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dangermousieWatched Athena ep 1 (subs are out) and was, frankly, underwhelmed.
At more than one point I found myself multitasking and doing something else. It's entertaining enough for me to watch more of, but it's hardly must-see TV.
A few disclaimers before I delve into why I am not yet Athena fangirl. I came into this not expecting this to be related to IRIS in much (I was happy it wasn't. I did not want a sequel - I thought the ending of IRIS, brutal as it was, fit perfectly), but I did come to it as a rabid IRIS fangirl. IRIS was my drama of 2009, in my top 5 kdramas of all time, and probably one of the two most intense emotional drama experiences I've ever had (the other one being The Myth). IRIS is, in many ways, my perfect kdrama - the intensity, the descent into hell, the romance, the colors, and above all Lee Byung Hun's amazing performance. Hyun Joon is my favorite kdrama hero, ever. Bar none. So this is what I like. If, OTOH, IRIS left you cold, Athena may fix whatever bugged you about the former. (Or make you as disinterested as IRIS did, no idea).
The other disclaimer - I like the rest of the Athena cast but I think Su Ae has no screen presence whatsoever. None. I've seen her in two dramas prior to this - Emperor of the Sea and 9 End 2 Outs, and in both she could have been replaced by a photogenic cut-out and nobody would have noticed. OTOH, I really loved Kim Tae Hee in IRIS - she may not win an Oscar any time soon, but she does have oodles of star charisma, chemistry, and warmth.
So take the below for all it's worth to you.
1. The first half-an-hour bored me to tears. Why am I supposed to care about extraction of some scientist I've never met and a cast of characters most of whom die within that half-an-hour? Jung Woo Sung doesn't even appear in the first half, and neither do most of the other main characters. Being thrown into the middle of the action can be fun but only if there are stakes for protagonists and exciting things happen. Talking about a nuclear reactor isn't it.
2. Su Ae. I think she has zero charisma or chemistry with either JWS or Cha Seung Won, but what's worse is I loathe her character. I am all for tarnished and complex characters but she makes Kim So Yeon of IRIS seem like a boyscout as she was at least carrying out what she thought was her patriotic duty (also KSY is a heck of a lot a magnetic actress than Su Ae). I am supposed to root for a member of a terrorist organization who kills and tortures agents? I don't think so. Every time she appeared in the second half of the ep and JWS tried to court her, I wasn't amused or caring, I just rolled my eyes irritated at this storyline - a female Jack the Ripper isn't my thing, nor is she a suitable object for a courtship. At the very least, the makers should have not revealed her evil (if they were going to go that way and make her this way) but either hid it until the end or showed a gradual progression. As it is, I think she's a criminal killer and traitor and should be locked up. Way to make me care for the love story, drama! Oh, I know, she is going to reform for the love of JWS. Don't make me barf, drama! I am all for love reforming a troubled bad boy or girl but there is quite a difference between a bad girl and psycho killer. "Oh, my bad, I love a good guy, so I'll be good now" is as repentance-less and idiotic as it could get. So what, I guess it's lucky your chosen one wasn't a cannibal or arms runner. Overall, it's like a gender-reversed relationship TOP had with the computer analyst in IRIS and we all remember how well it went.
3. Intensity of IRIS is missing. It feels like Korean James Bond. Which is fine if you like that, but the reason I loved IRIS was its gritty intensity. JWS is an amazing actor but so far he's been given little to work with. I am withholding my judgment because Rome wasn't built in a day, and hope the makers won't waste having him and actually give him some heavy lifting to do. I want to love his character, I do - but soo far he's just a pretty image on the screen and I couldn't care less if he got ran over by a car. I was shaking about Hyun Joon by the middle of IRIS. I want to shake again. ETA: Watching ep 2 now and am beginning to care for JWS' character. Good.
4. Cha Seung Won is his excellent self but once again, sexy or not, a murderous evil psycho is not someone I am interested in.
Overall, it's not a bad drama but soul and heart seem to be missing. I will watch and hope it will get better. Now it's competent but fogettable 100%.
