O Assassino e o Brinquedo (2024)

A story about a loser becoming a killer

"Premise starts off strong. I know people say ep 1 is boring in the beginning but that's just to set the scene of who Tang I, what kind of person he is, so that we can understand the decisions he took to become who he is now. I'd say the first 3-4 episodes were really strong cause you see Tang still battling with himself after every murder, his headspace completely fucked, first with guilt, later with fear of getting caught. Like all thriller dramas, I'd say ep 5-7 were the weakest in terms of keeping my attention. I did enjoy seeing Tang becoming a much more cold hearted person, less cowardly, but nonetheless it did bore me a little. Last episode came back strong especially the ending.

Loved the ending. Cause in this drama there's no rooting for Tang. Sure maybe the first murder which was accidental and in self defense, you might hope that Tang escapes, but after that.....you slowly see him for what he is, a psychopath. Yeah sure the show potrays him having this "power" where he gets goosebumps when he sees a bad person and decides to kill them. However go about it chronologically and you'll realise how psychopathic it is. Tang meets someone by accident, gets goosebumps for no fucking reason, takes it as a sign to murder them which he does, and by a stroke of luck said person was also evil in their own right. Tang was never well in his head and the ending where he comes back and does the same thing again when he realised that he'd been clear of any murder charges just goes to show how he has no remorse for his actions. He found his purpose in life and that is to kill. He's just lucky that everyone he killed was evil and he always got away with it. It's why we see Tang getting goosebumps when he sees himself in the mirror. His own "powers" are telling him that HE deserves to get killed.

I do wonder what would have happened had Tang killed someone who was completely innocent based on a broken radar like Song Chon did. Would it have broken Tang or would Tang have deluded himself into thinking he did right?" (Taken from a comment I made for discussion purposes)

I'm terms of acting, was NOT disappointed. We're talking about some of the best actors in the K industry of course the acting was TOP NOTCH. A lot of the show is carried by the actors themselves, not necessarily the plot cause the general plotline is not that complex when you think about it. But this is the same for the director's other famous work, stranger from hell. A straightforward plot that was carried by insanely good acting to the point where it made people uncomfortable enough to not watch the drama when it first aired on TV (yes this was a real thing which is why ratings were a bit low at that time)

Cinematography, loved it. At first I was super confused with he perspective changes, from going into Tang's mind Vs reality but once I got used to differentiating what's real and what's fake I was able to appreciate it more. When you think about it, the reason why Tang became a serial killer likely had to do with the fact that he couldn't really differentiate reality from his delusions or god complex...

Anyways enough ranting but I'd say it's a good watch and I enjoyed it. Fell a little below my expectations cause I thought it'd be tiki taka so a back and forth of Tang outsmarting Nangam but Tang survived our of pure dumb luck but the story was still intriguing.

Leia Mais

A hero sent from heaven or an unpunished sinner

Another series that comes to ask big, complex questions about justice and morality, thrusting us into a world where the lines between right and wrong are blurred. Mostly leaning towards the drama of The Vigilante 2023, but here the way they've gone about it is interesting and innovative with some tropes being used to dig deep into them with unremarkable black comedy.
What I liked is that the main hero is not the center of the story, but rather it was written as a transition between several main characters in a vicious pursuit, and we can understand the reason for this in the end as their points of view change.
Therefore, this show, with its dark atmosphere, its dark moral structure, and the disturbing ending that does not give you a clear answer, came only to show you the characters with all their flaws and allow you to watch them exist in that shadow reflected from their consequences, circumstances, or their own imaginary ideas.

However, unfortunately...
After setting up an interesting premise, the show fails to delve into the depth of the story, and quickly falls into a state of extremely slow burn. Especially since I was expecting another dark psychological crime drama from director Lee Chang Hee after his long absence since (Strangers from Hell 2019), but I did not understand where the flaw was here: Is it in the scenario or in the plot?
It is true that it makes this new drama, A Killer Paradox, different from other works in KDrama and distinguished by its directing style, and it is no wonder that this series is good in this aspect. Rather, this series should be among the best directed this season, especially with the consistency of the musical background to highlight the comedic tone. Dark and give life to the display.

⚒️🔨 However, somehow it slowly lost its charm as we approached the end. The first four episodes are good on all levels and in all aspects. After that, the story continues with all kinds of deception and unnecessary twists, and sometimes the rhythm of the episodes as well as the development of the story is disjointed, chaotic, and slow until the end of the episode. The eighth (last) one I already knew where it was going (away from the detective story) and it wasn't surprising that it turned out that way.

♻️ In general...
It is not what you would expect from a suspense series about a serial killer or a hero with superpowers who targets bad guys, as indicated in the summary of his story. It is just a crime, investigation and chase series with a story with a dark atmosphere and revenge quests, far from being a fictional story. It has a chaotic plot, is relatively slow and boring.
In general, it could have been produced as a long, dark film, omitting the plot of the murderous detective because it is sideways and was only used to add more tension and events to the scenario. I personally did not like adding that character, but I understand that he had to be there to make the story more clear. However, the ending caught the eye. My attention to his past.

