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I swear the moment I saw that Choi Jinhyuk's the lead I'm anticipating the series airing lol. Even more when the teasers had been amusingly funny
That aside, so far the series starting out really good. Love the sfx, fight choreography and ost.
I'm still in the process of finishing the series so this review may still ended up being revised again later on. But suffice to say, that I love what the drama was trying to bring out. I skimmed the remaining few episodes earlier on, and it turned out that the drama did still took on a lot of the main plot from the webtoon. Including the parts that I wished turned out differently compared to in the webtoon because it was very poorly executed and written almost to a point that it seems as if it was there purely for shock value. It was partially the reason I kinda slow down on following the plot as it was released. Because the webtoon frustrates me so much.
But turn out, the drama did well to create their own story while staying quite close to the webtoon. In fact, the drama did a lot of things that were much better than the webtoon in terms of pacing, plot development as well as character development. I love the fact that the drama took time in fleshing out the characters' personality aside from Gibeom and how the drama also paid enough care to have the Argos main/side villains have their own distinctive traits as well. It was something that I find lacking in the webtoon, which mostly focuses on action scenes while neglecting to put much depth to the characters besides Kang Gibeom and Hwang Deukgu. Also, I like how the drama gave Mina, Gwangcheol and Taewoong a lot more back story on how they ended up being in Rugal compared to the webtoon, which had a lot more side characters included in the team, resulting on their back story not being developed enough.
Also, one thing I'm grateful for the drama, as much as it did end up following the original webtoon plot regarding the real truth behind the attack on Gibeom's family, the drama didn't pull a cheap trick on how the wife (and daughter, which was non-existent in drama) ended up dying. Because the way the webtoon did it was just plain distasteful. Like seriously, just when you thought all is fine now that it was revealed Gibeom's family were still alive you just had to set up that plot twist with the prison island and having those group taking Gibeom's family hostage thus the supposed prison guard chose the easiest way to solve it by killing everyone INCLUDING the hostages? Seriously? Sorry... but I preferred the drama version then.
As if the main setting in the webtoon hasn't already enough internal corruption. The drama also did better on the portrayal of Chief Choi, in which I prefer how drama laid his end compared to in webtoon. I much preferred how the plot went on once Gibeom went rogue in the drama compared to in webtoon, which ended up having an even messier plot. Like I prefer how in the end, Chief Choi was portrayed as just a selfish guy who only cared about revenge to the point he didn't even care if he had to literally dismember his choice of 'guinea pigs' in order to create his 'perfect army in order to exact revenge on Argos/Red Ants. I much preferred this Chief Choi rather than the webtoon's where till the end of his life he still acted as if his actions are justified 'for the greater good.' And I hate how in the second part of the webtoon, the supposed main character that was Gibeom end up being turned as the new villain instead. Like seriously?
Overall, while the drama itself had its own weaknesses and cliches it is much more enjoyable (to me) compared to the webtoon. With great songs, soundtracks, action sequences and sfx, the series didn't fare too badly in giving an enjoyable experience. Also, the ending was pretty much sweet and satisfying, which is MUCH better than the webtoon plot has been the last time I caught up with it so I have no complaints.
That aside, so far the series starting out really good. Love the sfx, fight choreography and ost.
I'm still in the process of finishing the series so this review may still ended up being revised again later on. But suffice to say, that I love what the drama was trying to bring out. I skimmed the remaining few episodes earlier on, and it turned out that the drama did still took on a lot of the main plot from the webtoon. Including the parts that I wished turned out differently compared to in the webtoon because it was very poorly executed and written almost to a point that it seems as if it was there purely for shock value. It was partially the reason I kinda slow down on following the plot as it was released. Because the webtoon frustrates me so much.
But turn out, the drama did well to create their own story while staying quite close to the webtoon. In fact, the drama did a lot of things that were much better than the webtoon in terms of pacing, plot development as well as character development. I love the fact that the drama took time in fleshing out the characters' personality aside from Gibeom and how the drama also paid enough care to have the Argos main/side villains have their own distinctive traits as well. It was something that I find lacking in the webtoon, which mostly focuses on action scenes while neglecting to put much depth to the characters besides Kang Gibeom and Hwang Deukgu. Also, I like how the drama gave Mina, Gwangcheol and Taewoong a lot more back story on how they ended up being in Rugal compared to the webtoon, which had a lot more side characters included in the team, resulting on their back story not being developed enough.
Also, one thing I'm grateful for the drama, as much as it did end up following the original webtoon plot regarding the real truth behind the attack on Gibeom's family, the drama didn't pull a cheap trick on how the wife (and daughter, which was non-existent in drama) ended up dying. Because the way the webtoon did it was just plain distasteful. Like seriously, just when you thought all is fine now that it was revealed Gibeom's family were still alive you just had to set up that plot twist with the prison island and having those group taking Gibeom's family hostage thus the supposed prison guard chose the easiest way to solve it by killing everyone INCLUDING the hostages? Seriously? Sorry... but I preferred the drama version then.
As if the main setting in the webtoon hasn't already enough internal corruption. The drama also did better on the portrayal of Chief Choi, in which I prefer how drama laid his end compared to in webtoon. I much preferred how the plot went on once Gibeom went rogue in the drama compared to in webtoon, which ended up having an even messier plot. Like I prefer how in the end, Chief Choi was portrayed as just a selfish guy who only cared about revenge to the point he didn't even care if he had to literally dismember his choice of 'guinea pigs' in order to create his 'perfect army in order to exact revenge on Argos/Red Ants. I much preferred this Chief Choi rather than the webtoon's where till the end of his life he still acted as if his actions are justified 'for the greater good.' And I hate how in the second part of the webtoon, the supposed main character that was Gibeom end up being turned as the new villain instead. Like seriously?
Overall, while the drama itself had its own weaknesses and cliches it is much more enjoyable (to me) compared to the webtoon. With great songs, soundtracks, action sequences and sfx, the series didn't fare too badly in giving an enjoyable experience. Also, the ending was pretty much sweet and satisfying, which is MUCH better than the webtoon plot has been the last time I caught up with it so I have no complaints.
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