Vincenzo (2021)

I really enjoyed this show but...

this is not one where I will miss the characters. I might miss the quirkiness of the Plaza residents who lightened the mood when it got too dark. But, this is a seriously dark view of the world and there's just so much blood...

Song Joon Ki and Jeon Yeo Been were great in the lead roles, but I think Ok Taec Yeon stole the show. I don't think I can see him in anything else for a while. Han Seok was downright scary, all rage and unbridled emotions, as opposed to Vincenzo, who was cool and collected for most of the show.

Glad I watched the show, but I need a few light-hearted rom-coms to recover...

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Very much worth watching

I watched this drama in January 2022 and I liked it A LOT. It was fun, exciting and thrilling at the same time; and although there is definitely some romance involved in the story, I enjoyed the fact that it is not a love centered one. Since romance is the genre I tend to watch the most when it comes to kdramas this was kind of refreshing.

It was really fun and sweet to watch a community of people living together and learning to love and protect each other while maintaining that kind of comedic essence in their relationships.

I still listen to the Italian version of Adrenaline (by Aalia) from this drama’s OST, it’s an incredibly good song omg.

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highly recommended

It is an amazing drama . i never comment on a drama but i cannot stop myself from telling that everyone should watch this masterpiece. i just don't want it to end song joong-ki acting is mind blowing. i highly recommend it if i can give it 100 stars i wil give. i just cannot describe in words how amazing this drama.
it's 10/10 for me and it climbed up my top few favourites of dramas. it's literally worth sacrificing my studies to binge watch this because it was so good. I didn't watch this initially when it first aired but after a lot of my friends recommended and persuaded me to watch, I finally succumbed to it and watch and I would say I 100% did not regret watching this!!

first of all, ever since descendants of the sun where song Joong ki acted as the main lead, I have never watched any dramas related to him so I forgot how charming he is. he never disappoints, in this drama, he came back x10 hotter and x10 cuter than he already is in dots. he acts like an Italian mafia in this show and he acted really well. he manages to execute his moves so well. He slays this character man oh my god. his gaze, his actions and everything he does just makes me feel so " wow" AHHA sorry can't describe but this drama is also filled with many funny scenes that you could never imagine HAHA ( will say it at the bottom with a spoiler alert so those who haven't watch can anticipate while those who have already watched can reminisce those scenes with me aaa)

the scriptwriter did a great job writing the whole plot with a really good plot twist and also different character development. Not only did the main character was portrayed well, but those second lead were all very good like Taecyeon was portrayed as both a good and bad guy very well as well as dong yeon!! it surprised me how his character development is the best in the whole drama. of course, the prosecutors and all as well as those people living in geumga plaza hehe. furthermore, i like how there need not be many romantic scenes in this drama to make the romance nice. i used to like romance kdrama alot but after watching this drama, i understood that they do not have to necessarily keep having kiss scenes or hug scenes that make your heart flutter. they work together and their chemistry just makes their relationship so wholesome. it's amazing how some things need not be portrayed directly but it still makes you go uWU!


Through this drama, it also made me understand how cute it is to have a bonded group of friends/neighbours who are living together. from them doubting Vincenzo, to them loving him, appreciating his presence and working together with him. it is heartwarming to see these scenes.

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Characterwise, the mains are way too eccentric

(Watched it around 2 months ago, but i still remember the impression) || I actually liked the overall story but what I couldn't stand from this drama is the female lead. I know comedy is one of this drama's genre but the TOO eccentric characteristic of the main leads (SJK and JYB) sometimes made me cringe and failed to feel the drama. From what i saw, the comics seemed to be forced ESPECIALLY the FL. She's a good actress, i know, but maybe the writer didnt do good at creating the character that it had flaws here and there. Taecyeon is for sure another eccentric lead too, but to me he made it better than the two, and it suits him (all the rages and comics, i just loved itt). To sum it up, to me it needs more seriousness(?). I gave the acting an 8 thanks to Tacyeon, I could've given a 6.5 if he didnt do good there. || They did a great job for the cinematography, plot, etc tho, but it lacked characteristic creation that i could say it's kinda o V e R r A t E d. 이상입니다.