Leia Mais

Nothing to write home about

This drama had the beginnings of an interesting premise, but nothing much was done with it. There were too many different story threads, and so no one storyline was developed enough to be satisfying. Vigilante dramas are nothing new these days, and I don't think this one did enough to stand out.

Acting was generally okay, with Kim Hee Jun being far and away the best and most engaging performer of the cast.

Production-wise, there was some effort to create some interesting and quirky cinematography, but it didn't go far enough. It would have been better if the show could have sustained a unique visual style throughout rather than just in one off moments.

Overall, this is quite an entertaining watch if you have nothing to do over the weekend. But I don't think anything from this drama is going to stay with me for long.

Leia Mais

UNEXPECTED GEM

Wonderful storytelling... This title had a whole lot of unexpected twists and turns *without* it being too "tropey"...

I really enjoyed the 'backtracking'..for example, one will be presented with some of a small part of the story then be surprised with more of it expounded upon later. I enjoyed seeing "Kevin" from Parasite, as well. Everyone did such a great job!

I didn't really pay attention to the music too awfully much, but it did seem quite fitting to me. I think the end wraps up nicely, but I would certainly not mind to see a second season of this show if it is in the cards someday. This is a relatively short 8 episode series that is perfect for a lazy Saturday. :)

Leia Mais

Same issue with so many dramas, first episodes are great then it plummets in plot quality

I'm getting so annoyed with high-budget shows like this that just end up being too typical after the first three episodes. I was seriously hooked in the first couple of episodes, I felt like I was watching a thriller with new plot elements, and then it fell into a typical vigilante sort of story, which isn't bad per se. but when it repeats the same cliches (good people killing for justified reasons) I'd rather there be more depth somewhere else, and I found that it lacked a certain character depth to establish that. I did love the main character, and they built him up well, but everyone else around him felt so insufferable and flat, they weren't as well-rounded. Most of the background info, of the main antagonist (the cop) arises in the last episodes. They should have established the motives sooner. I also wished they played more into the bromance between our main character and Roh Bin, instead of killing him off and having him betray him, I wanted them to be more like brother who relied on each other when they had no one left to turn to, but of course the writing falls short in that relationship too.

To be honest I lost interest after the main villain appears, the previous 'hero' who turned rouge. After that point, it became a boring chase and lost its lustre. I'm getting so frustrated with kdramas becoming a disappointment after the first few episodes. They have phenomenal acting, cinematography, and music, only to ALWAYS fall short in writing. It's so annoying, they have the opportunity to make a well-rounded plot, yet choose to go the easier and safer route by not delving into more nuanced plots. It's always so predictable.

I do want to mention the cut scenes though, whoever the editor did an amazing job, they were so beautiful to watch. I wish I could find a drama that actually keeps up the initial pace they set in the first episodes.

Leia Mais

A Korean work with Tarantino-esque signs

This is one of those dramas that were built piece by piece, a drama where there was care from the selection of the cast, as well as in the purchase of the rights to the Webcomic it is based on. The entire plot up to the final moment of the drama is well tied together, and everything that happened in the drama was developed meticulously by the screenwriter. We must note the well-directed scenes and the quality of direction and characterisation of all the characters.

Choi Woo-Sik, although surrounded by some controversies outside of his profession, is a complete actor and knows how to convey the most varied emotions in a dense drama, but at the same time with a comedic and irreverent tone. A work that mixes murders, blood, and comedic elements, in proper proportions, strongly resembles Tarantino's films Django and Kill Bill, where violent humour and blood go hand in hand.

The villain Song Chon, portrayed by the excellent Lee Heen-Jun, was literally built with seven hands, the environment and the people around him made him into this bloodthirsty and ruthless monster. My favourite character was Roh Bin, also played by the excellent Kim Yo-han, who brought life and charm to a heavy drama surrounded by violence. He was another character who life and environment made become this way, a nerdy vigilante who loved Lee Tang fraternally until the very end. His death left me saddened, but I saw it as necessary for the direction the drama took.

Although the ending was slightly open-ended, I understand that the drama fulfilled its purpose and the story does not need any continuation.

Leia Mais

Great Actors, Lousy Writing

The show couldn't bring me to care about ANY of the characters. ML's character is weak af, the police officer didn't do much, and Roh Bin was so badly written. Only the psycho had something going on for himself lol.

Not to mention, the show treated all the women like plot devices who didn't matter at all. Not a single good female character is a bad look for them. The ML's family doesn't count.

The "supernatural" in the synopsis set the expectations too high for me and the show didn't deliver at all.

I don't know how this is topping the Netflix global charts atm, this was garbage. The first few episodes were good, but it kept getting worse progressively. They spent all the money on good actors and artsy transitions and forgot to pay the writers. Or maybe ChatGPT assisted with the writing.

