A Love Story That Could Have Shined Brighter

A nice romance story between two musicians who felt lost. I am usually not a super big fan of melodramas but gave this a try after seeing positive reviews. I was pulled into the story from episode 1 and I felt attracted to the characters. I felt for Song Ah's confusion about following her passion and Joon Young's burnt-out feelings about playing the piano. I also really feel the chemistry between the main leads and I wish there were more sweet moments between them. I did love the moments they did have, like the umbrella and handkerchief, and how they slowly moved from interested to dating. And I liked how they were not super lovey-dovey and had awkward moments- felt very real. I also liked how they talked about their problems directly (for the most part) and their love felt very warm. The friendships in the drama are also very warm, and I wish I got to see more of Hyeon Ho and his story. However, there were many moments in the drama where I got confused as to why certain characters behaved the way they did and it was frustrating during those parts. Those parts felt like the writer made it more complicated than it had to be just to push the plot. The plot also felt less engaging from the middle of the drama to the end. I also wish that they had concluded it better by wrapping it up more tightly and giving more of an explanation as to how certain characters ended and resolved their conflicts. Despite this, there were parts that made me teary-eyed and feel bad for the characters. The acting is also superb! I love Park Eun Bin and Min Jae's acting; they did great at portraying a musician and their love for music. I wish I can see them reunite in another romance drama and I want to see Min Jae portray more heavy and emotional characters like this again. Overall, this was a typical melodrama with a great love line and soundtrack.

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Excellent Filmography & Action Sequences

The movie has an interesting premise and I was excited to give it a try. From the beginning, the story was executed very smoothly and with great mirror/reflection sequences to show what the main character currently looked like. It was really cool to see those reflections used so creatively without any problems. As you watch through the movie, you will slowly piece together the entire story at what I thought was a relatively good pace. However, there were some moments where it felt a bit slow and some unclear parts about the plot that were left unanswered. Also, there are many great fight sequences in the movie which were fun to watch. The cast was also amazing, especially Yoon Kyesang, who pulled off the action scenes and body switches really well. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great action movie.

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Amazing Songs with a Cute Romance!

I did not expect myself to enjoy the drama as much as I did because I thought I knew how this drama would play out. However, it was way better than I expected. The great music convinced me to try the drama and I'm so glad I did! Lee Jun Young's (Jun) acting is amazing and I did not expect his voice to sound so rich. Not only that, most of Luna's songs were good and I have them replaying, especially the Let Me Be Your Knight. Although the plot did turn out a bit cliche, the way it was executed was not all that predictable, making it a fun watch. There were some side characters' stories that I skipped through because they were not interesting but the purpose of that story was meaningful. The actors in Luna were also way better than I expected, especially considering how most of them are idols in real life and it's their first attempt at such a major role. Anyhow, I hope to see Jun act in more leading romantic roles and sing more ballads! I recommend this drama for anyone who wants to hear some great music while experiencing a cute romance.

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Funny & Touching Kdrama About Healing

This drama was not on my radar at all and I only heard about it from seeing a clip of episode 1 on Youtube. I finally gave it a try recently and the drama really surprised me. The drama poster gives a comedic vibe but the drama has some really great touching scenes about mental health and issues in society. The comedic scenes definitely helped pull me in at the beginning because it gave me a great laugh but it was the characters' story and relationships that later kept me going. The main characters' backstory and pain made me understand why they have become the way they are. Min Kyung and Hwi Oh are also a cute couple as you keep watching. They are funny and relatable.

The chemistry between the leads also surprised me because I did not expect to like the two together but they are actually a good pair together as I kept watching. There are so many good scenes of them interacting, but my favorite was when he bought her a new pair of sunglasses so she would look at the world more happily. I believe this has a double meaning because our perspective of the world can really change how you feel and I think that was a message of those sunglasses. Min Kyung was slowly learning to trust people, starting with the sunglasses. I love how realistic the writing was about their relationship as well. It would be impossible for Min Kyung to completely trust others and that is why she had the argument with Hwi Oh about that misunderstanding. It was great seeing Hwi Oh change as he fell in love with Min Kyung as well.

