Flower of Evil (2020)

Watch!!

Seriously seriously seriously amazing. This has to be the best kdrama I've ever watched. The plot? Amazing. The acting? Amazing. All the plot twists? Amazing. Such an amazing drama the cast did a fantastic job of representing their characters, especially Lee Joongi with Do Hyunsoo. This entire drama was insane (good way). The entire plot changed quickly and switched the narrative very well. The directing is amazing. The writing is amazing. When I thought there couldn't be anymore twists and turns, there were more, extremely unpredictable which makes this drama even more enjoyable for me. I really love how the screenwriter and directors changed how the audience view Do Hyunsoo. I loved the ending but I wish we could've got to see Kyungchoon and Misook meet or anything about them because it felt like they were put on a back burner at the end when there could've been a small part of them meeting again or even Hyunsoo finding out what happened to his mom because it really didn't get discussed much after it was brought up. I really recommend this drama, it was one of the bests I've ever seen. Kim Jihoons acting was so good with how he portrayed Baek Heeseong. There were a lot of heartbreaking moments but flower of evil really is worth watching.

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Exhilarating

We have been waiting for Lee Joon Gi return nearly two years.

So it’s started with him tied up underwater in a swimming pool. So the first minute already tension for us viewers seeing our favourite in that position - locked up underwater struggling.

The daughter is scared of her grandmother. The grandparents aren’t very friendly no wonder she is scared. They are stoic and taciturn.

3 Aug 2020
So far I just love it. It's exciting and scary although he is seen to be a killer I can see how he can justify what he does. During his school life he was harassed by bullies and then in his young adult life one of his friends stabbed him and stole his wallet. I love his acting and the drama certainly keeps you on your toes and wanting to know more. So we are waiting for the next episode.

The kiss was sweet and beautiful and yes very hot but I thinks it's normal for married couples who still totally love each other to show passion in their private kisses in their own home.These two have very strong chemistry so why not show it.  Love this drama so much so far.

It’s so exciting and scary and I’m going to say it now right in the beginning I don’t believe out hero that we love so much is a killer. The part where he is tied up underwater is so terrifying.

17/08/20
My theory so far:
That Lee Joon Gi’s acting, his eyes and faciles are always descriptive and tell so much about how he feel and thinks. The way he gazes, concentrates and the movement of the muscles on his face. Each drama he plays is so ingenious, tremendous, and incredible. As I have been watching this drama progress I believe his sister is the one who killed the guy she was protecting her self from being raped. Then the brother takes the knife and acts that he is the one who killed the head man. That’s my theory so far. I’m excited to discover the real truth of behind this brutal saga of mysteries, but I don’t believe that he is a killer everything so far is circumstantial. I believe that he truly loves his wife and child but because of his experiences he thinks that he is the same as his father.

Woah! These two Moon Chae WonCha Ji Won and Lee Joon Gi/Baek Hee Sung get some hot and heavy action in this drama. It is actually more natural that this happens as they have been separated for awhile and they have both been through a traumatic experience. So it’s normal to release all of their tension throughout their sexual expressions. Too much Lee Joon Gi, bring it on. This story is compelling and intriguing. It is holding me spellbound and captivated with all of its twists and turns.

Seo Hyun Woo Kim Moo Jin has met up with his first love (Jang Hee JinDo Hae Soo) who is also Baek Hee Sung’s sister. He’s all nervous and babbling like a lunatic. He’s getting all romantic and she is flabbergasted. Then she tells him she killed the village Headman. (Just like I suspected). Seems like the sister loves and adores her little brother and just like he feels the same about her. She’ll do anything to protect him same as him to her. So they are very close siblings but haven’t kept in touch. So they will protect each other. They have always protected one another. He listens to her and follows her directions as he the younger sibling.

Baek Hee Sung is perceptive he knows that Kim Moo Jin is still attracted to his sister and is getting irked with him giving sad eye and long looks at his sister. So he tells him that his real objective is to get back with his sister. Then he reminds his sister that she and Kim Moo Jin broke up because he said she had creepy eyes. Kim Moo Jin called him abnormal, useless and has no human feelings.

Meantime Baek Hee Sung and Cha Ji Won are going to visit the fathers old workshop at night time (scary). She is putting him through hell. She put him under psychological pressure, she is killing him. Personally as a viewer I can’t help but feel for him. In other words I just can’t stand it. Its like she is deliberately setting him up to break him down. Lee Joon Gi you are an outstanding actor.
He(LJG) is unbelievably handsome now and his multi-talents make us cling to him like there is no tomorrow. Each moment watching him perform is ecstatic, rapturous. and thrilling. He enchants and delights us. We can't wait for the next moment of his drama. At the moment its "Flower of Evil".
He said that he doesn’t love his wife Cha Ji Won. He doesn’t know what love feels like. So sad because she heard him say it.
The music is so powerful and compelling in this drama that it moves your heart and makes you want to stop and just listen to it. It goes so perfectly with the visuals.

