First Impressions Fugitive: Plan B
I am really hoping this drama lives up to the hype and expectations, but after the first episode, I wonder. There seems to be way too much going on. We are introduced to a huge cast of characters and just who the heck they are and just what the heck they are up to seems to be a mystery.
I mean, we have Rain aka Ji Woo. He’s a kick ass private eye (only he goes by a different title because that occupation is technically illegal in South Korea). But just what the heck he’s out to do or accomplish is beyond me. He is easily distracted by pretty women and I must say is more goofiness than seriousness. Though he can seriously kick butt.
Then we have his mysterious client who set him up to see how well he would perform. Everyone around her has been killed and it seems they are after her now, too. Why? Am I supposed to know? Not yet. Hopefully it won’t take too long for that explanation.
Then we have the special team in charge of hunting Ji Woo down for his illegal dealings and his supposed murder of partner Kevin. Supposed, because he didn’t actually kill his best friend. And talk about in-fighting there. Oy. Throw in a Japanese private eye, Ji Woo’s team and information network, an assassin for hire and things get confusing fast. Yes, too many players and hidden agendas are all at work and present in only a single episode.
And what is with Ji Woo’s goofiness? Rain does a good job but it is so hokey. It definitely shows a less serious side to him, but the trailer played this up as a more serious drama. It seems almost a spoof of more serious action thrillers like I.R.I.S. and I am not sure how I feel about that. This drama actually reminds me more of The Librarian movies which totally spoofed on Indiana Jones (and a little Sherlock Holmes). I can handle that in small doses, but in large quantities it gets ridiculous.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that this drama takes a turn for the better and doesn’t stay as a comedy spliced with an action film. It’s like the drama itself is having an identity crisis and can’t make up it’s mind if it wants to be an action-packed, more serious drama or an outright goofy comedy with some slaptsick action and good fight scenes. Right now everything seems completely random. We have flashbacks that aren’t always signaled so it gets confusing to determine past from present and then we have Ji Woo himself who is good at what he does, but who seems very sleazy and con-arty.
Asian Addicts Anonymous 
Ooh interesting observations. I’m not sure if I even want to see this– I thought it was going to take the path of Iris in terms of being an action-thriller or espionage series but I read somewhere that Rain’s character is gonna be like one of those goofy, pervy heroes in a manhwa. You know, the competent types who aren’t taken seriously half of the time because of their predilection for wine, women and song. I’m getting a sense that this might be one of those love it or hate it dramas in the same vein as Strongest Chil Woo or Hong Gil Dong. It’s too early to tell whether the series will turn out okay but from experience, the main problem with these kind of shows is that they’re very uneven and they often do a complete 180 degree turn towards the end, where they pile on the drama and turn on the waterworks.
I think it takes really great acting to make us like those kinds of main characters. Rain isn’t a bad actor and you might want to hope for his redemption or reformation, but right now it all seems kind of flat. I watched the first episode of Strongest Chil Woo and dropped it, but I am up to episode nine of Hong Gil Dong, which I managed to like. I think Kang Ji Hwan was a great fit as Gil Dong and even though it was very slapstick comedy and outrageous with some melodrama and action thrown in, it seemed to work for me. KJH is good at doing comedic, serious, and doing the action scenes. While Rain is believable, I am not feeling the character of Ji Woo so far. Actually, I don’t think I like any of the characters so much.
The best part of episode one for me was at the end where the cops were going in to get Ji Woo and were complaining about being squished into a five seater, bad driving, and no one wanted to give their gun up to the man in charge. With cops like that, its a surprise the country is still running. 😛
Ah Kang Ji Hwan and Hong Gil Dong… another breakout performance. I think it sort of worked since for the most part, Kang Ji Hwan played Gil Dong with a straight face. It also helped that his character seemed to be the only sane one around while everyone else was over the top. His character was also well-developed in a sense that there was a number of sides to it– illegitimate son, reluctant hero, champion of the poor, etc. It’s no surprise that you’re up to episode 9 because it really is entertaining but I have to warn you that this series will get heavy on the drama by episode 16 or so before going up in flames in the last few episodes. Let’s just say that it has a less than satisfying end to it, which is why I liked Capital Scandal better.
Haven’t watched Capital Scandal, but have heard some good reviews of it. It’s on the list of dramas to check out. As for Hong Gil Dong, I kind of know that it’s going to take an insane turn and have put off continuing it in fear that the latter half might destroy the goodness of the first half 😛 But I do definitely plan to finish it. Jang Geun Suk seems to have bettered his acting from his role as the moody prince, thankfully, but I wonder if he can step out of the shadow from his role in You’re Beautiful?
Oh, haven’t really gotten around to watching You’re Beautiful ever since I saw pics of Jang Genun Suk dressed like a fairy. Will definitely have to find time to watch it within the next three years or so. LOL x) I liked him best in Beethoven Virus where he didn’t look so much like a girl. I also appreciated the student-mentor dynamic he had with Kim Myung-min as well as the contrast between their characters. 🙂
I wasn’t going to watch You’re Beautiful because the plot sounded stupid and the first episode was too silly for me, but I managed to try it again and ended up addicted watching that instead of the heavier action drama IRIS. Definitely worth watching at least once. I haven’t watched Beethoven Virus yet, but its on my list of dramas to watch eventually. 😛