So far I loved this Drama so Much that I was compelled to write a review
Direction- 10/10
I was so impressed by the direction of this drama that I specifically went an extra mile to search for Director Kim Sang-ho and his other works. South Korea is very lenient when it comes to writing and directing credits and this drama prooves that why credits should be given importance. Anybody watching this drama will feel like they are watching a piece of an Art. Some of the shots were cinematic brilliance. I liked how director made the choice of keep the film rolling and capturing the actors while they were doing absolutely nothing and just stairing out of the window or corner. Its hard to act when you are asked to portray your emotions of guilt, anger, frustration, sadness while saying and doing absolutely nothing but those were the actully best captured shots. He looked like the director who gets best out of his actors. Acting from everybody seemed top notch, not only casting director ( Whose name I couldnt find even after searching) should be commended but Director should also be given fair share of praise for getting best out of the actors.
In short this drama is NOTHING SHORT OF A PIECE OF AN ART.
Actors.- 10/10
Acting: After certain tragic event when 3 people of IFB seemed worried, distreesed and disheartened they looked like your average people mouring the loss of a colleague. Their weeping and tension was so real that I felt like that I have came out from real funeral. Eveyone acted so well that it feels like you are watching people in their everyday life. None of them looked Actor except Eugene Han( his style of acting was different but I still liked him though believability of his character was lowest). Actors were simply doing nothing but just being there and you still can figure out what kind of emotions they are feeling. That is best acting when actors can portray everything by doing nothing. Its too easy to over act in such situations but none of them did. Acting so far is so good that I am afraid that just one mistake and it ll ruin a master piece.
Story- 7.5/10
Based on 8 episodes so far story was too good for first 7 episodes. It never feels like your typical Kdrama from the core topic of the story to the events. But in the 8th episode they lost huge point where they introduced romantic elements although Romace is quite believable but they could have managed without it. I think making a K drama without Typical elements of Kdrama isnt easy in Korea, people simply refuse to watch it. Hence they must not have any choice apart from that. But core story of finacial situation is good. Storywise Its a breath of fresh air in typical Korean Drama Industry. Apart from cliche Romantic element I would give this story and writing 10/10.
Research- 10/10
I am not an economic expert but while watching this drama you can feel like they did and enormous amount of research on economic conditions of differen countries in the world. Like in the 8th episode when they mentioned that many reports were made to publicise BRICS so that their funds can be sold. That was true in BRICS apart from CHINA & INDIA other countries didnt show much of a dramatic growth. Its just that Growth of China and India was so much big that it inceased the value of BRICS and people failed to notice faliure of such growth in BRAZIL, SA and RUSSIA. Not just this part but facts they mentioned about different currencies, foreign reserve held buy different nations, East Asia finacial crisis and political blunders that caused it, were so great. There were many situations where I didnt agree with finacial ideologies of Show but they were backed by strong facts hence I ended up accepting them as a different view on same situation.
Score 9.5/10
Choices of the music score were intresting specifivcally when they chose south of heavy breathing out at very important decisive moments, it felt like they are playing with lungs of the country ( Finacial situation metaphorically compared to lungs). Through out the drama I have watched so far score took a back seat highlighting the acting and story. The indication of good score is that when you can feel for story and actors. Score wasn't very strong hence it did its jobs quite perfectly. Apart from repetitive theme score (song) which gets annoying at times bcoz it doesnt suit the story everything with the score was perfect. Sometimes they chose to not use the score and go complete silent and those monets were great too.
TVN- 10/10
TVN is known for making best Kdramas and they have prooved it once again.
So Far this drama has been treat to watch, it ll be a great watch for people who are tired of cliche Korean Dramas.