[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team" Episode 12 Final

Right to the end, "Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team" can't make up it's mind as to whether it wants to be serious or silly. Fortunately these sections are fairly well compartmentalized this time around. The first part of this episode deals with the greater conflict of the evil guy who's responsible for the age shifting shenanigans and who is, in fact, literally a wizard. Not that this explains why it's impossible to hold him responsible for any of the countless crimes he's committed but hey, an explanation is an explanation.

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The sheer frustration of this storyline is just agitating, because not only does the bad guy keep walking away free, there's also a ridiculous frame-up, an equally implausible escape and...well look, this is nothing new. The crime plot makes absolutely no sense. And the plan Joon-hyeok resorts to in order to bring down the criminal mastermind once and for all makes even less sense. And don't get me started on what happens after the story resolves itself.

Well actually there's some cute stuff as we jump a year ahead into the future. Both love triangles are firmly resolved in the usual offbeat silly manner that we've come to expect from these characters. Jokes and charisma remain the strong suit of "Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team". Even really dumb humor can get across well if the performers are really into what they're doing.

The same can't be said for the knots the drama works itself into when it comes to any sort of internal logic regarding crime or the magic serum. I don't care if there was some level of pseudo-science behind the explanations- everything about the storyline mechanics in this drama makes a lot more sense if you just assume magic was involved. Goodness knows a hypnotism spell would have been a more plausible explanation for why the police (outside of our heroes) are so ineffective.

"Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team" has been frustratingly consistent with its flaws. The drama's a matter of accepting a certain level of silliness from the characters as being enticement enough to get wrapped up in a really convoluted plot. Looking back, I really can't say the effort was worth it. The villain really needed to be more cartoonish- like, not actually in the business of murdering people. Maybe he just wanted to steal Dokdo or something. As constructed, the drama vacillates between inspiring agitation and laughter. That's a weird combination I'd just as soon not bother with again.

Review by William Schwartz

"Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team"is directed by Kim Jin-young, written by Moon Seon-hee and features Lee Soon-jae, Byun Hee-bong, Jang Gwang, Kim Heechul, Lee Cho-hee, Kim Eung-soo.

 

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