Sirius is a 2013 KTV special series; it's a 4 episode crime based melodrama concerning the changing lives of two twin brothers. It clearly lies on the grim side of K-drama, but it's pretty solid overall & quite entertaining.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Here's your story: Two twin brothers kick off the show during their high school years; one of the brothers (Shin Woo) is timid and gets picked on by his classmate, while the other brother at different school is a strong willed, albeit decent, guy. The tougher brother (Eun Chang) is fed up that his twin is being bullied, and sets off to teach Shin Woo's tormentor a lesson. Unfortunately, Eun Chang ends up accidentally throwing the bully off the school roof top and is subsequently arrested for murder & sent to jail.
Flash forward a few years when Eun Chang is being released from prison. Shin Woo is there to greet him with the news that their mother is now dead. It's clear the two brothers have both grown and changed a lot during Eun Chang's incarceration. In many ways, it's almost as if the two have switched personalities over time. Shin Woo is now a coldhearted, high ranking police detective, who relentlessly pursues drug trafficking crime rings. Eun Chang on the other hand, is a repentant and more kindhearted soul, who realizes he wasted some of the best years of his life on a momentary rash decision, and now has little to look forward to in the future as a result.
The star of the show is Seo Jun-Young, who plays both the twins (from high school on up to the present). He gives an impressive performance, and it's a good thing he did, because this show borders on being a one man play. I'm scratching my head trying to think of other K-dramas that put as much emphasis on one single actor/actress, and I really can't recall too many others that can even compare. Jun-Young delivers in spades in his role(s), and, there were a few times I had to remind myself that it was the same actor playing both twins (even though there is virtually no effort to make them not look identical). He effortlessly switches from one personality to another throughout this show; from 2 young high school siblings, to two young adults who were shaped by the same tragic event, to grown brothers who need to switch personas & portray each other in order to eventually accomplish their goals. Seriously, the guy should win some award or something, or at least get paid double for all the work he had to do acting opposite himself in order to carry this show on his back.
The secondary cast is effective enough, and include: the sinister crime boss, the mother of the twins, some cops, and the 2 female love interests. No complaints; they all get the job done, but they mostly all get lost in the wash compared to the importance placed on lead character of the show!
There are a few flashback scenes along the way (usually at the start of each episode) that help better explain the history & growth of the family dynamic among the twins and their mother over time. I thought this was remarkably well done, and, it was a really creative way (due to the series' short run time) to fill in the familial back story blanks that would normally take up several episodes in other comparable, and more linear, K-dramas stories of greater length.
Be advised that this show is often quite bleak in nature, and there's a fair amount of violence involved. I won't go into details at length, but for a TV melodrama, it is surprising, and sometimes shocking, what this story is willing to do to some of its characters along the way. Despite all this, Sirius is still primarily a drama about two brothers drifting apart & coming together over time, and, it nicely mixes this aspect of the show within the overall tone of its somewhat darker story line.
The series can get a little outlandish, but not really any more so than many other melodramatic shows. It is quick and to the point, and, without lot of money to throw around, it has to make do with a minimum of frills to make it all work. It accomplishes its goal though, and features a rare open ended finale that doesn't wrap everything up neatly with a big bow on top. You just have to decide for yourself what the future might bring for any of the characters that are still standing in the end.
Bottom Line: I thought this show was exceptionally well done. It's tightly paced with an interesting story that is compelling throughout. And as with other shows of similar minimal length, if you don't like it, it'll be over before you know it.
Bottom Line: Solidly recommended. 8 out of 10 stars!
P.S. I'm really starting to develop a fondness for these "special drama" shows that are essentially a quick miniseries in the 3 to 6 hour range. I've seen a bunch of these shows in various formats over the last few years, and, I very much enjoy this approach to storytelling. I would like more please!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Here's your story: Two twin brothers kick off the show during their high school years; one of the brothers (Shin Woo) is timid and gets picked on by his classmate, while the other brother at different school is a strong willed, albeit decent, guy. The tougher brother (Eun Chang) is fed up that his twin is being bullied, and sets off to teach Shin Woo's tormentor a lesson. Unfortunately, Eun Chang ends up accidentally throwing the bully off the school roof top and is subsequently arrested for murder & sent to jail.
Flash forward a few years when Eun Chang is being released from prison. Shin Woo is there to greet him with the news that their mother is now dead. It's clear the two brothers have both grown and changed a lot during Eun Chang's incarceration. In many ways, it's almost as if the two have switched personalities over time. Shin Woo is now a coldhearted, high ranking police detective, who relentlessly pursues drug trafficking crime rings. Eun Chang on the other hand, is a repentant and more kindhearted soul, who realizes he wasted some of the best years of his life on a momentary rash decision, and now has little to look forward to in the future as a result.
The star of the show is Seo Jun-Young, who plays both the twins (from high school on up to the present). He gives an impressive performance, and it's a good thing he did, because this show borders on being a one man play. I'm scratching my head trying to think of other K-dramas that put as much emphasis on one single actor/actress, and I really can't recall too many others that can even compare. Jun-Young delivers in spades in his role(s), and, there were a few times I had to remind myself that it was the same actor playing both twins (even though there is virtually no effort to make them not look identical). He effortlessly switches from one personality to another throughout this show; from 2 young high school siblings, to two young adults who were shaped by the same tragic event, to grown brothers who need to switch personas & portray each other in order to eventually accomplish their goals. Seriously, the guy should win some award or something, or at least get paid double for all the work he had to do acting opposite himself in order to carry this show on his back.
The secondary cast is effective enough, and include: the sinister crime boss, the mother of the twins, some cops, and the 2 female love interests. No complaints; they all get the job done, but they mostly all get lost in the wash compared to the importance placed on lead character of the show!
There are a few flashback scenes along the way (usually at the start of each episode) that help better explain the history & growth of the family dynamic among the twins and their mother over time. I thought this was remarkably well done, and, it was a really creative way (due to the series' short run time) to fill in the familial back story blanks that would normally take up several episodes in other comparable, and more linear, K-dramas stories of greater length.
Be advised that this show is often quite bleak in nature, and there's a fair amount of violence involved. I won't go into details at length, but for a TV melodrama, it is surprising, and sometimes shocking, what this story is willing to do to some of its characters along the way. Despite all this, Sirius is still primarily a drama about two brothers drifting apart & coming together over time, and, it nicely mixes this aspect of the show within the overall tone of its somewhat darker story line.
The series can get a little outlandish, but not really any more so than many other melodramatic shows. It is quick and to the point, and, without lot of money to throw around, it has to make do with a minimum of frills to make it all work. It accomplishes its goal though, and features a rare open ended finale that doesn't wrap everything up neatly with a big bow on top. You just have to decide for yourself what the future might bring for any of the characters that are still standing in the end.
Bottom Line: I thought this show was exceptionally well done. It's tightly paced with an interesting story that is compelling throughout. And as with other shows of similar minimal length, if you don't like it, it'll be over before you know it.
Bottom Line: Solidly recommended. 8 out of 10 stars!
P.S. I'm really starting to develop a fondness for these "special drama" shows that are essentially a quick miniseries in the 3 to 6 hour range. I've seen a bunch of these shows in various formats over the last few years, and, I very much enjoy this approach to storytelling. I would like more please!
