A Shop for Killers (2024)

A Shop for Thrills!!!!

**DISCLAIMER: This is my first review please be kind T_T**

Are you ready to be hooked and have your breath snatched away? Well, buckle up and get ready because this is not just another action-packed drama BUT a jaw-dropping, spine-chilling high-octane action bonanza that will have you gasping for air and begging for mercy. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this wild ride! So if you haven't seen it yet, get your popcorn ready and prepare to be blown away & pray for a second season!

In “a shop for killers”, Lee Dong Wook delivers a gripping performance (is there a role this man can't play? i doubt it) as a mysterious uncle whose sudden suicide triggers a chain of events that turns the protagonist's life upside down. As she is targeted by skilled assassins, Jian must draw upon her uncle's peculiar training to survive and uncover the truth behind his death. Kim Hye Joon was also excellent, she embodied the character's resilience and bravery in the face of danger, while also showing the emotional turmoil and confusion that comes with her situation. Her chemistry with Lee Dong Wook added an extra layer of complexity and depth to the story!

The action sequences are fast-paced and intense, with several high-stakes fights and shootouts that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The use of drones and other advanced technology adds a modern twist to the traditional action scenes, making them feel fresh and exciting. The unexpected twists keep the story fresh and unpredictable, preventing it from feeling stale or cliche, they moreover serve to enhance the overall viewing experience and keep viewers engaged and emotionally invested in the storyline.Additionally, they add an extra layer of intrigue and mystery, encouraging viewers to watch until the end to uncover the truth behind each surprise.

The drama also has a dark and gritty tone, reminiscent of the 80s classic "Leon the Professional", (one of my fav movies) a film known for its violent but compelling storylines. The relationship between the uncle and niece in “a shop for killers” has some similar elements to the one found in “Leon the Professional”. Both films feature a hardened, older male figure who takes on a protective and mentoring role for a younger female character. The uncle in “a shop for killers” is depicted as a tough, skilled assassin who takes Jian under his wing, teaching her survival skills and weapon handling, much like Leon did for Mathilda in “Leon the Professional”. Their fierce bond and unwavering loyalty to each other drive the plot and leave viewers invested in their fates.

The cinematography is a standout feature, with stylish visuals that capture the intense mood of the drama. The use of dark and moody lighting creates a tense atmosphere that elevates the action sequences and builds suspense. The music in the drama is equally impressive, with a selection of tracks that perfectly complement the fast-paced action and emotional moments without taking the attention from the scenes.

And of course needless to say that Lee Dong Wook’s performance is another highlight, showcasing his versatility as an actor by playing a hardened assassin with a hidden depth and vulnerability. His portrayal of the complex and mysterious character is a true pleasure to watch. But then again are we surprised? He's one of the best k-actors in my humble opinion!

Here are some things that I liked:

1. The acting was exceptional, with Lee Dong Wook delivering a standout performance.
2. The action sequences were intense and well-executed, with plenty of suspense and excitement.
3. The cinematography was top-notch, with stunning visuals that added to the overall experience.
4. The story was intriguing and unpredictable, with plenty of surprising twists and turns.
5. The chemistry between the two main leads was added a lot of depth to their relationship.
6. The use of humor and sarcastic one-liners added a nice balance to the intense action sequences and made the drama entertaining throughout.
7. The portrayal of the uncle/niece relationship was complex and emotional, adding an extra layer of drama to the story.
8. The soundtrack was well-chosen and added to the overall atmosphere of the drama.

Here's what I didn't like** :

1. The pacing of the drama felt a bit rushed at times, especially in the later episodes.
2. Some of the subplots felt underdeveloped.
3. The ending felt somewhat unsatisfying and didn't tie up all the loose ends. (But maybe that's because there discusssions for season 2? source: https://www.soompi.com/article/1648055wpp/kim-hye-joon-and-lee-dong-wooks-a-shop-for-killers-in-talks-for-season-2 )

**These minor issues didn't detract too much from my enjoyment of the drama, as the strong points outweighed the negatives.

Overall, “A Shop for Killers” is a gripping and thrilling action-mystery drama with thirller elements that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The performances are outstanding, and the use of cinematography, music, and action sequences are top-notch. Whether you’re a fan of action, mystery, or just a well-told story, “a shop for killers” is a must-watch that will leave you feeling entertained , excited and emotionally invested!

