Nikolean
This review may contain spoilers
Ends 2020 with a bang, hooked from start to finish!
This rounded my 2020 dramas off with a bang, and I will have it no other way. Flower of Evil is forever in my top drama list because of how complex everything is and for me it was more of a look at character exploration and growth (and questions of humanity) over the thriller element (which was also amazing, by the way.) There's way too much for me to gush about, so I'll try to keep it as succinct as I can with minimal spoilers!!
THE STORY
So I think it's a bit difficult to talk about Flower of Evil without mentioning the other drama from 2020 that had one of the lead characters struggling with mental health conditions: It's Okay to Not Be Okay. While the main characters can share some similarities in their struggles, it's important to also understand that IOTNBO is a romcom that centers more around the healing element while FOE is more about the thriller/mystery element. I think that FOE is a very well-crafted thriller and psychological drama that takes a nuanced and layered look on mental health like ptsd and trauma over a backdrop of a murder mystery. I commend the writer for really taking the time and effort to get into everyone's heads and while it was a plot-centered drama, the writer didn't throw away the need to write character growth and exploration, which I find very commendable. FOE delivers dynamic characters under a suspenseful storyline that you literally have to binge because of how engaging it is, along with a satisfying and emotionally pulling love story. Ji Won and Hyun Soo were very good foils to explore and the answer of the question: is a monster born or made? was a perfect theme to have in the background. I adore characters that are foils of the villains because it makes them very complex, and FOE delivered it all very well.
The only reason I'm not giving it a 10/10 was the lil amnesia plot added at the end. While I agree it was necessary for him to realize that he can fall in love whilst forgetting it all and for him to actually affirm for himself that he is capable of the very emotions he thought he lacked was important for character growth, but I also personally have a small pet peeve with amnesia plots.
THE CAST
Honestly, I had no problems with the acting and thought everyone did extremely well, particularly the leads (of course). I'm going to focus on three actors in this review.
Lee Joon Gi surprises me every time. Honestly by now, he's a very established actor and has been my OG actor for so long, and I feel like he always grows in everything he's in. He understood Do Hyun Soo's character so well and accomplished such a difficult feat of portraying a character with sociopathic tendencies and other mental health concerns. I feel like he was able to portray HS very believably and maturely and I cannot imagine any other actor taking the role. Side note: I found it so interesting how LJG and Seo Ye Ji starred in Lawless Lawyer together then subsequently starred in dramas with characters that struggle a lot with mental health issues and portrayed it so well. I have a ton of respect for them honestly and best casting choices.
Moon Chae Won was a very good choice for Cha Ji Won (honestly the casting director knows their shit). Her chemistry with LJG and understanding of her character was very prevalent and nuanced, and I enjoyed every moment with her onscreen just as much as I enjoyed LJG's. Her character was smart, charismatic and was quite an anchor in the show. I usually enjoy one or the other of the leads more onscreen, but she really made it level for me! I haven't really watched her dramas before, but she's really making me want to now!
Jung Seo Yeon as Baek Eun Ha was amazing. She's all the stars in my night sky and the light of the show! She's a very talented child actor and that love that Eunha had for her father was perfectly portrayed in her acting! I adore her so much and she left quite the impression on me.
MUSIC
Beautiful. The perfect songs at the perfect moments, and they really fit the schemes of the parts they were played in. I adore Psycho a lot, and I found myself also just playing the full OST album in the background when I do things. Very well done with the music and I have absolutely no complaints!
PRODUCTION/CINEMATOGRAPHY
Perfect. Honestly, the framing of the characters and the lighting in this drama was perfect from start to finish. There were insane moments of the angles being able to tell more about the story than what was told- looking below the surface (a major theme here too) was very prevalent. One thing that really stuck with me was the use of frames, mirrors, shadows, even in the first episode when HS says "She only sees what she wishes to see" and the camera pans to his reflection in an empty picture frame. Beautiful and thoughtful from start to finish.
REWATCH VALUE
The only reason why the rewatch value here is not 10 is because of how heavy the drama is and how much it makes you think. I adore it so much and I truly need to sit down and watch it all at once. I need to have that sort of mood to watch it because once I start I can't stop haha.
