Flower of Evil (2020)

You can find anything you want in this Drama!

I created an account just to write a review for this drama.
One word : Extraordinary!
The cast were amazing. Specially the main leads.
Lee Joon Gi has become my favorite actor. I've seen him in other dramas such as Moon Lovers and Lawless Lawyer but this one was something else... I cried whenever he cried. I laughed whenever he laughed. One of the most memorable roles that has been played ever.
It was my first experience with Moon Chae Won and she surprised me! Strong, confident, smart, good wife, a perfect woman. (I hope they exist in real world too :DDD)
All the support roles did a great job.
OST was pretty good too. I loved "Psycho" track!
I've watched this drama 2 times. I watched every episode for myself and then again with my boyfriend.
Go and watch this, you'll be at the edge of your seat.

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Sombre et magnifique

Depuis le temps que je lisais des articles et retours sur ce drama, je me suis lancée ! Et je n'ai pas regretté.

En lien avec moi même, j'avoue, j'ai eu du mal. Et non pas du fait de la qualité de ce drama qui ne se discute pas, mais du fait de son côté sombre, et lourd. J'avais l'estomac noué à chaque épisode, et de plus en plus en avançant dans celui-ci. Mais je le redis encore, cela est du à mon côté sensible.

Car je dois dire que ce drama est vraiment magnifique et de qualité : L'histoire, le jeu des acteurs, sublime.
L'ambiance, est magnifique, on oscille tout le temps entre deux émotions, deux questions, et on finit souvent perdu ou pantelant les épisodes.

Tout est très bien ficelé et la morale concernant le mal que peut faire les préjugés sur les gens sans les connaitre est poignante.

On souffre clairement tout au long du drama avec Lee Joon Gi, on adore le personnage de Moon Chae Won et on la comprend tellement dans chaque phase qu'elle passe…
On aime chacun des rôles secondaires qui ont tous des cicatrices à porter, une histoire, et du coup, on s'attache à eux.

Bref, clairement, même quand on est une sensiblounette comme moi, c'est un drama à voir.

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Great series to watch with lots of potential triggers for people with trauma!

LJG is so appealing as a father & loving husband... This first episode is so good!! It's one of the main reasons why I love Lee Joon Gi as an actor because he really shows the inner conflict his character is going through emotionally, especially when it counts! I saw this here and boy I'm thrilled see one of my favorite people again!! <3

This was a great series! Diverse characters and story progression with a lot of emotion and potential triggers everywhere - so be careful watching if you are a trauma victim or sufferer. Knowing how training for law enforcement has progressed, the one loophole or disappointing thing is how there was complete disregard to what victims go through by some characters and the intentional jabbing at potential triggers. Girl's lucky that good man's heart & soul still loved her dearly despite the hurt & damages.

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Mind-blowing - Lee Jun Ki's Best Drama Yet

So the tags on this drama are thriller, mystery, psychological, romance, crime, and melodrama. I may be biased, but I believe that this is one of the very few dramas that delivers on all tags and does it so well. It's hard when dramas try to do so much at once because then it veers off into one genre more than the other OR may feel offputting; however, Flower of Evil is unique. The crime, mystery, and thriller aspect of the drama was so well written that it kept me on my toes throughout the show. These three tags were the bulk of this drama, as we can tell from the synopsis and images. The writers bring in the psychological aspect that acts as the backbone for the characters. It's important to highlight that the romance didn't take away from the plot. Instead, it added a lot more to the characters' depth. Then the melodrama part just ties it together, creating that anguish of emotions.

The foreshadowing, symbolism, and themes were greatly weaved into the story. For example (spoiler), my favorite symbolic moment was when Do Hyun So and Cha Ji Won were standing hand in hand to meet Detective Choi. They both were wearing black. Do Hyun So in all black and Cha Ji Won in all black except her inner white shirt. However, the all-black Do Hyun So represented "evil" and all the things against the law. Cha Ji Won in black because she was supporting Hyun So and even helped him. However, her white shirt represented her strong sense of justice as an upholding law-abiding officer.

I appreciated this drama because the primary investigations were all correlated/connected into a bigger scheme. Example 1: A character made an appearance again later due to the results they closed from a prior case. Because of his second appearance, it leads to the investigation hotter to the potato. Can we just appreciate the thought that went into this?

ACTING/CAST/CHARACTER
So I'm Lee Jun Ki biased because he's a good crier. His roles that he takes on has always been quite similar, in my opinion. However, he does them so well, so I can't even complain. Do Hyun So is one of the better-written anti-heroes and has one of the best character developments I have seen in a while (probably because I'm only in rom-com land). He's always between this line of good and evil. You feel bad for him as you know his past, but you're not sure how evil his character may be due to how much we know about him.

