mhStella

Was I the only one who genuinely believed in this series after watching those first two episodes? Because if so, the disappointment started creeping in the further we got into the story.

The core problem here is watching a genuinely fantastic plot get completely ruined when the series started including way too many goofy, stupid, and utterly ridiculous scenes.

Why were there so many pointless characters and absurd dialogues?

This series is a prime example of genre failure. It was marketed and positioned as a spy thriller, but somewhere along the way, the creators completely lost the plot-literally.

The constant shift toward cozy, everyday life scenarios and excessive, misplaced humor eventually turned the show into something closer to a straight-up comedy. For me, this tonal drift was a massive mistake.

I completely lost all faith in this show. I didn't even bother watching the last two episodes, and honestly, I refuse to waste my time on them. The potential was sky-high, but the execution utterly betrayed it.

Is it just me, or is it true that the sweeter and more innocent a face looks, the creepier it gets when its owner flashes that cold, emotionless, sociopathic smile?

That's exactly the case here. Kim Yoo-jung truly has the face of an angel, but inside, she is the terrifying opposite. I am utterly speechless at the level of performance she delivers; her acting in this role is so phenomenal it deserves an Oscar.

As someone who read the original webtoon, I am seriously impressed by how faithfully the series creators have followed the plot. And I have to say, the casting is impossible to be accidental-every single actor is perfectly tailor-made for their role.

The chemistry between Baek Ah-jin (Kim Yoo-jung) and Yoon Joon-seo (Kim Young-dae) is impossible to describe. It's an intense, unspoken thing. Their glances don't just say a thousand words; they drive the plot forward entirely. I am once again speechless at how good these actors are and how they communicate with just body language and eye contact.

Their relationship is already loaded with potential drama: ex-step-siblings who share no blood. That's exactly what the series excels at: the palpable tension, the lingering looks, and all the unspoken words that hang heavy in the air.

Not to mention the surroundings-the cinematography and settings are perfect, especially Ah-jin's home, with that church practically next door. It's the perfect symbol for the immense load of sins she carries, like a demon whispering in the ears of the men she effortlessly wraps around her finger.

This series is dark. I mean, really dark. Not just visually, but deep down, psychologically and emotionally.

It instantly yanked me in. I was completely obsessed with the main character's life. Once the show revealed their childhood trauma, everything about their present clicked into place. Suddenly, all their struggles made awful, perfect sense.

The acting performances are raw and devastating, grounding every painful moment in reality. The way the narrative is built is brilliant. The pacing is spot-on, and getting to see the scenes from multiple perspectives just hammers the whole truth home.

The genius here is that it's not just about physical abuse; it's about the psychological warfare. The pain doesn't stop when the hitting stops-it's always after. And this series understands that completely. Trauma leaves a wound that never truly closes.

I genuinely just want to hug every woman who has survived abuse. The show exposes how tragically normal this problem has become, and how incredibly hard it is to intervene. It leaves you asking: How do we step in without making things worse for the person already suffering? This is a necessary, powerful, and impeccably directed piece of a story.