03/09/20
I knew from the very beginning that this drama was going to upset me and make me cry but because of Lee Joon Gi I couldn’t resist watching it. Now I’ve got to the part where he’s heart broken and so who else’s is heart broken. Yep! All of us viewers are just distraught that he’s having a bad time. He is in such pain he can not leave her. He doesn’t know that it is because of love for her.

I know how Moon Chae WonCha Ji Won feels as her husband is going into unknown turf to find the truth of his past. It is so stressful. I’m holding my breath that we can get past this. I feel for the two of them. They are both impressive actors drawing us all into this web of deceit, intrigue, lies and coverups. A puzzle that is slowly unfolding.

Finally and slowly the story is starting to come out and we are learning who the bad guys are. An exceptional and superior story is being revealed here by these magnificent characters. Every episode is electrifying, thrilling and dramatic. I’m hardly making it pass episode 11.
Love this. When he starts crying he can't stop. Reminds me of myself. Then he doesn't know why he's crying so terribly, sadly sweet. He has loved her for 14 years but it the first time that he has acknowledge his deep and passionate love for her. Then knowing it makes him cry. He's hidden it even from himself but his actions have spoken louder than his words. She has always known it.
I keep watching bits of this drama over and over drinking in every moment of his scenes. I’m so addicted.
In the episode 11, Do Hyunsoo finally realizes his love for Cha Jiwon and lets out an emotion for the first time, breaking down in tears. It’s as if the floodgates just opened, he was completely awash with emotions, a mix of confusion, fear, and pain, which Lee Joongi depicted so thoroughly in his heart-wrenching performance, leaving viewers brokenhearted.
“Kim Moojin is a difficult character because he’s hard to pin down. But Seo Hyunwoo has done a wonderful job of making him a vivid character. At the gathering he had with Hyunsoo and Haesoo, I realized once again what a valuable presence he is in our drama, like an oasis in the desert.”
What we have found out the real Baek Hee Sung is the accomplice of Do Min Seok but has been in a coma for 14 years because after he hit Hyun Soo with his car his mum discovered the souvenirs of his work in his bedroom. She found him burying a living Hyun Soo in their garden and she stabbed him. It put him in a coma and they then swapped identities. So 14 years of a peaceful existence but now, is it the reign of terror now he has awoken from his long sleep? He’s killed the housekeeper.
The tension:- Woah! Scary! My heart is beating so fast. I haven’t even watched it with English sub so I don’t really know what is going on but I’m terrified for all the characters I really care about especially Hyun Soo and his family. I want them to be safe but the writers and producers are drawing every bit of emotion out of us. We are petrified for them all. That killer Baek Hee Sung is a nightmare. I wonder what made him like that.
The Baek are one step ahead of them.
Now Jeong Mi Sook the last victim of Do Min Sook and Baek Hee Sung has appeared out of the woodwork. She is being held captive b Yeom Sang Chul the people trader. Another twist. Her husband was the one who tried to drown Hyun Soo. Now he is being threatened again. It implies that his family is not safe. He is losing the control that he held together for 18 years.
Episode 14
So scary! Now Beak Hee Sung has stabbed Haesoo and taken Cha Jiwons name tag. He’ll know what she looks like. Does he know that it wasn't her that he stabbed? Still so many questions. At least he didn’t take the little girl Eun Ha but please save Haesoo. Why did Cha Jiwon let Haesoo take her baby home?Haesoo will do anything to protect her baby brother as he has done the same for her.
I feel for our hero. Let's hope we get out happy ending. This is the best romance in a drama our Prince has ever had but it’s so scary. He's such a thrilling actor that has all the moves but can he win against the real serial killer.
Episode 15
I feel so nervous going to open this episode. I saw the trailer and I’m frightened for Hyun Soo and his family. I hope they are going to be okay and that Haesoo is going to survive the stabbing and Eun Ha is safe.
This drama has a big reveal at the very start of the episode then and epic cliffhanger end and this beginning is scary. Kim Moo Jin meets up with Do Min Sook in the basement he is exploring. He tell him that the thing struggling in a large sack is a deer.

