Vincenzo (2021)

EXTRAORDINARIAMENTE EXTRAORDINARIO Y MAGNÍFICAMENTE MAGNÍFICO

¡Véanlo porque Vincenzo está buenísimo! (El drama y el protagonista) ¡Que drama tan bueno! amé demasiado al protagonista y ahora que terminó el drama siento un vacío en mi corazón y estoy triste porque no veré más a Vincenzo. ¡Es imposible que no te guste!¡es un drama innegablemente bueno! De mis favoritos definitivamente.

I love you Vincenzo Cassano.

¿Quien hubiera pensado que Vincenzo fuera un drama tan cómico? Por lo menos yo no.

Ahora entiendo a cada persona que recomendaba este drama como locos y que amaban al protagonista porque ahora yo soy una de esas.

Después de ver True Beauty no creí encontrar algo que me llegara a gustar tanto y que se igualara a ese nivel. Por eso ambos se encuentran en el primer puesto de mis favoritos.

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LO AMO, pasa a mi top de dramas para siempre!

Amo este drama con todo mi corazón! Es una historia que te atrapa des del principio hasta el final! Es un drama con intriga, violencia, acción, pero también sentimientos y ternura. Tiene mucho humor negro, algunas situaciones disparatadas pero momentos muy dulces e íntimos, familiares. La música es bellísima, combinando grandes piezas de repertorio clásico con ost creado exclusivamente para la serie. La ambientación, los efectos, la fotografía, el vestuario fabuloso, todo está muy cuidado. En cuanto a los actores: los malos malísimos están espectaculares en sus papeles ((uaaa con Taec-yeon), la troupe de vecinos frikis de la plaza Geumga de 10! Kwak Dong Yeon como Jang Han Seo tan entrañable, hermoso, lo lloro cadad día, uaaaa y la FL, la poco conocida (hasta ahora) Jeon Yeo-bin, está magistral en su registro cómico y también dramático y es una protagonista femenina de armas tomar, una gran "partner in crime" de nuestro ML. Y finalmente nuestro queridísimo VINCENZO,!!! Qué decir de este personaje! Creo que nos ha enamorado a todos, sin importar géneros ni edades!!! Una gran actuación de Song Joong-ki llena de matices, de claros oscuros! Vincenzo es un antihéroe , un mafioso que ciertamente no duda en utilizar la violencia más cruda cuando la situación lo requiere, no duda en ser terriblemente justiciero con quien lo tiene merecido, pero a la vez cuenta con un carisma , un sex-appeal y una elegancia tales que llegas a justificar su manera de actuar aunque indudablemente sabes que no es correcta. Pero no todo es oscuridad, también hay luz en Vincenzo Cassano, hay bondad: nuestro protagonista es capaz de sentir afecto, de amar y sufrir por sus amigos y arriesgar su vida por aquellos que aprecia y respeta. Es que cuando saca a relucir su lado tímido, introvertido, cuando duda o siente dolor o emoción es tan hermoso! Es entonces cuando nos enamoramos perdidamente de él y ya no hay vuelta atrás, somos uno más, de los muchos que lo aman sin remedio.
Gracias a todo el equipo y a netflix por dar a luz esta serie y este personaje!!!! Si hay una temporada 2 me muero!!!!

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Vincenzo Vincerò

Primero que nada diré que este es mi K-Drama Favorito del 2021, y probablemente de la vida, el número 1 en mi lista hasta el momento. Tiene una historia estupenda, rompe con el molde, y cuenta con unas actuaciones geniales, y un cast espectacular.

Song Joong Ki y Jeon Yeo Been hacen una dupla fantástica como Vincenzo y Cha Young, los amé completamente.

Este K-Drama te cambia el pensamiento de muchas cosas, es de esas tramas que te abren el mundo, y se convierten en historias inolvidables e insuperables.

Song Joong-ki se supera a sí mismo, no existe nadie en el mundo que pueda haberle dado vida a Vincenzo más que él.

¡Sinceramente recomiendo que lo vean, porque es maravilloso!, y para terminar, les dejo la frase épica con la que acaba el K-Drama:

«Il male è grande e vasto»

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?Hola mafiosos, ¿Cómo están?? Hoy les vengo con la reseña de uno de los doramas que más disfruté ver en lo que va del año.

