You're All Surrounded (2014)

The right to quit is only given to those who try to the end.

''You're all surrounded'' starts with a bang and ends with a bang. It's a drama that gets you hooked from the first episode and leaves you satisfied when you finish it. It was a very enjoyable ride for me... at least till the last few episodes.

STORY:
- The first half was perfect. It mainly focuses on solving cases and I started watching the drama to see this. The new rookies in the violent crime unit lacked enthusiasm to be detectives, while the leader of the team, who is very arrogant and rude, wasn't really happy to teach them. But despite this fact, with each episode, they were starting to act like a team and that was my favourite part of the first half. The rookie detectives started to realize what is to be a detective and what responsibility it carries. While solving cases, which were very emotional and well-written, the characters developed a lot. Seo Pan Seok - the leader of the team realized that the rookies have the potential to become real detectives and he was very proud of them, while the they stopped complaining about their job and started working hard. If I had to rate only the first half, I would give it 9/10.

Now, the second half. It almost felt as if I was watching another drama. While the first ten episodes focused mainly on solving cases and character development, the remaining ten focused on Dae Gu's story and family problems. There were almost no cases. Honestly, I couldn't care less about his story. I mean, it wasn't that bad at first, but then it got too complicated and messy, I was bored as hell. When I'm watching investigation dramas, I prefer the plot to be mainly focused on the investigation part. Of course, side plots are welcomed, but in You're All Surrounded, these side plots were tedious. Everythig was developed horribly. I mean, when you are watching the first half, you think that everything will finish when Dae Gu catch the killer. Simply as that. But noooo, they had to drop a childbirth secret and useless villians, it's a korean drama after all. What saved the second half for me was the romance between Dae Gu and Soo Sun, they had some very sweet moments. The bromance scenes with Dae Gu and Pan Seok also helped, I got Hwayugi vibes. If I had to rate only the second half, unfortunately, I would give it barely 4/10. It got too dragged, too repetitve and the ending was too rushed.

CHARACTERS:
- Okay, I liked the characters. But, if I have to be honest, if you go and watch 10 dramas, at least 7 of them will have pretty much the same characters. A main lead who has a trauma from the past, very kind-hearted, although he acts coldly; a very emotional female lead who works hard; a dumb and funny character; a calm, veeeery good-looking character and a villians who have absolutely no freaking reasons to act like this. In a setting like this, characters like Pan Seok and Chief Kang were very well welcomed. Well, it's not like I adored Chief Kang, for me she was just a bad person, but it was easy to sympathise with her. Kim Sa Kyeong was so useless, why did she have to be there? Oh, yeah, for Pan Seok's side story. Villians like Yoo Ae Yoon and Yoon Moon Bae are also pretty common for korean dramas. They were there to be evil. That's it. Cho Yeong Chol was the more interesting character.

ACTING:
- The first thing I really need to say is how impressed I am with Go Ah Ra's acting here. She was very good, I was completely shocked. Girl, what happened with you in Hwarang and Black? I think she knows only one way to act and the uses it with every character she plays. And here, her way of acting suits the character and I think that's what happened in Miss Hammurabi, too (she played pretty much the same kind of character there, a judge version of it). She made me love Soo Sun and she even made me almost cry and that means she really did a great job. I think all the actors did well... okay, except for Ji Woo who played Soo Sun as a child. Her creepy eyes are present here too, I am not surprised. Ahn Jae Hyun was quite monotonous here. It's not like his character requiers a lot, but in some particular scenes, he wasn't very stable.

Overall, You're All Surrounded wasn't a bad drama, there are many enjoyable and emotional scenes and I do recommend it. It has everything - comedy, drama, romance (not much), action (not much), mystery (which sucked lol), and they are all combined quite well... at least in the first half.

Lire davantage

Watched this gem in 2022 ,, by today's standards it's really interesting drama one of the best

I just stumbled on this drama on a fan page and was intrigued by certain scenes ,, I don't normally watch older than 2016 dramas ,, not very old but the production quality matters to me
in this one It was really good drama started with a criminal case then very funny youthful episodes made me laugh a lot then they dove into emotional cases revolves around the leads ,,,, I loved the whole cast especially the main leads ,, their dynamic and friendship was the best ,,, the romance wasn't heavy but it was the right amount and in it's right place ,,, wasn't forced or out of no where ,,, some relationships were awkward but it didn't last long in this awkwardness
the emotional case of the main lead broke my heart and made me very sentimental towards him ,, he was a cry baby but he has the right to be like that ,, he endured so much ,, no normal human being would be sane after all that
I liked every aspect of this drama ,, the friendship , the criminal cases ,, the detective parts even the villains were irritating as they can get and I liked how they played their role
I recommend this drama so much to anyone who likes friendship ,, light romance and melodramatic detective dramas
I promise you will enjoy this drama very much and you can find it on dramacool website subbed to english with okey quality

Lire davantage

Loved this drama so much! And honestly 20 episodes was too little for me. I would've like to see more screen time dedicated to character development, as the whole cast had lots of great chemistry, it would have been nice to see their relationships shown in different aspects or more flashbacks of them!
I know the central theme of the show is based on solving Dae Gu's personal case, but I felt they could have shown more episodes with them working on other cases to further show how they've grown from rookies to experienced cops.
Anyway, I would really love to see a SEASON TWO (2) of the show and I really hope they consider making another season with the same cast. Who's with me and how can we make this happen???