Oh! The tension is so much when Hyun Soo is explaining to Jeong Mi Sook what is going on and she is like a scared deer in a cage. He thinks he got it all worked out and I hope that he does. I can’t handle it I’m taking a breather……………….go get a drink. He so fascinating and he gets that tiny little twitch on his lower right cheek. It’s hardly noticeable but it makes him unique and totally believable and makes us just watch him so closely. As an actor he just the bomb.

English subs haven’t come out and I’m doing this by guess. It’s so harsh what he has to go through. I’m crying again. Baek Hee Sung was taunting Hyun Soo but both didn’t know the truth. We had that dramatic irony. The audience knows but the players don’t. Then Hyun Soo turned the tables and was making Baek Hee Sung fearful when he HS was describing what he was doing to do to him. Now he’s just distraught thinking that Cha Jiwon is dead. So he’s out to kill the killer but not straight away, he’s stabbing him and letting him go. Then chasing him again.
This part of him terrorizing his opponent is comprehensible and explicit. As a viewers we understand his heartbreak. This drama is just so superior.
What an episode end. You better not let him die …… writers
Episode 16
The last episode and I have watched without English subs. It is sad but we do get our happy ever after but not until we have been dragged those the mud with his brain injury causing to relapse into his Alexithymia. Then relearn about his love for his wife and child. She was patiently waiting.
In their discussion n the car they are trying to clarify their true feelings for each other but coming to no conclusion. Since he has forgotten about their 14 years together. His mind has forgotten but his body remembers. He keeps buying egg tarts his daughter’s favour snack. Moo Jin’s fridge is full of them. He doesn’t know why he keeps buying them. He doesn’t remember his daughter. She is so sad because she hasn’t seen him.
He is such a wonderful actor.
I loved this drama so much the acting of Lee Joon Gi is impeccable. He knows how to draw out our deepest emotions.
I'm going to really miss this cast. Congratulation on your superlative production. The music I must mention was just superb it helped to pull at the heart strings and I played them over and over. Its not often that I get hooked into the music as well.

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Nothing is what it seems.

surprisingly, 'flower of evil' managed to combine thriller, romance, mystery, crime, a bit of comedy and melodrama in one drama. it's one of those rare few wherein all of these elements didn't feel that out of place. on top of everything else, it has a very good pacing which without a doubt led to the drama doing a very good job at executing its purpose.

what got me very hooked in this was the very beginning because it showed you how unsettling it was to be living with someone that has a whole different breed of skeletons in their closet. the transition of scenes from cute and loving father to downright disturbing; the eery feeling was what drew me in. the twists and turns that happened in this drama was truly addictive that i couldn't help but binge 6 episodes until 3 am.

the mystery aspect was done really well. the writers definitely clowns the heck out of us viewers because we truly have no idea what happens next. i believe that's what makes this drama good as a thriller because you are kept at your toes and you're trapped with so many thoughts of 'what if?'

personally, the fl didn't stand out to me that much but as the episodes went on, she grew on me. the revelation of her husband's past and trying to maintain her work plus being a mom was hella difficult and i felt for her. ji won's relationship with hyeon su was so heartwarming to see. the way they protected and cared for each other and the sacrifices they were willing to make defines how true their love was. even through the roughest paths, they loved each other. also, whew, the intimate scenes made me blush.

the way hyeon su was treated by others because they misunderstood him was truly heartbreaking. hyeon su and hae su deserved better. the trauma that these two endured is unthinkable. it was nice to see the beautiful bond of the siblings. i must say that the performances of the characters as teens was amazingly done. the drama also makes you think about how we see things on the surface and how judgemental we, humans, can be.

personally, i couldn't stand the detectives at times. it's your typical kdrama style detective crew. having one dude watch a criminal and not having any backup anywhere else in the hospital was hilarious. to be fair, there were some comical moments here and there but i didn't really find anything else worth noting.

frankly, i found the villain both surprising and also not surprising. from the very first scene we got of this guy, we were sort of vaguely made aware that he's up to no good with that phone conversation. it was short but very telling. however, i still think that the drama did really well revealing his character and it was very chilling to see what really went down that rainy evening.

one thing i sort of didn't like from this drama was maybe how melodramatic it turned out in the end. everything else fit perfectly and i wouldn't mind melodrama if it was not overboard. we didn't even get to see what happened to the only survivor. perhaps i missed out on a small detail but it was odd that she was never mentioned in the final episode knowing what a big part she played in the serial killer case. despite me not liking how melodramatic the ending was, i also didn't hate it because it looked like a new beginning for the characters. hyeon su and hae su deserved their fresh start, to be able to live freely and no longer have worries. that's why, in a way, i found the ending beautiful.