The conflicts in this drama were carried out nicely. The argument between Hwi Oh and Min Kyung made complete sense and the villains' motives made sense. There was a purpose in their actions, even though it was so hateable. The script was also written well for 13 episodes with each episode lasting around 35 minutes. It flowed smoothly and I loved how we saw the characters grow. I didn't feel like there were any filler scenes except for the parts with the convenience store part-timer. I felt that her storyline was unnecessary and did not have any role except to fill up some space. It would have been much better to leave her out of it.

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Never-Seen Before Chinese Show with Great Cast Members

I discovered this show because of Allen Ren but I grew to love all the cast members and the experiments they did every episode. I normally don't watch Chinese variety shows because there wasn't any that really kept me watching, but Have Fun got me so invested. The experiments they did are very creative and fresh and are on topics that are relatable and the normal person would think about. The show producer did a great job coming up with this concept for the show. The cast members also have great chemistry with one another and seeing them slowly get close to one another was really cute. The show got even more entertaining towards the end when Wei Da Xun joined because he was hilarious with Jackson. Jackson really is great at making laughs and creating a happy mood with the other members. I can definitely see why he joins so many variety shows because he is great at it. It was also fun to have some guests on the shows for a few of the episodes. But I liked how they generally kept the episodes focused on the cast and did not invite guests for every episode.
Not every episode is interesting but 9/10 were. My favorites were the second episode (about animals), the 6th episode, (the human body) the 9th episode (about the brain), and the 10th episode (finale). I wished they made the show longer because I feel like I was just getting really attached to the experiments and the cast and then suddenly it was the finale. Anyways, I recommend this to anyone looking to see cool experiments and a great cast doing them! I hope there will be a season 2 with the same cast! Do definitely give ep 6 and 9 a try though because those episodes were absolutely hilarious!

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Warm & Sweet Romance

I never imagined that I would love this drama as much I do right now. I am normally not a big fan of romantic comedies or romance dramas in general, but this drama was just my cup of tea. It was not too cringy or sweet but just the right amount that makes you feel warm inside. I absolutely loved Xing Kelei and Mika's love story, from the beginning to the end. There are cliches used throughout the drama but it was not boring to watch at all. Also, it was very entertaining from beginning to end with a great amount of humor, action, and romance. I extremely enjoyed watching Xing Kelei's SWAT team do their missions and training. Bai Jingting is so hot as Kelei, and I can't help but fall for his character too. I can't imagine anyone else being a better Xing Kelei than him. The OST for this drama is also very catchy and played at all the right moments. Not to mention, the acting is also really great; Bai Jingting and Ma Sichun are super talented at acting real and bringing their characters to life. You Are My Hero is the best romance drama I have watched so far in 2021. I totally recommend it for anyone who wants a warm love story that will prove to be different than the other romance dramas out there.


Things I liked:
1. XING KELEI & MIKA- they are incredibly cute and hilarious together! I loved watching shy Kelei try to chase after Mika and being such a tsundere guy. They also did not have cringe moments, but really warm scenes that were just too cute.
2. Story- I love the progression of the story and almost every moment was fun to watch; especially the scenes about Mika and Kelei. I could watch the two together for hours.
3. Acting- talented actors/actresses in this cast and enjoyed watching them
4. SWAT scenes- SO CHARISMATIC! I love love how great Bai Jingting looks in an uniform and his action scenes. He looked so cool and ugh amazing. His team members were also so entertaining to watch; they were like a family and I loved them too. Wish I could see more of their team in action and doing different missions. I never realized how much I love seeing a guy in a uniform LOL
5. the HUMOR- the drama gave me some really good laughs. Dense Shu Wen Bo was just hilarious! I also love how Kelei and Mika's dialogue together, like their scene when he gave her sunflowers because it looked like her ahahah. Or how he faked amnesia.
6. OST

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Interesting Detective Wuxia Drama!