??Por si no saben de qué trata, acá les cuento: A los 8 años un niño llamado Park Joo Hyung fue adoptado por una familia de Italia. Ahora, de adulto, es conocido como Vincenzo Cassano, el consiglieri más importante de la mafia italiana.
Luego de la muerte del jefe de su familia, huye a Corea donde conoce a los habitantes de Plaza Geumga y a la abogada Hong Cha Young, con quien se alía para destruir a una empresa llamada Babel.

?Este kdrama es una seguidilla de sucesos uno atrás del otro que hacen que te enganches de principio a fin. Los momentos de acción están increíbles y la actuación de Song Joong Ki en esas escenas está a otro nivel.

?La serie en sí ES sus personajes, la trama pasa a un segundo plano. Tanto los principales cómo los secundarios son el plato fuerte del dorama. Tenemos a los protas como antihéroes que hacen lo que haya que hacer con tal de joderles los planes a los "malos", no importa qué. Y si hablamos de villanos, el jefe máximo no solo está bien actuado, sino que el personaje en sí tiene una construcción muy buena. Sus secuaces también están muy bien logrados, real que a algunos llegás a odiarlos con todo tu ser. Los habitantes de Plaza Geumga son todo lo que está bien y más, es inevitable no quererlos porque son un estallo constante, algunos de ellos se ganan tu corazón por completo.

Pasando a la trama, a pesar de que pasan muchas cosas todo el tiempo, todo se va construyendo de forma constante y nada de lo que pasa se siente apresurado. Puede que no sea espectacular, pero funciona.

?Aunque todo lo que vengo diciendo son cosas favorables, hay algunas que hacen que este kdrama no llegue a ser un diez. Hay algunos momentos en los que ya pecan de exagerados (en dos escenas puntuales es imposible no pensar "esto ya es demasiado"). Además hay cuestiones súper convenientes para la trama que hacen bastante predecibles algunas situaciones.

?Vincenzo es un drama que sabe cómo mantenerte al borde del asiento y hacerte estallar de risa, todo en el mismo capítulo.

@altoplottwist

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mi familia

lo adoro, en plan los personajes, la filmografía, la familia que se forma, las interacciones, las relaciones, los villanos, la comedia, la historia, es increíble; es super interesante y divertido con momento que te rompen un poco el corazón. Tengo opiniones reservas sobre el comienzo y el final tho... el comienzo es un poco lento y es difícil engancharse aunque la manera en la que está grabada es increíble y hace un buen trabajo introduciendo a los personajes.
El final. EL FINAL; lo acepto, no lo odio pero es que me ha dejado descontenta por varias razones:
- es el puto vincenzo cassano, ha conseguido información super importante para la policía, como cojones tiene que ser extraditado tan rápidamente,,,,, el señor se supone que tiene poder
- el trato de junwoo. me dio una rabia que saliera corriendo después de disparar a su hermano lmaooo está tan fuera de charcater... creo que intentaron lidiar demasiado rápidamente con su personaje y simplemente no cuadra, se merece más y mejor
- hong chayoung y su inexistencia en los últimos dos capítulos; su personaje y su desarrollo estaba siendo super interesante, ver como se convertía en una persona que cae también bajo la etiqueta de "morrally grey", pero es que se la quita totalmente de la imagen y pasa a ser nada más que un instrumento del circulo de vincenzo; entiendo que la serie es sobre el pero no se estaba siguiendo esta linea durante la serie.
Song joongki sexy af tho.

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✨ Lo mejor ✨

No sé ni siquiera por dónde empezar...
Un drama execelente, con hermosas escenas, perfectas actuaciones y maravilloso ost. Me encantó que cambia completamente los clichés en los dramas, dónde el "bueno" no es en definitiva bueno, pero lo amas a pesar de todo, dónde la chica no es aquella que hace cambiar al protagonista, sino que, al contrario, lo apoya y lo ayuda en todas sus artimañas "inmorales" desde el principio hasta el fin; la trama lo deja a la total expectativa ya que no se sabe el siguiente movimiento de Vincenzo y su equipo, y el contraataque del bando opuesto. Además le coges cariño a todos y cada uno de los personajes secundarios sin verse forzada la historia, simplemente nadie sabe la vida oculta del vecino :3
Amé todo de este drama.

