The Great Seducer
I stayed up until 0230 to finish the Seducer. I read it wasn't received well in Korea, but I wanted to finish it since I love the overall plot (based on Les Liaisons dangereuses, which spawned Cruel Intentions). I appreciated the added complexity of Kim Min Jae's character and the back story between Shi Hyun and Tae Hee's parents. The initial draw was really the relationship and closeness of the three friends. When Joy's character, Tae Hee, enters the story, she was okay and I liked her attitude. But as the romance between her and Shi Hyun developed, her likeability started to decrease. Shi Hyun and Tae Hee's romance just got really uninteresting after that. What kept me glued and curious were Soo Ji and Se Joo. Their chemistry was really special and their acting abilities were far more superior that the other two leads. I rooted for them because their plight and perspectives were better conveyed. Also, more interesting.
At the conclusion of the show, my feelings didn't change. Though Tae Hee redeemed herself in my eyes with how she dealt with all of the truths thrown at her, I still didn't find her journey as interesting as the second fiddles. I needed more Se Joo and Soo Ji at the end, but it wasn't enough. It just felt like everything was getting rushed to be told.
The production quality was great. Visually, everything looked high end, the colors popped, and the aesthetic was perfect for the subject matter. But the main leads were just not interesting enough to keep me caring about their story. I was more into the background people.
Joy was really lackluster as a woman in love. She grated on my nerves and it was a chore to watch her scenes with Woo Do Wan. My biggest problem was really not enough of Kim Min Jae and Moon Ga Young and the development of their relationship.
I don't recommend it and I want my time back, even the time I spent forwarding through the awful romance of the main leads.