Numbers (2023)

Don't be deterred by a supposedly dry accountants´ world. It´s feisty. Suspenseful. Emotional, too

"Numbers" is about auditors, balance sheets and accountants. It's obviously all about numbers. That may put some people off. It's also about what lies behind those numbers, and that may at times seem even more complicated to the uninitiated. However, deliberately illustrative examples are repeatedly interspersed. And it is even more gratifying that it is not necessary to understand all this in every detail in order to enjoy the series. “Numbers” is about a rational and clever mastermind. Yet it is also about having the heart at the right spot. It´s feisty. It´s also emotional. It stands up and means it. Great!

"Numbers" is definitely worth it getting involved in the abstract world of accounting specialists. Especially since their decisions, in turn, have consequences for a world that juggles numbers even more aloof - Investment Fonds... While the auditors keep an eye on the current state of the balance sheet and put its potential through its paces, investors only care about future returns and often want the maximum profit regardless of the losses - which others have to bear for it.

Numbers are numbers. But the decisive factor is who has the sovereignty of interpretation. Numbers sound clean and objective, apparently. Yet, they stand for people, their visions and their decisions. Hidden underneath are solutions, too. As always, the question you´re asking, will make the difference – leading the way for your attention and focus. And as always, different possible perspectives exist. Also in the world of numbers.

"Numbers" is about a revenge campaign – again. There are actually several. It is about those who, with good reason, do not want to be intimidated by the power of the powerful – again. They have nothing (more) to lose. The bad guys are really bad. They have long lost their heart or never had one to begin with. This makes for plenty of interesting relationship dynamics.

"Numbers" also offers an interesting variety of intelligence and competence. Bottom line for revenge candidates – again: just on your own it is almost impossible to make a difference. However, someone courageously has to make a first clever and striking move ahead. With heart and soul. Then maybe others will remember that their heart was once in their right place, too. (In a rational, hierarchical world that takes for granted that there is no room for irrational emotions or personal interests, it's easy to forget just that.)

"Numbers" is a bold story about rather impure moves in the world of accounting and investment. A complex story. At the same time, an exciting, thrilling story that is fun, too. No matter how remote this world of dizzyingly high numbers may be for most of the audience, watching the story feels good overall. You get a high-flying, intelligent mixture. The actors show a strong presence in their roles and thus contribute a lot. The pace is right. OST fits fine.

My suggestion: don't be put off by suits, ties and a supposedly dry, conservative, number-dominated accountant business world. Sure enough, "Numbers" has it all!






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Side Note:
Banks in South Korea have been taboo for investors since the Asian crisis. For the bank sector, on the other hand, financial investment transactions are not permitted. Just now, in 2023, fundamental reforms were launched - some are even talking about a revolution. The banking sector is just now being opened up to new players in order to stimulate competition.

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The writing is abysmal, your average AI would have done a better job!

- The first two or three episodes are very good, emotional, good cliffhangers, sizzling bromance. After that, it goes downhill and is a random sequence of way too many random characters in business attire talking in random meeting rooms, offices, park decks and the like, slapping around buzzwords of the accounting and finance world, that the authors obviously didn't even understand.
- There is one obviously bad guy and the whole series is aimed at everybody else working on destroying him in a grand finale and - surprise - and that's the only surprise in this series - it just doesn't happen. Instead the story just kind of fades out. They kept it open for a second season. If this actually gets a second season I will scream in agony.
- The bad guy gets no back story whatsoever, he is just bad. And the poor actor gets nothing else to do than stand around, stare in the distance and look obviously bad.
- Same for most of the other characters: no back stories. They tried to overcome that by having many characters, but all so random that it wouldn't change anything if you left a few out. The second bad guy (Shim Hyung Woo) felt a little intersting, like he had a conscience and backstory that made him bad, but it is never explored.
- The love interest of the older lead is introduced as a badass business lady from Hongkong who acts totally evil but apparently has a plan just to reveal later that she had no plan whatsoever. Or they kept it a secrect from us. And she returns to the good side, but is totally useless.
- Minor observations:
-- The two room mates are nice caracters and sweets actors, I would have liked to see more of them.
-- Apparently, the largest accounting firm in Korea uses mainly paper files. And the filing room is the size of my bedroom and doubles as a library. And there is always still space for people to hide unnoticed to overhear conversations.
-- The company occupies two high-rise buildings, but all indoor scences take place on two floors.
-- Companies that are seconds before liquidation because their product is for a niche market (lactose free baby formula) without enough demand just need a few first-year accountants looking at their files for two days to find the great cure: market the product as something else (lactose free milk replacer) to someone else (lactose-intolerant people). Great! How could the company ever have figured that out without them? :)
- And lastly, but I kind of expect that from a K-drama, accountants are obviously able to fight off thugs with bats, 1 against 10, no problem!

Don't watch it! Look at the sky instead! It will be more interesting.

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