Title: 빈센조 | Binsenjo | Vincenzo
Genre: Drama | Crime | Black Comedy
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: tvN
Broadcast Period: February 20, 2021 to May 2, 2021
Synopsis:
Park Joo-Hyeong at the age of 8 was adopted and brought up in Italy. His name is replaced to Vincenzo Cassano and became a lawyer and consigliere of the Mafia group. There was a struggle of power within the Mafia families that forced him to return back to South Korea and acquire a hidden treasure kept by one of his clients that were buried in an old and dilapidated commercial building called, Geumga Plaza. He initially thought it will be easy to remove the tenants and demolish the building, but, to his surprised he got sucked into the issues of its tenants and legal cases against Babel Group, owned by someone that will force him to face his painful past history. At the same time met Jun Yeo Bin, a feisty and ambitious lawyer who is in conflict with her father’s own legal practice that concentrates more on public service rather than earning good money. Vincenzo Cassano became enmesh with their lives so much that he may forgot that he was supposed to immediately leave South Korea once he got what he came for.
Characters:
- Song Joong Ki as Park Joo-Hyeong | Vincenzo Cassano
- Jun Yeo Bin as Hong Cha Young
- Ok Taecyeon as Jang Joon Woo
- Jo Han Chul as Han Seung Hyuk
- Kim Yeo Jin as Choi Myung Hee
- Kwak Dong Yun as Jang Han Seo
- Yoo Jae Myung as Hong Yoo Chan
- Yoon Byung Hee as Nam Joo Sung
- Choi Young Joon as Jo Young Woon
- Yang Kyung Won as Lee Chul Wook
- Seo Ye Hwa as Jang Yun Jin
- Choi Duk Moon as Tak Hong Shik
- Kim Yoon Hye as Seo Mi Ri
- Lee Hang Na as Kwak Hee Soo
- Kang Chae Min as Kim Young Ho
- Kwon Seung Woo as Monk Chae Shin
- Ri Woo Jin as Monk Juk Ha
- Kim Hyung Mook as Toto
- Kim Sul Jin as Larry Kang
- Im Chul Soo as Ahn Ki Suk
- Kim Young Woong as Park Suk Do
- Lee Dal as Jun Soo Nam
- Jung Ji Yoon as Miss Yang
- Yoon Bok In as Oh Kyung Ja
- Na Chul as Na Duk Jin
- Ko Sang Ho as Jung In Gook
- Hong Seo Joon as Kil Jong Moon
- Seo Jin Won as Hwang Jin Tae
- Jung Soon Won as Airport Police on Episode 1
- Jin Sun Kyu as Unnamed Robber #1on Episode 1
- Lee Hee Joon as Unnamed Robber #2 on Episode 1
- Kim Tae Hoon as Pyo Hyuk Pil on Episode 4
- Lee Do Kook as Lee Hwang Kyu on Episode 4
- Shin Seung Hwan as So Hyun Woo on Episode 5
- Jung Young Joo as Lady Driving Out of the Court on Episode 5
- Cha Soon Bae as Judge Heo on Episode 6-7, 19
- Ahn Chang Hwan as Gilberton Episode 6-7, 12
- Yoo Yun as Kim Yeo Won on Episode 7
- Kang Chan as Tailor on Episode 7
- Kim Byung Ji as Kid’s Soccer Coach on Episode 7
- Kim Sung Chul as Hwang Min Sung on Episode 8
- Im Chae Moo as Moomooland Owner on Episode 8
- Jun Kook Hyang as Min Sung’s Mother on Episode 8
- Kim Nam Hee as Reporter on Episode 8
- Hwang Tae Kwang as Seo Woong Ho on Episode 9
- Nichkhun as Leads of UCN Drama “The Age of Stray Dogs and Wild Dogs” on Episode 12
- Hwang Chan Sung as Leads of UCN Drama “The Age of Stray Dogs and Wild Dogs” on Episode 12
- Yoon Kyung Ho as Nam Shin Bae on Episode 13
- Jun Jin Oh (전진오) as Park Chan Ki on Episode 13
- Lee Hye Jung (이혜정) as Jung Do Hee on Episode 14
My Review:
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