Moon Chae Won as Cha Ji Won was such a great pick. I haven't seen Moon Chae Won's works in a while. She has surely improved as Cha Ji Won. I don't think her presence in the drama did not fall short of Lee Jun Ki as Do Hyun So. A strong female lead that was not a damsel in distress at all! She did the butt-kicking so many times for her husband. Her strength as a mom and a person was so well portrayed. She wasn't invincible, as we still see her inner turmoil as she struggled to do what was right and deal with her husband's deception.

All the other characters fulfilled their roles really well and came off as convincing. For example, even the mom, who was not well-liked, struggled in doing what was right vs. wrong.

NEGATIVE (spoilers, proceed with caution)
While I loved everything else, there were still aspects that I disliked, which is pretty much the latter half of the show.

The awkward product placement scene at the station where they offered those little pouch drinks. It felt so awkward and threw off the whole scene for me.

Do Hyun So's sudden emotional overflow. While I understand it was a reveal of him realizing his feelings, it felt abrupt. Especially if I keep in mind that he has an anti-social personality disorder. Which he has had for his whole life, without proper treatment. I mean, I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I feel like it should've been slowly peeled to us. Again, personal opinion on this part. I think it's because we see such a stone-faced, manipulative, and evil character that it feels weird when it all of a sudden turned off like a light switch.

We waited for the antagonist forever. The whole show was built up for the big reveal. When we actually got to see the scenes from the past, the antagonist felt quite lackluster compared to Do Hyun So's dad. It made me question how this person was supposed to be our antagonist in the first place. When I saw his performance, he was seen as sloppy, and the setup felt really convenient for the antagonist to do what he wanted. I feel like I wanted to, I can justify this as this was the sole reason why he failed in the first place. But still, have to admit that I felt pretty disappointed.

Ending/the last episode seemed like lazy writing to me. I felt like the writer wanted a decent way to justify Hyun So as a manipulative and not mentally sound character, along with his ugly past. Instead of working something out for Hyun So for how he is, they decided to do away with everything but not his emotions, AKA making us sympathize with him. This was still done acceptably, especially within just one episode. We still see Hyun So's character development and relationship development with everyone around him. He does get the closure that he finally needed, even though it didn't give some viewers the proper satisfaction. I just feel like there could have been a better way of justifying Do Hyun So.

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A Romance/Thriller Masterpiece

As a romance fan who loves a good mystery to theorise my way through, it is unfortunately slim pickings when it comes to finding a show that perfectly blend the two genres together. Enter: Flower of Evil.

Great writing on the crime thriller side of things is paired with a gripping and emotive story about romantic and familial love. Amazing performances by MCW and LJG, both as a married couple and in their individual storylines, make the plot come alive. I often find it difficult to rewatch crime dramas as I feel the magic is gone once you've unlocked the mystery; this is not the case for FOE. Every rewatch (and there's been a few) leaves me wanting more; the writing and performances are that good. While the plot is interesting in itself, I believe the magic of the show is in its humanness, largely due to the main two actors. The characters feel real, both their pain and their love. It's a wonder to watch time and time again.

My only critique I've been able to find over the course of my rewatches is Moon Chae Won's character - specifically, why would she insist on chasing after a boy who showed absolutely no interest in her, even at times contempt? Did she never really question his intentions in over a decade together when he seemingly changed personalities over night? If not, what in her own history could have made her so oblivious to some pretty obvious initial red flags? In a perfect world I would've loved a deeper exploration of her character and her past before Do Hyun Soo. But, usual time constraints of a Kdrama considered, I still think they did an amazing job overall.

If any drama can make me feel as I did the first time I watch FOE, I'll take it now, please.

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Beautiful

Where do I even begin? This drama is gorgeous. It's so well written and paced. The plot jumps right into the perfect family life of Baek Hee Sung and Cha Ji Won. They are happy and in love until Heesung's past starts to catch up with him.

The plot is a rollercoaster with a good blend of a crime thriller and romance. Heesung and Ji Won have a beautiful life together, but he has a dark past she doesn't know about. When everything starts to unravel, the drama does a great job showing Ji Won's conflicting emotions. She is heartbroken and confused. But, her love for her husband and keen intellect eventually lead her to the truth. The first couple of episodes creates an air of mystery around the main character. Heesung's real motivations are unknown. He may be a villain because of his violent reunion with Kim Moo Jin. But, as the story progresses, we slowly find out that not everything is as it seems.

