Bad and Crazy (2022)

Profile:
Drama: Bad and Crazy (배드 앤 크레이지)
Network: tvN, iQIYI
Episodes: 12
Release Date: December 17, 2021 – January 28, 2022
Runtime: Friday & Saturday 22:40
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot: A detective meets a mysterious figure while getting caught up in corruption and a drug case.

Main Cast:
Lee Dong Wook – Ryu Soo Yeol
Wi Ha Jun – K
Han Ji Eun – Lee Hee Gyeom
Cha Hak Yeon – Oh Gyeong Tae

Review:
I loved the first episode, it felt very bad and crazy indeed. Not just Ryu Soo Yeol, but also the bad guys. This drama was not afraid to show grit, blood and lots of violence. The entrance of K as the mysterious figure was very interesting and makes you want to know more about him.

I’d say this drama felt like 2 different dramas merged into 1, and it’s mainly because there were 2 main cases — the first one, was about Do Yu Gon (episodes 1 to 4) and the related drug case / corruption, (episodes 5-8). The second one felt totally different vibe from the first case, and focused on the psycho therapist who has a deep and painful past with Ryu Soo Yeol. I honestly liked the second half more than the first half. Mainly because I didn’t care about the drug case, and the main guy. The captain was too menacing and invincible. He looked like a old short detective, but he was faster, stronger than the younger guys, which i thought was unbelievable.

I also though the case dragged for too long and the plot kept repeating where Ryu Soo Yeol will almost catch the bad guy, but something happens, he loses his chance, he has to kneel down and swallow his pride, then finds something new and starts again.

And that makes me go back to Ryu Su Yeol as the main character. I liked how flawed he was, like an anti-hero but you can help but cheer for him (or maybe because Lee Dong Wook looked impeccably appealing in his suits and sexy tousled hair despite the blood and dirt LOL). Soo Yeol was corrupt, doesn’t have the heart to continue fighting, gets beaten down every time. And it’s all because of his tragic past that he had to conjure K to protect him.

K is the opposite. Wi Ha Jun’s eyes and smile always looked like he was a wild man /superhero when he fights for justice, but also had this childlike wonder when he meets his crush, Hee Gyeom. I loved the bromance between K and Su Yeol and was also crying when they had to finally part. That scene where they said goodbye and when Su Yeol opened the door, he saw W crying inside was heart warming.

I also liked Hee Gyeom and Su Yeol’s team, Gyeong Tae and Jae Sun. Sometimes I wanted to scold Su Yeol for teaming up with K (which is basically himself) rather than go to this team for help. But he eventually learns to work with his team and catch the bad guys.

The psycho therapist was unbelievably great at everything, and was always one step ahead of Soo Yeol. I still didn’t quite get his motive for having a grudge against Soo Yeol so I can’t really sympathize with him. Or maybe I’m not supposed to, but he is so handsome (haha).

Overall, I still felt the 12 episodes were too long, this should have been 10 episodes, but still a fun watch despite getting frustrated sometimes with the plot.

Rating: 8/10

Advertisement

Squid Game (2021)

Profile
Drama: Squid Game (오징어 게임)
Network: Netflix
Episodes: 9
Release Date: September 17, 2021
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot
Players compete in dangerous children games for a chance to win billions of money.

Main Cast
Lee Jung Jae – Sung Gihun
Park Hae Soo – Cho Sangwoo
Jung Ho Yeon – Kang Saebyuk
Wi Ha Joon – Hwang Junho
Heo Sung Tae – Jang Deok Soo
Oh Young Soo – Oh Il Nam
Kim Joo Ryung – Han Min Nyeo
Tripati Anupam – Ali
Lee Byung Hun – Host

Review
Much have been said about this drama so I’m not going to dissect and analyze the drama in detail. I loved the six games and how each game levelled up the intensity and danger. I had no clue what the story was all about since I was able to avoid spoilers when this first came out. So when the first game started, the red light green light and shots were fired, I was as shocked as the contestants!! I think this was the perfect game to start it all. I felt as tense as everyone and was praying that they all get to the finish line safely! I honestly probably would have died in the first game! 😅

