'You're Surrounded' Episodes 1-9 Review

Move aside F4, we now have a new group taking over primetime television in South Korea!  The clumsy and clueless detectives affectionately nicknamed P4 are here and ready for review.  Now that 'You're Surrounded' is halfway through (well, almost - the elections changed things so only one episode aired this week), there is a ton to talk about as fans eagerly anticipate the remaining eleven episodes to what should be a super exciting finale. 

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Plot

The drama starts out really well with an entire back story revealing how the two main characters Eun Dae Goo (Lee Seung Gi) and Eo Soo Sun (Go Ara) came to know each other back in high school.  I was honestly a bit unsure about this whole cold case thing going on with Eun Dae Goo's mother, who gets murdered right before his eyes (of course there's the need to amp up the dramatics here to 11) because she was going to stand as witness in trial for someone presumably high up in society.

I was unsure about this because I honestly just wanted a light and easy comedy about some clumsy detectives and was not expecting this entire tragic backstory that smacks you with the high-tension theme of revenge.  Definitely not the lighthearted content I was going for... And I especially, especially hate those huge misunderstandings that saturate K-Dramas.  Dae Goo is looking for revenge against Seo Pan Seok (Cha Seung Won) while I just wanted the two to be good friends and work together already instead of bashing each other with chairs.

Now the story is growing on me and I can't help but fall in love with the dramatics, especially now that Pan Seok and Soo Sun are finally aware of Dae Goo's true identity! Come on, a hidden identity unveiled?  A misunderstanding unraveled?  Yes, please! Well, still waiting on the misunderstanding unraveled part and getting impatient.

Another thing that really bothered me was really how incredibly incompetent these detectives were at the beginning.  It was amusing at first then got old and unbelievable fast.  I don't even understand where Dae Goo suddenly got this almost photographic memory and superhuman knowledge, but they sure get him into a hell of a lot of trouble when his nonsensical calculations are disguised as logic and get a woman stabbed by her stalker.  Really?  This really angered me.  Shouldn't he have expected some room for error, especially considering there was a big confrontation earlier in the day that could be a game changer?  I always say better safe than sorry.

However, their development as detectives is coming along really nicely, which is always nice to see!  A key part is when Dae Goo catches a suspect after a cool car chase and he breaks into that signature, dimply smile, feeling that sense of accomplishment and enjoying the whoosh of adrenaline.  I view them as proudly as if I were Pan Seok. 

Romance

The romance is very well and naturally integrated into the story unlike 'Three Days' in which the drama was seriously packed with action yet still tried to force in some random romantic scenes with random romantic songs playing in the background.  It was weird and too forceful and just didn't work for me as cute as the couple was. However, 'You're Surrounded' is doing a really good job because the scenes are cute and happen often enough, but do not overwhelm the main storyline.  

Considering we're only halfway through the series and Pan Seok and Sa Kyung (Oh Yoon Ah) are chummy lovebirds already, I have to admit that I'm concerned... It's too soon, so I'm just waiting for something bad to happen and dreading it.

And what is going on with Park Tae Il (Ahn Jae Hyun)?  He seems to like Sa Kyung, but I don't know why considering they never exchanged words unless there is something we don't know.  Actually, what is just going on with Tae Il in general?  What is his back story?  He's so mysterious (and handsome).  This leads me to...

Characters

I like the almost James Bond vibe we have here with Park Tae Il.  He clearly attracts women and knows how to handle them, but I wouldn't say he's a player.  He rarely seems to actually be interested in the women, but he shows signs of having experience.  It's a nice addition to the comedy as he has this strange magnetic force that absolutely befuddles his comic foil, Ji Kook (Park Jung Min).  Unlike Tae Il, Ji Kook does not appear to be a very complicated character and seems to chiefly be there for comic relief, although he was appropriately given some more depth into his character when 1) a wedge comes between him and his partner, and 2) he decides to stop being such a Daphne from 'Scooby-Doo' and courageously (somewhat foolishly) wards off a man holding him hostage with a knife.

Meanwhile, I think Go Ara is actually doing a pretty good job distinguishing Soo Sun from her past character, Na Jung from 'Reply 1994'.  Sure, both characters are rather tomboyish, but Soo Sun is a lot clumsier with a certain, lovable naivete about her, whereas Na Jung is a lot more motherly and capable.  I definitely see the distinction, which is amazing and impressive on her part as an actress.

Lee Seung Gi generally seems to play the cool and somewhat angsty type.  His super angry scenes are somewhat awkward to watch for some reason.  I'm not sure why... maybe because he has such a cute and sweet face that doesn't match all that anger and hatred, but I don't think his acting is problematic otherwise.  His character, though, is a bit frustrating and is the only one with a lot of development still left to go for the remainder of the series.

Meanwhile, I keep feeling like Pan Seok's "sidekick" of sorts is going to get seriously injured (maybe even killed?).  I don't know why... I just feel like at some point, they're going to want to use such a dramatic scene as a device to further develop the detectives and let them experience the inevitable: a fallen colleague.  He's the only minor yet often appearing character, who would not be too great a loss for the story but significant enough to cause a lot of heartache (anyone else thinking Agent Coulson from 'Avengers'?).  I'm hoping I'm just paranoid.

And what is up with Dae Goo's secret sponsor, the police Chief at the Gangnam station?  I honestly don't think she's underhanded, especially considering the concern she showed for Dae Goo and her doubt toward Pan Seok's complicity in the mother's death, but who knows.  She could be an alarming plot twist just waiting to happen. 

Anyways...

That was a lot to get through because it was nine whole episodes here, but there are still eleven more to go!  So make sure you keep tuning in on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the next episodes and let me know what your thoughts are so far in the comments section below.