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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Blade Man" Episode 9

"Blade Man" is more about the changes in Hong-bin than it is about the relationship between him and Se-dong. While Hong-bin is an intriguing character, the show really needs to round itself out to be fully cohesive. It's currently jumpier than a Mexican jumping bean and just as spastic. Fun, but spastic.

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Hong-bin is the primary pusher in "Blade Man". When he changes, the show changes. When he develops, the other elements develop. As he falls for Se-dong, his family becomes more obsessed with intervening. As he grows closer to his brother, his father becomes more worried. Se-dong, on the other hand, does not warrant such magnetic plot appeal. When her past is revealed it actually stagnates the story. While her background is touching in and of itself, it is badly integrated into the rest of the show and therefore has much less impact on the viewer than it should.

Hong-bin's character does not have that problem and his growth is coming in spades. He now thinks of others and goes out of his way to help and please them. He makes efforts to see things from points of view outside of his own. It's the kind of journey we want a hero to make. Hong-bing is definitely still a quirky character who has a multitude of flaws, but he recognizes them and is working to better himself. 

The mysterious blades and the changing that happen within him because of their appearance still have not been explained. It's getting to be the point where this is more of a nuisance than a mystery. It seems as though the show is going to expose his secret publicly, which would be a step up from where it is now: a plot tool that is only used when the writer feels like it. It's not organically incorporated into the story. It isn't used consistently enough to feel organic. That is the issue with "Blade Man" in general: consistency.

"Blade Man" is attempting to create a Firm Family background by focusing on Daddy Joo and Hong-joo. Hong-joo is standing up to his father in a way Hong-bin could not, affecting him in a way that Hong-bin could not. It's a great way to show change in the family, but its not connected well to the rest of the show's texture. Instead, Hong-joo's mother suddenly appears when she made nary an appearance in the earlier episodes and starts slapping Se-dong around. Again, totally a utilitarian character in function rather than a more natural part of the story. Once "Blade Man" starts to ingegrate all its characters and plot elements into the overall texture rather than just them to further the story, it will become a better show.


Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Blade Man" is directed by Kim Yong-soo-I, Kim Jong-yeon, written by Kim Gyoo-wan and features Lee Dong-wook, Shin Se-kyung, Kim Kap-soo, and Jung Yoo-geun.

 

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