[Confession] Circle
Before anything else, I would like to define my drama reviewing:
First, I won't be posting episode recaps for dramas because i don't trust my character - I tend to get lazy when I have routines to accomplish and
Second, sometimes when I decide to watch a drama, I depend my continuance on the first episode. So if ever I am interested in a drama, I will watch the first episode and I will review it just to see how it goes. If I liked it, I'll have a continuation review after I finished the whole thing.
Kke, let's go! :D
I am so proud to say that despite the busy shizzes I have in life, I was able to finish a drama I said I wouldn't even start. Circle captured my inner nerdiness on sci-fi because THE FUDGE OF A KDRAMA WITH A SCI-FI GENRE?? THAT'S SO COOLLL!! I mean-- uhm, let's just get this over with. Haha!
Here is the synopsis of the drama:
A sci-fi mystery drama that takes place in both the year 2017 and the year 2037. In 2007, twin brothers, Kim Woo-jin and Kim Bum-gyun, witness an alien arrival that brings about a huge change in their lives. In 2017, Kim Woo-jin (Yeo Jin-goo), now a college student, notices that a series of suicides in his university is somehow linked to his brother, Kim Bum-gyun (An Woo-yeon). While in pursuit of the case, he meets Han Jung-yeon (Gong Seung-yeon), another college student who is investigating the serial suicides. In 2037, South Korea is now divided into General Earth, a heavily polluted place where crimes are rampant, and Smart Earth, a clean and peaceful city free from crimes. Kim Joon-hyuk (Kim Kang-woo) is a crime detective who tries to get into Smart Earth to investigate a case of twin brothers who went missing in 2017. Each episode contains two parts, the first part is set in 2017 called “Beta Project,” while the second part is set in 2037 called “Brave New World.”
Goddamn, this show rocked my world. Perhaps Circle isn’t everyone’s thing, and that’s a valid opinion, but for me it was a perfect show. I loved that even with the clever plot and twists, it didn’t forget to have a heart—ultimately, the story was driven by love. And while I never wanted this show to be about romance, I was happy to have romantic hints at the end—one, because romantic love is a powerful human motivator and that’s a lovely sentiment in a drama all about what makes us truly human, and two, because it felt like a sign that life could finally move on. I bawled buckets, the show ended, and my heart was full.
When I first watched this, I didn't know what setting I liked most: 2017 or 2037. They both had a story so compelling and heart-wrenching that I decided not to choose but love them all the same. I was always dyiinggg to know the revelation, but also a little scared of what it might yield. But the finale was extremely satisfying to watch, like watching a Rubik’s Cube lock into place once it’s finally solved -- except for the fact that they didn't reveal Jung-yeon’s extra terrestrial origins. Is this the time to pray for a Season 2!!?
As for the casts, I was more than satisfied with them. I was wondering how the hell did they end up finding alike actors for the grown-up counterpart because they were so suited for each other (not in a romantic sense). That was so cool! They weren't the total look-a-likes but you could see the resemblance. I did wonder what Woo-jin's grown up would look like but he didn't need it so yeah. hahaha Circle had a really cool ensemble especially those Police boys - cracks me every time they're on screen.
Circle may have marketed itself as a science fiction thriller, but it was so much more. The cleverness of its conceit wasn’t in introducing an extraterrestrial technology that humans couldn’t crack but the beauty was in the simple idea that given an unknown, powerful technology with the potential to do great good as well as great harm, humans will never be able to just leave it be. The good exercise we learned from Circle was to run away when you see a bolt of light coming towards you - they're most likely aliens whose gonna be a beautiful korean girl. Just kidding!! Hahaha!
My Rating:
Plot: 10/10
Acting: 9.8/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Uniqueness: 10/10
OVERALL RATING: 9.7