Flor do Mal (2020)

The best of 2020!

This drama is the COMPLETE PACKAGE. The cast was excellent. The story beyond amazing. The music, just perfect. From ep 1 you will be hooked by the storyline and the characters. You'll keep on guessing if Hyun is really bad or good, whether his relationship with his wife and family is all a facade. It will also make you scratch your head trying to guess who the real accomplice is, I know I did. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, then I find out I was wrong. There was something new in every episode that you will never lose interest and the depth of emotions that the leads displayed was so remarkable. Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won really outdid themselves. Lee Joon Gi can display so many different emotions on his face in a matter of seconds, what a pro. This is really such a turnaround from his last drama, Lawless lawyer which I hated. This drama for me is the BEST this year, period. I can't stop raving about it and it definitely is in my top 3 of my all time fave dramas. What a satisfying watch and my expectations had been exceeded.

Leia Mais

Partly thrilling, sometimes boring suspense

Likes
1. I liked this from episode 2 to 8 but once Jiwon found out about Hyunsu, the story started going downhill.
2. I loved the suspenseful chase and i thought there was going to be episodic cases but that only happened in the first 2 episodes.
3. Hyunsu and Jiwon and the super cute Eunha! Sometimes i dislike Jiwon for always not trusting Hyunsu enough. i know it was done to add the extra drama but it got repeated several times that i am disappointed in her.
4. The Baek Family. One look at the actors playing the parents i knew they were bad. But somehow i actually felt sympathy for them in the end. They just wanted to protect their son who turned out to be too much.
5. The real Baek Hee Sung waking up put an interesting and scary spin on the story but also very unbelievable.
6. I partly like Moojin as Hyunsu's friend but not as Haesu's ex. Im glad they didnt end up together like what Haesu said, he was always scared or ran away whenever she needed him the most.

Dislikes
1. So boring!!! Took me months before i finished this one. I was distracted or felt sleepy and couldn't finish one full episode without yawning, fast forwarding some scenes or googling and wishing the episode ends.
2. The last episode was so bad it felt like it could have been finished in less than 30 mins but writers decided to put a lot of unnecessary scenes and drama.
3. I didnt find Hee Seong sexy at all! His voice and his actions felt like he was still immature and mentally unstable and not a smart psychopath. And how can he look so muscular and strong when he spent years in bed?
4. Would have loved some explanations why Do Minseok and Hee seong were that way. Were they inherently evil or was it because of a past trauma? (nature vs nurture)

Rating: 8/10 (7.5 for the story but adding 0.5 because Lee Joon Gi acted so well)

Leia Mais

Perhaps the most gripping and unforgettable drama for 2020!!!

This melo/crime drama is mind-blowing – it’s real, gritty, suspenseful and has sizzling chemistry between the main leads. It’s, for me, the best Lee Joon-Gi drama to date, which is saying a lot especially when this dashing actor has been delivering consistently good performance all this while. In fact, The Flower of Evil comes the closest to another K-drama that i often re-watch: The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018). Both these dramas convey well the meaning of love and acceptance that emerge from pain and the feelings of inadequacy, abandonment and rejection. It also reminds me of William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies, in its exploration of the human psyche when bad deeds are committed, intentionally or otherwise. A must must must must must watch, people!!! You won't regret it, and don't worry, the ending's good!!!

Leia Mais

The Best Drama of 2020

Tons of spoilers ahead!

In short: absolutely fantastic.

MCW and LJG knock it out of the park with their acting. LJG especially–the scenes in which he breaks down and bawls his soul out, especially contrasted against his normally stoic and unruffled character, is brilliant and hits you right in the heart.

