst lines of all times?? Lol
- Ryo and Sion don't really share a decent conversation until episode 6? Then again it's still about 6 sentences each, so.
- The filming. I like action cams, when it’s done well. And I wish this had been done better. There were 2 or 3 episodes directed by someone else towards the end and I liked those better.
- Lens flare. I love a good lens flare, but not this, whatever this tried to be. The director must’ve tried recreating Star Trek/JJ Abrams vibes but can we please stoooop with the overkill??
- The overly simplified (medical, etc) procedures. Time crunch, I get it, but seriously don't they shave the hair for any kind of head surgery? (Then again, his hair is the 4th character so... I understand, BUT STILL.) He's also out of the hospital way too quickly??
- The casual racism. Why is the random dude threatening Kana’s life black? And *of course* the terrorist cell is from Iraq. You're telling me Japanese people are incapable of cruel and crazy crime? (No.) This might’ve gone unnoticed when I was younger, but now it's obvious and I can’t unsee it.
I love an ambiguous ending, but this one left me unsatisfied. Now I'll have to check if this was based on anything and hope the source material is better (if it exists). I'm still glad I watched it because I have 2 new songs to love, but if it'd been a regular length drama I probably wouldn't have finished it.
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