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Sequel Needed

Outstanding mafia drama! Korea just created its own version of Al Pacino's Godfather with Vincenzo. Yes, you heard me right. I think Song Joong-ki has the right balance of good and evil in his Vincenzo character to create a mafia trilogy. What I enjoy about Korean productions is the overall story value and how it ebbs and flows. I look at the big picture. This had it all. Good vs. evil, with good prevailing, but just enough bad to take the sugary edge off, suspense, comedy, romance, characters you hated, characters you wanted to have a beer with, and those you want to see more of in future dramas. I don't live in Korea so I didn't succumb to the hype of this drama, so I didn't have any expectations going into it other than it was on a list of recommended dramas. I was blown away. I thought this was a superb production. As a foreigner, I kept pausing the drama and googling Seoul locations for filming different scenes. I know so much more about Seoul now than before, and have come away from these explorations with a respect for this great city. The actors were versatile and multi-dimensional, and I've added several to my list of favorite Korean actors. I hope there will be a sequel.

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No matter what I say my words won't do justice to this wonderful series

The production was amazing and the casting was more than perfect. I found myself; feeling sentimental, crying, being angry, emotional, happy and tired of laughing. The drama was absolutely perfect and I already found myself wanting to re watch certain parts when I wasn't even finished. The music was over the top and flawlessly added to the atmosphere. The only one thing why I gave the story 9.0/10 is because Vincenzo's father was never discussed and we only ever got to see his mother and the other is that we never truly get to know about Cha-young's mother except when we see her shouting at her father and blaming him. Like I said my words can not do this series justice so you should just go and watch it, trust me if you haven't watched this you're missing.

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THE SHOW THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE-My first ever review

This is my first ever review on this website, because I just can't help how much in love I am with this drama.
I have already left essay worthy comments on this drama, but I feel it also deserves a stellar review, so here goes:

Acting 10/10: This is only the second Song Joong Ki drama I've seen. But Song Joong Ki's character is so beautifully still in this show, he never fidgets, never gets startled, never loses control of his body movements, and it's a very strong character mentally as well. It's an absolute delight to watch all the episodes again and notice minute changes in his expression to the events around him, and he really manages to exude a natural intelligence and air of authority. His character gradually learns to love, and also accept that he is worthy of receiving love, and his actions show that clearly towards the end. In the beginning he is arrogant and distant without being mean in any way, and towards the end he is loving and caring without being suffocating in every way. The perfect character development. Also his deep voice is so hypnotic at many points of time, I'm convinced that's the main reason I unexpectedly loved his character from start to finish. I have become a fan of Song Joong Ki's acting after this show.

Jeon Yeo Been, MY QUEEN, is the BEST female character ever written, ever performed, ever shown on screen. She is fiery, sassy, bright, sexy, logical, brave, quick-witted, savage, sharp tongued, and beautiful beyond compare. She matches wit with everyone around her, is funny as all hell, her voice is SO hot. She never hesitates to express what she's feeling, and loves her dad despite what happened in her past. She is protective of those around her, and willing to go to any length to achieve her goals. I am IN LOVE with Hong Cha Young and Jeon Yeo Been and this is the main reason I gave the show a 10/10.

Their relationship is EXACTLY what I want in my life. They are best friends, so honest with each other, soft around each other, support each other, communicate so damn well, they TRUST each other, believe in each other, take care of each other without it being toxic in any way, and there is NO malice, NO games, NO hidden agendas anywhere between them. They also tease each other, and never fail to bicker endlessly.
In the simplest sense, it's the PINNACLE of romance, because every single glance and touch and dialogue leaves you to BEG for more. It's pining but also SO satisfying because I cherish every smile, every action that tells everyone around them that they are a unit, a team, a couple. It's realistic because they are both logical and understanding of their circumstances, and you can clearly see the struggle they both have with their feelings, one wants to love but is afraid that the other person has to leave, the other wants to love but is afraid he will have to leave.
The ending was quite satisfactory according to me.

Other factors I want to note:
Cinematography 10/10 Just WOW. The fashion, the shots, the bars/cafes they meet in, all beautiful.
OST 10/10 I have been listening to the ost on repeat even while working, just IN LOVE with it.
Story 9/10 The zig-zag storyline was great to watch, but could've been slightly better if less background character involvement was there.
Cast 10/10 Each and every single actor did their best, and their chemistry was off the charts, insanely good.
Background characters 10/10 Most of the side-characters are interesting and fun to watch. Villains did an awesome job.
Neo-Noir vibe was on POINT. Loved the ode to black and white gangster films, I think SJK nailed that part too.