CONCLUSION
This is probably one of the best kdramas I've watched, and probably the best LJG drama I've seen so far. FOE will forever remain imprinted in my brain and it left such a great impression on me that only left me hungering for more. I think for me, it was the best 2020 drama with how complex it is, and I sincerely hope that it would be more well known! I have no idea how it continues to remain slightly under the radar for a lot of things even though I've heard it has quite the high ratings when it was airing. I'm currently rewatching it :) Also, not for the faint hearted most definitely and will really attract people who love thrillers, looking at the human mind, or just amazing character growth and acting! Such a thought provoking drama :)
THE STORY
So I think it's a bit difficult to talk about Flower of Evil without mentioning the other drama from 2020 that had one of the lead characters struggling with mental health conditions: It's Okay to Not Be Okay. While the main characters can share some similarities in their struggles, it's important to also understand that IOTNBO is a romcom that centers more around the healing element while FOE is more about the thriller/mystery element. I think that FOE is a very well-crafted thriller and psychological drama that takes a nuanced and layered look on mental health like ptsd and trauma over a backdrop of a murder mystery. I commend the writer for really taking the time and effort to get into everyone's heads and while it was a plot-centered drama, the writer didn't throw away the need to write character growth and exploration, which I find very commendable. FOE delivers dynamic characters under a suspenseful storyline that you literally have to binge because of how engaging it is, along with a satisfying and emotionally pulling love story. Ji Won and Hyun Soo were very good foils to explore and the answer of the question: is a monster born or made? was a perfect theme to have in the background. I adore characters that are foils of the villains because it makes them very complex, and FOE delivered it all very well.
The only reason I'm not giving it a 10/10 was the lil amnesia plot added at the end. While I agree it was necessary for him to realize that he can fall in love whilst forgetting it all and for him to actually affirm for himself that he is capable of the very emotions he thought he lacked was important for character growth, but I also personally have a small pet peeve with amnesia plots.
THE CAST
Honestly, I had no problems with the acting and thought everyone did extremely well, particularly the leads (of course). I'm going to focus on three actors in this review.
Lee Joon Gi surprises me every time. Honestly by now, he's a very established actor and has been my OG actor for so long, and I feel like he always grows in everything he's in. He understood Do Hyun Soo's character so well and accomplished such a difficult feat of portraying a character with sociopathic tendencies and other mental health concerns. I feel like he was able to portray HS very believably and maturely and I cannot imagine any other actor taking the role. Side note: I found it so interesting how LJG and Seo Ye Ji starred in Lawless Lawyer together then subsequently starred in dramas with characters that struggle a lot with mental health issues and portrayed it so well. I have a ton of respect for them honestly and best casting choices.
Moon Chae Won was a very good choice for Cha Ji Won (honestly the casting director knows their shit). Her chemistry with LJG and understanding of her character was very prevalent and nuanced, and I enjoyed every moment with her onscreen just as much as I enjoyed LJG's. Her character was smart, charismatic and was quite an anchor in the show. I usually enjoy one or the other of the leads more onscreen, but she really made it level for me! I haven't really watched her dramas before, but she's really making me want to now!
Jung Seo Yeon as Baek Eun Ha was amazing. She's all the stars in my night sky and the light of the show! She's a very talented child actor and that love that Eunha had for her father was perfectly portrayed in her acting! I adore her so much and she left quite the impression on me.
MUSIC
Beautiful. The perfect songs at the perfect moments, and they really fit the schemes of the parts they were played in. I adore Psycho a lot, and I found myself also just playing the full OST album in the background when I do things. Very well done with the music and I have absolutely no complaints!
PRODUCTION/CINEMATOGRAPHY
Perfect. Honestly, the framing of the characters and the lighting in this drama was perfect from start to finish. There were insane moments of the angles being able to tell more about the story than what was told- looking below the surface (a major theme here too) was very prevalent. One thing that really stuck with me was the use of frames, mirrors, shadows, even in the first episode when HS says "She only sees what she wishes to see" and the camera pans to his reflection in an empty picture frame. Beautiful and thoughtful from start to finish.
REWATCH VALUE
The only reason why the rewatch value here is not 10 is because of how heavy the drama is and how much it makes you think. I adore it so much and I truly need to sit down and watch it all at once. I need to have that sort of mood to watch it because once I start I can't stop haha.
CONCLUSION
This is probably one of the best kdramas I've watched, and probably the best LJG drama I've seen so far. FOE will forever remain imprinted in my brain and it left such a great impression on me that only left me hungering for more. I think for me, it was the best 2020 drama with how complex it is, and I sincerely hope that it would be more well known! I have no idea how it continues to remain slightly under the radar for a lot of things even though I've heard it has quite the high ratings when it was airing. I'm currently rewatching it :) Also, not for the faint hearted most definitely and will really attract people who love thrillers, looking at the human mind, or just amazing character growth and acting! Such a thought provoking drama :)
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