Adamas (2022) 아다마스
Directed by Park Seung-woo, starring Ji Sung, Seo Ji-hye, Lee Soo-kyung and Heo Sung-tae.
Watched 12 - 16 November 2022 — 16 episodes (DRAMACOOL)
*This drama was much better than I had expected. It wasn’t highly rated or very popular at the time of airing so I assumed it wasn’t any good. But I love Ji Sung and decided to give it a go, and what a treat to have him in a double role as the twins Ha Woo-shin and Song Soo-hyun.
*The difference in the personalities of the two brothers is evident, and Ji Sung portrays both characters well (Woo-shin is a novelist, Soo-hyun a prosecutor). Fortunately both brothers are likeable. Woo-shin is more level-headed, organised, pensive and calm, but can also be reckless and fearless. Soo-hyun is more temperamental, impulsive, hot-headed, cocky, and knowledgeable about his profession.
*I wanted Seo Ji-hye as Eun Hye-soo to end up with Woo-shin. I found her character a bit sad once you know her backstory, but things played out differently in the end. Her character just seems to crave power and revenge, and she isn’t the likeable heroine I’d hoped she would be.
*Fortunately the plot is not so difficult to follow with many twists and turns.
*I like Soo-hyun and the reporter Kim Seo-hee (played by Lee Soo-kyung) as a couple, despite them doing some stupid actions without thinking.
*There’s a lot of bloodshed and cruelty. I had to look away numerous times. The villains are really BAD. There are also crazy things happening, at times I thought this must be a dream.
*Gosh, if I ever hated a female villainous character it would be Sun, the psycho killer lady. I was very disappointed they let her live.
*The housekeeper, Mrs. Kwon, acts over the top at times but she also has some really good scenes. The assistant writer Dong-rim is a bit annoying, though.
*I loved to see how the twins helped each other and cared for each other.
*I liked the twin’s biological father Lee Chang-woo (Cho Seong-ha). Despite the crimes he committed, he was a kind-looking man and seemed soft-hearted. I was sad he died.
*The ending is not as bad as some reviewers let you believe. In fact, I thought it was pretty good and satisfying. Of course I hated the fact that Soo-hyun dies, but the scene with Woo-shin and Seo-hee on the beach, grieving over Soo-hyun, is so sad and powerful. I couldn’t help but cry.
*I was glad the chief of SIH didn’t die, nor Heo Sung-tae as Choi Tae-sung. Sung-tae gives a great performance and I loved his teamwork with the twins, especially with Woo-shin.
*The best thing about the whole show is — not so surprisingly — Ji Sung. His performance is great, at times amazing, especially in the last few episodes. The confrontation scene with evil Team Leader Lee, after Lee killed his twin, is so good. Yet the moments with the twins together are even better. That scene where both brothers are crying and their father is looking on from afar …… sooo amazing. Kudos to Ji Sung for making us believe in these two different characters. The use of the split screen is done really well, by the way.
*The end twist with the letter and message saying that Soo-hyun is still alive made me happy but I was also thinking, how can that be? And who was standing on the beach holding the real Adamas, Soo-hyun or Woo-shin?
*Overall I was happy how things turned out in this show. My biggest disappointment was with the character of Eun Hye-soo. In Woo-shin’s last encounter with her, he expresses my thoughts exactly: "I thought that you of all people in this house would have the most decent heart."
*Also, great production values and cinematography and beautiful opening credits.