'flower of evil' succeeded in making itself as one of the top thriller dramas without milking anything. it is well-paced. story is intriguing as hell. the romance was endearing. while this drama did take more of a melodramatic turn halfway through, it still didn't lose its charm for its thrilling and suspenseful side. it is an addictive ride that you can't help but buckle up yourself until you reach the very peak.

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Great drama plus Fantastic Acting

(Forgive me, this is a long review, watched this back in October but decided to put this review only now).
INTRODUCTION:
As a fan of Moon Chae Won since her Painter of the Wind days (watched that drama in 2009 I think), I had been very sad that the last few dramas of hers were not favorably received by most people, especially as more people discovered kdramas since 2016. I kind of understand if people have mediocre expectations of her if they’ve only seen her dramas from 2012 and after (although she was great in Innocent Man and Good Doctor, I think those dramas highlighted the male leads a lot more than her), but if more people have seen her amazing performance in The Princess’s Man (2011 kdrama), there should be no doubt that she would do great here.
As for Lee Joon Gi, I was familiar with his name and respected him as an actor, but for some reason have never paid attention to him or his dramas. I’ve seen Iljimae video clips of him before though and thought he was great in those (saw those clips since a lot of actors I’m familiar with was in that drama). Thanks to this drama, I was able to realize how great of an actor he is.
MY RATINGS:
1. Story
I give the story a 9.0. I’m normally not a fan of crime and thriller dramas, but I gave this drama a go since I’m a fan of MCW, this drama has good reviews, and she’s paired with an actor who I think is talented. But as the story progresses, I love how the mystery is unfolded in this drama. I love how the audience gets to know more of the mysterious Do Hyun Soo as the episodes go by. Initially, I was calling his character “plastic” as his actions with his family is so contrary with his actions with others, but I learn to sympathize with him as I learn to understand him more. I also love Cha Ji Won, how as a character, we are able to be in her shoes, the one who has to uncover the truth. I didn’t give the story a perfect 10 though, because I feel like the main villain should have suffered more (I’m so cruel, I want him to be tortured the way some good characters in historical dramas are tortured) than just dying on the spot. Also, I wish Jung Mi Sook and her husband could have been shown reuniting in the end (her husband, for all the wrong things he did like killing people, only did those things for her and thus deserve to see him). Also, I feel like the real villain bumping his car to Do Hyun Soo of all people seem to coincidental for me. Other than that though, I feel the story is great as it is. I love the way the plot is presented, the cute moments in some of the episodes about the main couple’s pre-married life helped lighten the mood in some episodes.
2. Acting
A perfect 10. Love all the actors. As I mentioned, I am a fan of MCW, and I expected good things from her. She really did great in this drama, I really feel all her emotions and her love for the male lead (it doesn’t help that she has a nice voice that is really good for females expressing their sincere feelings of love and devotion). I love the way she cries as well.
Lee Joon Gi deserves all the daesang, I want him to win Baeksang awards for 2021. He was so good at changing his facial expressions so fast, one moment he looks so loving and cute another moment he looks so scary. I now understand the hype around him and all his historical dramas are on my watchlist now. Observing his filmography and watching some clips of him, I think he has to be one of the most versatile actors in Korea, he’s actually threatening Song Joong Ki as my most favorite Korean actor born in the 1980s. He’s definitely my fave among the original hallyu stars (those that got famous before 2008) from now on.
Together, Joon Gi and Chae Won’s chemistry is out of this world. Me saying this means a lot since MCW is normally an actress with fantastic chemistry with all her costars (especially with Moon Geun Young in Painter of the Wind and the lead guy in Princess’s Man), but her and Joon Gi’s chemistry just outdid all her chemistry with all her other costars for me. From emotional scenes, to family scenes, to sweet loving moments, they just work so well together. Especially their sofa scene together, they really seem like a real couple up to the tiniest details (like the way she touches his ears and the way they look at each other). I wish they could get best couple award somewhere because they really deserve it together.
The acting of the villains are so believable. Applaud to Son Jong Hak who played doctor Baek for making me hate his character so much from the moment he spoke. Kim Ji Hoon is so scary as Baek Hee Sung. He is fantastic in making him really scary as an earlier episode where his mom made him food actually made him a bit endearing for me at first. Nam Gi Ae is so believable as Baek Hee Sung’s torned mom.
The rest of the cast did their job well. I really love Seo Hyun Woo’s facial expressions (I wish more people mention the actor’s name, not just the character Moo Jin). Choi Young Joon is really good as Detective Jae Sub who is kinda pessimistic and doubts a lot (at least that’s what I feel about his character). Jang Hee Jin, although she didn’t stand out for me, also did her part well as the torned and complicated sister Haesoo. The actors who played the other detectives are also good. And of course, Jung Seo Yeon as Eun Ha, I love her so much, she is so cute. She has a future as a great actress, I hope she is the next Kim Yoo Jung or Kim So Hyun.
3. Music
I gave the music a 9.5, because the way they use the music is just right for this drama. I did not give it a 10, since the instrumentals and OST are not as epic as the ones used in other dramas. But I give a 9.5 because I feel that they use the music well. What I mean is the music is not overpowering the performances of the actors (especially the emotional scenes). My most favorite song is Feel You. I love the lyrics, it really describes Hyun Soo’s feelings for Ji Won.
4. Rewatch Value
I never give rewatch value a perfect 10 score, since i believe it’s always gonna be different if you’re seeing something for this first time. This one gets a 9.5 though, since the acting and the chemistry of the actors together deserves a second watch. In fact I want to see LJG and MCW together in another project, but of course they have to move on and act with others next. I also think a rewatch would make the viewers appreciate the story more, plus the camerawork and some editing details
5. Overall
Overall, I think this drama is one of the best. Of course no drama is perfect, but this drama is already great as it is for me. It will not be part of my top 10 kdramas ever (sorry, those spots will only go to historical kdramas since those are what made me and appreciate Korea more), but this is definitely one of my favorite modern dramas.

