I loved the film g@me which is based on the same novel as this, so I was very interested to see another adaptation. This version does too much unfortunately. They add a lot of extra story to fill the runtime, but they also change the characters in personality. They make them all (ML, FL, & FL’s father) too nice, too sane, and too pitiful. They give them all extreme morals and provide constant (theoretically) valid excuses for their actions. Let the characters be evil! Let them be chaotic and selfish. Then when they become vulnerable due to the circumstances, it’s so much more interesting and easy to buy. To see bad people be shocked and care despite their usual priorities. This is what the movie does and does so well. This series becomes dull and boring unfortunately. It loses it’s footing after the twist halfway through when in reality that should have pushed it forward excitedly.

I plan to read the novel soon but until then my only reference point is the 2003 film, and I think it was insanely better overall. If the c-drama is a more faithful adaptation I may be able to appreciate it a little more, but as of now it was a disappointment to me.