It took me 5 episodes to get really hooked on the plot and the characters, but once I did, I loved watching them on screen! I loved the bromance between Jian Bu Zhi and Zhao Wo Huan and their chemistry only got better as the drama progressed. The romance parts were not overwhelming but they were pretty cute to watch. The mystery cases presented are interesting and not easily predicted, but viewers could have guessed it if they were observant of the clues given. Some cases were obviously more fun to watch than others (which I felt were more toward the end of the drama). The OST is also GREAT! Though the actors/actresses are mostly rookies or not well-known ones, they did a decent job delivering their lines and playing their roles. The script was also written consistently well which made the plot development very nice, although I found it to be a slow-burn mystery story. I would find myself a bit bored in between episodes and would stop to go back and continue later. However, this is a gem of a mystery/detective wuxia drama that was wayyyy better than I had expected. Totally recommend it to anyone who is a fan of mysteries and wuxia!!

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Sweet, Touching, & Cute Youth Story

I saw the high ratings for this drama here and gave it a try a few months ago and finally finished it today. The drama did not have a high budget, which you can tell from the sets and outfits, but the acting and storyline were written very nicely! I loved the character development and the key points from each episode. Some moments were cute while others were heartwarming; it was a very nice combination of topics covered. Also, I loved the new actors/actresses in this youth drama since I never saw them before. I especially love the loveline of the main couple- Tan Song and Cheng Zi. They had AMAZING CHEMISTRY and I wish that I could see more of them together. Overall, a nice sweet short watch, and I enjoyed it.

SPOILERS AHEAD
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Things I liked:
1. OST
2. Acting- discovered some young talent from these 5 new actors/actresses who I will be watching out for now
3. Storyline- every episode was interesting (although some more than others) and others were meaningful
4. Chemistry - Tan Song and Cheng Zi are adorable!! Would love to see them act together again in a mature romance in the workplace

Things I did not like:
1. The ending- It was concluded well but I wish we saw more of what happened to the five friends after graduation and maybe their future

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Excellent Thriller & Suspense Crime Drama!!

Very interesting mystery, thriller, crime, and suspense drama!! I really liked how the cases and information presented at the beginning were related and connected to the big reveal in the later episodes. Some of the cases were also very intriguing and kept me watching. Although some moments were slower than others, the story was written very well and it also had excellent acting from all of the cast members, especially the serial killer revealed! The chemistry between them all (specifically the investigative team) was also very strong. There was also an unexpected touching moment which just made me so sad. So glad that I gave this drama a try! AND FABULOUS OST!!! Definitely would recommend it!
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Things I liked:
1. Incredible acting from every cast member!
2. Great script and storyline development throughout the drama- Loved how cases and details connected and entwined to the big reveal at the later episodes
3. OST!
4. Cast's chemistry!

Things I did not like:
1. Only one thing- some parts were slower because it needed to introduce more details, but the story picks up its pace with each episode

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Xianxia Drama With Lots of Angst!!

I was super doubtful about this drama when I first saw its poster and read the plot because the plot was a bit vague and Chinese dramas easily mess up in the middle. However, the first episode wasn't bad and hooked me in. I was even more hooked when I listened to the soundtrack and that's when I decided to watch and see how this drama will go. And it did not disappoint! The plot flowed smoothly and was an enjoyable watch! The CGI was pretty good in some scenes and a bit cringe in some other ones, but it was still okay to watch. The chemistry between Xuan Ji and Si Feng is just top notch also! Love this couple! However, some parts later in the drama annoyed me and I started watching in 1.5x speed in order to continue the drama, but it wasn't because the drama was bad overall, only because I was impatient at how some thins were going. Totally recommend anyone to watch because it is worth the hype.

SPOILERS AHEAD!
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Now, what I liked:
1. The OST! Such an amazing soundtrack with such talented singers! It brought scenes to life and I can't keep replaying the songs!
2. The acting! - Cheng Yi is just so talented at playing Si Feng and bringing those painful scenes (blood-spitting scenes) out to its full potential and to give viewers the pain as well. Some actors were not as great, just average, but it was still pretty okay to watch.
3. Script (for the most part) - characters developed well, flowed pretty smoothly, and wasn't too difficult to understand how the story is going. I really liked most of Si Feng and Xuan Ji's friendship and romance development and it was fun to watch.
4. The ending - was a great conclusion to the story with everything wrapped up neatly. I was really happy that they showed viewers what happened after Xuanji and Si Feng's marriage and what happened with everyone else.