Lire davantage

This is the first and the best Korean drama I have watched to date. I was highly skeptical to watch this show as I am not too interested in cop dramas. The sole fact that I had just returned from my trip to Korea made me watch this show on Netflix. Call it beginner's luck but this show had me from the very first scene. It's a fun, action-packed, bromance rich drama that will have you watching it in one stretch.

The drama has a solid storyline around which it weaves elements of comedy, romance, action and drama seamlessly. The chemistry among the characters is simply the best. Each and every character was so well-defined. You will feel like you're a part of the show as you watch the show. On the whole, I would highly recommend this show to everyone.

Lire davantage

This is the first Korean drama I ever watched and I credit it with making me obsessed with melodramas. There was a new plot twist every episode and yet still stayed cohesive to the storyline. Every episode added to the original mystery and once you had an answer you got two more questions

The romance was cute but not sickly cute. Both leads had a way of infusing characteristics of their younger versions into their adult selves. And it was so gratifying to have a drama where the romance was built on sticking together through thick and thin. Now as a seasoned drama connoisseur, I realize the random breakups of couples is overplayed (and stupid). SO I really loved them.

The supporting cast was great, everyone brought their A game. I can't recommend this show more. watch and you will fall in love too.

Lire davantage

I picked up this drama for Ahn Jae Hyun but it turned out to be really good, the plot and everything. I liked the friendship among the main four protagonists, the lead detective and his ex-wife, the story itself…

There were two things that stuck with me.

When the lead detective, Seo Pan Seok, realized that unless someone did something, the prosecution would never let them investigate the assemblyman. When he asked his team, “Given a chance, will you do this? Will you get him?” and they all assented, he went and sacrificed his whole career to get them the chance they needed. I actually cried.

And then Park Tae Il, Ahn Jae Hyun’s character. I love that Ahn Jae Hyun likes to take chances with his characters, go against the stream. Like here, Park Tae Il’s guilt over how he handled his brother’s coming out. The fact that Park Tae Il fell in love with an older woman. And mainly that their cop colleagues claimed that he was gay because they saw him leaving gay bars - and it was never debunked by the drama, that he did that.

Overall, it was a very good show even though the ending felt a bit rushed and some of the conclusions they came to felt a bit too out there. I’m still very glad that I watched it.

Lire davantage

Finished the show this evening. Just WOW. Maybe i´m a little bit prejudiced, because Lee Seung Gi is my number 1.
I really enjoyed the storyline and it was never boring for me. Sometimes korean shows are a little bit slow in the beginning, but this wasn´t!
The cast was really well chosen and the chemistry is amazing between them.
I always enjoy a good show with plottwists like this.
Every character gets his own screentime enough, so i fell in love with all of them :)
The romance is there, but it´s not the main subject.
The music is well done, but i already forgot some songs. Some OST will stuck in your head, this time it didn´t.

Lire davantage

A well-rounded police procedural. This drama was focused on revenge for the ML but had quite a few subplots that I didn't understand. Lee Seung Gi and Go Ara were enjoyable in their roles, but I felt something was lacking in their acting, especially Go Ara's. The romance progressed at a slow but realistic pace. All the supporting characters were well-placed in the show and all had a small but meaningful part to contribute to advance the story line. The villainous Mom made me grit my teeth every time I saw her. Overall, this drama was focused on the day-to-day lives of police detectives that is mixed in with comedy, romance, action, and a bit of melodrama/revenge.

Lire davantage

Someone recommended this drama because I was looking for some dramas that Cha Seung Won after watching him in A Korean Odyssey. I am so glad that I listened because this has got to be one of THE few best detective dramas I have ever watched. There was sadness, comedy, bromance and mystery - all things I enjoy in a drama. I didn't realise that Go Ah Ra was in this until I started watching and I must say I loved her in this drama. Having first watched her in Hwarang I told myself I'd never watch her in another drama. I absolutely loved her as Soo Sun. All actors did a marvelous job of making me fall in love with their characters, you could really feel the love and affection each person felt towards each other as well as their job. The actor who played Yeong Chul has one of "those" voices you know sounds familiar but you just need more confirmation and indeed it was him! He played his part as one of the villains brilliantly and unfortunately I wasn't able to hate him as I'd previously seen him play a good guy - its hard to switch off! The only thing I didn't enjoy was the grown a** woman who went running to daddy (who I thought was her husband for some reason - lmao) every time a problem came about and screeching all the bloody time. She was truly evil and screechy but I couldn't let that ruin such an amazing drama for me.

