Directed by Shin Kyung-soo, starring Kim Rae-won, Son Ho-jun and Gong Seung-yeon.
Watched 19 - 23 July 2024 — 12 episodes (DRAMACOOL)
Watched 19 - 23 July 2024 — 12 episodes (DRAMACOOL)
*Enjoyed this series a lot but I didn't think it kept its initial promise. The first couple of episodes starts with interesting cases where our lead characters, working in different fields (one being a cop, the others a fire fighter and paramedic), come together as first responders and cooperate with each other. It holds a promise of being a sort of 911 series, and I thought every episode would be handling a new case. But then it became more about the male lead character (Kim Rae-won as Jin Ho-gae) and his backstory and it felt similar to a regular crime series where the detective struggles with his troublesome past. Apart from the initial 911-type of episodes, show never went back to the episodic nature.
*I like plots that deal with the personal stories of the main characters, so in that respect I didn't mind the turn the show took. But I don't like the subplot very much with Ho-gae's backstory and shady father and the rich chaebol criminal Ma Tae-hwa (played by Lee Do-yub), son of the next presidential candidate. At times I'm just so fed up with corruption plots. At least Tae-hwa was caught at the midway point of the show.
*Jin Ho-gae is evidently the main character here. Both the actor (Kim Rae-won) and his character didn't immediately win me over. Ho-gae is confident, brash, impulsive, at times a bit of a loose cannon, but slowly he learns to be more empathic and I also grew to like him a lot.
*Jin Ho-gae is evidently the main character here. Both the actor (Kim Rae-won) and his character didn't immediately win me over. Ho-gae is confident, brash, impulsive, at times a bit of a loose cannon, but slowly he learns to be more empathic and I also grew to like him a lot.
*Love the female lead Gong Seung-yeon as Song Seol. She's very empathic, compassionate, involved, dedicated, and skilled. And not afraid of showing her emotions, unlike Ho-gae.
*I love the entire first responders team, and the characters are fleshed out well. But my favourite of the supporting actors is Kang Ki-doong as Gongmyung Pil, Ho-gae's partner. I love the character and Kang Ki-doong portrays him really well. He's very good in his emotional moments and I love how much he cares about Ho-gae.
*I love the entire first responders team, and the characters are fleshed out well. But my favourite of the supporting actors is Kang Ki-doong as Gongmyung Pil, Ho-gae's partner. I love the character and Kang Ki-doong portrays him really well. He's very good in his emotional moments and I love how much he cares about Ho-gae.
*I was happy with the hint at romance. Seol clearly falls for Ho-gae. I love the episode where they both find themselves at the homeless part of the city, and Ho-gae is thanking Seol for her help. He looks at her quite intensely, and it gave me all the heart-fluttering feels.
*I felt sorry for Son Ho-jun as Bong Do-jin because he's so much in love with Seol. I wanted him to get together with Yoon Hong (played by Son Ji-yoon), a forensic officer in the autopsy room, who's clearly into him.
*The last episode felt a bit off. Ho-gae has little screen time, while he's the main character. I hate when that happens. All of a sudden Do-jin is the focus of the episode and a bit of his backstory is told. I knew beforehand there was going to be a second season and the makers obviously knew this too by the end of the first season, because dang ... that is some cliffhanger!!!
(Currently watching the second season of The First Responders, and 3 more episodes left to see. Stay tuned for my notes!)