What I didn't like:
1. The script/writing - It was really hard to watch Xuanji keep misunderstanding Si Feng and keep asking him to explain himself based on only what she sees. It was like the writer got lazy because this portion of misunderstandings continued for so many episodes and I really had to speed through those episodes. Xuanji seemed really dumb in those parts and it was just hard to watch such predictable scenes. Also, the writing for Xuanji's dad, Ling Long, and the 6th senior brother on how they treated Si Feng was so terrible. They turned their back on him so easily even though he helped them with so much. This also was hard to watch because they aren't using their reason to decide whether or not to trust him. It was also really annoying to watch Hao Chen brainwash Xuanji so much and she doesn't even realize it until the end.
2. Dumb characters- I really hated the part when the Fu Yu Island leader kept believing in his wife until the very end. It was really illogical of him to believe her when he knew she tried to hurt him.

I enjoyed this drama quite a lot even though I got annoyed and lost a bit of interest near the end. I would recommend it!

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A Great Drama That Looks Inside the Chinese Entertainment Industry

I wanted to try this drama since I heard about its cast (Qin Lan and Godfrey Gao) and I was so excited when its air date was announced. The trailer already hooked me on with its dramatic music and Qin Lan's charisma, and the first episode did not disappoint. Without spoiling, the first episode managed to reveal a lot of the entertainment industry in China and how managers and companies work with managing their artists. It was just very interesting to watch. The following episodes only continue to further dig and reveal the lives of actors and managers. This is very intriguing to me as a Chinese and Korean drama fan, as well as a music fan, because it showed so much about an artist's life with fame. However, there were some moments where I felt the drama was slow causing me to put the drama on hold for a couple of weeks. When I started again, I used 1.5x speed to watch, but it didn't pull away from the experience.

May have some spoilers below:


The pros of this drama:
1. The acting was top notch! (Qin Lan amazed me with her superb acting as a top manager and she was able to convey a wide range of emotions whether she used words or not- her eyes could speak words; she is a very versatile actress and I am glad she is getting more acknowledged for that after The Story of Yanxi Palace last year)
2. Great scriptwriting (very interesting and fast-paced)
3. Showed the glam and pitfalls of working as an idol or actor/actress in the entertainment industry (which really opened my eyes to what they go through such as middle-aged actresses struggling to find roles and their diminishing fame, or artists forced to choose certain roles/music to please their audiences, or the difficulty controlling fans)
4. The soundtrack was on the spot (although one song was constantly played as bgm whenever there was a chance which got annoying sometimes)
5. Strong and brave female lead Mo Xiang Wan who did not give up and persevered until the end; the character's growth was done very well (Qin Lan was amazing at this role)
6. Teaches important lessons about the reality of life (how Mo Xiang Wan was treated by directors and producers after she was demoted; but also how Xu Ling treated her)
7. Godfrey Gao and Qin Lan's loveline (though not a huge chunk of the drama is focused on them, they are cute and oozing with chemistry onscreen)

Cons:
1. The ending wrapped things nicely but it would have been better if it had shown where certain people ended up because it was vague for certain people (Fan Mei,
2. The loveline between Xu Ling and Mo Xiang Wan- I think that it still could have been a great story even if Xu Ling didn't like Mo Xiang Wan in that way, it could have just been a brother-sister love
3. It didn't make sense to me how Lin Xiang's fanbase had contact information with Lin Xiang's personal assistant nor how the company didn't do anything when they literally stalked her; they were just too overbearing and illogical sometimes which ruined the plot sometimes

Overall, it was a very pleasant watch with touching and frustrating moments which was all due to the great storyline and amazing jobs of the actors and actresses. I totally recommend it if you want to want an interesting look at the entertainment circle in China and you're looking for a strong female character. If you're looking for another reason, please try it as it is Godfrey Gao's last drama and he was amazing as the handsome and tall Mo Bei who is unable to turn away from injustice. Please do try!

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A Great Anti-Hero Drama!

