Goosebumps through and through - For anyone who likes noir teen dramas with a dark concept. The story is quite tormenting and not easy to watch - still addicting ...

Production / Music >> 9.0
Hope or Dope consists of a heavy and dark plotline that is undermined by a capable filming and editing crew. Several closeups enable the audience to get a set image of emotions and mental states, which are worsening as the story carries on. On one hand, the lighting consists of mostly warm colours during the night and is used as another tool to set the mood which contrasts with the cold and dark vibes, on the other hand, some moments during the daytime are giving off a more cold coloured vibe.

Plot >> 8.5
Generally said, the plot is extremely thrilling and emotional, clarified by how pathetic and miserable each character is and how natural and not exaggerated their situation seems because they almost have no unrealistic turns/ twists. I also found their in-character behaviours quite appealing since they never really acted OOC.

Cast >> 9.0
There is nothing that irritated me while watching, rather the opposite, I kept admiring Wo Ji An for her portrayal of such a complicated and bitter character like Kyung Da Jung. The two brothers Gong Yoon Tak and Gong Yoon Jae, portrayed by Yoon Chan Young and Yoon Hyun Soo, also left a positive impression on me. All appearances in this drama were solid.

Rewatch Value >> 6.0
Eventhough this drama is quite good and I really enjoyed the story and kept admiring the crew and cast behind it, it´s still sometimes heavy to watch. Therefore my second run might take some time but who knows, I´ll eventually be back since 25 - 35 minutes per episode is not dragging to watch.