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Vinchenjo Quassano is *chef's kiss* - [update: the drama is a cathartic experience you won't forget]

If you are looking for a comedic, thrilling, creative, and oddly-satisfying drama to brighten your weekend, then Vincenzo is it!

STORY: If you liked dramas like The Fiery Priest or Chief Kim, then you will love the plot, characters, action, dialogues, and style of story-telling here. It's absurd, wacky, funny, but also very serious in its themes of crime, corruption, revenge, and justice. There is a good-mix of lovable characters and crazy evil villains (the main bad-guy is perhaps the biggest surprise, definitely takes the crown for the most iconic villain reveal!). The plot twists, comedic timing, chemistry between characters, and anti-hero vibes are immaculate. Also, so many great one-liners!!

CAST: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Ok Taecyeon, need I say more? With such a star-studded main and supporting cast, I think that should be enough to urge you to watch! All the actors and actresses are perfect in their respective roles and bring the characters to life. Vincenzo and Hong Cha Young have chaotic energy as partners and I'm all for it (I also ship them so much!!). SJK's Italian rants leave you mesmerized and laughing, and JYB's unique take on the quirky, eccentric female lead will leave you dying for more! And Taecyeon's acting as a ditsy, lovable English-speaking intern is (almost*) the best thing ever!

MUSIC: Thrilling, catchy, exciting. I love the vibrancy of the OST and the Italian/opera-inspired music that plays whenever something funny happens (especially when poor Vincenzo is suffering LOL).

RE-WATCH: The drama isn't even over yet and I already rewatch episodes, so there you go!!

If you haven't started watching this yet, what are you doing?! This drama is the highlight of my weekend, and now that we're nearly half-way in, I've been itching to write a review. So far, I am loving every minute of the drama, so I had to share my thoughts!

EDIT 5/3/21: Just finished the drama and I stand by everything I said 6 weeks ago! Vincenzo is a masterpiece and I dig the message at the end. The cinematography and production quality are absolutely top-notch. The entire cast and crew were absolutely wonderful and let's just say... there are bad villains, and once in a while, there are good villains too. A special shoutout to my precious baby Jang Han Seo. Excuse me while I go cry and feel empty for days now that the drama is over. What a cathartic experience.

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Not for everyone

Okay, so this is a super unpopular opinion it seems — but I did not enjoy Vincenzo. Yes, Song Joong-Ki is pretty. Yes, the cinematography was beautiful. I even came to like Hong Cha Young's extra behaviour at some point. But the plot??? The side characters???

My biggest gripe was with the story. So many parts simply made no sense at all. I understand that the over-the-top ridiculousness was part of the "fun" to some people. Personally, I hated how the show could go from sublime coolness (like the vineyard, ending of ep 4, or even the demise of our Wusang trio... talk about WOW) to bonkers slapstick moments. I can see how this contrast may add levity to a drama that might otherwise be too heavy, but it felt like a lot of bloated filler. It honestly ruined a lot of the immersion for me. The episodes could be so much tighter without so much time spent on the Geumga Plaza crew (who never became endearing to me, unfortunately). How plausible is it that they're all from such crazy athletic backgrounds too, and can take down professional goons so seamlessly? I could've also done completely without all the NIS stuff, zumba, etc. I didn't even like Inzaghi all that much, although I did like the symbolism related to him + Jang Han Seok at the end. At a higher level, I will give points to the broad direction of the story though. I am glad Vincenzo's character did not fundamentally change throughout the story though, and that the ending remained dark but neatly tied up. Vincenzo is an anti-hero through-and-through, and it's good that the writers stuck to their guns there. The "corn salad" joke was fairly endearing. Also, you have to give them some props for the horseback riding fan-service and the callback to it at the end. Hah!

Still, I will commend this show for its social commentary on corrupt structures in Korea and beyond. It does show the interplay between government / corporate / legal realms well. The OST was fitting and gorgeous, and varied enough to not give me PTSD like "We All Lie" from SKY Castle. And you can tell it was a high-budget production with great CGI and cinematography. Oh, and did I mention Song Joong-Ki is pretty yet? Worth reiterating in case you're willing to watch just for that.

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This series is bonkers on so many levels, and I love it so damn much for it.

