The qurious case of The Equator Man indeed....
I totally pinched that subjet line from momosan @ LJ but it fits so...
I just watched episodes 17 + 18 and yes, despite the flaws that have become more apparent as the episodes go by, TEM still has the ability to hold me captivated. The drama is just 2 epis short of the end and think I can now assess why it'll won't be anywhere near the top part of my favourite revenge dramas list. I guess, that what's not working is even more evident as I'm also watching QIHM, a drama that hasn't taken a wrong step once so far. It's as flawless as a drama can be, I'd say. The strength of TEM imho is in the script (only disapointment - sort of - is the way adult Ji Won is written but that's the writer's choice and I think it gets an explanation too) and the acting. The beautiful way it's been shot comes as a bonus.
The worst offender is the OST which is quite abysmal. You either ignore it or get used to it, otherwise it'll become a major annoyance. I don't know where they found the PD responsible for the music but I'm sincerely wishing they'd left him/her there. The music choices have been on the strange side at times but I'd be willing to overlook those. It's the way the pieces are used that is the biggest crime over all. Instead of adding something to the scenes they actually distract thus making them less. I doubt drowning everything under the welling music was what they were aiming at. At least I hope not.
Then there's the directing..... I know the PD got acolades for White Christmas, which I haven't watched yet so I can't say if he earned the praises or not. Could it be that he's just trying too hard with TEM or he's too much in love with enhancing his scenes to notice that he is going TOTALLY overboard with it? The stylistic flourishes have been used in a bunch of other dramas too, only he is being really heavy handed and overindulging with them. So much so that the actual flow of the scenes is disrupted while he grandstands. Dude should take a lession from e.g. the PD behind VP and QIHM PD or the guy who did Mawang. That's how you add mood and style. Less is definitely more when it comes to framing a scene that is already crackling with intensity.
Why I'm still onboard with TEM is the story which continues to be intriguing and the wonderful cast, especially UTW and Lee Joon Hyuk, who are doing a bang up job. All in all I've no regrets about picking it up. I've watched more than my share of dramas that were way less deserving.
This entry was originally posted at http://timescout.dreamwidth.org/20903.html. You can comment either here or there.
I just watched episodes 17 + 18 and yes, despite the flaws that have become more apparent as the episodes go by, TEM still has the ability to hold me captivated. The drama is just 2 epis short of the end and think I can now assess why it'll won't be anywhere near the top part of my favourite revenge dramas list. I guess, that what's not working is even more evident as I'm also watching QIHM, a drama that hasn't taken a wrong step once so far. It's as flawless as a drama can be, I'd say. The strength of TEM imho is in the script (only disapointment - sort of - is the way adult Ji Won is written but that's the writer's choice and I think it gets an explanation too) and the acting. The beautiful way it's been shot comes as a bonus.
The worst offender is the OST which is quite abysmal. You either ignore it or get used to it, otherwise it'll become a major annoyance. I don't know where they found the PD responsible for the music but I'm sincerely wishing they'd left him/her there. The music choices have been on the strange side at times but I'd be willing to overlook those. It's the way the pieces are used that is the biggest crime over all. Instead of adding something to the scenes they actually distract thus making them less. I doubt drowning everything under the welling music was what they were aiming at. At least I hope not.
Then there's the directing..... I know the PD got acolades for White Christmas, which I haven't watched yet so I can't say if he earned the praises or not. Could it be that he's just trying too hard with TEM or he's too much in love with enhancing his scenes to notice that he is going TOTALLY overboard with it? The stylistic flourishes have been used in a bunch of other dramas too, only he is being really heavy handed and overindulging with them. So much so that the actual flow of the scenes is disrupted while he grandstands. Dude should take a lession from e.g. the PD behind VP and QIHM PD or the guy who did Mawang. That's how you add mood and style. Less is definitely more when it comes to framing a scene that is already crackling with intensity.
Why I'm still onboard with TEM is the story which continues to be intriguing and the wonderful cast, especially UTW and Lee Joon Hyuk, who are doing a bang up job. All in all I've no regrets about picking it up. I've watched more than my share of dramas that were way less deserving.
This entry was originally posted at http://timescout.dreamwidth.org/20903.html. You can comment either here or there.