Story wise - this is a heartbreaking but also funny story. I found myself crying whenever Dae Gu was crying or feeling emotional, especially in his interactions with Pan Seok. For me, there wasn't much in the romance department or rather there wasn't much development and I was more focused on the detective work part of the storyline.

I loved the OST, of course. I don't think I've ever not liked one. :D

I would most definitely rewatch this drama because as I've said before, it is one of the few best detective dramas I have ever watched. I didn't feel like it was dragging at all and I wasn't bored - not even for one second. If you love a good detective/investigation with lots of action type of drama that also contains comedy and bromance then this is for you. I will also most definitely rewatch this drama even if it makes me cry, its worth every tear drop.

Lire davantage

Cuando andaba buscando un pedacito de tranquilidad para sumergirme después de ver Signal —y darme cuenta que me dejó con una ansiedad monumental invadiendo mi cerebro— fue cuando me topé con You Are All Surrounded y me la vendieron como una comedia policial en cualquier lugar donde busqué reseña disponible, pero lo cierto es que yo lo de comedia nunca se lo ví. Sin embargo, dejé pasar el desliz muy disimuladamente y me quedé viendo hasta el final por dos motivos 1) Lee Seung Gi y 2) el primer episodio me enganchó. Así que, por azares del destino y caprichos míos, terminé líada en otra serie con el rebuscado asunto de la policía corrupta en su doceava versión corregida y aumentada. Pero miren, ustedes no están aquí para escucharme ni yo para quejarme, y como drama de transición me gustó mucho. También vale destacar que You Are All Surroundend es muuuy ligera comparada con la densidad que se respiraba en Signal; más oscura y pesada que cualquier otro drama que me haya caído encima y eso, de cierta manera, lo agradezco profundamente. Aunque personalmente sentí que falló en cuanto a guión y profundidad de personajes, tuvo sus momentos de lucidez, la trama en sí nunca decayó y hasta el último episodio los giros argumentales fueron exquisitos.

Eun Dae Goo presenció a los 15 años el asesinato de su madre mientras él se escondía bajo la cama sin poder articular algún sonido; el suceso en sí lo traumatizó a tal grado que en el presente no puede dormir sin una luz ligera o la televisión encendida apuntando por algún lado de la habitación. Y en cuanto a carácter el crimen también dejó estragos: callado, tajante, ufano y seco sus silencios terminan exasperando a su jefe con más regularidad de la que nos gustaría. Aunque en un principio este no sospecha de la actitud del chico hacía él y el vínculo del pasado que los une por la muerte de su madre, no tardará mucho en darse cuenta.

Seo Pan Suk es una leyenda viva dentro de la organización policial; como detective sus tácticas y persistencia en el campo de investigación son innegables (aunque las vemos muy por arriba, sin jamás explicarnos cuáles son) pero tiene un carácter endemoniado y errático, producto de todo lo jodidamente mal que la ha pasado en esta vida. La noche que fue asesinada la madre de Dae Goo también fue dolorosa para él pero por diferentes motivos, los cuales también involucran a su entonces esposa Kim Sa Kyung, actual encargada del Equipo de Personas Desaparecidas. Aunque en un principio detesta a los cuatro chicos que la jefa Kang pone a su cuidado poco a poco les comienza a tomar aprecio, gracias en parte al jefe de brigada Lee y las situaciones que los pobres tienen que pasar para poner a prueba la paciencia de cualquiera.

Los otros tres novatos son Uh Soo Sun, una chica que creció en el mismo pueblo que Dae Goo, Ji Gook un joven nerd que no sabe muy bien qué hacer con su vida y Park Tae Il, un niño rico y bien vestido cuyas aspiraciones en el pasado estaban muy lejos de ser detective.

Como mencioné más arriba: vine por la comedia y me quedé por la trama. El primer episodio es introducción pura a los personajes principales y una visión general *y algo superficial* a los eventos del pasado, pero conforme la serie avanza aquello adquiere matices oscuros apoyados en giros inesperados. La historia en sí nunca decae, pero el guión me quedó debiendo mucho. No voy a mentir al decir que hay diálogos buenos y tuvo sus momentos memorables aquí y allá, pero cuando tú metes a seis personas en una escena esperas que exista una lluvia de ideas donde se derroche la inteligencia y la diversidad de cada uno, no sé, algo más que dos o tres palabras por persona. Y me declaro fan total del Equipo 3, del jefe Seo y del tío Lee, pero me hubiera gustado ver más de ellos, tanto a nivel personal como laboral; dentro de lo que cabe todo quedó muy por encimita y quizá por eso sentí un vacío cuando terminó.