I don't write reviews but I wanted to at least for my favorite drama and Vincenzo has a special place in my heart <3
FYI: THIS IS LONG. Like reeeally long. I'm just dumping my love for the show here because amidst all the negative reviews & misjudgement, I wanna voice my appreciation since rarely do I love a show so much I wish for amnesia to experience it all over again.

Vincenzo is a fast-paced dark comedy and a rollercoaster ride of a drama that had me at the edge of my seat anticipating or dreading what's next to come, crying of either laughter or sadness, or simply wanting to applaud at the sheer audacity of its plot (happened a lot). While there's an abundance of corruption, broken bones and back and forth between protagonists and antagonists, there's also a large chunk of comedy and lightheartedness. Add in some romance & the right amount of emotional depth and you have a perfect mix. I myself didn't find the start slow at all. It's true that in EP4 things truly pick up (one of the best twists I've ever seen in a show), but the beginning is just as fun and crucial in setting up the story. Hong Yuchan is a central character in laying the foundation for Vincenzo's and Chayoung's motivation to take on the fight against Babel. Afterwards, it's pure entertainment. Overall the story constantly keeps you busy and there's barely a dull moment as lots of twists & turns keep it interesting. The ending is nothing short of the definition of cathartic and shows once again that this drama, no matter its funny exterior, isn't afraid to go skin-crawlingly dark with its approach on retribution and justice.
You just can't wait to find out what shenanigans the characters will be up to next, and when you find out, it's a joy to watch. Many of the schemes that VCY and the tenants pull against Babel range from absolute tomfoolery to well-thought-out, meticulous plans. The scenarios are yes, over the top, but at the same time ironically believable and more importantly, fun! You can tell how much fun the whole crew had with this project; tons of creative choices feel like they were handled with some sense of wild abandon, which might as well be the secret as to why it's such an entertaining show.

I feel like many people don't understand it for what it essentially is and thus kind of miss the whole point of it. They say it's bad due to its absurdist comedy which ofc isn't everyone's cup of tea but that doesn't make it a bad drama, but a matter of preference. Without the jarring contrast of silliness next to seriousness, Vincenzo wouldn't be what it's supposed to be. It's about relishing in the ridiculousness of it all and you have to be willing to do that in order for you to really enjoy it. So yes, this show is very contradictive and lots of people did not like or even hated that, but I loved it all the more. It's both a parody and a love letter to K-Drama, gangster movies and action comedies alike. It can be funny and satirical but also knows when to be badass or tense. And while it's true that the genre mix is blatant, it proves through an engaging script and characters that it's not really a parody after all.
In the end, it does have its own style and you do need to vibe with the writer's humor and/or his intentions, so it's natural that it might be too much for those with more traditional tastes or who don't see eye to eye with his execution etc. But this show isn't realistic on purpose! The protagonist comes out on top all the time on purpose! I've read some say they liked the show but drew the line at a certain scene in EP15 for being too unrealistic, which is funny considering it's a drama about a mafia lawyer who accidentally fights for justice while trying to get some gold bars out of a basement. It's bizarre, ridiculous and in-your-face on purpose! It's The Whole Point Of It All. When we get tired of the whole corrupt capitalist hellhole we live in, this show wants to offer some escapism and makes it fun while it's at it.

