A Próxima Aposta (2022)

Casino-gangster-crime atmosphere with an exotic ambiance. International style. Takes its time.

"Big Bet" was inspired by the legendary persona of a South Korean casino manager who made it to the top of the multi-billion dollar casino world in the Philippines... until he was framed for murder.
"Big Bet" is another KDrama that has been divided into two halves in streaming provider style. (Unfortunately, this is kind of becoming the new KDrama fad and I'm already bored to express my anger about it.)
Oh yes, and I'll say it in advance: if you're interested in the series because of Son Suk-ku, you'll have to stick with it for quite a few episodes - he doesn't appear until the end of the first season...

The Disney production deliberately presents itself internationally. Nevertheless, one gets some atmospheric, socio-historical milieu impressions from South Korea - especially from the 1970s and 1980s, because the story is repeatedly enriched by flashbacks. (In fact, the first season is almost one great flashback - with flashbacks within that flashback, so to speak.) While the first season is designed primarily as a character study of Cha Mu-sik, the second season arguably has the real crime thriller behind it. Topic: Murdered South Koreans in the Philippines and the associated dynamic between the South Korean-born, now renowned casino manager, who has now become a murder suspect, and the investigator Oh Seung-Hoon, who was sent to the Philippines from South Korea. So the actual "big bet" only really becomes an issue in the second season.

So what does the first season have to offer?
Plenty of impressions of Mu-sik's childhood days, youth (wonderful: Lee Kyu-hyung as a youthful Mu-sik - although eventually Lee Kyu-hyung has meanwhile left his youth behind him...) and of his first professional steps into Casino world as young adult. The protagonist has his own charm and amazing talents and so we experience Mu-sik, although he radiates some sort of unapproachable aura, as an authentic and fascinating man with plenty of heart and mind, with a quick grasp, good intuition, radical consequence and entrepreneurial charisma.

"Big Bet" is a Korean-American production. It is international in its self-image and presents itself as such. It is made by men and it is about men. About smoking men. Sweating men in suits. Men with tattoos, too. The man with the most screen time is “Oldboy” Choi Min-sik (from the acclaimed 2003 K-Movie). He plays his role effortlessly as a 30-year-old and almost 60-year-old alike (thanks to modern filming and image processing technology). For "Big Bet" he is back in top form after a decade-long break. All in all, in this KDrama we slide into a (conservative) world of men and gangsters. Their wives, if there are any, are at home with children and really don't know anything about anything. Exceptions are the wealthy, and due to her wealth influential CEO Ko (with a rather quick appearance but comparatively lasting impression: Lee Hye-young) and the young, by Korean standards sexually quite explicit, self-determined hotel employee Kim So-jung.

In the flashbacks, as I mentioned before, there is South Korea at times. Nonetheless, "Big Bet" is principally based in the Philippines. Filming there took about 3 months. This promises exotic local hue, although the focus is on the casino and hotel world - which in turn could somehow be anywhere. No expenses were spared with the casting either. Even the supporting roles were selected with care.

In short: "Big Bet" (Season 1) is a solid and ambitious character study of Mu-sik. His Story is told in a sophisticated way and staged well worth seeing. However, the series isn't really a KDrama-like KDrama. Anyone who likes a casino-gangster-crime atmosphere with an exotic ambiance will get their money's worth here. However, the story takes it´s time. It remains to be seen what the second half will come up with. I certainly have high expectation that "Big Bet" will even improve, now that Oh Seung-Hoon intrudes into Mu-sik's world with his investigations and thus will add further dynamic.

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A Very Poor 7,5 Rate.Why?

Iam sorry but sometimes i really don't understand what is inside MDLers's heads.On what base and which criteria make them rate Dramas.

When you decide to watch a Drama,you read the synopsis,check the Cast,the Genres and the Tags.If you like any, or better all of them,you go for it.And the optional is to watch 1 or 2 episodes to make sure you like it or not.
So after,you quit or continue watching.If you don't like it just don't start/continue watching.Is that simple.
And for Fk's sake,save your stars for Rom-coms!Just to be clear,there is nothing wrong with Rom-coms.Is just me not into.
And definetely i will never rate any too low just because iam not into the Romance Genre.That was a personal comment,please no offense guys.

So back to the Drama.

I don't have much to write.
Production was excellent.Settings,sceneries,props,costumes.Nicely done.I loved the vibes from the different decades. All the meticulous details shows that they take their job seriously.
Direction,cinematography and Music.Nothing to complain about.Don't forget to check"Show Down" one of the main OSTs.

The Cast!Oh my!Stellar cast.For that only deserves a rate above 8!
Brilliant performances from everyone.Even the secondary characters were too good!
As for Choi Min Shik's acting..It will be a blasphemy to make any comment about it!This man is a Legend!

Story is engaging,characters are very interesting and the dialogues are pretty realistic.
I've read complaints about the flashbacks.Personally i loved every bit of those flashbacks.Was the best way to show us our main lead's past,story,connections and bonds.
Also the pace(another round of complaints about it)was just fine to me.Is a story which needs its time to unwrap and i've enjoyed every single episode.Never felt it was dragged.

Too much fuss because Big Bet is split into 2 Seasons.
Iam a binge-watcher.
I started watching S1 right after S2 has ended and the Eng subs were out.I did the same with "Island" & "Glory"
There are too many good dramas to watch while waiting for S2 and the in-between period was actually too short so i don't get all the nagging.

Iam writing all these because the 7,5 Rate most likely will prevent future watchers from giving Big Bet a chance,and this is a shame.
Of course everyone has his own opinion,tastes and preferences.And i respect all.
But in this platform we have the power (and the freedom)to write our opinions and to rate Dramas,accordingly.Please do not over use this power just cause you can.Giving low rates without a plausible ground is not cool.Generally speaking.

So,right now iam going to start S2 and iam pretty sure i will like it,equally.

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