I'd already watched this drama earlier but I started watching it again on a whim yesterday and couldn't stop watching even though I already knew the story. I realized all over again how much I loved it. I've never actually re-watched a drama before, just thought I could and would. That says a lot about how much I liked it.

The story in itself is nothing noteworthy. It's a simple plot-line that branches out into a couple of other directions interrelating subplots. What made it special were the characters. Though a little unrealistic and impractical, they were really endearing. You grow to love them and go from twist to twist hanging onto them for support. This is the reason Korean shows had me hooked onto them in the first place, their ability to make me a part of themselves. Being able to emotionally connect with the characters in a show that you KNOW isn't real doesn't come easy for a realist like me, that's what makes it all the more special.

And what made the characters all the more amazing? The actors. Jang Geun Suk is a show stealer through and through. If at all possible, I loved him all the more after watching the show again. There's something innately charismatic about this guy. He can be cute and grumpy in one second and serious and heartbroken in the next with the transitions being so smooth. Lee Hong Ki and Jung Yong Hwa did pretty well too. Park Shin Hye was.. good in some places but sometimes she felt off. She fit the role but I couldn't really connect that well with her acting, nothing personal, I haven't seen her in any other work.

What can I say about the music? It's a sensation as far as Drama OST goes. I was listening to a couple of the songs and that's what made me watch the show again. That's the kind of music this show has. I didn't really cry throughout the show even when I saw it the first time (there are more funny scenes than sad ones) but both the times I've seen it, I always cry in the finale when Tae Kyung sings "What Can I Do", first off the song is really beautiful and JGS sings it quite nicely. The songs fit the scenes, don't feel off anywhere, nothing is overdone. The music stays with you even after the show is long done.

I don't really need to give a verdict after all that I've said, watching it for the second time even though I have loads of other dramas lined up, says more than enough. If you haven't already watched this, you're missing out on one of the gems of Korean Dramas.

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One of the most memorable shows with the most memorable titular character!

Bellasimo! Bravo! - Words I want to say as I clap while the end credits roll. Although I shall try to be as unbiased as I can while I review this because as memorable or entertaining the show was, there were also some okay-ish parts which need to be mentioned.

The story is quite gripping, the premise one of a kind, the execution quite good and the pacing well done. I had my doubts when I learned that this was a 20 episode show, as I tend to lose my patience (or the shows just keep dragging on) post the 16th episode. But the storyline was engaging all along. Okay, maybe, I wouldn't say it was engaging ALL the time, but 90% of the time. I just found myself lost a little in the multitude of subplots or the portions about the ensemble support cast. That being said, I really enjoyed all the characters! It was evident that a lot of time and effort has gone into writing each and every character, no matter how small their part may be! You get acquainted with all the characters you're watching. It was fascinating how I found myself thinking from the characters' POV after a point because I've been made aware of what the character might think or do. This was brilliantly done by the writers.

Kudos to the actors as well, as they brought to life all these dynamic characters. I truly loved the good(but also bad) guys and loathed the truly bad(and definitely heinous) guys. If it would be a crime to gush about Song Joong Ki right now, I plead guilty because this man is a heart(scene) stealer through and through. I could almost hear the collective screams of all the fans (new and old) when I was watching his most stellar scenes. He was *ChefsKiss* This was the first time I've seen Jeon Yeo Bin and I was IMPRESSED. Definitely looking up other works of hers. She gave a very memorable performance as well! The whole cast did an incredible job in my opinion.

I've mentioned quite a few things I enjoyed in the show, now to mention the parts that stopped me giving it a perfect ten:

1. Weak plot links every 3-4 episodes.

2. As much as I loved watching the Cassano Geumga Family members on screen for 20 hours. I wouldn't have minded if was concised to 16/18 hours.

3. Too many deaths after a point of time to ignore. I mean, I get that we were shown the real and ruthless side of the consigliere Vincenzo that wasn't prominent in the earlier episodes but it wasn't just him doing this. The people from plaza (and a govt. agent) were on it ALL THE TIME. It got a little weird if I thought about it too much, so to be honest, I stopped thinking about it at length and moved on.

4. There are so many ridiculous moments that make no sense but I just swallowed the "It's a K-Drama" pill and I was good to go for the next couple of episodes.

Now that we've addressed the elephant in the room, let me summarize the experience I had while watching this show. The show was definitely a class apart, and one that will stand out for a long, long time for its production, story, cast and quality. It's well-written (for the most part), well paced, well acted, well directed - essentially well made. The last show which brought such quality vibes was Crash Landing On You. God, that CGI! And now that I've typed it, there really are many other similarities in the shows as well, but let's skip that. Nevertheless, the characters of Vincenzo are definitely memorable, and several scenes are already replaying in my head as well!

I truly hope this show serves as a benchmark for future works in terms of quality and attention to details. There's a lot that could have been better, but there's more that deserves praise and acknowledgement. I'll surely revisit this world of Vincenzo to relive a lot of impressively written scenes.

Give it a definite try, but do not watch it with astronomical expectations because of the ratings. Also, the viewing experience gets tenfolds better once you stop trying to reason and analyze everything more than it needs to be. It is after all, a drama, written for entertainment purposes - which the show does, and does quite well.

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