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BEST 2020 KDRAMA FOR ME

This is my first time having a desire to write a review! This drama impressed me too many times that I lost count!! It was so well-written that it could surprise the watcher a lot while still moving in a great pace. It has romance packed in it too which makes it even more perfect. For me, it's one of those exceptional kdramas that you wish your memory could be erased to before you watched it so that you go through the same experience again. Nevertheless, I still plan to rewatch it one day for sure! If anyone's still hesitating whether to watch it or not, I'd say GO DO IT RIGHT NOW you wont regret!

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An almost perfect suspenseful thriller!

What the heck do I do now that it's over!? *cries*

This was definitely one of the best shows I have ever watched! It literally was so thrilling and suspenseful I could not stop watching - probably the most I have ever 'binged' a show.

I was eating this plot right up until the end of episode 15 - to the writers: why did you have to do us so dirty!? Why could you have let Hyeon-su be in a coma for a couple of days, wake up and be happy!? Why did you have to make him lose his memory!? This is the worst trope!! Probably my only issue with the whole show - like it really ruined the whole story after that. He couldn't remember his wife! He couldn't remember his daughter! He could remember that he loved his wife, but that was about it. The ending even seemed depressing, even though it was a shot with their whole family together.

Taking it right back to the beginning, I always suspected that Hyeon-su wasn't a serial killer/psychopath. I don't know if this was meant to be obvious to the audience, but there was always a vibe. I even predicted that it was Hyeon-su's sister that had done the killing because in every flashback and moments where he was faced with killing someone, Hyeon-su just couldn't do it. And then there was a flashback where he was in his uniform and something triggered that it could have been his sister.

Their father was completely awful - I just never understand how people like him are born and grow into something so evil, and for them to then go on and have children!? I felt so sorry for Hyeon-su being forced to be 'exorcised' and encouraged to kill.

The biggest creep in this show was definitely the real Baek Hee-sung. He was just creepy to look at, but then he would bite his nails and that sound! Disgusts me so much I found it hard to watch whenever he did that. Before we even knew he was the accomplice and we didn't have a clue why he would be, I was already thinking it was probably him because what other random person could they pluck off the street? And it was weird how the whole car accident thing panned out. Also, why did he randomly wake up when the mother took the mask off his face? Coincidence?

I don't know if this show was meant to be predictable in some ways, but I definitely got all of the vibes before it was confirmed. Except for that bombshell of a twist at the end. I don't think I will ever be able to forgive the writer's for doing that. Why!? Just why!?

There weren't any moments where the audience should be laughing at this show, but when Ji-won asked Hyeon-su for help in finding the culprit I couldn't help but laugh. It seemed so ridiculous when at the time the audience is thinking it is him.

The actors in this show are actually amazing! They did such an excellent job - so much emotion was portrayed. I was crying by the point where Hyeon-su was on the bridge and Ji-won came to find him. So many of their scenes were heartbreaking but also romantic. The chemistry between these actors was something else. I've never been more keen to see a relationship develop between a husband and wife, but this show definitely portrays that aspect.

A special mention for Eun-ha - gorgeous girl did such a good job of acting. Where are these dramas getting the child actors from? They amaze me!

