(The text is a sample from my work on HanCinema.net and belongs to HanCinema.)

The conflict in Beautiful Gong Shim is quite contrived. Circumstances are such that the show should have a constant thread of tension weaving in and out of scenes and character development, but the tension flags and wanes on such a regular basis that it is no longer compelling.

The main source of this tension, or the lack of it, is Dan-tae’s childhood kidnapping and the family members involved. Pacing is slow in order to stretch out the mystery, but there isn’t enough material to span the next six episodes and so Dan-tae’s and Joon-soo’s investigations inch along, hitting small pebbles of discovery along the way that are neither satisfying or significant.

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