Many reviewers are describing this drama as unique, but I don't agree. I would say this drama is classic, filled with standard drama elements like betrayal, manipulation, love triangles, amnesia, revenge, and the quest for power. What "Innocent Man" does well is that it avoids being predictable, and I was hooked from the very beginning. The story does require you to really suspend belief, and accept some pretty unbelievable actions, but isn't that what good drama is all about? The writers also created some truly multidimensional characters, with a lot of depth, and the perfect cast was found to portray them.
Song Joong Ki is now one of my favorite actors. I loved him in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, and I am shocked by how different he is in this drama. I loved seeing him go from innocent optimist to master manipulator as Kang Ma Roo. I liked never quite knowing his character's intentions, yet he always stayed true to character. He was well matched with Moon Chae-won, who had an equally challenging character to portray. This is the 3rd drama I've seen her in, yet she was unrecognizable at first. I think that is the sign of a truly great actress. They played off of each other well, though one shouldn't expect too much cute chemistry. The romance in this is very heavy, which brings me to Park Si-yeon's role. She does a good job as the easy to hate Han Jae Hee, without making her character too one-note. The characters have enough flaws and redeeming qualities to make their love triangle intense.
The supporting cast is great as well. Lee Kwang Soo & Lee Yoo Bi, as Jae Gil & Choko, had the tough job of bringing some light moments to this intense drama. I also liked Lee Sang Yeob, who was great, but more subtle in his role as Lawyer Park.
My opinion about the music is mixed. I thought it complimented the story well, but one of the main songs sounded a little to close to one of the songs from "Secret Garden". The music wasn't original enough to get higher than a good rating from me.
Overall, I was very entertained by this drama. I can't agree that it's one of the best, but I can't think of many flaws. The only glaring issue I had with this drama was the overuse of flashbacks. Every episode seemed to rely on multiple flashbacks. Sometimes they even flashed back to the previous scene... and more than once. I had to take a story point away for that. After a while it seemed like time filler, not a storytelling device.
I don't think I would watch this again, only because much of the excitement for me was about guessing what would happen next. This drama kept me guessing until the very last moment, and no, I was not disappointed with the ending. I think the slight change in style made sense in the context of what was going on. I was also satisfied with the closure given to the main characters. I'll even forgive Eun Gi for being so ridiculously blind!!! I'll blame that on the accident. lol.
If I do eventually watch it again it will be for Song Joong Ki's performance.
This is an intense, emotional, romantic, melodrama, though I didn't cry at all. For fans of that style, this is a must see. I'd also recommend it to anyone bored by dramas being too predictable. "Innocent Man" won't disappoint you.
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