In terms of character, Hyun Soo and Ji Won are nearly perfect. They're an absolute power couple. Ji Won is smart and a capable detective, with seemingly unending love for her husband, and the trust she has in him is admirable. Hyun Soo is so painfully misunderstood. When I watched the first few episodes, I was truly confused about how they would make Hyun Soo a likable character (especially after he'd kidnapped the reporter), and the writer went above and beyond. They transform Hyun Soo from a frankly intimidating, cold manipulator into someone who's been manipulated his entire life, by his father, his neighbors, his fake parents, the entire country, to the point where he doesn't even know who he is anymore. His emotionlessness makes him a tool to everybody else's desires, destined to mold himself to satisfy others; in reality, it's a trait hammered into him over a lifetime, and it's heartbreaking to see him discover love and pain and sadness for the first time, and then latch on to them so tightly (to the point where the thought of losing Ji Won tears him apart and nearly pushes him to the brink). He's really internalized what everyone tells him, like how he gradually starts to imagine seeing his dead father because the villagers all think he's possessed, and isn't that feeling, that you care so much you believe what others say of you?

And then it's doubly heartbreaking that, after all of their emotional growth and the challenges they've had to overcome, Hyun Soo sacrifices himself to save Ji Won and loses his memories in the process. At first, I was frustrated–another amnesia plot? But it gradually made more sense as the episode ran: Hyun Soo has never lived for himself, /truly/ himself, before. And Ji Won has never had the chance to see Hyun Soo for who he really is and make her own choice. The memory loss gives them both a chance for a new start, and it's heartbreakingly sweet that they choose to take that chance with each other, together. They have to restart from day one, without 15 years of a life together, but the pieces are there in shared moments and memories. For all of Hyun Soo's lying and manipulation, he was lying to himself too, that he felt nothing when in truth it was always Ji Won for him.

The reporter is great too, an unexpected source of levity in an otherwise serious melodrama. And I was particularly surprised and impressed at the last speech he gave to Hee Sung's parents about being complicit in evil acts (I honestly thought he was gonna get killed lmao). Ji Won's police squad are all awesome: I came to love all of them (even the annoyingly nosy one), and I'm so glad there was not one bad, two-faced one among them. Hae Soo served her purpose and I'm glad she ended up where she did, but ultimately she was the one character I wasn't fully sold on. She just wasn't as compelling as everyone else.

Of everything, the one thing that frustrated me was the lack of communication, especially on Hyun Soo's part (and partly Hae Soo as well). He always had to do everything on his own without telling people about his plans, which often led to dangerous situations or misunderstandings, especially between him and Ji Won. It's understandable that he's been taught to trust himself and has deeply internalized it, and makes it even more of a significant achievement when he reaches out to Ji Won for help. But other times, even after they've established trust, he still goes behind her back, and the viewer in me wants to reach across the screen, give him a slap, and tell him to just share with his damn wife already!

The story really just kept chugging to the last episode, where it slowed down (but the last episode was still great in terms of wringing some really emotional scenes out of the main pair). I was so scared of reading spoilers because I legit had no idea where the story was going to go. The accomplice had me constantly guessing in the first half (even when he was finally revealed, I was still suspicious of other people lol). And then the accomplice turned out to be a master planner and DHS + CJW kinda let me down in their planning abilities but we just accept it lol.

Cinematography is bomb. The OST is BOMB. I've been playing Feel You by Shin Yong Jae on repeat for days. IT'S SO GOOD.

Overall, definitely one of the best dramas of 2020. Would I go through the wringer and rewatch it again? Idk, it's just such an emotionally taxing drama (in the best way possible). But if I ever need a tearjerker, I'll definitely rewatch the scenes when LJG and MCW bawl their hearts out.

A few remaining questions:
1. Hyun Soo said he didn't remember any of his life from before he was 10 years old. I wish they explained this more.
2. Ji Won did find a bloody zip tie in the basement when she first got suspicious, but it seems to have been just glossed over. Why didn't this prompt more suspicion / questions?
3. What happened to Jeong Mi Sook (the last victim) + her husband?

Leia Mais

While Flower of Evil is sometimes less than the sum of its impressive parts, gripping performances from Joon Gi and Chae Won make this k-drama worth watching.

