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KBS2 Drama "MAD DOG" Yoo Ji-Tae, Woo Do-Hwan & Ryu Hwa-Young. *Thanks for watching, Mad Dogs!!^^*


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 Drama Review] "Mad Dog" Episode 3 

 

 

 

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A cat and mouse game is great, but a slow burning fight between two mad dogs is not too shabby when the progress is decent. Kang-woo and his "Mad Dog" team turn Min-joon into their investigation's target; a move which the young man welcomes, even if he is met with more challenge than he anticipated. Meanwhile, a new face has surprising ties to the protagonists' past.

 

 

 

Episode three delivers more progress with the dog team and that is most welcome. In fact, the human element of the story is the most interesting one and that is no surprise; stories are all about experiencing nature and humanity. I find the fact that the team's backstories frame current cases and guide our hero's morality back to something less cynical quite encouraging. It is good writing, because it also helps audiences relate through someone closer than a guest character.

 

 

 

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I am wondering what direction the series will be taking, however. Will every person of interest be another piece in the puzzle Min-joon (Woo Do-hwan) is piecing together while Kang-woo (Yoo Ji-tae) trails behind him, waiting for it all to make sense? Following an oblivious character towards a known outcome does not sound like an excting story, so my hope is that doubt will start creeping into Kang-woo's mind, making him directly involved in this mystery.

 

 

 

Then we have the politics. Oh where would Dramaland be without its Rich Evil Dudesâ„¢, their fake laughter and their backstabbings over expensive sashimi and drinks. This sequence and its characters are sadly an absolute snooze. Joo Hyeon-gi (Choi Won-young) is greedy with an inferiority complex and Chairman Cha (Jung Bo-suk) is a neglecting, calculating father. Cha Hong-joo (Hong Soo-hyun) is standard case of a smitten antagonist with daddy issues. I am waiting for nuance, "Mad Dog".

 

 

 

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For now, I am curious about where Min-joon's behavior toward Kang-woo stems from. Is it just a facade to mask his fears and weaknesses or does he have some personal grudge against Kang-woo? If Chairman Cha had anything to do with the crash or if Min-joon thinks that he did, that would explain a lot. Kang-woo is still his most loyal dog, after all and as far as Min-joon is concerned.

 

 

 

Most of all, I want to see meatier content from the individual cases. I understand that Kang Eun-joo (Park Ji-yeon-I) is suspicious and that this case is more about our leads than her, but she is a dull, standardized victim stereotype. The creators clearly understand that pity does not equal deeper emotional involvement, so I hope they pay the same attention to guest characters as they do to their main ones.

 

 

 

cr

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[Review] Episode 4


 


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The dog fight continues as Kang-woo and his team follow Min-joon's lead while at the same time investigating him and his potential motive. The case of Kang Eun-joo's husband clearly has foul play involved and the revelation of her past further fuels the need of the "Mad Dog" bunch for information. Meanwhile, romantic woes start to surface in the lives of leads and antagonists alike.


 


The plot thickens as connections come to light and I wonder how far back those go, given the latest revelations. I am sure that the orphanage will turn out to be funded by Chairman Cha (Jung Bo-suk) or something, but the fact that it is still difficult to figure out who is guilty of what, what their moral stance on the story's happenings is or who may have been pressured or threatened keeps things slightly more interesting.


 


photo901676.jpg&key=154e2e4103e67f5c229cphoto901675.jpg&key=7893c83d8079541cac9b


 


On a potentially less positive note, the series seems to have romance in store for its younger leads. I like the idea of a romance for people who clearly do not have much fun in life, but if the flirting between Min-joon (Woo Do-hwan) and Ha-ri (Ryu Hwa-young) keeps happening as fanservice, rather than bonding, I will start to doubt the creators' focus and confidence. The same goes for Min-joon's sudden bouts of toplessness. These characters and their relationships can and should be engaging enough without a crutch.


