Genre- Thriller/ suspense, Melodrama, Romance, Crime/Mystery
Cast- Lee Joon-Gi as Baek Hee-Sung , Moon Chae-won as Cha Ji-won
Flower of Evil Episode 1 Recap
Flower of Evil Episode 2 Recap
Series Review
Short summary
Baek Hee Sung is a metal craftsman who lives with his wife Cha Ji-won, a detective from violent crimes unit and daughter Baek Eun-ha. They live a loving and perfect life.
Reporter Kim Moo Jin writes articles about serial killers and murders. His recent article is about the gruesome Yeonju murders committed by serial killer Do Min Seok around 18 years back. Kim is curious to track down Do Min Seok’s son Do Hyun Su. He is sure that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as it is rumoured that Do Hyun Su assisted his father in the serial killings. Do Hyun Su had vanished from the village after killing the village foreman and is wanted for the murder. Kim one day stumbles across Baek Hee Sung and finds (recognises) that Baek Hee Sung is none other than Do Hyun Su, the son of the dreaded serial killer Do Min Seok.
Do Hyun Su doesn’t like the fact that Kim found him. He vows to do anything to keep his identity a secret from the world and most importantly- his wife Cha Ji Won. Luck isn’t on his side as it so happens Cha Ji-won ends up on a case which leads her to work on the very same case. What follows forms the rest of this thrilling series.
The series is fast paced and gets off to a quick start. It doesn’t waste a single moment the runtime. This series is packed with thrills and twists.
The screenplay is really good and the manner in which the story unravels is interesting. The story shows two timelines in every episode, the past and the present. The flashbacks which start of every episode are thrilling and they make the series mysterious and thrilling.
The layered plot is skilfully executed. Every episode ends in a cliff-hanger, leaving the viewer with a lot of questions, which are immediately answered in the following episodes. This drama has many twists and plotlines that keep the viewer gripped from beginning to the end. What is nice about the plot is that it looks like there are lot of unanswered questions but everything is answered in the end.
The drama has a perfect casting as all the actors fit into their roles perfectly. The supporting cast bring the air of mystery into the drama. Every character is important and they add an interesting twist to the story.
This series is one of the best thrillers out there. Namely, the scenes with Do Min Seok and Hee Sung are thrilling to watch. The police team is efficient and it is interesting to see the way they solve cases.
Hyun Su’s character is an intruiguing one as it takes quite some time to form a judgement over his character. Initally one’s judgment keeps swaying and this made the series very interesting. The antagonist roles are very interesting as well. The character sketches of all characters are beautifully written.
What starts of as a perfect loving relationship between Baek Hee Sung and Cha Ji-won, quickly spirals out of control once Ji-won opens the Pandora box. The complicated relationship between the couple has been portrayed very well in this series. There are many emotional and noteworthy scenes between the leads in this series which is top notch.
The series starts off with very little details, so it keeps the viewer guessing. The pieces of the jigsaw are dropped like breadcrumbs throughtout the series and it all fits in neatly in the end.
The scenes where Kim Moo Jin and Do Hyun Su share screen space always a pleasant watch.
There are a lot of aspects that were outstanding in this drama:
· Its pace
· Character sketches
· The acting
· Thrills
· Unexpected twists
· Dialogues
· The flashbacks at the start of every episode.
· The background music and OSTs.
· Script and screenplay
Lee Joong Gi portrays the demanding role of Baek Hee Sung/ Do Hyun Su. Do Hyun Su is a mysterious character who lives a normal life under a false identity of Baek Hee sung. He is determined to go to any lengths to keep the life which he tried so hard to build. He is diagnosed of a mental illness at a young age and he makes sure that no one finds out that he doesn’t have emotions. Lee Joon Gi brings the character to life in a remarkable manner as Do Hyun Su’s character is a complex one.
Moon Chae Won portrays Cha Ji Won,a righteous detective from the violent crimes unit. Ji-won works in her dream job and is married to the love of her life Hee Sung. In the beginning, she comes across as a soft character but as the series progresses we see how much she evolves as a character. Throughout the series, she struggles to walk the line between a righteous cop and a loyal wife. Though she says she will side with her husband at any cost, she does comes across as a cop no matter what happens. Moon Chae Won portrays Ji-won being torn between Hee Sung and her job in a great manner.
Seo Hyun-Woo portrays Kim Moo Jin. A reporter who will do anything unethical to get the exclusive story he wants. The only light hearted part of the series revolves around Kim Moo Jin. One takes time to warm up to his character but later on he ends up as one of the favourites. He has his share of secrets too.
Jang Hee-Jin portrays Do Hae Soo, Do Hyun Su’s sister. A quiet personality who nurses a guilt carried on from many years. She faces the impact of being the daughter of a serial killer and lives a lonely life. Being the closest to a mother figure to Do Hyun Su, Hae Soo is a very important character to the plot and like her brother and Kim, she has a secret too, which is eating her from the inside.
Kim Ji-Hoon portrays Baek Hee Sung. Though the series has many antagonists, the choicest of them is Baek Hee Sung. He comes in the later part of the series and his role shows how important an antagonist is to a plot. His performance takes the series to an entire new level. Towards the end of the series one feels uneasy whenever is on screen. Every scene he is in is thrilling and gripping.
The supporting cast have done an amazing work and my favourite are Choi Jae Sup, Baek Eun-ha, Do Min Seok, Baek Man Woo and Gong Mi-ja. The actors who portray the teenage/adolescent versions of the characters have done an exceptional work as they resemble their adult counterparts in mannerisms and acting.
When I started watching the series I expected the crime thriller with a bit of melodrama. The crime part of the series delivered beyond expectations but the psychological aspect of the plot came as a surprise package. In fact, this is the part which makes Flower of Evil one the best dramas. The series shows what a misdiagnosis can do to a person. It also shows how society looks upon mental illness and the social stigma surrounding family background. It also shows how much the environment and family affects a person’s mental health. The series portrays complex emotions in a deeply emotive way. While watching the show it is the crime suspense that hooks one to the series, but after it is over it is the emotional aspects that remains with the viewer.
Flower of evil is easily among the best dramas list and is a must watch!
Ost picks
-By Soul Sword-
