The actor but Dong-Seok (Don Lee), long celebrated as a “action king” of Korea, is facing the hardest chapter of his career. His latest drama, TwelveIt was marked as the breaking point of the so-called “Universe but dong-seke”.
After years of success with The outlaws The franchise-tray to which season 4 that has exceeded 10 million viewers-the punching brand that tear family bones and beats of family action show signs of fatigue.
The cracks appeared for the first time in films such as Cadland Hunters AND Night Holy: Demon Hunters. Now, with the Disney+ and KBS2 drama TwelveThe decline is undeniable. The assessments started strong at 8.1% thanks to the stellar power of Ma Dong-Seok, but since then they have collapsed at a minimum of 2.6% (Nielsen Korea, nationally), reflecting a bad welcome.
Part of the disappointment lies in the gap between ambition and execution. Twelve Define a fantasy action show based on the mythology of the eastern zodiac. Yet rather than providing cinematographic chills, production has reminded many spectators of A theatrical game for children, with costumes that seemed most suitable for a performance of the popular village.
Critics have noticed it The bad guys lacked threat, the fighting scenes were missing of power and the rhythm felt slow rather than exhilarating.
The greatest problem, however, is that the fighting style of a free time by Ma Dong-Seok has lost its impact. In each project, its characters seem to rely on the same solution: to defeat the enemy with the brute force. Without any sense of vulnerability, transformation or reinvention, the public is left to look at the same performance over and several times.
The return of family support actors was added only to this sense of déjà vu. Also fresh faces such as SEO IN-GUK E [Kang Mina] He fought to shine, obscured by the repetition of a well consumed formula.
Twelve It has been designed as the beginning of a new series, but its reception makes doubts about further installments. The metaphor often used by the critics-that the creative universe of Ma Dong-Seok was “Do boiled until the bone marrow has gone out” – He feels particularly suitable.
Once a guarantee of excitement to the box office, its brand now risks becoming synonymous with stagnation. Unless he takes bold steps to reinvent himself, the decline of the “but dong-seke” universe can become irreversible.
Sources: Nate News