The pacing is surprisingly good from start to finish. The story creates a nice balance between the past and the present. Every flashback is on point giving a glimpse into Heesung's childhood, the person he is supposed to be, and the beginning of his and Ji Won's journey to love. There is no filler. Every character is relevant and plays a part in the plot development. Every twist and turn is thrilling and adds to the complexity of the story. One issue is that the main villain is revealed very late in the show creating some issues with pacing and plot continuity. But, it doesn't hurt the storytelling too much and the drama is able to bounce back. Another issue is longwinded melodramatic scenes. The writers probably wanted us to delve deep into the characters' emotions. But, the overly dramatic scenes often feel excessive with the actors overplaying the characters' emotions. And, the human trafficking arc is out of place and completely unnecessary, especially in relation to serial killers finding their victims.

The drama has one of the best love stories I've seen in k-drama. Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won have unforgettable chemistry and do a wonderful job relaying the characters' emotions. Heesung and Ji Won are truly soulmates who cannot live without each other and go to great lengths to stay together.

The acting goes without saying. Lee Joon Gi perfectly relays Heesung's love for his wife, his struggle to understand himself, and trying to cope with the injustice done to him. Kim Ji Hoon is dynamic and absolutely believable as an insanely good looking psychopath. The OST is beautiful and fits well with the story. "Fee you" is one of my favorite songs now.

All I can say is that despite the drama's few shortcomings, this truly is something that took my breath away and made me miss it after it ended. Definitely recommend.

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Thriller, Suspense, Captivating … Great Drama!

I have no idea why it took me this long to watch this drama. I mean, the reviews alone did it for me but I still kept postponing it.
Truth be told... this was one hella-of a drama. Every episode was captivating, the story line wow! I was always looking forward to the next episode, on the edge of my seat wondering what next surprise was waiting for me. The suspense was killing me and I loved that it was first moving, there were no lingering moments and stares that lasted a whole minute (no pun intended, these moments are important as well).
The actors did not disappoint. I mean, Lee Joon-gi and Moon Chae-won, amazing actors, had great chemistry. If you overlook the whole deception, manipulation and secrets, they did make marriage look fun and easy.
Kim Ji Hoon did not disappoint as well. I mean, everyone who acted in this drama played their role down to a tee. I would recommend it to everyone.
I gave it a 4;5 rewatch value just because of the emotional turmoil that's involved. There are some scenes I would never want to repeat and there are some that I would, but not more than 3 times.
I also loved the ending. It was subtle!

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A captivating, thrilling, and surprising drama: An enjoyable experience not to be missed!

I was hesitant at first, but I found it brilliant as it progressed. Congrats to the team who worked on this drama! I'm not giving it a perfect score because I found the final episodes to be excessive and slow, as they didn't contribute anything to the story, which should have concluded around episode 13 or 14.

STORY

The story is well-told and manages to captivate throughout the narrative. Unexpected plot twists are present, although some may be slightly disappointing. Nevertheless, the overall execution is commendable. The characters quickly become endearing, and their stories and pasts are captivating, although it would have been desirable to have more in-depth development for some of them. The drama could have reached a satisfying conclusion around episode 13 or 14; the final episodes are a bit too long. In summary, the story is well-crafted and thoughtful.

ACTING

The actors are remarkable, with no complaints whatsoever. They master their craft, and it's sometimes difficult to distinguish whether their characters are good or evil due to their excellent performances. I discovered some very talented actors, with a special mention for Moon Chae Won and Seo Hyun Woo, who excel in this drama.

MUSIC

Considering the ambiance of the drama and the different emotions it evokes, the music could have been better and more prominent..

REWATCH VALUE

Honestly, I think I will revisit this drama after completing other titles on my list because I enjoyed it a lot due to the remarkable performances and beautiful camera shots. Kudos to the technical team. However, I will likely skip the final episodes that, in my opinion, don't contribute anything to the overall drama.

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I guess my expectations were too high, but what do you expect when you stumble upon a drama with a rating above 9 and Lee Joon Gi in it?

While the overall plot is quite unique for a K drama, it still felt like unfulfilled potential. The suspense came from the hope that the script will follow your predicted narrative and your dissatisfaction when you get exactly as you want. occasions when it went against my own prediction was rare and far in between.

I don't even want to talk about the failures they committed against ML character. It had so much potential (and Lee Joon Gi!!!! COME ON!!!) all the inconsistencies could have been fixed with a good ending. but the last episode was, well... let's just say that whatever they did with character development, they went straight back to square one in regards to ML.


As critical as my review is, this drama was not bad by any means... but as I mentioned above when expectations are high the standards are high as well. It was an enjoyable watch with suspenseful yet quite predictable plot and capable actors, I would recommend watching this at least once.

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