This movie is one that I’ve been meaning to watch, ever since it came out, because if you’ve been around the blog long enough, you’d likely know that I have had a soft spot for Kim Woo Bin for quite some time.

Besides the chance to have Woob on my screen, though, I really did find this show’s premise and trailers quite interesting and appealing.

Now that I’ve finished my watch, I can say that while this one didn’t exactly blow my socks off, there was enough here to enjoy, that I don’t regret having spent the time on it.

That’s a win, yes? 😁

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Lee Jung Do (Kim Woo Bin) is a carefree guy who loves martial arts and gaming, and only cares about having fun in life.

He serendipitously finds himself in a position to become a martial arts officer, assisting probation officer Kim Sun Min (Kim Sung Kyun) in overseeing the reintegration of violent offenders into society.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are a few things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. This is a simple story

Show doesn’t really re-invent the wheel here; this story is pretty straightforward and simple, and knowing not to expect more than what Show wants to offer, would be helpful, I think.

2. Some suspension of disbelief is required

I also do think that Show stretches logic enough, that it would be helpful to just turn your logical lens to a blurry setting, and just enjoy the ride.

In my opinion, picking apart Show’s logic, would only spoil the watch for you.

3. There are bad people doing bad things in this

Perhaps I’m stating the obvious here, but I still do think it’s worth mentioning, that there are some very bad people doing very bad things, particularly to women and children, in this story.

Thankfully, Show doesn’t get graphic about this, but if just the presence of this types of themes on your screen is hard on you, then maybe this movie isn’t for you.

4. There is violence in this

There is violence in this, as our good guys duke it out with the bad guys, but thankfully, Show doesn’t get too graphic with this either.

I personally think that the violence is relevant to the story, and Show isn’t being gratuitous with it.

STUFF I LIKED

Getting to see Kim Woo Bin all strong and healthy

Honestly, that was my main draw, coming into this movie.

I know Woob’s been back in Dramaland for a while now, and that his cancer is in remission, but it still gratified me a great deal, to see him in this role, because as Jung Do, he’s not only healthy, but he’s strong and active as well.

I found it very.. comforting, really, to see Woob playing in this kind of space; it felt like a deep assurance that he really is all better now. 🥲🥹🥲

Jung Do’s growth as a character

Of course this is no surprise; the entire point of the movie is Jung Do’s growth, and I did enjoy that growth quite well.

From a young man who only cares about having fun in life, he becomes someone who finds meaning in helping others. That’s a worthwhile lesson for anyone, I’d say.

Overall, I feel that Show does a reasonably good job of teasing out Jung Do’s growth in a limited amount of time.

The growing connection between Jung Do and Sun Min

Again, this shouldn’t come as a surprise; there’s a bond that grows pretty quickly, between Jung Do and Sun Min, and I found this all very wholesome and endearing.

[MINOR SPOILER]

Honestly, at first, when Jung Do introduced his friends to Sun Min, I’d thought that the four of them were toying with Sun Min and just trying to get the biggest free meal they could, out of him.

Turns out I was wrong; the boys were sincere in wanting to bond with Sun Min, and were just naturally big eaters. 😅

All in all, I do think it’s wholesome and endearing, that Jung Do would want to bring Sun Min into his world and introduce him to his friends. 🥰🥲

[END SPOILER]

STUFF THAT WAS OK

The violence

Not gonna lie; I didn’t love the violence in this, even though I recognized that it was a valid part of our story.

Sometimes, I find myself liking the concept of a show a lot, but then running out of stamina quite quickly, when it comes to actually watching it, which is what had happened for me, with Kill Boksoon.

I did feel that feeling start to creep up on me about a third of my way through my watch, and I believe that it had to do with my limited appetite for violence.

I took a break from the movie and came back to it the following day, and was able to finish it just fine, as evidenced by the fact that I’m writing this review.

But yeah, I think I can safely say that the violence in this wasn’t my favorite thing. 😅

THOUGHTS ON THE STORY AND ENDING [SPOILERS]

Overall, I’d say that Show gives us a solid ending that I find myself pretty happy with.

I guess I hadn’t quite expected things to get quite so dark? 🙈😅

First, it was hard to watch, when Jung Do, Sun Min and that other martial arts officer, Jo Min Jo (Park Ji Yeol) get targeted by Kang Ki Jung (Lee Hyun Kul) and his terrible, terrible business partners, in an effort to get them out of the way.

I knew to expect lots of fighting, stabbing and other violence, but I hadn’t expected Sun Min to get his neck broken, nor did I expect Jo Min Jo to die.

That’s darker than I’d been expecting, honestly.

The only silver lining here, is that Sun Min miraculously doesn’t suffer nerve damage and doesn’t get paralyzed. But still. This was hard to watch.

Second, it was hard to watch Kang Ki Jung (Lee Hyun Kul) and his terrible, terrible business partners prepare to record child p0rn, and look so pleased with themselves.

I felt especially bad for the little girl who got kidnapped to be the “actress” in the recording, and it was very confronting, to see how traumatized she was, even after being rescued.

With Kang Ki Jung on the loose, it made sense that our final chapter would be about bringing him to justice.

I just.. hadn’t quite expected that it would be Jung Do and his group of gamer friends doing it. 😅

This is where I’m not sure if I loved Show’s narrative direction.

With the bulk of our story being about Jung Do’s burgeoning partnership with Sun Min, where Jung Do’s gamer friends are only on the periphery of our main narrative, it feels decidedly odd to have them become such key players, in our final act.

I think I would have really preferred if Sun Min hadn’t gotten so hurt, that he couldn’t participate in this final showdown.

After all, besides Jung Do, he’d been the other main player in our narrative, up to this point.

However, if I just tweak my understanding of this story, to be more Jung Do’s story than anyone else’s, then having the gaming crew step in to help Jung Do, while Sun Min was down, works pretty neatly too, despite that sense that I had, that the narrative balance felt a bit “off.”

Also, it was admittedly heartwarming, that the gaming crew were genuinely invested in helping to nab Kang Ki Jung, not just because of the horrible crimes that Kang Ki Jung had committed and was still committing, but also because of their loyalty to Sun Min.

And, as much as it does require a bit of suspension of disbelief, that our gaming crew could be so successful at cornering and nabbing a hardened criminal like Kang Ki Jung, I was happy to lap it up anyway.

The idea that our gaming crew was able to use their individual talents and resources to help Jung Do nab Kang Ki Jung, was pretty appealing and satisfying.

Plus, of course, I did very much appreciate that beat where Jung Do cuffs Kang Ki Jung, and is able to accurately read him his rights, unlike earlier in the movie, when he’d stumbled all over the same rights.

I thought that was a nice touch, that demonstrates just how seriously Jung Do takes this job, and how far he’s now come.

Last but not least, I’m grateful that we end with a flash forward to the future, where we get to see that the partnership and brotherhood between Jung Do and Sun Min is still going strong.

I needed that, honestly, and I do very much like the idea of this partnership continuing into the future, better than ever, now that Sun Min’s back on his feet, and Jung Do’s really grown into his chosen calling, as a martial arts officer. 🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Simple, action-packed and heartfelt. Not bad.

FINAL GRADE: B+

TRAILER:

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