I was doubtful about trying this despite its popularity but I eventually gave it a try a month ago. It was hard for me to get used to the drama at first because the first few episodes have a lot of humorous scenes which felt a bit too much for me. So, I ended up watching up to episode 2 and putting it on hold for some time until a few weeks ago when I gave it another chance. And, boy was I surprised. After around episode 3 or 4, the storyline picked up and it got so interesting to watch. I was captivated by the characters and the story and I was intrigued about how it would end. I am so glad I did not give up on this drama because it would have been regretful to not have watched this drama. I love that it is a battle of evil against evil, as a paraphrased quote from the drama, because this is a theme I love to watch in dramas. So, if you enjoy seeing bad guys take down bad guys in a satisfying way, that is one reason to give this drama a try! Other reasons to watch this drama are the amazing chemistry of the cast members, the hateful villains, the superb acting, and great bgm/OST. The acting is one the biggest reasons to try this besides the plot! SO MANY TALENTED ACTORS IN THIS DRAMA! So many of the actors in this drama can act with their eyes and they each pulled off their characters amazingly. I suggest that you should not judge this drama by other people's reviews and the synopsis, but actually give it a try first before making your decision about continuing it or not. It may take you three episodes to get into Vincenzo as I did, but it will be worth it in the end so I hope you at least watch up to episode 3 if you are not hooked from the beginning. The only thing that bothered me was that the humor sometimes felt pushed BUT even though the humor may be a bit too much sometimes, overall, the drama was such a great watch. SO PLEASE TRY THIS DRAMA!! You will not regret it once you finish. I am already missing Vincenzo now :(( I wish there are more dramas like this..

More details on why I liked this drama but may spoil.....
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1. I grew to love Vincenzo's relationship with the Geumga Plaza residents and Jang Han Seo. It was cool to see the hidden skills of the residents and their willingness and loyalty to Vincenzo despite not liking him in the beginning. I became attached to them and some moments were very touching.
2. Vincenzo is so cute with Hwang Min Seong and Jang Han Seo. The unexpected friendship between Vincenzo and Han Seo was adorable to watch and it made me really sad that Han Seo's ending was what it was because I wished to see more interactions. Hwang Min Seong is also cute with Vincenzo even though he is a terrible person, because he is willing to change for love lol. I hope to see the actors who played Min Seong and Han Seo is more projects and hopefully as the male leads because they are super talented!
3. The emotional scenes were a bit unexpected but they were carried out nicely. I did not cry but I did tear up when Cha Young's dad died. It was actually his death that pushed forward the plot and made it more interesting to watch because it pushed Vincenzo and Cha Young to team up against Babel.
4. THE ACTING WAS OVERALL JUST AMAZING! I haven't ever fully watched one of Song JoongKi's dramas but he showed me why he is a top actor in this drama. His drama was just amazing and I don't even have the words to describe how well he did as Vincenzo. His acting was top notch and I loved how he pulled off the emotions with only his eyes. The other main and supporting actors were also amazing as well. Taecyeon and Yeo Been were great for my first time watching them. It was also nice seeing some Crash Landing On YOu actors in this drama with a humorous role again.
5. The cinematography was amazing too. I love how they ended each episode with a cliffhanger with dramatic music and a zoom in on Song Joongki if he's in the scene. It just blew me away and made me want to quickly go to the next episode.

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Entertaining & Funny- You Won't Notice an Hour Went By!

I was skeptical to try this show in the beginning because I haven't watched the previous seasons at all, but I gave it a try because I know most of the new cast for this season. AND boy was I surprised! I LOVE it! I have been binging it for two days and not a single episode was boring. The episode just flies by and it's already an hour, which I really didn't expect.

Here are the good things I like:
1. The chemistry between the new cast
2. Fresh vibes from the cast interactions (2 comedians, 2 actors, 2 singers- a very interesting combo)
3. Fun and unique themes for the episodes (and the games they play)
4. The locations are pretty and have deep meaning
5. VERY FUNNY JOKES!!

The only bad thing is watching them eat the specialty foods so deliciously. :((

Overall, a very good variety to watch every week! I personally think that it's better than the other Korean variety shows airing right now based on the 9 episodes I have watched so far. It's my #1 go-to Korean show right now and I'm getting sad that there are only 31 episodes out so far, so I have to enjoy the episodes slowly before I catch up. I really recommend for anyone looking for a fun hour with plenty of laughs!

