Flower of Evil (2020)

A melodrama disguised as a thriller

It's a bit difficult to write an in-depth review without spoilers (and this drama is best enjoyed going in blind) but Flower of Evil is hands-down one of the best kdramas I've seen to date. It's gripping, the plot is well-done (barring a few plot holes), the character development is incredible, and the ending, which some viewers disliked, I found fitting. Plot aside, Moon Chaewon and Lee Joongi were incredible and had amazing chemistry. I can confidently say this is Lee Joongi's best performance so far, and his nuanced expressions really brought his character to life.

I think it's important to note that those who really adore Flower of Evil are the ones who are fall in love with the characters rather than the overall crime plot. While majority of the show is crime/thriller, the core of it is the main characters and their relationship. If you have no interest in seeing their relationship unfold, the main themes and emotional impact of the show will simply fall flat. I suggest go in as blind as possible, watch at least three episodes, and hopefully it will enrapture you as much as it did me.

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LOVE IT

I just finish watching it. Love it, wish there was more. Wish I could have heard it in English. There should have been a second season. I will watch it again but slowly this time. The plot and acting was very good. I loved the male main character acting. I will recommend it for everyone to watch who loves a good mystery. I knew the conclusion of the show. But I did not know he got in a coma but I was not surprise by who did it. She was able to vent some of her frustration, where as the father did not. No wonder he lost it! What did surprise me was who was still alive and how it came to be.

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THE BEST KDRAMA EVER

Flower of evil is the perfect kdrama. It got me hooked from the first episode and the acting and chemistry between the leads is chef's kiss. Do hyunsoo and Cha Jiwon are my favourite couple. The scenes with their daughter ❤️🥺. It's incredibly sad what Hyunsoo had to go through just because he was father's son. This drama showed how people's trauma really affect them. Hyunsoo for his whole life thought he's a psychopath when he was just traumatised. He loved Jiwon even before he knew and accepted it. Also one of the rare times when I like the amnesia plot, it made sense here for him to not have to remember those horrible times and start a new life with the people who love him 🤍

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Well-Crafted Melodrama

The key to this drama is managing expectations. While this drama has noir, mystery and thriller themes, at it's core it is a melodrama. It's not a bad thing; South Korea is excellent at crafting melodramas and probably my favorite genre of Kdramas. But since this a melo, not a crime drama, things like civilians openly conducting investigations along with the police or classic logic fails are par for the course. It's more about the drama, the story and the characters than accuracy or depth. Keep that in mind and the ride will go much smoother.

The absolute BEST part of this show is the acting. The leads absolutely nailed it. The glances, the facial expressions, the small movements, everything was on point. Certain scenes might not have packed the same punch if it was not for those two. They have brilliant what I call non-kissing chemistry - they can give the couple vibe just by being next to each other. The support characters also did a very good job and all the characters came to life.

Story: The story, for the most part was pretty solid. It starts off a little slow but builds up to a delicious and addictive flow. The writing for the last third was not as strong, but the story finished off to a respectable end. There was some shortcoming in the story-writing minutia and some personal things that frustrated me but overall, everything made sense in a satisfactory way. I will half a point off just because the show was initially presented to be very dark and thrilling with the theme of exploring morally grey characters but did not really go in that direction.

The highlight for this show for me was MCW's Cha Ji Won; she carried the show for me. From a story perspective, I appreciate her role as a active character whose actions directly affected the story line. As a character, I loved how she thought through things to make informed decisions and her strong love for her husband. I admired her perseverance, her compassion and her no-bullshit moments. LJG's Do Hyun Su/Baek Hee Sung was also very good and it interesting to see the character development he goes through. Something that really frustrated me was that he had a very subtle paternalistic side when it came to the females in this life which lead to him keeping secrets or not properly communicating with them. I honestly couldn't tell if this was done on purpose to show the background he grew up in or if it was the writer's bias seeping in. It is subtle and not directly related to the plot but did affect me enough to 1) notice it and 2) dampen my enjoyment.

The Baek couple was also interesting. They were not how they seemed at first and ended up being the greyest characters in the show. I wish we got to spend more time with the police team. Their interactions so natural with no forced team dynamics. I really liked Chief Lee despite his short screen time. He was so low-key I would initially have a hard time remembering he is the chief but he is the kind of leader I would dream of having. He knows when to push, when to let things go and how to keep his team together.

The music was amazing and really enriched the emotions of certain scenes. The lighting, camerawork and was also top-notch and another reason why this drama excelled. It has pretty good re-watch value.

Overall, this drama is a visual and auditory treat to watch with great characters and good plot. Go in expecting a very good Kdrama melodrama to come out satisfied.

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SO intense, a must watch for thriller fans.

Okay, I am not usually a fan of thrillers when it comes to kdramas but this was INSANE. Literally each episode I was on the edge of my seat and having constant anxiety. This show was crazy. The main couple had great chemistry but wow of course Lee Joon Gi's acting was incredible. His diversity and change of emotions is just remarkable. You really feel like you are watching a true crime story with all the details and background history within the show. The writer did a amazing job, actors was wonderful, plot thickened constantly within each episode. Definitely recommend!!

