(Image and text are samples from my work on HanCinema.net and belong to HanCinema.)
Episode 4 of Jackpot saw some marked improvement in structure and intrigue, but the ratings don’t reflect that. It dropped below Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho‘s 11.3% to a single-digit 9.5%. Perhaps it’s the unexpected slapstick humor that threw viewers off. However what grabbed me was the sense of family scattered throughout the hour.
Dae-gil and his father and adopted grandfather are a rather silly trio. This silliness seems to be the directorial style. It’s found in both Man-geum’s and Dae-gil’s characters and doesn’t very well show off what Lee Moon-sik and Jang Geun-seok can do. These slapstick moments step aside for ones with more gravity in them, and we finally take a peek at the Jang Geun-seok we’ve been waiting years for. I’m glad to see him throw himself so thoroughly into a role even if I don’t care for the over-exaggerated nature of the comedy.
Lisa Espinosa 