The premise of Flower of Evil is so promising that I expected it to have a never-ending cycle of entangled truths, lies, and deceits. However, this isn't a crime thriller but rather a melodrama romance. With an intriguing start and unpredictable plot, I was caught off guard when things went downhill after the first half. The last episodes are heavily laden with melodramatic turns. The narrative suddenly became formulaic and mawkish.

Despite the series' mediocre direction and perfunctory screenplay, the easy and quiet chemistry between the leads will keep you glued to the screen. Joon Gi inhabits the psychopathic role with every nerve in his body. He still exudes charisma as he plays his chilling character. It is also refreshing to see Chae Won completely turning the tables and putting damsels in distress to shame.

Ultimately, Flower of Evil may have failed to constantly deliver thrills-and-spills but it will certainly pull on some heartstrings.

Leia Mais

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DRAMA!!!

Moon Chae Won and Lee Joon Gi both shown so realistic emotional acting and also the supporting actors which makes it a great cast ensemble. The directing, writing, storyline, cinematography, acting, and others (you name it) are worth to watching.
Both Moon Chae Won and Lee Joon Gi brought out the best in each other. They were casted perfectly for the characters they played. The directing is very meticulous which highlights every scene so that viewers can understand the story well. The writer (Yoo Jung Hee), did a great job to tell the beautiful story of the drama where it has many catchy lines, and it flows smoothly.

Leia Mais

I was scrolling through viki when I found episode 1 of FOE and I randomly just went for it and I was instantly hooked. I would get excited each week for a new episode to come and this is one drama that has maintained quality from start to finish. There is not one storyline that feels unnecessary- there is absolutely nothing I would change about it.

The plot is very engaging and each episode concludes beautifully and ends in a manner where you are eager to see what's next to come. There is some much depth in the story and both the leads have CRACKLING chemistry and all you do is root for their happy ending. Each emotion is portrayed so well by the actors you really think the actors are in love. LJG and MCW completely make the show what it is.

The OST is limited to three songs but when you pay attention to the lyrics you'll realize how perfectly they capture the character's emotions with respect to the scene they are played in.

As the description already tells, the drama is very serious and maintains that tone throughout. It is very consistent in terms of quality and maintains a good pace.

To anyone reading this, this drama is a must watch and if you're double minded about seeing it leave your doubts aside as it this will surely not disappoint you.

Leia Mais

Everything is Bomb!!

This is the best Kdrama in 2020! I promise you won't regret watching this. I'm addicted. This drama taught me that love can change someone. Jiwon's character is full of love, not only she love him for his looks but she loves everything about him. Her love for Hyun Su drives him out of the darkness. Hyun Su has a dark past and doesn't experience much love. He is a loner and seems to be isolated from the world...
~ But everything change since he meets Jiwon. Hyun Su thinks he is not capable of falling in love but he doesn't know it.
Even though he doesn't know it, his actions and feelings prove it all. I knew from the start that this drama will be a happy ending because of episode 1 when the scene starts with them kissing underwater.
~"I will like you a lot from now on. I'll be good to you. Then, everything will change. Like a lie"
The romance chemistry between these two lovers is beyond words. It took me by surprise and breathless. Their love is so intense and gives me a warm feeling just by watching every episode. ♡♡♡ I never found this drama boring, it's exciting every episode. At the bottom of my heart, I want to Thank the director/writer/ and the flower's team for releasing this drama.

Leia Mais

A perfect show for the unperfect character

I’ve watch a few crime dramas but I rarely finish them or enjoy them ! Story :
FOE is different , each episode draws you more into the story and never makes you bored ! It’s really intense so I would recommend not bingeing it but watched it over a few days ! I really thought I predicted the villain but they managed to surprise me !
Acting : I’m speechless! Like how can the leads be this perfect ! I love the ML shows so I watched the show because of him and he was beyond amazing but I am now a fan of the FL , she had some amazing scenes and she was perfect !

Leia Mais