Disney+’s new K-drama, Twelve, has just hit the screen in selected regions, and I gave the first episode a shot. The plot, the cast, and the platform, all these parameters had me dying for the show’s release. But now that it’s here and I watched the first episode, my spoiler-free Twelve review is, it didn’t use what it had in its best potential.
I am talking about the story and the talented cast. The show is supposed to be about 12 angels defending this planet we call home from evil forces. We get the whole story in an animated prologue. But through the whole episode, angels weren’t angels but gangsters, coded loan sharks who only lend money to evil people and collect from them by any means necessary.
My Twelve Review Might Come as a Shock….
Ma Dong-seok is in the show as Tae-san, the head of the angel group, and he wears tiger patterns the whole time, probably to reflect that he is the tiger zodiac. Then we have Park Hyung-Sik as O-gwi, Seo In-guk as Won-seung, Regina Lei as Bang-wool, Lee Joo-bin as Mir, Kang Mi-na as Kang-ji, Ko Kyu-pil as Don-yi, and more.
To put it in short, every member of the cast is amazing, but we didn’t get to see much about what they can offer. Probably that would be too much for one episode to cover. So, I am waiting to see how the show will leverage these brilliant artists better.
I didn’t like the Fight Sequences…
But before I discuss that, watch the trailer if you haven’t!
If you have watched the show, tell me if you agree with me or not, but I guess Twelve had very immature, poorly directed fighting sequences. The fight Tae-san had against a group of gangsters in the alley felt like we’re watching just another gangster fight where he only has to use sometimes single, sometimes double hits to knock enemies down. But worse than that is that enemies aren’t even trying.
They come in a group but attack one at a time. That’s something most action sequences end up doing wrong. In another sequence where three angels chase another gangster and enter premises packed with enemies, their fights feel dull too. It’s just something that we have watched thousands of times, good guys beating the shit out of bad guys and having fun doing it.
If you’d told me these guys didn’t have superpowers, I would believe you. There was no use of superpowers in Twelve except for jumping around or making fights look easier for angels.
Even Villain’s Introduction Was Clichéd….
Spoiler alert!
The villain, played by Park Hyung-sik, was revived by evil guys in black robes. Can you guess how? The lead evil guy, after Hyung-sik’s O-gwi, of course, used his blood as the sacrifice. The poor guy had to do it twice to bring O-gwi to the frame. But again, it’s just episode 1, so I am willing to give it more time before I end up giving a verdict for the whole show.
But for now, I must say, from all the Korean dramas in August, this one had my most attention, and it managed to disappoint me. After shows like Light Shop and Moving, I was very hopeful.
My Verdict is: It’s not my Cup of Tea, but I will Continue
To rate the Twelve K-drama, I will give them 2 out of 5. The 2 I gave were just for the cast, nothing else. Visuals were alright too. The intro was cool, and the prologue was well-crafted too, but the lack of divinity was very clear from this show, which was supposed to be about angels.
In an industry where visually stunning shows like Goblin and Hotel Del Luna exist, it kinda feels like a setback to miss the opportunity.
I will rate future episodes better or not, you will have to wait and see for yourself.
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FAQs
Where can I watch Twelve Kdrama?
Twelve is streaming on Disney+. It is currently available in selected regions such as Korea and parts of Asia. Availability depends on your country.
Is Twelve worth watching?
The concept of Twelve is promising, but the first episode feels underwhelming. While the cast is stellar, the fight sequences and story direction leave room for improvement. Future episodes may deliver better.
Who are the main cast members of Twelve?
Twelve features Ma Dong-seok as Tae-san, Park Hyung-Sik as O-gwi, Seo In-guk as Won-seung, Regina Lei as Bang-wool, Lee Joo-bin as Mir, Kang Mi-na as Kang-ji, and Ko Kyu-pil as Don-yi.
What rating did Twelve receive in the review?
CineCinnati rated Twelve 2 out of 5 stars. The score reflects strong casting and visuals but a weak story execution and poor fight choreography.