Kim Sa Kyung y Seo Pan Suk. A esta pareja se le podía haber sacado mucho jugo pero, aunque hicieron el intento de profundizar en ellos, no lo consiguieron tan bien como deberían. Y ya para el final como que se olvidan un poquito de estos dos para centrarse en el tema principal, pero por suerte retoman su situación para el cierre. Aun así hubiera sido un deleite que les dieran más espacio para explorar ese pasado tan complicado que tuvieron y que de cierto modo marcó de manera permanente su relación hasta la actualidad.

La jefa Kang Suk Soon ha sido de lo mejor. Llegó un punto en la historia en el que sentí que era una traidora y un episodio después la veía como una víctima. Me ha costado lo mío decidirme si quererla o guardarle cierto resentimiento por cómo hizo las cosas desde el principio, pero el temple y la determinación, además de su amor innegable a su profesión, son dignos de reconocer, y creo que al final todos fueron capaz de ver el panorama de una manera mucho más general lo que terminó de determinar su imagen a un lado positivo.

Conforme el drama avanzaba comencé a extrañar los efectos visuales del principio. Dae Goo tiene memoria fotográfica y gran parte de eso fue lo que les ayudó a resolver uno de los primeros casos que les fueron asignados, por lo que ciertos efectos eran puestos en la pantalla para que te dieras cuenta de cómo era que él veía y deducía las cosas, pues de repente así sin más, esto despareció y la situación perdió un poco el encanto.

Los villanos también tuvieron su oportunidad de brillar y a su manera lo hicieron bien: Yoo Moon Bae entra como el congresista aparentemente intocable que ha olvidado cuáles fueron sus orígenes. Me encantan esos enemigos del orden que parecen estoicos, incapaces de levantar la voz porque con un sólo movimiento pueden hacer arder el mundo, pero cuando sus muros de resistencia se derrumban entonces sí, se ponen a lanzar jarrones al suelo y tazas contra la pared y le gritan hasta a la maceta que tienen al lado. El simpático de Moon Bae es uno de ellos. Su hija es la villana en el cuento equivocado, pobrecica, al final me ha dado un poco de pena que sólo haya sido un vil títere para su padre durante más de una década y la mujer apenas se dió cuenta, pero como es una estúpida grosera pues mira, se merece eso y más. Sobra decir que el verdadero motivo del asesinato de la mamá de Dae Goo da mucha pena y vergüenza.

El encargado de la División de Detectives, el imperturbable Cha Tae Ho, fue quien más me hizo reír. Mira que se necesita talento para ser un pesado de pies a cabeza y además tener el suficiente mal humor para que nadie te tome en serio, pero él lo consiguió bastante bien y a base de arrebatos de ira y supersticiones al por mayor logró ganarse un lugarcito pequeño en mi corazón.

El final fue satisfactorio, en realidad. Tampoco es que se viera desde el principio que esto no fuera a terminar bien, siendo una comedia tiene que terminar bien ¿no? Personalmente la recomiendo para quien no sea demasiado exigente con un drama. Es sólo para pasar el rato y para ver a Lee Seung Gi.

Lire davantage

Tagged as a RomCom but overdosed with tragedy

To be honest, I've just watched these because of the actors.. They're good. The concept of the show was good too, but its a bit poorly written and messy. It was tagged as a RomCom but overdosed with tragedy. Anyway, its still entertaining to watch.

The exploits/misadventures of the young cops were fun but sometimes mind numbing to watch. They were each given a good back story and enough space for character development. So, my interest with the show grew as their characters developed.

The portrayal of corruption and betrayal in line of cops, prosecution and even politicians were scary though.

Lire davantage

This drama is good. I was thrilled and I find the characters cute and the story funny. this drama is not that heavy and I find it interesting especially on the first 10 episodes. But after episode 11 I slowly start losing interest and I found some scenes boring. In my opinion they start dragging the story and there's a lot of filler(?) scenes. And when some new characters are added, I found it unnecessary for the drama for example is Eun Dae-Goo's brother Shin Ki-Jae. And one part of this drama confused me, did Seo Pan-Seok developed a crush for Eo Soo-Sun? or did he just find her cute????

Anyway, I'll give this drama a 7.5/10. All the actors and actresses are cute and fit this drama, and the OST's are amazing too. I just lost interest on some episodes but overall I think this drama did great.

Lire davantage