O Lado Obscuro de Gangnam (2024)

Gangnam B-Side: A Crime Drama Lost in Shadows and Barely Saved by Ji Chang Wook..

Gangnam B-Side is a drama filled with secrets, ambition, and unexpected alliances.. And also people whose ambitions have no morales or value for human lives.. The drama excels in creating an atmospheric narrative.. It attempts to stitch together a thriller but i dont think that worked out well.. It was more of a Crime/Action drama rather than a thriller.. The pacing didnt exactly keep me on edge even though it was a short drama.. The drama tries to create a dark intrigue but it lacks any genuine suspense.. JCW shined as always.. He outperformed everyone in the drama by a mile..

Gangnam B-Side also explores the dark world of online sex work, prostitution, and drugs.. Shedding light on the struggles and exploitation faced by the women involved.. It delves into how they are manipulated and controlled.. Both on camera and behind the scenes..

One standout moment was the intense fight scene in Ep 2.. Which was choreographed with precision and full of raw energy.. The gritty action and Ji Chang Wook’s impeccable performance made it a highlight of the series.. That scene showcased the potential the drama could have tapped into more consistently.. I also loved the short scene of Ji Chang Wook entering the arena.. It perfectly elevated the fight that followed..

The acting of the rest of the cast was decent.. But it certainly wont be getting any applause from me.. The cop's daughter was unbelievably dumb.. She made things unnecessarily complicated in the second half of the drama. Even in the end her actions led to no positive outcome..

Overall.. Gangnam B-Side has its moments.. Especially with strong performances from Ji Chang Wook and some thrilling action sequences.. However.. The lack of genuine suspense.. Predictable story arc.. And a few frustrating plot points held it back from reaching its full potential.. Its an entertaining watch.. But not without its flaws..

P.S. I am not kidding when I say JCW covered in blood is a sight to behold.. No I am not a psychopath.. It was just seriously intense..

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The Immortal Pimp

The drama should’ve been titled “The Immortal Pimp” 😌👌 because that’s the most accurate summary of the entire series.

Now, let me start by saying I love Ji Chang Wook—he’s one of my favorite Korean actors. But even his charm couldn’t save this mess of a show. This drama is painfully average at best, and honestly, calling it average feels like I’m being generous. Where do I even begin?

First, the characters. Or should I say, cardboard cutouts masquerading as people. There’s absolutely zero character depth, and development? Forget about it. The leads are so one-dimensional it’s almost impressive. They seem to have two modes: evil or dumb—there’s no in-between. It’s like the writers got bored halfway through and decided, "Let’s make everyone insufferable." The only person I remotely cared about was the prosecutor. The rest? I wouldn’t have blinked if they all fell off a cliff.

Then there’s the storytelling. What storytelling, you ask? Exactly. The plot is an incoherent, jumbled mess. It’s like someone threw a bunch of clichés, random violence, and melodrama into a blender and hit "puree." Speaking of violence, it’s completely senseless and over the top. Instead of adding tension, it just feels like a cheap gimmick to shock the audience.

Oh, and let’s talk about those "fights," because apparently, this drama secretly moonlights as a fantasy. Our male leads here are basically superhuman. Fighting dozens of thugs at once, etting stabbed multiple times in the stomach, slashed in the arm, hit with metal pipes? Child’s play. At one point, I half-expected him to regenerate Wolverine-style or start glowing like Iron Man. I mean, seriously, is this supposed to be gritty crime drama or Super Pimp vs. the World? The sheer absurdity of these scenes makes you wonder if someone in the writer’s room mistakenly thought they were working on a Marvel script.

The one redeeming factor should’ve been the cast, right? I mean, the lineup is stacked. But nope, not even they could salvage this train wreck. It’s like watching a group of world-class chefs trying to make a gourmet meal with expired instant noodles.

Re-watch value? Zero. Not even a second glance. For anyone curious about this show, let me save you some time: skip it. Do yourself a favor and watch The Worst of Evil instead if you didn't yet.

Honestly, the only thing this drama succeeded in was making me reconsider my life choices for sticking with it until the end.

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