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Had Potential But Failed Terribly

I was intrigued by the synopsis and trailers because I really liked the recent time-traveling dramas, but this drama disappointed me so badly. After watching the first 3 episodes, I can see where the drama wants to go but they seem to be trying too hard when they lack the tools and skills to do so. Their script and the acting of the cast is so subpar that it does not hook you in even though the time-traveling aspect grabs your attention at the beginning. There are some unnatural, illogical, and forced scenes between the main couple to push the love line, so it made it hard for me to fall for them even though they already have the chemistry and look good together on screen. The acting is also not that great; there were many instances in the episodes I watched where the expressions and dialogues were carried out very forcefully to relay the particular emotion needed at that moment. Overall, there were just too many illogical moments in general because the scriptwriters wanted certain things to happen. It made me too frustrated when I was watching it.

The filming and editing also made the storyline super confusing to follow unless you focus on it since the timelines are shown messily by jumping around every so often. I also did not like the supporting characters' story and setup at all because based on what I have seen, they seem very two-dimensional and without any logical thinking. The dubbing voices were okay but not the best. It is a shame because all of the soundtracks are pretty good and I wanted to see the angsty scenes. This time-traveling plot definitely had the potential but it doesn't seem to be pulling it off well. I tried to keep watching but I couldn't stand all the problems with it even though I wanted to see the romance and hear the OST.

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An Emotional Action-Packed Drama That Keeps You On Edge

I saw great reviews about this drama and have been wanting to try it and I did not expect it to be so good! I almost binged all 8 episodes in one day because each episode kept me on the edge of my seat. I just couldn't stop watching.

There are so many great aspects of this drama. Acting. Action Sequences. Characters. Script. I haven't watched such a thrilling action drama in a long time. The writers did an excellent job at the world-building and character introductions so that you get what is going on quickly and also connect emotionally to the main characters even if they don't have many scenes. I really felt for everyone on Choi Tae Ho's team and it was very emotional. I have to say that I bawled hard for certain moments, not to spoil anything. The bromance between Geon Woo and Woo Jin was also amazing! I did not expect their bromance chemistry to be that strong but it worked well and they had cute interactions like real friends (but they are actually friends in real life too). As you watch, you can see how they each developed their personalities and boxing skills. I liked Choi's team the most and I wish we could see more of them working together. Even the villains are developed so well that you fully hate them because they show you all the reasons they are evil and deserve the worst. I hated Kim Myung gil... I really do. He really does a great evil smirk and it left a really strong impression. I don't think I ever seen him play such an evil character before.

The action sequences are the highlight of this drama though. I haven't watched boxing before but wow, they sure looked handsome while fighting. I didn't know boxing could look that good. Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi brought their characters to life and it felt like they were real boxers, though it helped that they actually learned to box for their roles. The charisma was just flying out of the screen :) I couldn't get enough of their fight scenes, especially the ones when they fought together. They should take on more action dramas because they have the skill. I am now looking forward to their future projects. Such talented actors! All the fight scenes and action parts were just so thrilling to watch! I want to applaud all the actors and stunt actors for their hard work on those scenes. It must have been tough pulling it off so well.

The plot was also done pretty well. There are some parts that I don't understand why it was necessary to do but I guess it helped the characters develop further. I wish they didn't have to go down that route though. I also wish that the last episode could have ended differently and shown a more detailed conclusion to all the villains so I could heal from the trauma they left me in the 8 episodes. It was also super nice that the script writer naturally included comedic moments in the drama despite the seriousness of the plot to help bring more laughter into the darkness. It was done so nicely that you can't help but chuckle. I can tell that this is the same director that did Midnight Runners- same great action and witty lines.

Overall, this drama has all the elements for those who love action. It is also only 8 episodes so it is guaranteed to be fast-paced and binge-worthy! Warning though- the fight scenes get really graphic sometimes and may be hard to watch for some. Please be careful about those scenes if you can't handle lots of blood and violence. But wow, so many great action kdramas came out this year, like Vigilante.

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