Leer más

An action packed story that keeps you interested despite its flaws

Some spoilers but no specific details

This started off very nice, and was still interesting till the end although I was not fully satisfied with a lot of things, the ending was a big fat useless cliffhanger with basically all the big plots still left unanswered. We basically just got rid of some "npcs" lol. And i just could not for the life of me understand how so many of these people (even the mc) survived the sht they went through: a machine gun blasting from every corner/ a shot through the eyes, stab to the throat and a burning house/ 2 freaking grenades!!!!!! and the list goes on. And STILL they all get up with a minor scar. Just very very unrealistic and a huge pet peeve for me.

a little bit of a spoiler here:
I like that the uncle wasn't invincible, like you could see him get beaten down buy a bunch of random dudes before he finally managed to take care of them and you could also see that he got scared from time to time. At first I was like mehh it takes away from the amazingly badass mysterious vibe they set him out to be in the first couple of eps... but then I thought this ACTUALLY makes him even more of a realistic character and less like the mc with the plot armor protecting her.

All in all this was a fun watch, I really wanted ALL those bad guys, especially THAT specific one to go out very, very painfully but I am at least happy Honda got avenged, he was my favorite character :'(

Edit: Oh wait I just realized something that annoyed me in the first couple of episodes and I don't think it was answered till the end. Why on earth were a bunch of killers obligated to protect the mc? like what would force them to do that, especially since some of them just took out whatever those implants were? Not mentioned, they never even showed up lmfao xD

Leer más

Mind Blowing Thriller

A Shop for Killers is fantastic. I watched it and regretted why I hadn't watched it before. The action in this manga is truly epic and mind boggling. I hope they make a second season because I just can't wait to see what will happen next, This show is extremely thrilling and will make you want more. It kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole day. In some Korean dramas, even getting a gun is a pain in the ass. But in this drama, a pistol is the most basic weapon, while we have mercenaries with machine guns, attacking drones, and whatnot.
The negatives of this show are probably some far-fetched plot holes and pacing. Because I think some people don't watch it in one go and might forget the details with flashbacks going on and off simultaneously. But otherwise, the drama is French's kiss, with great actors and superb direction. I'm in love with characters like Minhye, Bale, and Pasin.

Leer más

A not so bad plot and a not so bad acting

A series adapted from a novel which I didn’t read so I my review will only focuses on the series.

We get a very interesting first 2 episodes with an original concept as well as in the directing and artistic approach, with an intriguing cast, intriguing because it is far from the roles we usually see them in, and if you don’t know it’s from a novel, it is also a very unique plot.

To me I am satisfied with 95% of the storyline and the acting. I especially love the scenery, this darkness around each scene and the dialogues with a lot of depth. The sign language conversation is extremely enjoyable. Vilains have some depth too even if you think the main vilain is psycho.

It is a very short series for which we can expect another season and worth watching especially since it is short.

Now I will talk about a few things that, personally didn’t work and thus, the reason why it is not a 10/10.

First of all the development of Jeong Ji An is not completed. Was it saved for another season ? We have a child version and short development of her as a kid. You must have spotted how strong JJA as a child is very brave and very intelligent. We could think her childhood affected this version of her but they showed us when Jeong Jin Man was raising her. We still see confidence, braveness, curiosity and excitement actually… The young adult version of her is quite far from the picture we got from her in the past. The young adult teenage version of her is very frail, not confident, weak also (in her way to think and physically act)… So it feels we are missing something.

Another plot problem to me is how quick some situations get resolved. I mean, these people are very smart, not easily fooled, they think… How this whole situation gets resolved is not convincing. When JJM dies it is not convincing how easy people think he died. Is it because the novel said so ? Should we blame the writer ?

Another problem is the acting. Don’t get me wrong I am satisfied with everyone and if sometimes Kim Hye Jun is questionable I think it is more a characterization problem. But Park Ji Bin could have done way better especially when he dies…

Lastly why not a 10/10. Well even if it was very entertaining and nice I think it is hardly rewatchable and they are right, the re watchable value is part of the rating. You might think because it is short it is not rewatchable but DP is rewatchable (season 1), on american series Black mirror is rewatchable. Might be very different kind of stuff but to me the rewatchable value here is lower than some other stuffs.

