Adamas (2022)

Disappointment

Started the series with high expectations given the synopsis and that Ji Sung is part of the cast. While the first half of the series was not without flaws, I believed there was an attempt to build up suspense (albeit slowly), which would be fine with me if the story built up well. Unfortunately, in the second half of the series, some characters seemed to display behaviour that seemed contrary to how they were written at the start, and developments became increasingly unbelievable.

For example, some characters seem to always escape the detection of the security despite acting in an overt manner, or how characters armed with pistols seemed to prefer hand-to-hand combat despite being in life-threatening conditions. This would lead one to wonder how these gaps would be closed as the story passes (hint: it does not).

We reach the rock bottom of the series in the finale, where the ending failed to address any of these plot holes and successfully created more questions on how a good 16 hours was wasted to watch this series. Like what some of the other reviewers pointed out, the acting fails to rescue the disastrous plot.

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Failed ambitious attempt eclectic genres, bogged down by excessive sub-plots and back stories

Adamas is mainly a mystery drama, but attempts to span across different genres. Its attempt at encompassing elements of melodrama, tragedy, romance and both light and dark comedy is decent, but feels needless and does not impress. It feels almost as if the script writer or director is wanting to deliberately do so, so that the drama feels like an eclectic masterpiece.

It is a simple plot that has excessive sub-plots and back stories added, meant mainly for the purpose of keeping the suspense and drama last 16 episodes. The drama attempted to give every single character, big or small, a backstory and reason for participating in the story is comprehensive and is good in nature. However, it is excessive. Every single characters' motivation to partake in the "mystery" is due to the death of a loved one. In the end, it leaves the audience feeling that there is no poignant main storyline, and the characters were added in just because the "script" requires them to be,

Besides the protagonists who are both acted by Ji Sung, no other characters have a strong motivation to solve those 2 mysteries, so it is not engaging for me emotionally. Every other character partakes in the main story because of the death of a loved one, that is irrelevant to finding the murderer, nor locating where Adamas is.

There is also insufficient development in the character arc of the main cast. The idea of getting Ji Sung to act in 2 roles is interesting, but totally wasted as the storyline did not explore the uniqueness nor need twins to be the protagonists. It might be better to showcase them as close knitted brothers.

Both Seo Ji-hye's and Lee Soo-kyung's characters are too divorced from the main storyline and is wasted as main actresses. Seo Ji-hye has her own backstory and too little emotional involvement with Ji Sung, while Lee Soo-kyung's character arc is too unexplored to the point she feels like a 3rd lead or a main supporting cast.

The show has too many backstories and screen time for the supporting cast, to the point that it is excessive and muddles the main storyline. There are 3 antagonist, one of whom is totally irrelevant to the story. The main antagonist has too little screen time, so his character arc did not have space to develop.

The ending is definitely the major disappointment as it felt rushed and abrupt. Overall, I did not enjoy watching the show. It has potential to be a good drama, but it feels like there are too many threads that leads to nothing. Even though I like Ji Sung, Seo Ji-hye's and Lee Soo-kyung, my fondness for these artistes is still not engaging enough emotionally, nor suspenseful enough to be a mystery drama. I finished the drama only because the actors and actresses were good.

The drama is mainly carried along by good acting, directing, editing and cinematography. If you like eclectic genres and superb acting, Flower of Evil is hands down my recommendation.

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