Head-scratcher as Japan is full of great writing - not this one

It's not feel-good, it's not cute, it's not sad, funny, mysterious, exciting, it doesn't even intend to anger although it ends up doing that. There is a toxic story that is clear on its intention, and then there is this that is lukewarm on every aspect. Just what is the purpose? It portrays yet another weak female who gets taken advantage of because she lacks opinions, and in the beginning she's encouraged to take a stand for herself only for that to later be used as the attractive point (no opinion, doesn't stand up for something = goes with anything = a guy's fantasy). With that you have the male who does with her whatever he wants from touching to kissing, while the female recoils, unsure, and most of all, he made her feel that his affection didn't belong to her. He made her a bigger liar than she already was. Did she enjoy? Yes, with pain and disgust. Did he enjoy? Yes, without realizing what he put her through, and without her realizing what he put her though.

Liars are given an easy pass. They get an ending that I don't think we need more of in fiction.

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The reveals are worth it even for someone who had read a significant spoiler prior

I've watched a few of the same themed Korean dramas. At no point do I feel Lee Seung Gi is acting a part. Where I often commend actors at the exact moment that I am moved by their interpretation, Lee Seung Gi's acting is immersive that I forget it's a drama. The feeling of it being very natural is primarily the reason I want to give the show the highest rating.

I've watched a few detective-themed Korean shows as well and I must say Mouse has the best utilized team. There is always a character of a cool chief, the slightly clueless but useful sidekick, the rat, the dependable detective, the rival, the ex partners, the detective that crosses between good and evil, with compelling reason. The cast are memorable and even though they fulfill the said character roles, their acting doesn't lean on cliché exaggeration.

Onto the more faulty parts -

The storytelling comes to an abrupt disconnect in the middle. From a cohesive narrative episode by episode it's as though an unrelated arc is suddenly introduced. That wouldn't have been a problem if presented more smoothly.

I am also not a fan of the scientific fiction but I give merit to the idea. I'll leave the morality discussion to those who are interested.

From the reviews across platforms, I've noticed the mother isn't criticized enough. She is more concerned about assuming the sin for the son rather than feeling sorry for the circumstance she maneuvers that allows him, them, to turn out the way they have. The pd lady is another character with useless lines. Aside from her program being too convenient for the plot, she poses herself as a significant character with moments of taunting the "father of all psychopaths" in the show but actually doesn't do sht -- and I'm glad it is other two characters who actually are given essential parts in the end in relation to the main character.

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In this era where mental health takes priority, are we really interested in the

character development or lack thereof of a player and a reckless woman?

I wanted to see what the writer tried to achieve. The message is unsubtly expressed by a) the professor (It must have been tough, but it was worth it wasn't it? You've spread your wings. There's no need to overthink it. Eat what you want. Do what you want to do. Like the people you like. That's all you have to do); b) the aunt who "respects" the female lead's mother for going out with whoever because she is not afraid to "love"; and c) the development (or not) of the male lead. Bring back stoning for communicating an idea that should not be entertained for the sake of safety of women and extermination of men's impudence.

Is this the work of someone who tries to justify their past? Are they convincing themselves there is nothing to regret because it's just a part of life to have your dignity removed by yourself sometime, somewhere? Or is it the work of someone trying to appeal to the dreamers that there is such a thing as accomplishment in being 'that' person a player had [a brief] romance with?

Forcing a deep thought in an otherwise played out story, it urges one to ponder that there is not one way to live life "correctly." That would be right. Life is to be experienced. This happens, so what? That happens, so what? We grow from mistakes we only learn after they're done, BUT in the face of one that we are aware of? It's not very "so what." It defines what kind of person we want to be.

On the other side, the show can also be a reminder of the growth women have reached in their life. It's very easy to spot now danger signs and decide at once about what might have once fogged the mind.

It's not all bad.

What I like about it is that the intimate scenes are not slapped on the drama for the audience. It has just the right amount and right videography for the characters. It may be frustrating to see stupid decisions but the characters portray their roles close to reality---the woman devoid of self-respect, filling a hole that she thinks must come from being valued by a man, aware she deserves better but "what if..", the excitement of the forbidden, the inner rebel that is freed despite the pain that comes with it; the man keeping her confused, saying and doing just enough to keep her on a leash but reserving more than enough to be unreachable. The attention to details is worth a compliment. She physically shrinks in front of him, not in a play-a-character kind of way but how I have seen a manipulated person behave in the real world. The male lead shows emotion only twice in 10 episodes, faint and yet strong to move the audience. But should we believe this? Is it ground to give the person a chance for newfound sincerity? We lose one experience and that's it. I'm not too hungry for such heedless interests, but that's just me.

The OSTs had me shazaming every now and then.

I almost dropped because at least two of the side characters were painfully childish.

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