I wasn't going to watch this despite being a Song Joong Ki fan because it looks like some heavy stuff was gong to roll out and I wasn't really in the mood for those kind of heavy mind-bending, scandalous, family-scheming storyline.
But whoever came up with this idea must be a genius. The plot is simple enough - a loyal employee of a large conglomerate is framed for money laundering and was murdered. But he is reborn as the youngest son of the scorned born-out-of-wedlock and least powerful line-up of sons in the family that killed him.
He started the new life as an all-knowing, too-smart-for-his-own-good young man who knew more than his peers. This was fascinating to his family because they did not know that the young man's life is being lived by a 40-year-old man who will be killed off in the future by the same family he is now a part of.
Some of the plots and sub-plots are lost on me because I have no knowledge or experience in mergers, takeovers, stock trading, money laundering (of course), running a business, holding shareholders' meetings, and, of course, making enemies with the people who live under the same roof as you.
The script was written in such a way that things are explained in simple layman terms although if you're not a native Korean speaker and depend on the subs, you may have to pause once in a while to digest some of the stuff.
Overall, it's understandable. If it was flying over my head, I ignored it and continued with the action that was going on on screen because it would eventually make sense, anyway. LOL
Everyone, every single actor and actress, in this drama performed so well! Sometimes they scream on top of their lungs, other times they throw dirty looks. And it wasn't too over-the-top.
Song Joong Ki must have had an easy time playing his Jin Do Jun character because he already knew the future - what would happen when 9-11 happened, when the Korean football team got into the semi-finals of the revered World Cup, the Y2K scare, the dot-com boom, etc. He was smug because he knew it ahead of time and just had to play his cards right under a new company, Miracle Investment, he formed with the donut-loving financial expert he met in New York.
Extra props given to:
Lee Jung Min for playing exceptionally well as Jin Yang Cheol, the founder of Soonyang Corporation. He's a veteran actor so, of course he's good; but the way he went from being cocky to shocked by the revelations of his first-hated youngest grandson to going mental because of the latter's actions.
Kim Nam Hee as the Jin Seong Jun, the oldest grandson. He displayed a whole range of personalities while playing the same character. First he was the menacing and deranged Vice President who played a major role in killing off people, then he played a young version of himself who was in the running as inheritor of the corporations fortunes but lacking in everything from confidence to abilities.
Kim Shin Rok as Jin Hwa Young. Who is this woman?!?! She's not even listed as a possible candidate to run the corporation because she is the only daughter in the household. But man, is this character deranged....she went from an entitled daughter in a rich family who did not fear anything to a meek father's little girl begging for help from her merciless father when she was under attack.
Park Hyuk Kwon as Mason Oh. He is the donut-loving financial expert Jin Do Jun met in NYC; he is brilliant in playing the somewhat money-loving financial maestro who trusted his instincts when he met Jin Do Jun. Of course, he had no idea who the latter really is but his guts told him to work with the young man because he had something special.
Park Ji Hyun as Mo Hyun Min. She was initially attracted to our main character but changed her mind and married the eldest grandson of the family as the leading lady of the family's third generation offspring. She didn't have to do much except to blend into the family and her surroundings. Play her part as a meek nobody who couldn't care less about the family's company affairs while egging on her weak husband from behind-the-scenes. She played her role well; cunning and conniving only when nobody is around.
Tiffany Young as Racheal. I didn't expect much from Tiffany because...well...idol...SNSD...not much experience in acting. Thankfully, the role she was given suited her very well and she aced it. As the financial advisor of Jin Do Jun's Miracle Investment, she left an impression with me. At least, now, I don't just see her as the Primadonna of SNSD who always had to have that extra large, beautiful bow on her dress, she carried the weight as Rachael by delivering anxiety on-screen and gratification at triumphs.
I know I left a lot of people out but these are the few standouts who should get some kind of award for their outstanding performances. I wanted to mention Jo Han Chul, Jo Hye Joo, Kim Do Hyun, and even Baro (who is listed under his real name Cha Sun Woo on Wikipedia) as people who deserve some kind of recognition for their performance but there is no space.
In fact, I did not even list down the main character, Song Joong Ki, for playing both Yoon Hyeon Woo and Jin Do Jun exceptionally well. That's because I already know what he is capable of and this is not even a challenge for him. For him, I think this is under par.
When it comes to Song Joong Ki, the bar is set really high, for me anyway, as a fan. LOL
For me, this is nothing. He can pull this off without pushing anything. It's just Joong Ki acting. Except for a few scenes;
I cannot stand watching Song Joong Ki cry because I will start crying along with him. It's reaaallllyyyyy strange! I've asked myself a few times, why, why, whyyyyy? But when Joong Ki cried because he couldn't change the fate of his original mother, crouching in a corner in the restaurant his mom ran, holding onto her apron, and just letting it all out...I had to pause and close my eyes.
VERDICT
Listen, I watched this series, 16 episodes, with some running well over the 1-hour limit, when I had COVID. I had nothing else I could do outside this room or condo. Watch it but set a limit for yourself. Don't watch more than 2 episodes at a time.
Otherwise, you will feel like your soul is being sucked into a world that is not real. It's dramatic. Pace yourself and you'll enjoy the plot twists and knowledge gains in the process.
4.9/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
XOXO,
Stay healthy & Happy,
💕
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