 


Their flaunted appeal could, in a worst case scenario, mean that creators think viewers may not care about justice or the heroes' pain enough if said heroes are not placed on a pedestal. The same goes for Kang-woo's (Yoo Ji-tae) overplayed, but underdeveloped drama, although his rediscovery of sympathy is an encouraging element. I also wish to see more "guest victims" with a strong presence. Personal revenge stories come a dime a dozen, but social justice ones carry more weight.


 


photo901674.jpg&key=2c1b77e05dad9c23a357photo901673.jpg&key=bda68826c9758cc9c2fc


 


The antagonist trio or at least what so far feels like one continue to be painfully dull and while I do have the curiosity fueled by impatience to figure out the role of each, I wish the series would get to that already. "Mad Dog" has just concluded its introduction and we do not even know what the point of their existence in this plot is aside from what the predictability of such stories and their character types dictate.


 


I am not sure what to make of "Mad Dog" so far. It has some moments of brilliance with its characters, their motivations, development and with its story and mystery, but it also focuses so much on larger-than-life ideas, theatrics and caricature supporting and guest characters that it sometimes feels effortless and forced. Can we drop the barking and get to the biting, "Mad Dog"?


 


cr


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[Review] Episode 4

 

photo901677.jpg&key=bbb07fd78834ecb9c44f

 

The dog fight continues as Kang-woo and his team follow Min-joon's lead while at the same time investigating him and his potential motive. The case of Kang Eun-joo's husband clearly has foul play involved and the revelation of her past further fuels the need of the "Mad Dog" bunch for information. Meanwhile, romantic woes start to surface in the lives of leads and antagonists alike.

 

The plot thickens as connections come to light and I wonder how far back those go, given the latest revelations. I am sure that the orphanage will turn out to be funded by Chairman Cha (Jung Bo-suk) or something, but the fact that it is still difficult to figure out who is guilty of what, what their moral stance on the story's happenings is or who may have been pressured or threatened keeps things slightly more interesting.

 

 

photo901676.jpg&key=154e2e4103e67f5c229cphoto901675.jpg&key=7893c83d8079541cac9b

 

On a potentially less positive note, the series seems to have romance in store for its younger leads. I like the idea of a romance for people who clearly do not have much fun in life, but if the flirting between Min-joon (Woo Do-hwan) and Ha-ri (Ryu Hwa-young) keeps happening as fanservice, rather than bonding, I will start to doubt the creators' focus and confidence. The same goes for Min-joon's sudden bouts of toplessness. These characters and their relationships can and should be engaging enough without a crutch.

 

Their flaunted appeal could, in a worst case scenario, mean that creators think viewers may not care about justice or the heroes' pain enough if said heroes are not placed on a pedestal. The same goes for Kang-woo's (Yoo Ji-tae) overplayed, but underdeveloped drama, although his rediscovery of sympathy is an encouraging element. I also wish to see more "guest victims" with a strong presence. Personal revenge stories come a dime a dozen, but social justice ones carry more weight.

 

 

photo901674.jpg&key=2c1b77e05dad9c23a357photo901673.jpg&key=bda68826c9758cc9c2fc

 

The antagonist trio or at least what so far feels like one continue to be painfully dull and while I do have the curiosity fueled by impatience to figure out the role of each, I wish the series would get to that already. "Mad Dog" has just concluded its introduction and we do not even know what the point of their existence in this plot is aside from what the predictability of such stories and their character types dictate.

 

I am not sure what to make of "Mad Dog" so far. It has some moments of brilliance with its characters, their motivations, development and with its story and mystery, but it also focuses so much on larger-than-life ideas, theatrics and caricature supporting and guest characters that it sometimes feels effortless and forced. Can we drop the barking and get to the biting, "Mad Dog"?

 

cr

Why are some people so offended by hints of romance and harmless flirtation smh

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  • love changed the title to KBS2 Drama "MAD DOG" Yoo Ji-Tae, Woo Do-Hwan & Ryu Hwa-Young. *Thanks for watching, Mad Dogs!!^^*

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