This review may contain spoilers
"Night Has Come" definitely had potential, but it missed the mark in so many ways. I'm a huge fan of stories like the "Jinrou Game" series, which always manage to captivate me despite not being masterpieces. So, when I heard about a K-drama taking on a similar concept, I was pumped. Sadly, the execution fell flat, and it ended up being a wasted opportunity.Let's talk about the acting:
•First off, Lee Jae In as Yoonseo? Ah, man, I hate to say it, but her performance just didn't cut it for me. Her acting felt flat, like she was stuck on one expression—mouth open, eyes wide. I couldn't connect with her character at all, which made me pretty indifferent to what happened to her. Her whole vibe came off more cringey than anything heroic or compassionate.
•Then there's Kim Wooseok playing Junhee. Sure, he's easy on the eyes, but his acting? Yeah, not so much. I was expecting more depth from the male lead, but his performance just didn't hit the mark.
•Now, on the bright side, Cha Woomin as Kyungjun? Now that guy could act. He nailed the role of the tough, survival-driven class bully. Every scene with him was intense, and you could really feel the desperation and cunning in his character. Props to him for standing out among the cast.
•Ahn Jiho as Dabeom—now that guy knows how to steal the show. He flawlessly shifted between timid and straight-up psycho Dabeom throughout the series. I mean, the Dabeom we saw in episodes 1-7 versus 8-12? It was like watching two completely different characters, but Jiho pulled it off without missing a beat. It's like he devoured every scene he was in, leaving nothing behind.
•And then there's Jung Sori as Somi. Man, she really knew how to play the mean pick megirl, didn't she? Somi's character was so intense and in-your-face, and Jung Sori nailed it perfectly. You remember those scenes with her because she left this lasting impression of a character you love to hate.
•And let's not forget Choi Yebin as Jungwon. She's got talent, no doubt about it. We've seen her skills way back in her debut series "The Penthouse," and here, despite her character's robotic demeanor and limited emotional range, she still managed to leave an impression. You could tell she was holding back, though. I wish they had given her more to work with because she's capable of so much more.
The casting of the main leads was a letdown, to say the least. You've got supporting actors like Yeonwoo, Hyunhoo, Mina, and even those with less screen time like Heo Yool and Jooyoung delivering more engaging performances than the main leads. Like, what gives? You'd think the director would prioritize solid acting chops over popularity, right? But nope, they went and cast Kim Wooseok probably just because he's a K-pop idol. Sure, he's got the looks and all, but acting-wise? Meh. It feels like they played it safe, not fully committing to the story's potential. Can you blame them? Reading that script, I might've had doubts too. It's a trend that's becoming way too common in K-dramas these days. If they'd focused solely on acting skills during casting, they could've easily found lesser-known actors who would've knocked it out of the park. Maybe Kim Wooseok could've started with smaller parts to get the hang of acting before going for a lead. Because let's be real, the difference in acting ability between Kim Wooseok and legit actors like Cha Woo Min and Ahn Jiho? It's like night and day It's frustrating how easily K-pop idols slide into acting gigs while genuine, talented actors have to fight tooth and nail for their shot. I mean, no shade to Kim Wooseok—he's doing his thing—but directors should prioritize skill over fame.
Characters:
Let's talk about the female lead. Initially, I was thrilled at the prospect of a strong, badass female lead but Yoonseo’s character ended up in the trash can. At first glance, she appears as a quiet and unpopular figure among her peers but the writers try to make her stand out by giving her asthma and hallucinations, which are meant to make her seem more unique and significant in the group. As a main character who is an avid reader of mystery novels, she's supposed to be the smart one—calmer and more insightful because she has a mental framework for what's happening. However, this potential is never fully realized. Instead, she often seems helpless and lacks the sharpness expected of her character. She is not the brightest in the group, despite the writers' efforts to portray her as such. Yoonseo is portrayed as weirdly and stupidly kind, allowing the bully Somi to do as she pleases and forgiving her no matter what. It’s painfully obvious that Somi hates her for being too close to Junhee and is trying to kill her. Yoonseo's always tries to save the day but consistently makes poor choices.
Moving on to the male lead, Junhee the class president, he started off as popular and seemingly important, but his character's relevance dwindled as the series progressed. His sole purpose seemed to revolve around becoming Yoonseo's love interest. Junhee is initially portrayed as a risk-taker, but after being accused of being the mafia in the first two episodes, he stops taking risks and becomes passive. Failing to use his leadership skills expected from a class president.
I disliked the characters I was supposed to like and couldn’t find any reason to root for the 'good guys'. Junhee and Yoonseo, the male and female leads, don’t seem to have any purpose other than being shown more frequently and being forced upon the viewer as important. There’s nothing substantial to their characters. We never get a full backstory for either Junhee or Yoonseo. Both lack depth and a detailed history. There’s a flashback hinting at some trauma for Junhee, but it’s never explored. How are we, as viewers, supposed to empathize with and support the main characters if we know nothing about them? Essentially, there’s no real reason for why these two should be our protagonists other than their superficial "holier-than-thou" attitudes. On the other hand, Dabeom would have made a much more interesting main character. He’s a nerdy loser who gets bullied and seeks revenge, offering a fresh perspective as the mafia instead of the typical "good guy" citizen perspective.
Its seems I'm blah blah so much so I just gonna say The story is just poorly written. The whole game should been controlled by their ghost/dead classmate like the story hinting for the whole time. Kinda fresher than there some how mastermind group like the jinrou game who find it entertainment to watch student killing each other. . Just it being the Se Eun parents forcing them into a simulation loop thing kinda made it seem meeeh
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