Vincenzo's character himself practically represents what the writer wanted to convey to the audience. Very specific to SK but still widely applicable, it's an answer to the kind of feeling when watching the news and being angry at yet another corruption scandal, nasty politician or powerful figure/group that still reigns at the top and goes on about their unscrupulous business, and you sit there, not being able to do anything about it. In such moments we just want to see the worst of society be uncompromisingly punished for their actions, "whether it is legal or not", as Hong Yuchan said.
His character is proof that even the most righteous people can't do much more than just do their best, yet they too sometimes harbor a desire to go beyond their own means to win. Sometimes "fighting the good fight" isn't enough and the corrupt system seems infallible. And so we wish to see it collapse fully and without repercussions and we want to feel good about seeing that. Vincenzo wants to scratch exactly that itch, through an anti-hero without qualms or strict moral compass that hold him back in anything. He's a personification of what none of us can ever allow ourselves to be because in reality we've got laws and morals and couldn't ever justify what he does to be of actual reasoning. Thankfully this isn't reality! He allows us to live vicariously through his persona, who stops at nothing to deliver retribution, whether or not it's a viable solution to corruption & crime. An interesting point that SJK once made is how he found the audience's unwavering support of Vincenzo to be quite sad. So while this show isn't supposed to offer any solution, I think it offers an interesting observation; how comfortable we feel resorting to outlandish, fictional escapism like this. How bad is our own reality, that we're able to cheer on even a character like Vincenzo with all his brazen, reckless vigilantism, and not even bat an eye - what does that say about us? The show makes us root for him all the way up til the end, then turns the mirror at us and literally and figuratively looks us in the eye. Yes, evil in its many forms is prevalent and vehement in our world and will always be, but what we choose to do with it is ultimately our choice. You might somewhat agree with the show's ideology – that when all else is lost, the only way to fight a monster is another monster – or strongly oppose it. Whatever it is, you'll likely have felt even if just a tiny bit satisfaction and relief in watching Vincenzo be his unapologetic self. If not then chances are the intent of the drama may have flown over your head.

Besides him, there's lots to be said about Hong Chayoung because people just don't seem to get her. It was intent for her to be "annoying" at the start & JYB knew she'd get judged for that, yet she took on the role and made it her own. She nailed all her traits, from her weirdness, ambition, kindheartedness up to her loneliness. Chayoung, like Vincenzo himself, hides her utmost vulnerabilities behind a razor-sharp gaze and only opens up to those she's truly comfortable with. Yet her soft side isn't a contradiction to her loud one at all; both are equally important. She too doesn't compromise and is always just unapologetically herself – a rarity in a world that deems types like her "too out there" or "too much", and she looks past such criticisms with but a glance and blows you a kiss while donning expensive sunglasses. If you paid attention, you'd know her character isn't one-dimensional. She's an amazing FL and one of the most unique out there, fight me at 3AM in a parking lot about this. Actually you'll have to fight Vincenzo first. Both are morally complex protagonists that don't fall into clichés and instead boast a healthy, respectful relationship. It's riveting to watch them go from strangers to partners in crime and eventually self-proclaimed soulmates. The moment they meet they complement each other, in their joint revenge (it helps they're both relentless opportunists) as in all other things. Their connection ran so deep, excessive skinship or dramatic confessions weren't needed. I'm biased, but they're the best example of "soulmates" I know. Despite what some dramas tell you, soulmates are born of choice, not fate and they made that choice for themselves. And above all, they're just fun to watch! They have some of the best chemistry between leads I've ever seen and I've yet to find a pair I love just as much as them.

Them and the rest of the cast know how to act believably in even the most preposterous situations, another reason why I love this show so much: While it's very farcical, it stays grounded in the way characters react emotionally/accordingly to their goals or motivations. And so you can't help other than just cheer along with – or against them as they go through all of these ridiculous, unbelievable things. I got so attached that I just sat in disbelief as the endcredits ran and didn't want to believe it was really over. With any good story ending, you don't wanna let go, wanna spend more time in the world, but are instead left with a giant, bloody hole in the heart. Then again that should be par for the course. Everyone has a drama that left a big impression and for me it was this crime-comedy about a Korean-Italian Mafia lawyer who has arson and murder on his daily schedule, yet is at his wit's end because of a pigeon on his windowsill. I sure didn't expect that, when watching EP1 with the hope of trying to stay awake during nightshift (needless to say it woke me the fuck up), but the best shows come to you when you least expect it.

TLDR; Vincenzo has much to offer for those who want to be fully engrossed by a show, without sacrificing one genre for the other. But in no way does it play it safe, it 100% goes all in. And if you know how to have fun with TV, then it's definitely something you shouldn't miss!

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Wasted Potential

Fair warning.. this is gonna be an unpopular take, but here’s my two cents.

