WTH? Vincenzo Ep 7 & 8
I have thoughts, just thoughts, just so many thoughts about Vincenzo.... dear God!!!
I knew what I was getting into, when within 15 minutes of the first episode we got a demolition of building, arson of the whole vineyard and blasting of a expensive car. But the show actually peaked in its runtime of 3rd to 6th episodes. Where it was a perfect mixer of campy, over the top comedy, character development, story progression, twist, the last minute revelations, relationship between characters, etc.. It was just perfect synergy! And I was hyped as fuck for episode 7 and 8. But, it was a big disappointment for me!
*Sigh* I mean where to begin? The fact the our female lead essentially spend the whole 7th episode locked up in jail. And our “hero” has to rescue her, for the second time, mind you! And as a result she owe him one now. Vincenzo explicitly says so in the episode as well. Well, the lack of Hong Cha-young was not first time, something like this did happened in first episode where Cha-young wasn’t much there in episode. But than it was understandable because we were setting up a story. A Story of our titular character, Vincenzo! So, of course, Vincenzo was the one with most screen time. and so does the people who were direct contact with him. So, now, when Cha-young is the more closer to him. It makes sense to have her 2nd most screen time. But here we are, where side characters of the plaza had more screen time and as a result more characterization.
Initially, I loved Cha-young because she was just like Vincenzo, a grey character. She is corrupt, She values money, a realist!. So, at the end of the episode 8, when she does declares her plan, I find it bit ironic that she wants to expose Wusang’s corruptions. When in the timeline of the show, Cha-young must be the one, who has contributed to that said corruption the most! Considering she was the best one Wusang had. Not only that but writer took away her agency from her in this 2 episodes. From the first episode, we know that Cha-young is competent lawyer. And in previous episodes she has been active part of the Vincenzo’s shenanigans. But in 7th episodes, she is locked up. and in 8th episode, she is doormat, behind our hero not beside him. And that brother me! Because Cha-young has potential to be really different (K-Drama) female lead.
Speaking of 8th Episode, what the actual fuck? I can’t seems to believe a murder, Vincenzo has more higher ground than an oppressed gay character, who has mommy issues and violent tendencies. There was so much wrong with the portray of that character. Add to that, I find it more vile the way Vincenzo and team treated him in the end. There was no need to humiliated that CEO. Vincenzo and team already had enough evidence to go by. On the good note, I kind of like Tea-ho and CEO Min- seong date. It was quite adorable!
There was another thing that bothered me. Vincenzo’s reaction to Cha-young’s suggestion of pretending to be gay. So, when Vincenzo was all acting out I thought he is doing that cause he has some information that we are not privy to. Something like, maybe, I don’t know, the CEO Min-seoung and Vincenzo having same father. And Vincenzo knows that information and we don’t know, that is why he is so oppose to it. (And come to think about, it would have been nice parallel to our villain(s) who are also half brothers.) But the way Vincenzo and team deals with CEO Min-seoung in the end, I know that this is not true. Vincenzo is actually troubled by the thought of pretending to be gay person. So, when after few scenes later, when Vincenzo is sitting in stable contemplating his decision, it does come across as bit homophobic.
I know, K dramas are trying to appeal to wider audience, and I, a international fan appreciate the efforts. And As a result we did got shows like “Its okay, to not be okay”, “Start-up”, “Hotel Del Luna”, they have few flaws here and there but its baby steps this industry is taking. So I understand if they have few hiccups. But in this insistence these efforts are doing more harm than healing. In this particular case, where a gay character is running a company. but also mentioned as having “multiple flaws” referring his sexual orientation by another character in the same show is bit more than a few hiccups here and there. Which also does not help by the fact that in the end, he is being humiliated by the Characters who have done far worst things than he has. This show perpetuate the harmful gay stereotype in media.
For good Gay or LBGTQ+ community representation in K Drama, go watch “Be Melodramatic”, our female lead Cha-young, played by Jong Yeo-been. And in the show its her brother that shown to be a gay character with healthy life. Where he also gets mistreated and in the end has a satisfying ending.
On the third issue that I have is, that there was no interaction between Jung Jun-woo, Vincenzo and Cha-young. I keep going back to the Spice tolerance taste scene. Where we got see different dynamics between these characters. I thought this is just a glimpse of what was coming. Also the actors really did bounce off of each other really good. So, naturally I was disappointed when we did not got any of that sweet & spicy triangle.
ON THE SIDE NOTE, why the fuck all plaza members shows up in the Vincenzo and Cha-young’s business? As if they don’t have their own thing going on. Its jarring, especially, now that they know about the gold.
P.S. Ignore if you find any grammatic errors, English is my third language. Unless you point out politely it is always appreciated.