The K2 (2016)
Quick Take: The K2 (2016), starring Ji Chang-wook and Im Yoon-ah (aka Yoona). 9.1/10. 16 60-minute episodes.
Synopsis: Soldier of fortune and mercenary Kim Ji-ha signs on to work for one Korean presidential candidate with the goal of getting revenge against the other presidential candidate. His assignment is to protect the first candidate’s daughter, who is a potential pawn in several Machiavellian plots. It gets complicated.
Review: The characters played by Ji Chang-wook in Healer and The K2 are similar: In both, he is an accomplished martial-arts fighter, able to single-handedly vanquish a dozen armed men. Healer is much the better drama but it’s not on Netflix, so I find myself recommending The K2 in spite of its many flaws. Ji Chang-wook and Song Yoon-a are just that good.
The first major flaw is the plot of The K2. There are no good guys, so no one to root for. Both of the presidential candidates are corrupt. Evil v Evil just isn’t as compelling as Good v Evil.
The second major flaw is the casting choice of Yoona as Ji-ha’s love interest, Anna. She pretty much functions as negative space. Much more interesting is the complex character of Anna’s evil stepmother, a nuanced performance by the beautiful Song Yoon-a.
The K2’s third major flaw is the brutality of the last couple of episodes. There is fighting throughout the drama — the shower scene is particularly memorable! But at the end, the blood, sweat, and pain become unrelenting. Ji-ha nearly dies but then rises from his hospital bed to fight again. Seriously? It was just too much.
Rewatchable - 4, Compelling - 4, Plot/ Story/Writing - 7, Acting/Casting - 8, Production - 10, Bonus - 8. Bonus points for Ji Chang-wook’s visuals and Song Yoon-ah, who stole the show.
Notes:
Ji Chang-wook
declared in an interview after filming that The K2 would be his last action film. He cited the hard work to get in shape as well as the demands of martial-arts training. In addition, he did all his own stunts. Sadly, after The K2, he kept his resolve and pivoted to a string of banal romantic comedies.
Im Yoon-a
stage name Yoona, made her debut as a member of Girls Generation in 2007. She has appeared in numerous films and television dramas.
Song Yoon-a
has been acting in films and television dramas since 1995. She has most active in the aughts, and then took a five-year hiatus after the birth of her son in 2010.