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Remember 5 Love Languages

The storyline sucked you in and each episode kept you hooked. Episode 16 had me worried. The FL and ML were outstanding. The little girl bears watching for future performances.

Now, the spoilers. The ML was raised by a deviant who tries to replicate himself in his son. The progession of the MLs emotional development may have been the genius of the scriptwriter, but anyone who has grown up in an abusive home can relate. Wether nature or nature he responded like a psychopath. Emotions in general and especially strong ones confused him. He had an inability to feel or express genuine emotions. Strong emotions frightened him. I'll say no more, but if you consider the abuse he suffered the storyline is conceptually believable. I will definitely rewatch this one.

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NO GRAVE CAN HOLD MY BODY DOWN, I'LL CRAWL HOME TO HER

This was one of the first Korean dramas I've had the chance to watch, and now I am almost scared to start another out of fear that any other show I watch will only be a flickering candle compared to the blazing fireworks display that was Flower of Evil. Every episode had me glued to the screen of my laptop. There were often times where I would catch myself holding my breath, and just as the forest exhales in the early morning, I too would release the air from my lungs with clenched fists as I watched every tense moment between Cha Ji Won (Moon Chae Won) and Do Hyun Soo (Lee Joon Gi) unfold.

Ultimately, it was the love story between those two that really caught my attention and refused to let go. The questions of 'How well do you know the person you love?' and 'How far would you go for them?' whirred through my mind during every episode. During the first episode, a dark cloud of doom seemed to hang over the couple. I had very low expectations for them, I will admit, but it became very clear to me that their commitment and love for each other defy the stars themselves, and that is really what made this show so spectacular. Home is other people, and Cha Ji Won and Do Hyun Soo prove this with every breath, every embrace, and every tear shed. Needless to say, the acting was top-notch!

The story, too, dredged from the darkest corners of human nature, seemed to defy almost all of my expectations. Everything was not quite as it seemed, and the plot twists were especially satisfying to watch. There were a few plot holes and jumps of logic that didn't quite make sense to me, but they had little impact on my enjoyment of the show.

Overall, if you'd like a good crime/thriller with domestic bliss and a side of murder, I would definitely recommend watching Flower of Evil. You will not regret it.

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such a great drama

i'll recommend this drama to literally anyone. even in the first episode, i felt hooked and wanting more. i never felt bored from start to finish, and each episode managed to make me want to see what was going to happen in the story. the casting and acting was absolutely amazing, everyone played their role so well! i also really enjoyed the small moments of romance in the story. it was not too much nor too less. the ml and the fl had such great chemistry throughout the drama and the side characters were equally as interesting. the plot twists executed so well too!! a total recommendation for anyone looking for a drama that will leave them on the edge of their seats. truly a great show to watch!

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Just watch you won’t regret at all

Flower of Evil was a fantastic watch. The reunion between Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won was everything I could have hoped for and more. These two talented actors wowed me with their amazing performances and wonderful chemistry.

The story was filled with suspense as well as in depth character exploration. There are plenty of surprising plot developments along with some great cliff hangers. The soundtrack also really enhanced the drama. Mystery, heart, and thrills all came together to make for a highly enjoyable ride.

And by the way can anyone to explain me why do I feel so empty after its end . . . as if a good part of me disappeared forever with the end of the series 🥺

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Only human

Wow, it was worth to watch, I started on nov 5th and finished on nov 11th

Las actuaciones tanto de Baek Heeseong cómo de Do Hyeonsu, pude ver cómo leyeron el libreto y se convirtieron en el personaje, puedo aplaudirle a todos y cada uno de los actores
El ost no lo recuerdo mucho, creo que es lo único que le falla al kdrama
El equilibrio perfecto entre romance, tensión, drama y terror
Spoiler

aunque todo el kdrama lo pasé teniéndole envidia a la detective Cha, al final yo deseaba con todo mi corazón que regresaran
cuando se alejaron me dolió más que cuando mis propios padres se divorciaron jajaja
la pareja principal es perfecta y no tengo ninguna queja de ellos

me quedé con ganas de saber más de la relación de Do Minseok y Baek Heeseong, pero se nota la poca atención emocional que tenía Heeseong en su casa

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Would have been the best series if it was of 14 episodes.

Pros:
1- The cast is just epic, the supporting roles gave me goosebumps.
2- Eun ha(child of ml and fl was so cute).
2- Story was realistic and not over the top romance.
3- No love triangle bullshit.
4- Characters was just perfect for my taste.
5- Good amount of romance with thriller episodes.

Cons:
1- As the title says it just went a bit to long at times.
2- Flashbacks where repeated to often .(Maybe since I binge watched it it felt unnecessary).
3- I lost the thrilling factor at times.
4- As the father of ML was given such importance they should have given some more information or story about ML's dad and mom.

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