Korean Series Review : Vincenzo - an action and comedy kdrama

The popularity of Korean dramas spreads all over the globe and everybody knows it. There are a lot of those, who prefer watching kdramas due to the emotional plot and excellent playing. Romance dramas or historical dramas are considered by most people when we are talking about kdramas since these types of dramas are very common. We are accustomed to seeing such type of movies where love is the central theme. Nonetheless, there are also such kdramas that depict other genres and Vincenzo is one of them. The protagonist of this play is not a classical hero but, in fact, he was a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer back home to serve his own interests. That is why this drama is quite different with other kdramas and it was very popular.

I have seen Vincenzo last year and I have to say that it was one of the best kdramas I have ever seen. Prior to watching this drama I believed that all kdramas are slow moving containing excessive romance and emotional scenes. However Vincenzo is the complete opposite. There is action, comedy, revenge and some traces of romance in the drama. Vincenzo Cassano is the main character and is a consigliere of an Italian mafia family who comes to Korea to retrieve buried gold in a building. This is complicated as soon as he runs into the inhabitants of that building and becomes part of their struggle against a ruthless corporation. How well this story is interesting? Romance is the most common theme in kdramas but the emphasis in Vincenzo is revenge and justice unlike other common kdramas.

I would like to tell you what I like about this drama. The first is the main character, Vincenzo, which is portrayed by Song Joong-ki. He is far from an innocent and kind kdrama hero. He is a mafia attorney, familiar with violence and other unethical methods to get what he wants. However, in the same breath he also possesses his own code of morality and he comes to the rescue of innocent people whenever they are in need. This is where the duality of character comes in, making him very interesting. I believe Song Joong-ki performed brilliantly in the role of this character. He featured in the play in a very natural manner and appeared very fashionable in each scene. His mixture of Italian and Korean accent is also quite amusing.

The other aspect I find appealing is the supporting characters particularly Hong Cha-young by Jeon Yeo-been. She is a lawyer who happens to join hands with Vincenzo in warring against the corrupt Babel Group. She is an extremely active and funny character. Their relationship between Vincenzo and Hong Cha-young is so good and their interactions are never dull. In my opinion, the romance in this play is not overdoing but it exists in an understated form which makes it closer to reality. The residents of Geumga Plaza are also all original and humorous people. Both of them have own background and their own skills to assist Vincenzo under different circumstances. It is indeed quite fascinating to observe how a team of simple individuals struggles against such a strong corporation.

Villain in this play is also well developed. Jang Jun-woo or rather Jang Han-seok is a villain which I have never encountered in kdramas. He poses as an innocent intern and in real sense he is the chairman of Babel Group that has been committing numerous crimes. It is very upsetting yet on the other hand it makes the drama even more intense, the manner in which he plays around with people and brings them pain. I believe that Taecyeon was very good at playing this psychopath character. The battle between Vincenzo and Jang Han-seok keeps the viewers entertained by the drama.

This play is the other way of demonstrating the misuse of law and authority by wicked individuals in order to avoid justice. Vincenzo applies his own techniques that are not strictly legal and yet working to deliver justice. This brings another interesting question, can we justify evil practices to punish the evil individuals? This play does not provide any definite answer but makes the audience think about it. I believe that such moral ambiguity contributes to the fact that the drama is more mature and realistic than other kdramas in which all things are black and white.

However, there are also certain flaws in this play. Certain sections of the middle are slow and repetitive. The play might have been shortened with 16 episodes as opposed to 20 episodes. Besides, there are certain scenes that are a bit too ridiculous and unnatural and this may not suit all viewers. However, these details do not play a significant role in my life as the story and the characters are rather strong.

Cinematography and music in this drama is excellent. The production of the scenes is beautiful and the background music is the best way to establish the mood. The favorite of mine is the introductory song and music playing on the piano on emotional moments. The fight scenes are also properly choreographed and enjoyable to watch.

The following question occurs to me now: do you want to watch this drama? To my mind in case you are weary of the usual romance kdramas and seeking something new, then Vincenzo is the ideal choice. It has it all action, comedy, revenge and some romance. However, when you are not a fan of over the top dramas as realistic ones, then you may not appreciate this drama. I represent the party of watching it since it provides inimitable entertainment.

I believe that at the end Vincenzo is a kdrama that everyone needs to watch at least once. It is not an ideal drama and it is not devoid of flaws though the main character is charismatic and the story is interesting to follow. I can suggest it to other people since it is certainly one of the most thrilling kdramas that have ever existed. Song Joong-ki demonstrated that he is capable of playing any type of character and this drama will be remembered long time.

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