Background: ‘Vladivostok’ (shot in Latvia)
Ladies: Shin Se-kyung, Jung Yoo-jin
These details were enough to bring me to the show. ‘Vladivostok’ wins – everything is so dark and dismal. Unfortunately, the female characters weren’t sufficiently well-crafted. It is true that Se-kyung has screen aura and is a visual glow in any scene where she appears (I think it might have been the director who said something along these lines) but Chae Seon-hwa should have been written with more layers.
Yoo-jin could also have been used better. Her Agent Im had very limited scope too.
Zo In-sung is alright as Zo.
Park Jeong-min was the one with depth of character and Park Geon reached those depths! Se-kyung won best supporting actress for this, so I don’t know why he didn’t win best supporting actor.
Park Hae-jun (Hwang Chi-Seong) skilfully becomes the mean, hateful Consul. Well written and well played!
Crazy amount of shooting, fighting, violence, cruelty to others and sick scenes.
Finally, some words about the ending. I don’t believe Seon-hwa’s mother died on the way out. I don’t believe that Jeong-min’s whispered dying words to Zo were merely that he wished to live. I think he came up with the plan to get Seon-hwa and her mother out. As for Zo, I’m not sure why, at the end, he is in the room with all his things laid out, looking glum. New assignment?
Entertainment value acceptable but I had expected much more. Also, I think I’ve had enough violence.
pictures from Netflix
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