Connect

I watched this series hoping to get the feel of "Ajin" or "The Strain". I however got an emotional drama about art and horoscope.

The main character did not really develop, nor did it make sense how he keeps becoming dramatic with each event.

The main Villan is not even hard to track, everything he needs to get the information has always been there, but he did not utilize them. Eg: Read some lips, lookup some names...

For a tv series, I would say that the CGI is not bad, but the sound effect would suit, if he is another creature disguising as a human. It almost went full on "Marvel Venom"/ "Species", with a touch of "Kill bill's blood spilling".

The actors did good, I am impressed, but the way the story is told, forces the audience to think that the general IQ of the people in this movie is actually lower than average.

If you are here for some action, this series, has no real action, if you are looking for some story about the strong struggling, here you are.

Most importantly, the Woke-culture here is not as heavy as the west.

I didn't know this series was produced by Disney, I knew about it after watching it. Well, it makes so much more sense.

Connect is not a bad series. I haven't read the webtoon, but I guess there's more to it than just 6 episodes.

Disney is used to make few episodes series, I don"t know why. But compared to the usual Korean series than have 12-18 episodes, this one feels really rushed and underdevelopped. There's very little things that made sense and the plot, after a strong pilot, got lost in a chaotic writting and screenplay.

Also, I don't understand why you would get Miike (who I find totally overated) to direct it, there are so many great Korean directors.... Even without knowing that Disney was involved, watching Connect, it really felt like it was made out for an Occidental audience, just like Squid game for instance (and it's all but good...).

Please Korea, don't sell your soul and your style to Occidental people and to companies which have absolutely no respect for the series nor the audience.

The start wasn't that bad, bit rushed but ok. There's wierd police investigation, some facts getting from video records but the crucial ones are being ignored. Even more strange situation is with gang and the writer. At the begging you can overlook this but later you'll get frustrated.....

Bit strange is also the whole killer situation, he's going around unseen with complicated "statues", preparing sofisticated traps in public areas, seems to have much more time than anyone around and see everything. On the other hand he doesn't leave a single clue or trace - either by witness or recording from public cam. Getting from the roof is another story.

I didn't have a high expectation for this show, but based on the trailers and the big names, I thought this would be an interesting show. However, It was actually more than what I was expecting. First, CGI is surprisingly well done. CGI on TV shows in general has a certain generic quality, but this show certainly surpassed the bar, and has convincing quality. The story is also very unique and well scripted. It shows more complicated story with deeper layers.

The downside is as some pointed out, it looks like it's rushed, or shorten the overall story. I felt there are at least two episodes missing. One between episode 3 and 4 and another one between 5 and 6. Also special effects have a wide room for improvement. They seemed to have focused on CGI a lot, but focused less on props such as severed limbs and blood.

I think people are giving this show lower ratings because of its gory scenes. I know not everyone has a stomach for it, but in my opinion, we actually saw less of Takashi Miike and more of Kdrama. Hope I can see more of Takashi Miike on season 2 if there is.

I watched Connect on Hulu in one sitting, as I had planned to - it was a much awaited Jung Hae In series.

Jung Hae In's acting as an isolated and bullied humanoid, who still retains hope and innocence was excellent, to the point of heartbreaking in some scenes. The way he controlled that one eye, and his body to show loss of perspective made me think - "so, this is how one eyed pirates of Hollywood should have played it." The slanting slouch that he assumed to convey his lowly stature in society was remarkable - contrast it with how Lim Soo Hoo of Snowdrop carries himself, or the lilting, half dancing step of Jun Hee in SITR . The utter loneliness and invisibility of the urban outsider, is clearly a main theme that both the director and Jung Hae In want us to see and take away.

What surprised me though was how the overall graphic novel like aesthetics and color palette, invites the viewer in, and makes even the most gruesome scenes watchable. It somehow conveys that the director is somewhere close by, and we needn't be too scared. All kudoes to Director Miike who takes us to the brink of the macabre and then quickly pulls us back to the everyday world.

While the story pits Ha Dong Soo who resists using his super power against a pathetic Oh Jin Seopp who craves to be immortalized, there are other contrasts that are delicately presented. Yi Rang and Dong Soo are Connect, but they are not really alike. Yi Rang, the Connect is in some ways similar to the human Jin Seopp, in that both believe in their own superiority. Dong Soo on the other hand is akin to Detective Choi who understands him, and his vulnerability. His art is healing, and endears him to the musician Z. It seems to me that these are Director Miike's metaphors for contradictions in today's polarized world. Like the red tendrils that are the motif of the show, these interplays run through each episode and foreshadow further development in Season 2.

Kim Hye Joon plays the role of the confident Lee Yi Rang impressively - she is strong, smart and ambitious, and unfettered. And, she does it without overshadowing Ha Dong So who is outwardly diffident. Go Kyung Pyo is an actor I like a lot from Reply 1988 and Strongest Delivery Man. But the way he played the psychopath didn't strike any fear in me, must be because the previous images are still strong in my mind.

Choices that didn't work for me: 1. Too much air time for the organ hunters trope. Time that could have been used to strengthen the backstory and depth of the main characters, or to introduce the pharma company- they would have added menace, and more intrigue for Season 2.

2. It is logical and biological for I Rang and Dong Soo to reach for each other. However, the whole scene seemed half-hearted on the part of the director, and the actors.

3. I honestly did not understand the point of Gideun. He may well be a Season 2 foreshadow.

All these are minor issues. So my overall rating is 9/10.