totallynotdavid

6/10

Spoilers

This show had potential, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. While it has some great and creative scenes, that's about all it has going for it. The show's main characters, Min-kyung and Hwi-oh, left me with mixed feelings. As the series progressed, especially in the last few episodes, I found myself hoping Min-kyung would end up alone. Hwi-oh doesn't come across as a good partner - he's easily triggered and quick to yell at others. There's a scene in the last episode where he screams about beating everyone up because Min-kyung might leave him. I get that it's supposed to fit the show's title, but come on, that's not healthy relationship material. One thing that confused me was Hwi-oh's habit of repeating phrases three times. At first, I thought maybe the showrunners were trying to hint that his character acts like a dog (as in "woof, woof, woof" - like dog barks). After all, during the first couple episodes that analogy is brought up by him (when he says that if he keeps talking to her, he is no longer a human but a dog, pretty weird statement if you ask me) and her (to her psychiatrist). Alternatively, they might have been trying to portray someone on the spectrum, but it wasn't clear. On the plus side, the show has some interesting cinematography: 1. The rainy scene in episode 1 was amazing and really set the tone for the characters. It felt creative. 2. I loved how the camera was framed after Min-kyung and Hwi-oh's discussion towards the end of episode 12. 3. In episode 5, after Min-kyung kicks Hwi-oh, there's an intermission. I didn't quite get why they showed the molester in the rain, though - it seemed out of place. I'd picked Hwi-oh dancing on the rain. The plot twists, especially towards the end, weren't great: 1. When Hwi-oh catches a wanted person while chasing Min-kyung - it felt forced and unrealistic. The kissing scene that follows, with them pushing the criminal to the ground, seemed like the writers just wanted that moment, no matter how ridiculous the setup. 2. Min-kyung leaving and then coming back in the last episode in the span of 5 minutes was disappointing. I really thought she should have stayed away and worked on herself instead. By the end, I didn't feel like Hwi-oh had really grown or changed. He still makes rash decisions, like going after Yang alone. Min-kyung, on the other hand, shows the most growth between the two. Honestly, I think her acting, style, and personality carry the show. Speaking of Min-kyung, I found her character refreshingly raw and intimate - something I'm not used to seeing from South Korean actresses. Oh Yeon-seo's performance was captivating, and her character's clothing style was amazing. Without Oh Yeon-seo, I think this show would have fallen flat for me. I decided to watch this after seeing a scene from episode 10, but overall, I'd give it a 6.5/10. It had its moments, but it didn't quite live up to its potential.