I hope they don't come out with a season 2, but the ending made it seem like they would. I'm definitely not tuning in again.

Leia Mais

a disappointing mess

maybe it’s because i’ve had kind of high hopes for this drama, but i was left disappointed from the very beginning. while the story was okay in the first few episodes and i was actually enjoying myself even though it was nothing revolutionary, the directing style and storytelling left me so lost on multiple occasions. when it jumped from a memory to a dream to a character’s imagination to the past to the present in the span of 30 seconds and no indication as to what was what you can’t really expect the audience to follow along easily. even the part that i was most excited for (choi woosik) left me a bit disappointed. i love his acting and always find his performances to be the highlight of anything he’s in, but i think the lack of depth to his character just made it impossible for him to showcase anything. i’m not even gonna say anything about the second half of the show because i don’t think there was much that i enjoyed there at all.

Leia Mais

Choi Wooshik slays as a killer

Okay so I’ve really got no complaints over this kdrama, i really enjoyed it!

Especially now in 2024, it feels like every kdrama that has released this year or in 2023, was a little boring so my standards have lowered, I’ve been waiting for a show that has the same vibe as My name Kdrama for example, since thats genuinely one of the best shows I’ve watched.

And though I can’t really compare this show to My name, they have nothing in common except for the crime aspect of it, but its been hard to enjoy anything and this was a perfect kdrama for a quick watch.

But, while there is nothing for me to complain about, there is only one thing that I found a little stupid and its that it felt like the plot got a little lost as it progressed. I thought it would turn out like Vigilante maybe, since this story did focus on Lee Tang (Choi Wooshik), but after like maybe episode 5-6(?), Lee Tang was barely a main character and they focused on the other antagonist and the detectives backstory. Which wasn’t bad per se but I did want to see more of Lee Tang and his entire arc about getting goosebumps when he meets a bad person shouldve been more shown because i found that the most interesting. Everything else just kind of felt like it came out of nowhere, like why do we all of a sudden care about the detectives past and the villain? And why did they need an entire episode to themselves? I feel like it couldve easily been revealed sooner and shorter and the rest filled with Lee Tangs journey.

Overall, I didn’t really get what the last few
moments of the episode meant but i’m guessing they’re setting up for a second season. If the show ends up getting another season, i WILL be seated. Still, such a great show!!

Leia Mais

Captivating

Feb 2024
I watched this in one sitting and my goodness, what a watch it was.
It has a real-life feel in terms of Lee Tang's (Choi Woo-shik) day to day routines, plus his lack of both direction and motivation. Consequently, there are slower paced episodes, but these still manage to both captivate and unnerve.
Detective Son Suk Ku (Jang Nan Gam), is weary, somewhat arrogant in attitude at times and fixated on a happening in the past.
The cat & mouse interactions between these 2 is often tense and occasionally amusing.
Supporting characters veer from weird and unsettling, to just unsettling.
LT's family are supportive, but at the same time wrapped up in their own lives. The mother seems to talk at, not to him, quite often. His relationship with 2 friends felt to me to be more one of convenience than care, even though long-term.
SSK's police partner is a rookie and lacks judgement. Others in their department are a mix of older and jaded, with one showing a more investigative mind, but at the same time lazy, not wanting to lead on his thoughts. Overall, as is so often the case in K-dramas, the police are portrayed overall as inept, cutting corners, lazy and corrupt.
LT's luck in evading proven involvement in murders is pretty funny. The overall effect of his lifestyle on his personality, especially after meeting another character, is noticeable.
There are adult themes/scenes, violence (of course) and clever dialogue.
A further key character is strangely charismatic, but completely irrational and very formidable. Seemed to have a head made of steel too.
I really enjoyed this and it kept me entertained from start to finish. I laughed out loud and at one point, felt terrible for doing so, because it was inappropriate for the scene, but it was hilarious.
I really enjoy watching CWS act and he has the ability to keep me invested in a drama, even if it's not as good as this one was. Would happily watch again.
There are scenes of/references to, sexual assault/rape, suicide and bullying, for those who find these a trigger.

Leia Mais

Good Enough

Korean Drama '' A Killer Paradox '' is an edgy drama that explores the morality of murder, when the victim is a killer themselves.

The drama does a great job presenting the main character's journey from guilt, remorse, fear, and acceptance. On that front, the drama escapes from the basic crime dramas and gives its main lead a more humane act.

On the other hand, the rest of the characters weren't as deeply explored. They were left as cells of their descriptions and nothing beyond.

Also, the story, though initially impressive, failed to keep the momentum. The cinematography was enjoyable and original, yes, but, in the end, left a lot of things unsaid, as the shift from one scene to another had a few moments playing off-camera. This technique was nice at first but got tiring in the end.

Also, the sci fi element wasn't explored at all and it was left as a thought.

Finally, the performances were all enjoyable and the relationship between the characters was sweet.

So, overall, six out of ten.

Leia Mais