At more than one point I found myself multitasking and doing something else. It's entertaining enough for me to watch more of, but it's hardly must-see TV.
A few disclaimers before I delve into why I am not yet Athena fangirl. I came into this not expecting this to be related to IRIS in much (I was happy it wasn't. I did not want a sequel - I thought the ending of IRIS, brutal as it was, fit perfectly), but I did come to it as a rabid IRIS fangirl. IRIS was my drama of 2009, in my top 5 kdramas of all time, and probably one of the two most intense emotional drama experiences I've ever had (the other one being The Myth). IRIS is, in many ways, my perfect kdrama - the intensity, the descent into hell, the romance, the colors, and above all Lee Byung Hun's amazing performance. Hyun Joon is my favorite kdrama hero, ever. Bar none. So this is what I like. If, OTOH, IRIS left you cold, Athena may fix whatever bugged you about the former. (Or make you as disinterested as IRIS did, no idea).
The other disclaimer - I like the rest of the Athena cast but I think Su Ae has no screen presence whatsoever. None. I've seen her in two dramas prior to this - Emperor of the Sea and 9 End 2 Outs, and in both she could have been replaced by a photogenic cut-out and nobody would have noticed. OTOH, I really loved Kim Tae Hee in IRIS - she may not win an Oscar any time soon, but she does have oodles of star charisma, chemistry, and warmth.
So take the below for all it's worth to you.
1. The first half-an-hour bored me to tears. Why am I supposed to care about extraction of some scientist I've never met and a cast of characters most of whom die within that half-an-hour? Jung Woo Sung doesn't even appear in the first half, and neither do most of the other main characters. Being thrown into the middle of the action can be fun but only if there are stakes for protagonists and exciting things happen. Talking about a nuclear reactor isn't it.
2. Su Ae. I think she has zero charisma or chemistry with either JWS or Cha Seung Won, but what's worse is I loathe her character. I am all for tarnished and complex characters but she makes Kim So Yeon of IRIS seem like a boyscout as she was at least carrying out what she thought was her patriotic duty (also KSY is a heck of a lot a magnetic actress than Su Ae). I am supposed to root for a member of a terrorist organization who kills and tortures agents? I don't think so. Every time she appeared in the second half of the ep and JWS tried to court her, I wasn't amused or caring, I just rolled my eyes irritated at this storyline - a female Jack the Ripper isn't my thing, nor is she a suitable object for a courtship. At the very least, the makers should have not revealed her evil (if they were going to go that way and make her this way) but either hid it until the end or showed a gradual progression. As it is, I think she's a criminal killer and traitor and should be locked up. Way to make me care for the love story, drama! Oh, I know, she is going to reform for the love of JWS. Don't make me barf, drama! I am all for love reforming a troubled bad boy or girl but there is quite a difference between a bad girl and psycho killer. "Oh, my bad, I love a good guy, so I'll be good now" is as repentance-less and idiotic as it could get. So what, I guess it's lucky your chosen one wasn't a cannibal or arms runner. Overall, it's like a gender-reversed relationship TOP had with the computer analyst in IRIS and we all remember how well it went.
3. Intensity of IRIS is missing. It feels like Korean James Bond. Which is fine if you like that, but the reason I loved IRIS was its gritty intensity. JWS is an amazing actor but so far he's been given little to work with. I am withholding my judgment because Rome wasn't built in a day, and hope the makers won't waste having him and actually give him some heavy lifting to do. I want to love his character, I do - but soo far he's just a pretty image on the screen and I couldn't care less if he got ran over by a car. I was shaking about Hyun Joon by the middle of IRIS. I want to shake again. ETA: Watching ep 2 now and am beginning to care for JWS' character. Good.
4. Cha Seung Won is his excellent self but once again, sexy or not, a murderous evil psycho is not someone I am interested in.
Overall, it's not a bad drama but soul and heart seem to be missing. I will watch and hope it will get better. Now it's competent but fogettable 100%.