The second game, honeycomb was a little boring. I remember shouting at my TV, just lick the honeycomb so it will melt! I was so surprised when Gihun did exactly that!! By then I knew I couldn’t trust Sangwoo! He didn’t even bother to tell his neighbor/friend or help him even when he knew what the game was! A lot of people hated the thug but I actually liked him haha! (or maybe because I’ve watched Heo Sung Tae in variety shows and I know he is the exact opposite of his villain characters).

The third game, tug of war, was probably my favorite. It reminded me of when we used to play this game in high school! and the minute I saw they will be playing the game at such high place, really just amped the brutality of the drama.

Fourth game the marbles, had me crying. They’ve somehow built a bond the past few days. and knowing one of them had to die so the other can live was a tough pill to swallow. Sangwoo totally betrayed Ali (though I think Ali was too naive), even Gihun ending up betraying the old man to live. Saebyuk only came out alive because the other girl sacrificed herself. I was so stressed every single game, but knowing that the main leads won’t die until the very end made me a little less stressed.

And that’s the downside of this drama. I thought that the main lead mostly passed the levels because of luck or through someone else. Green light, Ali held him up. Honeycomb he barely made it. Tug of War, they were saved by the old man and Sangwoo. Marbles, he didn’t know it back then but the old man saved him. Glass bridge, yup, Sangwoo again. I honestly thought Sangwoo if we were to judge the perfomance of each other, Sangwoo deserved the money. He was strategic but he’s not the lead so in the end he lost against the “morally nice” guy.

Also Saebyuk, the actress became instantly famous for this role and I’m scratching my head why. Her character didn’t do anything memorable either. She barely spoke a word, had the same look on her face the entire time. Like Gihun, she also was lucky the whole time and made it to the last game because of Gihun and Sangwoo. But I’m not hating on the actress, it’s the character I’m wondering why is popular.

I wasn’t sure what was the message the writer wants to tell us. At one point I thought the lesson of the show was to learn to share and not be too greedy. Or find a way to work together and get out alive not kill each other and they will all get the money. But I was wrong both times since I realized there could only be one winner.

I was so disappointed at Gihun! After all the blood sweat and tears, Gihun sat on the money for a year and didn’t use them because he felt guilty and morally wrong to spend the money that killed lots of people! Hello!! He should have kept his promise to the people who had to die for him to live. At least pay off Sangwoo’s debts, give money to the mother, and get Saebyeok’s brother out of the orphanage. Live a better life. Go see his daughter and be a good father. Use the money for a good cause. Create a foundation that will help people like him so they won’t be desperate enough to join this dangerous game.

Another disappointment was the reveal of the main guy. I was already suspicious of him since there was a scene where the VIPs arrived and the host said the owner can’t join because he is busy and even though we only see the owner’s back, you can definitely see the white hair peeking from his mask. But his final conversation with Gihun in the abandoned tower was weird. His explanation didn’t make sense. Why go through all of that and kill hundreds of people every time just for the fun of it? So that he can feel something? BS.

Other things that were not explained and maybe a prequel like what they did with Kingdom Ashin of the North would be good. Like how did Inho become the host? And I didn’t realize that Inho was older than Junho. All throughout the drama, I was wondering who the host was. I thought the english was so familiar but I couldn’t remember the actor. So when I saw it was Lee Byung Hun, it was a facepalm moment to me!! Speaking of Junho, I thought he was there to save the day, like he will collaborate with Gihun and crack the case. Turns out, he had a separate story that didn’t feel connected with the rest. How was he able to go around the house without getting caught and without eating, showering, pooping, peeing and survive? And the whole organ transplant thing was another plot that wasn’t explored. And the VIPS were cringy and horrendous.

Overall, this was fantastic drama except for the final episode.

Rating: 8/10