OVERALL 10/10. I have already seen this show two times.

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I loved it

Im writing this right after finishing the series, still overwhelmed and thrilled.
I started Vincenzo hesitant cause im not a fan of mafia content since i already see enough on my daily life since i live in italy, anyways it was quick since i was dragged into the story and couldn't stop watching it.
I loved the plot although it had some things thrown in and never explained, like the relationship with paolo or the other family thrown towards the end, yet it was so full of events that it didn't matter much.
I was amazed, i loved the villain, i loved the dynamics, the strategy. I fell in love with side characters, main cast, everyone. I loved the way the whole thing was put on.
It's definitely not for everyone since it might be a lil too gruesome for someone not used to all that blood, and also it might simply not be gour genre.
I loved how slow burn the romance was, although i wish we saw more of their relationship after the ending, yk?
Keep in mind that it's not only lawyer stuff  but a lot of revenge is involved.

I'm not a fan of the OST but it was good compared to others i have heard.

The cast was amazing at conveying emotions, i loved it till the end.

I cried, i laughed, i was at the edge of the seat, so I'll definitely rewatch it. Im happy i changed my mind about it in the end.

Also side note, besides the whole mafia part, Vincenzo is probably one of the closest representations of (still stereotyped) italians i have seen jn a while, idk if it's bc how the western media portrays us or jusy this refreshing view, but i enjoyed it.

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Not for everyone, but definitely for me!

I really enjoyed my time with this show! It was one of those dramas that was a little bit slow to start, but from episode 4 onward I was really completely hooked! I never found myself bored, despite the slightly long episode lengths. My one and only problem with the show is a certain romance plot that comes to be. I don't have a problem with the romance itself, because the characters have good chemistry, but to me it didn't align with the direction the characters growth went. It felt like the further apart the characters grew in the moral point of views, the more they were into each other? Which I didn't quite understand. That doesn't happen until the very back half of the show though. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed all other aspects of the show! It was a very thrilling watch with a very entertaining cast of characters that you grow to love!!

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this was just wow

I'm a big fan of crime/mystery and comedy dramas and this drama was just the perfect amount of each genre. This drama made me fall in love with all the characters, especially Vincenzo. His character was so attractive personality and appearance-wise. I think they picked the best actor for the character because Song Joong-Ki really brought Vincenzo to life. And I had the biggest crush on Hong Cha-Yeong because she is just so, amazing. Personally, Han Seo was my favorite. His background was so sad it touched me. I usually never cry watching a drama but I cried at the ending of Vincenzo. The villains did amazing & the story was chef's kiss.
9.5/10

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Impeccable Series--Nearly Ruined by Writer Park Jae Bum!

I’m not sure how many times I have to repeat myself. I’m a writer of eight novels, and one of the most basic elements of writing is that you never sacrifice character for the sake of the plot. In other words, you don’t make a character do something that goes against the character in order to make the plot work. And writer Park Jae Bum makes a very rookie mistake in Episode 19 that carries over into Episode 20.

For the most part, Vincenzo is an impeccable series that is nearly flawless until those terrible 20-25 minutes—the end of Episode 19 and into Episode 20. We are extremely fortunate that this doesn’t ruin the series. As I said in the series “Mad For Each Other,” if you ruin the ending of a series, you destroy the series itself.

Vincenzo is a character on par with Jason Bourne or dare I say it—Batman (the comic character, not the live-action depictions) in which he’s like a grandmaster chess player. He’s always two or three moves ahead of his enemies. He’s also a master of assessing a situation and making the smart choice, not to mention his nearly infallible ability to predict what will happen next based on his enemies’ last move.

Choi Myung Hee has just arranged for herself to take the fall for Jang Han Seok. Despite the fact that we know why she’s doing it, it should be equally obvious to a character like Vincenzo. And yet, neither he nor Hong Cha Young can see the obvious: that it’s to get Jang Han Seok out of prison. That was rookie mistake #1 by Park Jae Bum

Jang Han Seok has abducted Hong Cha Young and Vincenzo is purposely brought to Jang Han Seok’s house in order to kill him. During the ensuing struggle as Jang Han Seok’s brother—Jang Han Seo—jumps him. Rather than helping Jang Han Seo subdue Jang Han Seok—who has a gun—Vincenzo rushes to free Hong Cha Young instead. Vincenzo would never do that. He would realize that the best way to keep Hong Cha Young’s safety—as well as Jang Han Seo—is to help Jang Han Seo take out Jang Han Seok. Now, if in the ensuing struggle, Jang Han Seok manages to escape, that’s all right. But I sighed with disgust when Vincenzo rushes over to Hong Cha Young instead. He would know that the best way to protect her would be to disable and take out Jang Han Seok. That was awful. And again, it’s something Vincenzo would never do. It goes against the intelligence and nature of the character himself.

