There is a major sense of deja vu when I look at anything related to upcoming MBC Mon-Tues drama Monster (Tyrant). Thankfully it’s not a negative emotion but some fondness for positives from the past. There’s leads Kang Ji Hwan and Sung Yuri working together for the third time after Hong Gil Dong and Runway Cop, both moderately successful projects in their resume so here’s hoping the third strike follows the same pattern. The posters and vibe for Monster immediately harken to the revenge K-dramas of yore with the dark background and broody vibe, be it East of Eden or Giant or Triangle or Nice Guy and many more such yarns. I think there is only so much the production team can do to package revenge melos so visually I tend to focus on the how the cast looks visually and chemistry-wise. This one continues to interest me, and it does’t hurt that male leads Kang Ji Hwan and Park Ki Woong are the da bomb as actors who immerse themselves into every role and always create a memorable performance. Continue reading →