Due to the pandemic, it becomes more difficult for me to find Korean dramas that I would really like to watch because, of course, the kdrama productions in South Korea were also affected. So, when I saw in Netflix that Song Joong Ki has a new Korean drama, I felt ecstatic even though I didn’t like much the last 2 projects he did, the “Arthdal Chronicles” kdrama and his recent film, “Space Sweepers” which I didn’t even want to finish. I was truly hopeful that I would love this as the premise of the story seems to be interesting. But, alas, though, it is #1 in Netflix as most watched in the Philippines, but, I am sorry, I beg to disagree that it should be watched. As a fan of Song Joong Ki, believe me, it pains me to say that I tried so hard to love it or even tolerate it, but, I simply can’t. Many may not agree, but, I have been an avid fan of Kdramas for more than 15 years and this is simply not my cup of tea nor Song Joong Ki’s best work.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) I have no qualms in saying that Song Joong Ki is one of the best Kdrama actors in South Korea, but, he had done a disservice of himself when he did this project. At least with Arthdal Chronicles, the story is passable and his character is interesting, but, here…it is like the director is showing off how good looking Song Joong Ki is, which we all know he is. Plus, if the reason of doing these kind of scenes is because the Kdrama’s genre is black comedy, then, it wasn’t even amusing, though, pleasurable to look at Song Joong Ki. No matter how great an actor Song Joong Ki is, he also didn’t pull off the character of someone growing up in Italy because of his enunciation of the Italian language. He did try and I will give that to him, but, this is normally the problem when Kdramas provide an actor for a character that’s born or raised from another country other than SK and the actor cannot speak the language of that country without an accent and speaks better Korean.
(2) The ending is one of my favorite episodes as it provided majority of the resolutions and gives you a certain understanding if one skips several episodes prior to it.
(3) I truly love Ok Taecyeon as Jang Joon Woo on this Kdrama. He was spectacular as a villain here and made my watching this Kdrama from Episode 1-14 and Episode 20 bearable and interesting.
(4) Kwak Dong Yun as Jang Han Seo is also very good on this Kdrama. He made me feel both sympathy and empathy at the same time on a character who became a bad guy because of a very difficult situation. He has done one hell of a job in portraying Jang Han Seo’s character. Kudos!
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
As mentioned, I honestly tried to love this Kdrama especially there’s very few I would like to currently watch, and, it is a Song Joong Ki’s project with Ok Taecyeon in the mix, for heaven’s sake…but, hate me if you want to, I simply can’t watch the rest of the episodes after Episode 14 except Episode 20 for closure. Here are some reasons why I can’t stand it:
(1) There are many characters that are neither interesting and worthy to watch their stories. Most of these actors are overacting and overreaching in portraying their characters.
(2) There are so many ridiculous scenes that I doubt will happen such as court room scenes that I doubt can happen in a real court room no matter how corrupt it may be and what country it is.
(3) It didn’t provide justice as a black comedy genre and it is also not funny. In fact, there are many scenes that make me want to cringe.
(4) The main characters are not that interesting both Vincenzo Cassano and Hong Cha Young. It’s the villains who won my heart as to why I am able to bear watching it after Episode 5.
There are still a lot I can really say why I hated this kdrama, but, out of deference to Song Joong Ki’s talent as an actor and the brilliant acting of Ok Taecyeon and Kwak Dong Yun on this kdrama, let’s just say you may like or even love it if you are a fanatic fan and couldn’t care less what the story is when you watch a kdrama.
Would I recommend this K-Drama? Definitely No.
My Rating to this Drama ( See My Rating System: ) 2/5 Stars
OST:
01. Ombra Mai Fu – Choi Sung Hoon
02. Adrenaline – Aalia
03. Adrenaline – Solar of Mamamoo
04. Lacrimosa – LA POEM
05. Is This Love – Aalia