Flower Of Evil is one of those shows that takes you entirely by surprise.
Shows are frequently overhyped, but they often can demonstrate their worthiness of being hyped up. This slow-burn thriller is a brilliantly written show that easily jumps between genres while never losing sight of its central idea. It's a show that deserved to win the Asia Artist Awards as well as the Baeksang Arts Award that it attained.
The story itself is played as a combination of a procedural crime drama and a cat and mouse thriller. Even after weeks of finishing this drama, the characters, themes, and plots didn't let me go, nor did I wish to let go.
This is a winding thriller, and you'll want to watch this very delicate and shocking story to the end.
There are some great moments that will surprise you. I can't select which of the many strong goodies in the drama to highlight first. The primary characters? The supporting cast? What about the acting? What about the writing?
The tone shifts slightly when we learn more about Hee-Sung's intentions. These tonal swings eventually move into the realm of romance. The first thing you notice when you start the drama is one of the most touching married couple you've ever seen in the drama world, accompanied by their lovely little daughter.

There's something you can't notice straight away, as the storey synopsis already implies. Something that begins to rip those nicely constructed barriers down from within. Hee-Sung is suspected of being the perpetrator of a series of mysterious murders. Hee-Sung quickly reveals that he is not who he appears to be, adopting a false character and being unable to feel any emotions. Adopting a fake persona and unable to feel any emotions, it soon becomes apparent that Hee-Sung is not at all what he seems. However, being experienced with a lot of crime tropes, I sensed there was something fishy about the dark past they were trying to sell me. How far can a drama go with the main character being the bad guy? Could he be the one who killed these people? Is it possible that something else is at work here? That question followed me around like a shadow while my suspicions grew.

The finale removes some wind from the sails. It is mainly used to wrap everything in a neat bow, borrowing some proven Kdrama metaphors. Moon Chae Won and Lee Jun Gi's acting is exemplary, and both have plenty of room to play a role that really relies on their emotional performance.
There's definitely a lot of tension here, from the mob boss tying up Hee Sung and threatening to set the room on fire, to our heroes slowly lining up in a water-filled pool. This is completely contrary to Ji Won's police investigation, as she is torn between her obligations and her relationship with Hee Sung.
This relationship really moves the story forward. Unlike many Korean dramas, Flower Of Evil takes time to turn this simple love story into a much more complex case than the misunderstandings we've seen. It is that the chemistry between the two is very powerful and both help to nourish each other and enhance their achievements.

I do have to admit that at times the tempo is a little off. There are a few barely noticeable lulls along the way.
I have the ability to without a doubt say, Flower Of Evil is a fantastic drama. It's the ability to combine the romantic, dramatic, and action-packed genres without becoming bogged down in its own convoluted plot is amazing.
This one is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!

X0X0 <3
---Taemango