The music was pretty much perfect. That music that always played at the most heartbreaking moments made me tear up every time I swear!

I just don't know what I am supposed to do now. This show has left a large void that needs to be filled.

-E

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LOVE THE ROMANCE

Phew..that was a roller coaster ride. This drama had everything; mystery, angst, bromance, heartbreaking moments and of course, romance. I love how the romance was woven into a gruesome story about a serial killer. The juxtaposition of Hee Sung/Hyun Soo romancing his wife Ji Won while he had a prisoner in his basement was brilliantly done.

I would have preferred another episode to give closure to the story of Hyun Soo and Ji Won. The ending was understandble because Hyun Soo suffered physical and emotional abuse throughout his life and it's not easy for him to erase those bad memories overnight. It would require a lot of psychiatric help and love of Ji Won to make him whole again. A three-year timelapse in the future when the viewers are treated to Hyun Soo and Ji Won basking in their happily ever after life, and maybe another baby.....that would be bliss.

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One of the Best Thrillers Out There!

This is a brilliant Korean thriller that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat—possibly literally! While it has very good writing, it’s the performances—especially from Lee Joon Gi (Do Hyun Soo) and Moon Chae Won (Cha Ji Won) that truly captivates the viewer. I am not sure I’ve seen two performers dig so deeply into their feelings and emotions, and I believe that a big reason for this is their obvious chemistry. If I didn’t know that these two were acting in a show, I’d have sworn that these two truly love each other. That is how believable they are. Now, I have seen other performances that come close, but these two may be the best I’ve ever seen in 45+ years of watching movies and shows. It also depicts the worst parents I have ever seen in all of my years. Man Woo Baek and Mi Ja Gong are unconscionable. I really don’t care if it’s their son. To knowingly help a man kill other people is absolutely no excuse. None. And I had absolutely zero sympathy for such deplorable people who turned out to be as monstrous and sick as their son.

Do Hyun Soo is a man living with a horrific past. The son of a serial killer, Do Hyun Soo is diagnosed with Anti-Social Disorder. However, after reading up extensively on Anti-Social Disorder, I will argue that he is misdiagnosed. Given the lack of empathy, prone to violence, and especially substance abuse, Do Hyun Soo doesn’t really fit the bill. I believe that due an obvious lack of love, affection, and the ability to simply interact with others, he’s more like someone who has simply cut off that part of him that is capable of those feelings. That is, until something—or someone—provokes a response. He’s unable to identify various feelings, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have them. It’s clear in his smile, his warmth, and also his love, that he’s more than capable of those feelings. He’s simply like a foreigner who can’t read or identify things. His character is captivating, harrowing, and heartbreaking. And the absolute anguish that he feels when he believes this Ji Won is dead, was raw, powerful, and conveyed everything I knew I would feel as well.

Now, the best thriller I’ve ever seen is “Stranger” which was a show a bit more taut and well-written than this one. It also deftly depicts a man who is incapable of empathy in Hwang Shi-Mok, and that actor gave a very real and stellar performance of such a person. And while Hwang Shi-Mok wasn’t diagnosed with Anti-Social Disorder, he’s much closer to being someone with that disorder than Do Hyun Soo. You really have to take into consideration the amount of abuse and trauma that Do Hyun Soo undergoes in his life to truly grasp what a person might be like coming out the other side of it.

Cha Ji Won may be my favorite female TV character of all-time. I’m not joking either. Now, it may be due to personal bias, because she encapsulates everything that a woman should be—to me, anyway. She’s strong, fiercely loyal, dependable, loving, compassionate, dedicated, and someone who is everything any man would ever want in a companion. I don't know how any sane man would ever let her go. My only issue with Ji Won is in how the writers depicted her as a police officer. Frankly, Doona Bae was far superior because she was smart, competent and held her own with anyone. Here, we find out that:

Ji Won is a terrible driver, allowing a cab driver to knock her car off the road by throwing the meter against her windshield?! Come on! Any seasoned cop would never react that way because they are trained to deal with those kinds of situations. Now, if she’d been forced off the road, that would have been believable.

Ji Won leaves a suspect alone. Now, she actually does get chewed out for that one, but it’s still a very big “rookie” mistake that someone like her isn’t likely to make.

Ji Won can’t remember Do Hae Soo despite meeting and speaking with her not long ago? Police officers are trained to remember faces. That one made no sense.

Ji Won is unable to secure a suspect. Another rookie mistake when she lets Yum Sang Chil escape and nearly kill her. Again, she doesn’t follow standard police protocol.

