Wanted (2016)

The first teaser of Wanted reminded me a little bit of God's Gift - 14 Days. Reading the synopsis it made me think about an American themed movie. Having piqued my interest, I was ready to give it a go. It starts out slow but you just have to endure it for a little while. You will probably not regret this as it picks up the pace in the coming episodes. That's where the good part starts.

After having her son kidnapped, top actress Jung Hye In (Kim Ah Joong) starts filming a reality show on the kidnapper's demands to save him. Every episode starts with a mission which she has to complete. As the story unfolds you, like Jung Hye In, will learn how everything is connected to each other. It's fair to say that every episode keeps you on the edge of the seat. As the search for Hyun Woo continues, you want to know what the kidnapper's motives are.

The cast is made up of a lot of familiar faces. You might know some of the actors/actresses from their previous work as they have acted in well received drama's. Kim Ah Joong plays Jung Hye In, a retiring top actress whose son get kidnapped. As someone with a public image, she has to go through ordeals to secure the safety of her child. It's not easy to put up a front as she's a top actress & worrying mother as well. The amount of emotions are portrayed very well by her. She acted out her character pretty good. Uhm Tae Woong does a good job playing Shin Dong Wook, a PD who is fired before he gets the chance to make an influential show. He gives off a stern & cold vibe that goes well with the character Shin Dong Wook. Ji Hyun Woo takes on the role of detective Cha Seung In. He surprised me with his acting. In 'Angry Mom' he played a righteous but somewhat pushover teacher. Didn't expect him to play a determined, righteous & kick ass detective but he pulls it of very well. Every character (even the support roles) has his/her background story that fits in with the development of the plot.

It's not very uncommon for thrillers to use anything beside ambiance background music. That being said, Wanted has a total of 4 OST's and the songs aren't that bad. It's a shame they couldn't be implemented someway (e.g, ending credits) so be sure to give them a listen. You don't want to miss out on a song like Yezi & Jung Chaeyeon's - Shadow.

Wanted is a thriller with a great cast, a steady pace and intriguing story. There are things that could have been done better to live up to it's "promising" plot. It's a pity but not too disturbing. The drama is somewhat thought provoking and the suspense only leaves you wanting more.

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The story line for Wanted is interesting in theory. However, it lacked something. I didn't feel the suspense or the apprehension one would expect in a story where a child is kidnapped. It is a very slow build up to basically nothing. It is a sad story where the "bad guys" aren't what they seem and the true evil is revealed with no consequence (something they plainly say in the end is that no one will be punished or admit fault or give an apology). I don't think that is a spoiler because the ending leaves a lot to be desired.

The acting is pretty good. Kim Ah Joong did well as strong and vulnerable Jung Hye In, but something was missing. I didn't really feel anything. The other actors are good too.

The music is fine.

I won't ever rewatch this.

It isn't that this drama sucks, but it doesn't live up to it's potential.

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Why I watched it: Nothing else had finished and it looked semi-interesting.

Was it worth it: Nope.

What I liked the most: The story/concept was pretty interesting. Or, at least, it should have been.

What I disliked the most: There were WAY too many characters, and most you don’t even see.

Moment Meter: 0/10 – -_-

Other thoughts: I had absolutely no feels invested in any characters. The subject matter was interesting, but the entire thing felt so boring. The avalanche of characters had me lost more often than not. The acting was pretty good. There were a few twists that were somewhat interesting. The main detective (Ji Hyun Woo) was OP and the only one I had even mild interest in. He was practically invincible, and the only one capable of kicking butt. The ending lacked impact. It wasn’t bad, but there are far more interesting dramas out there. The expectations I have for dramas are much higher these days and this one didn’t meet them.

Conclusion: I didn’t hate it, but I could have skipped it and I wouldn’t have missed much.

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Who can we trust?

The plot is more complicate than a simple kidnapping of a child.
How far a mother can go and what she can do for her son?
Different motivations pushed people to help this mother. Success and popularity to the producer, justice to the policeman, saving lifes for the mother.
This search is too long. Names, events, stalkers, suspects, kidnapping, history of domestic violence, ... I was confused. There are many culprits... it'is frustrating to see but I wanted to see this poor child go back to his mother! By the 9th episode I'm exhausted from waiting.
Finally into 13th episodes you will be able to find out who "the guilty" is.

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