The biggest flaw with the show is the story and how it progresses. The original concept for the show is good. A ruthless consigliere from Italy comes to Korea to reclaim a hidden vault of gold. The first episode is killer, and it’s what originally hooked me, but the entire plot quickly devolves into cheap thrills. The plot points are predictable and there is a complete lack of character motivation. The original character motivations that the show introduces fly out the window. There are so many character decisions that don’t make sense. The show depicts the characters to abide by a certain set of principles and suddenly those same characters renege on those same ideals. A small example if you will: Hong Cha-Yong was introduced to be greedy and with somewhat loose morals, yet she drew a hard line on violence. The moment she meets Vincenzo, violence is now suddenly justified in her eyes. In another instance, Vincenzo is shown to carefully and methodically think himself out of difficult traps. But when plot armor is needed, he suddenly becomes the dumb protagonist that barges in without a second thought.

Unfortunately, the show’s problems don’t end here...

In my eyes the most controversial aspect of the show is the comedy. It’s completely and utterly absurd. The comedy doesn’t feel natural at all. It’s as if the characters know they’re in a drama and are making gags at that fact. It’s incredibly hit or miss. I won’t lie and say nothing lands. Some of the jokes are solid and had me chuckling out loud, but out of the 20 episodes this was far and few in between. The general outline of the plot is pretty gritty and intense, and out of nowhere the comic relief kicks in and it falls flat so often. It’s incredibly jarring and pulls you out of the show immediately.

The casting is excellent. Song Joong-Gi is excellent in his role. His kinda scrawny stature had me questioning how ruthless he can appear, but he completely convinced me. A+ performance. Jeon Yeo-Bin is charming and does justice to her character. The real limitation is the writing for her character. I think she did as well as she could have given her script. Without revealing any plot points, there are side characters that had interesting potential that, unfortunately, was not realized.

Final thoughts:
At the time of me writing this review, the show is rated at 9/10. This is grossly over valued in my opinion. No chance this is the same quality as shows like Flower of Evil or Stranger. This show is best described as wasted potential. The writers went hard into slapstick comedy mixed with extremely intense crime drama, and the two genres did not mix.. at all. There were seriously good merits in sticking with either or, but the mix killed it for me. I watched this weekly so it was bearable. Not entirely sure how bingeworthy it is, but I can say I won’t be rewatching this.

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Pure satisfaction!!

It took me a while to savor the gist of this drama as the first few episodes were a bit complicated and boring for me, but as I continue watching, the plot just got better and better, and it reaches the climax in the last few episodes, that was EPIC! Although the episodes are longer than normal Kdramas and one episode is 80+ mins, but the story was pretty comprehensive! Not draggy and fast paced, especially in the second half!

Similar to Fiery Priest and Chief Kim (as they are from the same writer), it all presented in a dark comedy kind of series, with a righteous leader, great amount of fighting scenes, a storyline of corruption and some witty yet hilarious plot throughout. I really enjoyed all of these because it just had all the humour, emotional and thrill in a show, really exciting and fun to watch! This drama in some ways, blows my mind with the integration of mafia and allows all the killing and gun shooting. Well honestly it's kinda weird if you were to think how the male lead can "lawfully" kill and torture so many people, but in other way of thinking, these were the best parts of the show!! I don't know about the others, but I just find all the parts where the king of evil are dealing with the demons were so satisfying to watch! So, I just chose to savor it, don't care if it makes any sense, as long as it entertains!

Applaud to all the casts, they were all equivalently goooood! Song Joong Ki literally slayed the role and was really cool in all his fighting scenes! Not to say, it really gave me a great laugh whenever he was being "harassed" by numerous guys hahaha! Literally everyone in the show is treating him like a meat on the plate! XD Taecyeon was pretty good too, although I personally find him not so suitable for the role, his face just looks too kind for the role, doesn't look bad and scary at all, the starting part of him being a dumb innocent rookie suits him much better! But it was a great spinoff in his acting career, good for him! :) Dongyeon, as good as always, he always pulls off all kinds of characters, a cool one, a psycho or even a coward but kind-hearted little brother. Gosh, and why do his roles always make people wanna protect him so much?

I like the Geum-Ga squad too! I always enjoyed how they make random people come together to fight crimes, it's sooo satisfying, and when you thought they were just some gossiping neighbors, it turns out to have so many hidden experts within, just look at the pigeon and you’ll know HAHAHA!

Well, I would say maybe not all might enjoy this, but generally, YES! This doesn't have much love story (almost none?), it's more about a deep end conspiracy with a group of people led by a mafia lawyer to fight crime and save the day!!! So if you are looking for a good story, this is it!

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