Things briefly go from bad to worse as Vincenzo, who is now tending to the wounded Hong Cha Young, is literally watching the two brothers struggle with the gun—and only a few feet away—he still doesn’t rush to help Jang Han Seo. He sits and watches. Again, I was rolling my eyes with disgust at how ridiculous the entire scenario played out. It was obvious that they wanted Jang Han Seok to escape to set up the showdown for the rest of Episode 20.

As I said, the series was running smoothly, for the most part. Aside from some inconsistencies from the residents of the plaza and their fighting abilities as they go from an inability to fight to suddenly being experts, even though the so-called boxing winner can’t even throw a punch mirroring an actual boxer (a true boxer would know how!) the series runs like a fine oiled machine.

One more small issue--which most movies and shows take extreme liberties--is moving the gold bars. We see the bars being put into a piano, taken around in pockets and bags, sometimes 3-4 bars at a time. Gold bars weigh over 27 pounds each! (12.4 kilograms). While it made for some funny moments, it was highly unrealistic.

It's difficult to pen down the actual genre of this series, which often plays out like a black comedy and then transitions into a drama-thriller and then back again. I’ve marveled at the Koreans’ ability to fluctuate and do it seamlessly. It speaks to the genius of their writers, despite Park Jae Bum’s lapse in judgment and writing ability.

Vincenzo is a Korean-Italian consigliere—essentially one of the highest ranks in the mafia aside from the head man himself. He makes no apologies for his methods of dealing with those who would prey upon the weak and the helpless, and he brings his own sense of “justice” to bear against anyone—from lowly thugs to those sitting in power, bathed in corruption. Little do these people in power know who or what they are up against, nor do they realize what Vincenzo is capable of until it’s too late. It’s like watching very good chess players who think they can hold their own—finally meeting their match against a grandmaster. Vincenzo easily exposes their inabilities, and they find out soon enough that Vincenzo isn’t someone who makes idle threats. He means to do exactly what he says he’ll do. Jang Han Seok and his nasty den of lieutenants look at Vincenzo and laugh as though he’s just some character in a movie. But he outplays them and outdoes them at every turn.

“24”’s Jack Bauer—a special field agent for the Counter-terrorist unit once tells a panel of senators, “It’s sad that we live in a world where someone like me is necessary to do what needs to be done.” Vincenzo is of the same ilk. The higher-ups in corporations and political machinations believe they are all but untouchable and that they can do whatever they want. Someone like Vincenzo is able to prove to them just how wrong they are. But it also takes someone like Vincenzo to deal with them in complete and unforgiving ways.

I have always marveled at characters who are smart. I love Jason Bourne because of his ability to outthink his opponents. Batman is the same. And Vincenzo has those same qualities. Oh, he can fight and hold his own, but it’s his wits that make him formidable and such an iconic character. Song Joong Ki masterfully plays Vincenzo—who at times—seems light and almost playful, and other times as an absolutely scary opponent you would never dare cross if you understood him and what he’s capable of doing. He doesn’t play Vincenzo as a simple thug. And despite his background, Vincenzo becomes attached to the people of the plaza and will do whatever it takes to protect them. He calls himself a “villain” and yes, he often comes across that way, but he’s essentially a good man who simply finds himself using terrible methods to get the job done. Much like Jack Bauer, as I stated above.

The entire cast was nothing short of fantastic, and if it had not been for the major letdown of those 20-25 minutes, this series would have easily been a “10” for me. But, alas, those minutes put a big dent into a story that was running along so smoothly and so effortlessly. It’s just too bad that the ball was dropped temporarily. Still, it doesn’t torpedo the series, and it’s definitely worth a look. It’s not as great or as tautly written as “My Name” or “Stranger” but it’s most certainly good enough.

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