[HanCinema's Drama Preview] "Bad Guys : Vile City"

Santa Claus is not the only one coming to town this December, as our bad guys are arriving to clean it of the filth even they are too good for. "Bad Guys : Vile City" is the spin-off-slash-sequel to OCN hit drama "Bad Guys" and as much as we may miss the old cast, perhaps the latest bad boys will have something good to show for.

Premise

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Prosecutor Woo Je-moon (Park Joong-hoon) is a man who cares about results more than he does about the legality of the means. He and a team of criminals selected as a new form of law enforcers take on a powerful cartel.

The Worrying

Ready, Action

As much as I love me some fine action scenes and machismo-fueled man-battles, they get old about two and a half episodes in. One of the best elements of the first series was the camaraderie and the individual character stories. I hope the new group will be more substance than style as well.

Big Shoes to Fill

Staying true to a franchise while adding onto it is no easy feat and there is no point in "Bad Guys : Vile City" doing what "Bad Guys" has already done well. The new installment has to have its own flavor and unique appeal while maintaining the basic elements that will justify its title.

The Reassuring

Solid Cast

Most of the leading men here have a filmography full of solid performances and the ability to form good chemistry with co-stars. The supporting cast is no joke, either. We have all manner of impressive names and while I do worry about the amount of characters here, these artists can no doubt make even shorter scenes memorable.

Creative Duo

"Bad Guys" and "Bad Guys : Vile City" are both written by Han Jeong-hoon, which is very important. A story is largely a writer's creation and having the same person in charge means they can expand upon their previous work. His work with PD Han Dong-hwa in "Squad 38" means their have an established rapport as well.

Closing Thoughts

I am not very sure what to expect from the drama. The first season relied on the mysterious nature of its youngest member and on the uncertainty of his guilt. The core of the spin-off series is not as clear and "fighting an evil cartel" does not sound terribly exciting. Even so, the sleek promotion is enticing, so let us see where this goes.

"Bad Guys : Vile City" begins its run on December 16th and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 22:00 KST, on OCN. It is directed by Han Dong-hwa, written by Jeong Han Jeong-hoon and features Park Joong-hoon, Joo Jin-mo, Yang Ik-june, Kim Mu-yeol and Ji Soo.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'