I know a lot of folks really like this show, so let me preface this dropped post by saying that I really don’t hate this show.
I don’t even dislike it, really.
I just.. don’t feel like I have the interest to keep going with this, even though it’s not bad, objectively speaking.
I’ll try to explain more in the post, and hopefully, this post will help you to figure out whether this one’s for you, even though I’ve decided that it probably isn’t for me.
I’d heard such mixed reactions to this one, that I became curious enough about what my own reaction would be, to check it out for myself.
Now that I’ve emerged on the other side, I can safely say that I do think your mileage may vary, with this one.
Some folks will like it a lot, while others will find it rather ‘meh.’
Personally, I find myself somewhere in the middle – but tending towards the side of ‘meh,’ unfortunately.
Still, I hope that this quick review will help you figure out whether you’re likely to love this one, or whether you’d be better off spending those drama hours elsewhere.
I do have a soft spot for underdog stories, but to be completely honest with you, the main reason I was interested to check out this movie, is because Wi Ha Joon plays an MMA champion in this.
A chance to see Wi Ha Joon being a skilled badass? YES PLEASE! 🤩
Ok, but as a bonus, this movie works out to be a solid underdog story, so it does have more merit, than simply having Wi Ha Joon play an MMA champ. 😁
Psst: Link to watch is at the end of the review!
Shout-out to manukajoe, who was the one who put this movie on my radar.
He said that this one was breezy and enjoyable, and now that I’ve watched it for myself, I do concur that it’s a solid spend of an hour and 55 minutes of your drama hours.
Plus, Leo Wu is so very endearing in this. 🤩
Psst: Link to watch is at the end of the review.
If you like coffee, or if you’re on the market for a short little drama thing that’s laidback and chill, but that manages to also be reasonably thought-provoking, you might want to give this little mini series a whirl.
At 12 episodes of 25 minutes each, I found Show to be a great little drama snack, for when you’re short on time, but want the sense of continuity that a drama offers.
Psst: Link to watch is at the end of the review!
The biggest compliment I can give Show, is that it knows what it wants to be, and accomplishes its core purpose with finesse and aplomb.
Sure, there are some narrative decisions I didn’t prefer, but Show demonstrates such a profound understanding of its key characters, and teases out the finer points of each of these characters so very well, that I’m more than willing to look past any dissatisfaction I might have with these other details.
Lee Junho and Lee Se Young are wonderful in this, both individually and together. It’s no exaggeration to say that these two had my heart, unequivocally.
Beautiful, poignant and completely worth it.
Part gauzy rom-com and part serious palace intrigue, Show does have some pacing and tonal issues, and, in my opinion, also works out to be a little bloated, at 20 episodes.
However, if you can put aside the pacing and tonal issues, there are stretches in this show which are genuinely enjoyable. The central romance didn’t tilt my world, but was pretty great at serving up cute, reverse rom-com tropes, in Show’s lighter stretch. My interest wavered in Show’s last quarter, but importantly, I found the ending satisfying, and worth hanging in there for.
Not bad, overall.
This is the zombie show that I didn’t know I needed, in my life.
Show is basically sharp, thought-provoking social commentary, dressed as a zombie drama, with a healthy dollop of (absolutely delightful!) contract marriage on the side. Not everything makes sense, but just roll with it, because Show’s social commentary feels like the main course, while all the other details that may not add up, feel incidental, almost.
Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo are absolutely wonderful in this, both individually and together, and just the two of them, make this watch more than worthwhile.
I highly recommend this, even if you’re not typically into zombie shows.
Huge shout-out to Beez, who was the one who let us know, over on Patreon, that Viki would start carrying Seobok, from 1 Feb! Thanks, Beez! 😘
I have a great deal of fondness for both Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum, which is why this movie’s been on my radar, ever since it was announced. Now that I’ve finally had the chance to see it, I’ll say that while this movie didn’t ultimately rock my world, I am glad to have checked it out.
Psst: Link to watch is at the end of the review! ❤️
This show isn’t for everyone. It’s more thematic exploration than straightforward story, and for that reason, I feel it is divisive. Some people like this one a lot, while others think it’s terrible.
If you’re open to exploring uglier themes around the human condition, and don’t mind a narrative that asks more questions than it answers, this could work for you.
If, on the other hand, you’re more interested in the telling of a story, and its characters’ journeys, and how those are meaningful, this might not be your thing – because that doesn’t appear to be where Show’s interest lies.
Not bad, overall.