In episode 15, it made no sense that Ji Won wouldn't answer her phone. She knows her husband is out there and that he might try to contact her. This was another mistake on the writer's part in order to make the plot work.

I’ve said it before: never sacrifice character for the sake of the plot. The only big vice I have with the series is at the end of episode 13 when Ji Won suddenly suspects her husband of killing the housekeeper. Now, I understand that Do Hyun Soo doesn’t help his case by not telling her the truth, but Ji Won has already been through several of these scenarios, and she’s always realized that her husband isn’t capable of murder—until now? Plus, Ji Won never bothers to ask herself—what motive would Do Hyun Soo have to kill the housekeeper? None of it makes sense, and frankly, I felt deeply for Do Hyun Soo when he cries out in disbelief, “How do you not believe me? How do you not trust me?” Now, I know this was done to for the sake of the plot, but it was also a mistake because now you’re sacrificing character for plot. In other words, you’re making the character suddenly do something that goes against their character! For me, this is the only really glaring flaw of the series. “Stranger” and “My Name” had better scripts because they never deviated from or sacrificed character for the plot.

Now, the series is masterful in how it makes you suspect Do Hyun Soo for the first few episodes. You aren’t sure of what to make of him. This was genius! Then, you began to wonder, who is the “other accomplice” in the next set of episodes. And finally, you wonder how they are—not only going to catch the accomplice but do so where Do Hyun Soo is not only exonerated but can finally live a real life.

Outside of “24”’s Jack Bauer, I can’t think of another TV character who’s put through so much suffering and torment. Jack gives his all for his country, and Do Hyun Soo gives everything for his family. And perhaps that is also why I wasn’t entirely enamored with the ending. First of all, using the whole “killer grabs the policeman’s gun” ploy is a plot device that has been overused so many times in so many movies and shows, it should literally be retired and never used again! And I didn’t like the gimmick it used to suddenly rob Do Hyun Soo of his memory. How much more does this guy—and Cha Ji Won too!- -have to endure?! It felt like one step too many. However, the writers did their best to give us “hope” for Do Hyun Soo, that he might ultimately learn how to love his wife and daughter again. Except for Jim and Pam from "The Office" I don't think I ever cheered so hard for an on-screen couple more than these two!

This series is unforgettable. There’s no question that once you start, you can’t stop. It also has unforgettable songs and music—the track “Flower of Evil” is something that I’ve listened to so many times, that it’s literally in my head when I go to sleep. Don’t get me wrong. Despite the few issues that I have with this series, it’s still a great watch! And if I could ever personally meet Lee Joon Gi—and Moon Chae Won especially—I would give them my utmost thanks for giving us one of the best “couple” performances I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. When they smile, you smile. And when they begin to shed tears, you can’t help shedding a few yourself. That is what true art as an actor is: making us feel what you feel. I will look for these two in future shows to watch!

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A tough combination of melodrama and thriller.

When they were telling it is a combination of thriller and melodrama i thought it was a tough combination to get a good result but they did a very good job in showing both.
Story: The story was amazing it was a very unique plot but the problem with this drama is that there weren't proper cliffhangers for example if one episode had a really good cliffhanger but the episode that aired the next day wouldn't make an impact but this drama is good watching.
Acting:It was splendid there was no place for bad acting in this drama everyone portrayed their characters very well and the cast was perfect too i personally don't think anyone can replace this cast.
Music: Just like how the drama gives you chills the OST also gives you the same vibes and would get chills the OST for this drama was perfect.
Rewatch valuse: You can watch it as many times you want and still be scared and get chills its a very well mad drama.
Overall: It was a top tier drama but the onthink that was lacking was not giving good cliffhanger which might not keep viewers anxious for the next episode other than that it was amazing and it is worth your time they made the combination of melodrama and thriller very interesting.

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Never mind the plot, feel the production values…

There’s a ton of reviews for this show, so I don’t want to write another - wow, amazing, watch-this-show review. With that in mind I’m going to focus on the direction and production values, because they are totally awesome. If you have not already seen this show, widen your eyes and ears when you watch it. If you are re-watching, hopefully you will have enough spare capacity to take more notice of some of the stuff I’m going to talk about.

In a drama like this, where the plot is complex and there are a lot of characters with conflicting motivations, first time round it was as much as I could do to just keep up and I popped out at the other end wondering why I found this show soooo amazing. Because let’s face it, the plot is not brilliant. Yes it’s got some great twists and continually finds inventive ways to keep the tension going, but it’s horribly clichéd and frequently stretches credulity like knicker elastic. Sometimes I found myself laughing when I should have been chewing my nails—not good. Whilst I was busy following the plot and being mesmerised by LJG,'s performance, all the production values were impacting me at a subliminal level creating the context for the story to come alive. I may not have always directly noticed it, but if they weren’t there, to be honest, I’d have been watching an average thriller. So I’m still going to give this show a 9 because everything but the plot is exceptional.