PS : I talked about the cons but I also mentioned the pros and of course I enjoyed it. I think LDW is pretty amazing even tho it is not his best performance.

Leer más

Dramatic, Gorey, Enthralling

From start to finish, the presentation and story-telling of the show were gripping and exciting! Both the leads - the uncle and the niece play a fantastic part in this entire series - both together and separately! It definitely makes it a MUST WATCH.

If you enjoy action, thrillers, suspense - this show has all of that. You might have to put up with a bit of gruesome gorey killing sprees along with it so "Listen Well" - watch at your own risk depending on what you are able to handle. It did get a bit much for me. Though they try to spare you a bit with the camera panning to the killer rather than the victim. The story is actually not very complicated which is a plus point. There is a bit of back and forth with episodes 5 and 6 giving important background information but never for a moment did this show lose it's pace or get boring so don't let that make you hesitant.

The show is unrealistically realistic. It doesn't make superheroes out of nobodies. People are what you expect them to be and rely on their wits and other skills. Of course there are still unrealistic aspects to the show but the series completely draws you into the world despite that.

Just FYI, the story isn't complete and although there is no confirmation as of now but there probably should be a season 2. That is the only thing I wish wasn't the case. I would have liked an extra 2 episodes and the series to be concluded. Not sure what new season 2 could hold as expectations will now be through the roof.

The OST fits the series perfectly. The actors did a good job and I'm especially happy that Lee Dong Wook took up this project. He's just the icing and cherry on top of the cake!

Leer más

Série très bien faite !

8 épisodes haletants, à couper le souffle !
Cette série dévoile au fur et à mesure l'histoire des participants, pourquoi ils font cela etc.
Ce n'est pas une série pour homme-soja ou bisounours, il y des scènes assez gore mais cela reste quand même très supportable
J'ai adoré :
les acteurs : tous excellents et convaincants
les scènes de combat : très réalistes et bien filmées
Le scénario : très bien construit
Le rythme : parfait
La musique : adaptée à chaque moment
Je n'ai pas aimé :
euh non rien !
IL FAUT UNE 2e SAISON !!!!!! Je ne donne pas de spoilers, mais une deuxième saison s'impose !

Leer más

What a great show. The high quality and brutal intensity of the action scenes, the production design, the colorful and compelling supporting characters and flashily demented villains were reminiscent of John Wick in the best way. They did a great job building tension and suspense in each episode, I was on the edge of my seat no matter what timeline I was in, equally captivated by the flashbacks and the present day scenes.

The centerpiece of the show, the devoted yet unconventional uncle/niece relationship, was beautifully done. In addition to all the high octane spectacle this show had a lot of emotional weight to it. I simp so hard for Lee Dong Wook his own mother would tell me to take it down a notch so I really enjoyed watching him play a character that was so simultaneously reserved yet charismatic and he did a great job being deadpan yet still expressive and dryly funny. The acting was excellent across the board.

I do wish the show had shown us what Uncle Jin Man was up to while Ji An was battling for her life. I can intuit how/why he faked his death and that he was fighting Bale (who was MIA from the protracted showdown at the house) but I would have actually liked to see some of it. Since it felt like they recycled some previously seen footage in episode 7 I think they could have used that time to wrap that subplot up more definitively.

Leer más

~One of the best kdrama of 2024~

I started watching this because of the title, it intrigued me in a way as I am a fan of thriller kdramas I was looking for something to binge-watch and I found it!! This kdrama is packed with action, relentless fighting and drama. Its definitely one of those kdramas you can watch again, the cast, the acting top-notch? The ending was expected because they wouldn't kill the ML and he had most of screen-time and he's what supposed to be a mercenary bad-ass fighter. Just one thing about this show, too predictable I basically predicted the ending and that bale (whatever) villian was alive. Personally I like shows that are less predictable which will intrigue me to watch more and get more hyped up. Besides that, this kdrama was a blast for me, I found that pyscho (the boy who locked up jeong jian) quite annoying and impulsive but his death made me fall off my sofa, fr bro has such an easy death!?
Definitely recommended for thriller kdrama-fans...!!!

Leer más