First things first, I had incredibly low expectations when it came to this drama and was only drawn to it because of Song Joong Ki and Moon Chae Won. Makjang is a genre that I usually avoid as it often turns out to be a horribly contrived and predictable plot device that is used to progress a thin and damp plot. However, Innocent Man makes the makjang work. Here we have a well thought-out plot (albeit unrealistic) that doesn't treat Eun Gi's amnesia as a problem that can be easily solved - the fall out is brilliant, and I love the way it affects the characters actions and subsequently the story. Some people will see it as a plot device, but the very fact that we *know* Eun Gi will end up losing her memories prevents it from being one IMO. (Beware though, because the whole Jae Hee/Ma Ru fiasco might just drive you nuts, and the ending is ever so slightly disappointing.) However, whilst Innocent Man appears to be an external drama - with the plot affecting the characters - at its core it's an intensely internal drama. Typical outward gestures are turned on their heads because the audience doesn't actually know if these outward gestures are sincere are not. This is especially the case with Kang Ma Ru - whose own personal struggles make it difficult for him to even realise his own sincerity. It is definitely incredibly difficult to discern whether one should be rooting for him or not which causes huge amount of internal conflict and drama. I guess that's part of the reason why Innocent Man is so good - the internal and external conflict bounce off of each other, with plot driving the characters and vice versa. The main highlight of the drama was definitely the cast. We've got three very brilliantly written, troubled and complicated characters. A fail performance could ruin them. But that didn't happen; instead we got nuanced performances from all three actors who convincingly portrayed the highs and lows of these multi-faceted characters. However, special mention goes to SONG JOONG KI who was absolutely - excuse my foul language - fucking fantastic as the engima that is Kang Ma Ru. His performance never faltered. Song managed to captivate Kang Ma Ru's character development in way that is just unimaginably perfect. He IS Kang Ma Ru the naive genius who is head-over-heels in love with his noona. He IS Kang Ma Ru the tortured, embittered and selfish player who'll do anything for revenge. Song doesn't even need to speak to convey the emotions or state of thought that Ma Ru is in - one can just see it if they are to look into his eyes. I can't even imagine any other actor being able to successfully play a role as complex as Kang Ma Ru (who is a genius that actually feels like a genius throughout the whole show, although that has more to do with the skill of the writer rather than the actor. But, then again, SJK is a genius himself). It's probably a career defining performance for Song Joong Ki. Innocent Man is a polished and sophisticated drama that draws you in with its unpredicatable, fast-paced and addictive plot. The leads may messed up to the highest degrees, but they're compelling and human - the performances successfully captivate the sheer complexity of the characters, allowing the audience to believe that such people could exist in real life (no matter how unrealistic their situations are). P.S. I watched Innocent Man in one sitting. Me, who never misses sleep, missed sleep for this and boy do I have no regrets.