Let’s start with the directing. I loved the innovative way in which Kim Chul Gyu gave the viewer insight into Do Hyeon Su and elicited our empathy for him. This take on psychopathy is pretty unique and none of the usual things are going to work here. I can imagine that a lot of time and thought went into working out a way to do it. And in the end it was brilliantly achieved through close-up camera work, subtle facial movements (LJG was simply awesome here); slow motion and lack of normalising sound. Without these techniques, Do Hyeon Su would have been just another closed up, leading male and it would be difficult to credit why Chae Ji Won loved him. Kim Chul Gyu enabled the viewer to get inside Hyeon Su’s head. Sometimes, in those extreme close-ups, you could actually see LJG’s thought processes going on behind his eyes. And the sequences, particularly in the first couple of episodes, were cleverly designed to show cause and effect. In Ep 4, first date, we are encouraged to see Ji Won through Hyeon Su’s eyes, by utilising slow motion for her face and turning up the soundtrack, so that as viewers we were forced to register her facial expressions in a way that we normally wouldn’t. The effect was to share the process with Hyeon Su of working out what she was feeling and responding in kind. Brilliant!

The constraints of the plot early on worked well to curb the release of emotions and increase their intensity. This underplaying is magic and such an achievement can only be realised when a great director works in total harmony with capable actors. I don’t need to say much about the career-highlight portrayals by Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won, just read other reviews for that. However, when the constraints of the plot are lifted about two thirds of the way through, imo things get a bit out of hand and there is a bucketful of crying, which is a pity. I’m such a great believer in less is so very much more. LJG has said in interviews that he felt that the melo took over at the end and the impression I got was that he wished they’d pulled it back a bit. I must admit that the whole portrayal of the antagonist Baek Hee Sung was simply too OTT for me. And the scenes involving the Baek family were the least convincing in the drama.

Moving on to the cinematography. Park Seong Yong has been involved in a string of smash hits, and that can’t be accidental or just luck. There is no doubt that he has played a part in their success. In Flower of Evil he relies heavily on photographic composition. In the first two thirds of the drama he frequently lingers on beautifully composed set shots that are lit and framed to perfection. There is a scene in Ep 8 between Hyeon Su and Hae Su set in a derelict indoor fishing facility with extensive walls of now broken glass. The scene, at night, is lit primarily from one bright, gold light-source set externally. It creates a breathtaking atmospheric beauty for this very moving scene. I mean, who would have thought to do that? Wow! And that is just one example of a thread of innovative and exquisite shots that meander like a necklace of pearls through all the earlier episodes.

The richness of the colour palette is another gem in this production. The whisky bar in Ep 9 utilises deep reds and gold, in a set that glories in chiaroscuro: hidden motives and black deeds hide in the shadows. Scenes where we see the calculating side of Hyeon Su are often filmed in blue-tinged lighting, emphasising the hard lines of the faces and bringing a sharp coldness to the overall mood.

The cinematography everywhere enhances and reveals the emotional impact of the action. The phone conversation at 10pm in Episode 10 is a beautiful example of this. When after a deeply difficult and moving scene there is a static long-shot of Ji Won alone on the wide, bare expanse of the office rooftop, with a blurred backdrop of skyscraper lights: so very small and alone with all her desperate feelings.

Throughout, the lighting echoes one of the themes of the drama; that light can be born from darkness. The overall tone of the production is shadowed, with frequent highlights of warm tones, even occasionally used for the antagonists.

The soundtrack is a masterpiece of creativity as well. Not smoothed to the point of blandness, it has a gritty, exposed texture. It reflects the dichotomy of the story from the pulsing beat and rising scale of “Psycho” to the unforgettable, haunting falsetto of “Feel You”. Often, the string section in contemporary film and game music is used for hackneyed, swelling melodies and I loved that the titles music utilised slightly grating arpeggios from the strings and layered soaring voices above them.

Overall, even with all its faults, Flower of Evil is an unique drama that offers up a feast for the eyes and ears as well as some really notable performances from all of the leads. Lee Joon Gi was beyond good and his performance alone is enough to recommend this show.

What my rating means: 9+   A drama I totally fell in love with and is endlessly re-watchable. It ticked all the boxes and had some serious wow factor. It would go on my personally recommended list.

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