Iron Man – (Snarky) First Impression

I’m glad the first episode lives up to its snarky name. As in the promo material, Lee Dong Wook plays the character Joo Hong Bin, who literally sprouts knives from his body. Or we can call him the Iron Man, since it’s a literal as it gets. However, we only get to see the literal sprouting in what, the last 10 minutes, and for only like, 5 seconds?

The entire episode is spent on, introducing us to the main players in Show, which frankly speaking, I think Show is out to make a fool of itself. It doesn’t seem to take it seriously, which I don’t mind, really, but this, is such a ridiculous outing that it’s not even funny. I have no idea what’s the connection of Joo Hong Bin being able to grow knives from his body, which happens when he’s crazily angry (but he’s like, perpeptually angry in the first episode), and lightning flashes across the skies which then makes the whole city blackout. Is he Iron Man or Power Man?

It seems that Show is piling all kinds of supernatural powers on Joo Hong Bin, because besides the power shortage he causes on fury, he has an ultra keen sense of smell. He smells a bottle of spoilt blueberry jam that’s sitting in his fridge, which is in the kitchen, and his room is a few storeys away from the kitchen. So now he’s Power Iron Dog Nose Man? It’s beyond ridiculous that I can’t even.

I also don’t get the amount of violence from Joo Hong Bin, because he spends half the episode bashing people up, and no one even thought of calling the police? He is also highly destructive, which seems to be the norm, when his secretary (Han Jung Soo, it’s so sad, his character doesn’t even have a name [yet]) calls the resources department and simply asks for preparation of more projectors and repairing of chairs and tables and the conference room.

We then get to see the other half of the OTP, Son Se Dong (Shin Se Kyung), who lives in a tiny place with 5 other guys, whom the viewers are told they worked together to develop some online games. Joo Hong Bin bought over the company which they build up with some of their seniors, one of whom is the one who sold the company and is running away with their money (I assume). Sounds confusing? Doesn’t matter, because all we need to know is Se Dong is our usual Candy to the crazy chaebol male lead. And oh, apparently she literally smells like Joo Hong Bin’s ex, Kim Tae Hee (Han Eun Jung), which makes Joo Hong Bin stop in his tracks, literally. This show is so full of literal meaning that it’s unbelievable.

Of course we must throw in as many cliche troupes as we can, and so we have Joo Hong Bin estranged from his father (Kim Gab Soo), because dear ole Dad is vehemently against the ex-girlfriend Tae Hee. But Tae Hee gave birth to a boy! Which Joo Hong Bin has no idea of! And the little boy is somehow fond of Se Dong! Sounds familiar? Yes, the same troupe in Temptation.

I hate it when the supporting cast has ahjusshi and /or ahjumma actors that I really like, which in this case, there’s Kim Gab Soo and Lee Mi Sook. The latter plays the role of Joo Hong Bin’s matron (?! or chief domestic helper), and I don’t get why her hair resembles that of the court ladies in earlier Joseon era, while she wears Victorian-inspired black dresses. It doesn’t help either that she speaks like she’s in a sageuk, the respectful language and all.

Lastly, not only the story is full of snarky cray, the cinematography had me raising eyebrows. There’s not once, but twice, of scenes where a few stills alternate with each other at a high speed, that makes me see stars looking at the screen. Are we suppose to feel incredulity as the characters? Or the helplessness? There’s also an excessive use of slo-mo, as well as getting the characters to hold their positions (it’s not even stills), that I don’t understand why. The choice of soundtracks are largely fast tempo pieces, which really, doesn’t fit the mood of the scenes most of the times. I suspect Lee Dong Wook is told to overact here, because that’s how I feel he’s carrying his character. Shin Se Kyung screams and cries too much (to get her way). Ugh.

I’m sorry Dong Wook oppa, in times of too many choices, this is one drama that I definitely will not be continuing, no matter how the story is going to unfold. Bye~