Man to Man Review

Title: Man to Man

AKA: Man X Man

Genre: Action, Thriller, Romance, Comedy

Episodes: 16

Broadcast Period: Apr-2017 to Jun-2017

Cast: Park Hae Jin, Kim Min Jung, Park Sung Woong, Yun Jung Hoon, Chae Jung Ahn, Jung Man Shik,

A longtime celebrity Yeo Woon Gwang (Park Sung Woong) suddenly has a need for a bodyguard and hires Kim Seol Woo (Park Hae Jin), a man trained in special investigations and a mysterious man of many talents. In reality, Kim Seol Woo is a NIS black ghost agent who has his own agenda and the role of a bodyguard is only a cover to achieve his goals. The drama is about the twisty events they encounter and the budding bromance between the star and bodyguard. In addition, Kim Seol Woo gets romantically involved with Cha Do Ha (Kim Min Jung), the manager of Yeo Woon Gwang.

Yes! Park Hae Jin in a decent role that fits him so well, was so much more enjoyable than anything else in this drama. I was just really happy for him, that he got this opportunity, and I hope he will get better ones in the future. Storywise I liked, but I think it dwelled too much in the entertainment than the action and secrets society. I know that there should be two aspects to this, but personally I think they considered the one with the superstar actor and his people more than the ghost agent. And that is a little sad, since he should be the focus point. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this drama, and was looking forward to it every week. The romance part didn’t appeal to me, it felt forced somehow, maybe the focus wasn’t on the romance at all, definitely no chemistry. To sum it up, I really liked the drama and I do recommend it. You can find it on Netflix!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3 ½ out of 5 hearts

Gap Dong Review

Title: Gap Dong

AKA: Gapdongi / Memories of Murder / Kab Dong

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Melodrama

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2014-Apr to 2014-Jun

Cast: Yoon Sang Hyun, Sung Dong Ill, Kim Min Jung, Lee Joon and Kim Ji Won.

20 years ago a serial killer, known as ‘Gap Dong’, terrorized the streets of Seoul by raping and murdering 9 girls, giving the police a headache. Even though the entire nation was shocked by the incident, Gap Dong was never arrested or found, and had suddenly disappeared from the public’s eye.

Ha Moo Yum’s (Yoon Sang Hyun) father had been accused of murdering the women, but when he passed after the 4^th murder, and the murders had continued, the majority of police officers had ruled him out. Except for one police officer, the one in charge, that believed he had found the killer, and even was sure the son was involved as well. Feeling unfairly treated Moo Yum became a police officer himself and dedicated his life to finding Gap Dong, but had let it go when the statute of limitation had expired. But when the police officer in charge had returned for one sole purpose, to catch Gap Dong, a new murder occurs, identical to the first Gap Dong murder 20 years ago.

At first there were thoughts of a copycat since anyone could have read about it in the paper, but when a fish knot (used to tie his victims hands) is detected, which was never mentioned anywhere and is the MO for Gap Dong, they are pretty sure that not only is Gap Dong back, but he is repeating the murders he did 20 years ago…

I’ve been holding back the review for this drama out of sheer disappointment. The drama starts pretty amazingly and intrigues you in matter of minutes, but it suddenly just becomes boring. From the bad acting of the main lead, to the silly interpretation of a psychopath, they just do not deliver and drag it on for 20 episodes. After a certain point I felt annoyed at both the female and the male lead and their ridiculous and tedious love story, and I ended up praying for more screen time for the second leads. But unfortunately their dialogues and their constant philosophical discussions even that becomes LONG and upsetting. On the bright side it really is a different story and quite confusing at time - but the good kind of confusing. Lee Joon does his character best, and actually manages to wheel you in, whereas I found Yoon Sang Hyun and Kim Min Jung pretty dislikeable. At one point I felt they all were psychopaths.

Okay enough of my brattling. Should you watch it? If you like criminal dramas, with a little edge, then yes. Also if you want to know what the hype about Lee Joon’s acting is about, this is probably one of his good ones.  All in all.. Well partially good.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts