Stranger 2 (2020)

I was lost between which case is the dominant one and it was draggy

First season of this drama was so focused on one case and it was simpler more intense in my opinion ,,it was amazing
this season is just all over the place ,, I didn't know which case was the main case and got really confused at the ending of how all the cases were connected together
also that big company and the female CEO from last season ,,her character was obvious ,, this season she's not
and I didn't know what was her connection to all the cases ,, she has some connection to them but not that clear or logical to be honest
she's the daughter of corrupt politician from last season but now she's what taking revenge on the prosecutors??
Also the whole drama they made a team of opposite sides fighting for legal rights and it didn't go anywhere
everything was ruined so what was the point of all these arguments ,,fillers ???
sorry this drama disappointed me big time
even the male lead and female lead didn't shine like first season they were active but not as intense as it was in the first part
I won't be watching third season of this

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Complex

I loved series 1, but enjoyed this follow-up even more.
Whilst a completely new story and set of intriguing cases to be solved, there are references to the suicide and scheming of season 1.
Both Bae Doo-na and Cho (Jo) Seung-woo are excellent and I love their chemistry, together with the relationship between their characters; she just gets him and he seems to have actual care and cocern for her, something he usually struggles with, having impaired emotions from his childhood surgery.
From the outset the pace and intrigue never let up. There was stuff I thought I was figuring out, only to be slapped off course, as the story within stories twisted its way to the final episode.
This series, like the first, is intelligently written and well directed. It needs concentration and isn't a 'light' watch that can be dipped in and out of, although in truth, if you're like me, you'll be desperate to watch one after the other.
Great cast of characters so well portrayed by a great set of actors ~ not a weak one amongst them.
I know it's not a romance, but I'd love for Shi-mok and Yeo-jin to get together.
Quietly hoping for a season 3 🤞🤞

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AN EXCELLENT SEQUEL THAT SURPRASSES WHAT CAME BEFORE IT

Lee Soo Yeon, I owe you my life. (And I'm only half-joking when I say this).

Everything about this drama just makes me feel so...unhinged. I put off writing this review for a while because I would just start thinking about Hwang Shi Mok's and Han Yeo Jin's friendship and I would start screaming or tearing up because, well, you'll see once you start watching Stranger.

After watching Life, which was also written by Lee Soo Yeon and features many of the same actors, I immediately decided to start watching Stranger, and I am so glad that I did because Stranger definitely deserves all the praise it has received. I will admit, I do think I enjoyed Life more compared to the first season of Stranger, but I think I did enjoy Life and the second season of Stranger equally if that makes any sense. Overall, I think the second season of Stranger surpasses the first, which is usually rare, and I'll explain why.

First, I'd like to point out that while though we are introduced to many new characters in the second season, a lot of familiar faces will crop up again and there isn't really a reintroduction of these characters, hence why it is important to give ALL of your attention when watching Stranger. And I mean ALL of it, which is actually one of my favorite aspects of the show. Watching Stranger is the equivalent of being given a ball of yarn that has already been unraveled, and you have to wander around a labyrinth of small details and stolen glances in order in order to ravel the ball of yarn back up. The second season, much like the first, is not something you want to watch when distracted, or else you'll become horribly lost. Definitely not the kind of show you should watch if you're looking for something to help turn your brain off.

One thing I liked about the second season when compared to the first is how the characters that we were already introduced to were utilized. We already know these characters, such as Hwang Shi Mok, Han Yeo Jin, and Seo Dong Jae. We know their personalities, their quirks, the losses they've gone through from the first season (which definitely impact the choices they make in this second installment). There are decidedly fewer action sequences in the second season compared to the first, but now we get to see these characters grapple with questions of morality, ethics, and personal philosophies which allows these characters to truly blossom and flourish. Relationships, too, were deeply explored, and it was very satisfying to watch everything come together for these characters by the last episode.

Speaking of relationships, I loved the range that we were given in the second season. Hwang Shi Mok’s and Han Yeo Jin’s friendship is probably the most important thing to me ever. Like, I will never shut up about it. Ever. Their dynamic works so well under Lee Soo Yeon’s care, and it was interesting to see that even though they were at odds with each other because of the conflict between the police and the prosecution, they still managed to have each other's backs. Magnificent proof that male/female platonic relationships CAN be written with authenticity and not be boring at all.

I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing other relationships showcased, as well. Brief appearances of members of the Special Investigation from the season brought a smile to my face, as well as a sense of closure. Seeing Han Yeo Jin reunite with members of her old team at the Yongsan Police Station made me laugh as I watched them fall back into their easy dynamic, though there were a few tense moments that were brought up to highlight the difference between police work at headquarters and on the field, as well as when questions of ambition were brought up. The student/mentor relationship between Han Yeo Jin and Choi Bit was also very interesting to watch unfurl, but also devastating once it reached its conclusion. And can we talk about Hwang Shi Mok and Seo Dong Jae? I loved watching their relationship develop, becoming more of a grudging friendship instead of workplace adversaries. I definitely hope to see more of them if there is a third season. (And there better be a third season or I will cry even harder than I did while watching the final episode.)

Another brief thing I wanted to touch on was the music! Definitely a lot more diverse than the first season - a very nice touch!

This was such a nice follow-up to the first season of Stranger that affected me a lot more emotionally than any crime show has before. It probably won't be to everyone's taste, considering that it is much more dialogue-heavy than its predecessor, but if you're looking for a smart, mystery-type drama with compelling characters, I would definitely check out the Stranger franchise. I will be keeping an eye out for any future projects that Lee Soo Yeon will be a part of. She has a very unique talent and I'm sure she will produce a lot of great things!

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That's right folks, Hwang Si Mok finally gets to eat! The end. (Just kidding)

The second season of Stranger starts 2-3 years later, when he is transferred again and reunited with Han Yeo Jin. You definitely have to have watched the first season to enjoy season two, since many of the characters appear again and the plot also ties back to past events. This time, they're a bit at odds, since the police and prosecution are fighting over investigative rights and they both sit on a special council. But despite that, you can't separate the dream team and they still end up working together to figure out the truth.

The plot is so unpredictable and complicated and little details end up being significant later on. It's definitely a drama where you have to use your brain and I found myself rewinding a few times to catch stuff that I didn't understand. I don't want to spoil things, but Seo Dong Jae is also in season 2 and let me just say, I was NOT expecting things to go in the direction they did.

Acting/Cast: Really talented cast and you'll see lots of familiar faces if you watch dramas. If you're a fan of the Reply 1998 / Prison Playbook, you'll notice Choi Moo Sung who played Taek's father / Kim Min Chul, and Jeon Hye Jin who appeared in Search:WWW is back playing another strong female role. There's also a cameo at the end from one of my favs, Kim Won Hee!

I feel like this drama explores the varying shades of black and white a lot. Similarly to Season 1, you're left guessing who is a good and bad guy, and sometimes there's not a definitive answer. You see really selfish, terrible people in this drama, but also people who do the right things under tough circumstances.

Something that makes me feel hopeful is that despite how terrible other people are, Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin really champion justice and don't care about offending other people or the consequences.

I've heard the drama did really well and I think the ending leaves room for a Season 3, so hopefully that happens!

Music: I honestly don't really remember the music, but since it is a suspense drama I'm sure that it also contributed to building the mood of the drama. The only song I really remember is Yoon Mi Rae's Lost, which really caught my ear.

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There’s so much to unpack. and i’m bad at writing reviews.

I obviously had high expectations having watched and loved the first season a year back i anticipated this one for months and months and then it finally came and aired and at first I honestly didn’t really know what to think about the set up of the story or actually the first two episodes I was really just in awe and taken aback by it and I was curious to see where they would take it because it seemed like it was going to go one way but then it went a completely different one and I got confused and I was confused for a while lol like both of the new main characters I wholeheartedly didn’t care about and i’m still not sure if I did in the end but then it didn’t matter because and this is really the essence of this review the last 3-4 episodes really did it for me they’re the reason I’m giving Stranger 2 10 stars because that’s when it all changed and I fell back in love with the entire concept of the series which is also why I want to rewatch it as soon as I can afford Netflix again (it’s hard out here) because now with that knowledge of where it’s going to go I do feel that I’ll be able to appreciate everything in between the beginning and end so so much more so yes is it as good as the first season actually I don’t know right now but I do think it’s good and that again having finished it I can see what the writers and producers were trying to do all that time I was sitting there confused lmfao and ofc the cast is a huge highlight of the entire project and I love my duo to death their scenes are hands down my favorite part of this drama and always have been I love them I love them I love them and most of all I love Simok so so much he has to be one of my favorite characters of all time and I think this season we really got to see him in a different light as well which I’m so grateful for so yeah to wrap this up: fantastic season and I’m sorry for the lack of punctuation

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O drama que mais aguardei este ano não foi nada do que esperei :(

É inegável que minhas expectativas estavam altas, eu amei a primeira temporada que antes mesmo de terminar já havia se tornado um dos meus dramas favoritos. Amei tudo na primeira temporada, os personagens, o enredo extremamente bem feito, a fotografia...enfim, tudo mesmo.

O que a segunda temporada de Stranger nos entrega é uma história sem sal e morna. No início pensei que o clima embaçado dos dois primeiros episódios logo seria dissipado por um grande esquema que me deixaria empolgada e que me consumiria com aquela mesma sensação eletrizante que a primeira temporada me trouxe.

A sensação de que algo grande aconteceria e que as coisas esquentariam foi por água abaixo por volta do episódio 8 quando percebi que meu lado fangirl estava superestimando o enredo. Não me entenda mal, não é que a história seja ruim ou que não faça sentido é somente porque a primeira temporada foi surpreendentemente incrível que a segunda não conseguiu manter o ritmo.

Ainda não entendo porque transformaram a Han Yeo Jin que antes era vibrante e cheia de vida, ávida por mudar o mundo em uma personagem passiva e inexpressiva. Quanto aos personagens secundários também não gostei como ficaram apagados nesta temporada. Nada a reclamar do meu promotor maravilhoso nesta temporada, ele continua o mesmo.

Resumindo, não sei se mudaram o diretor, o roteirista ou sei lá o quê mas fiquei com a sensação de que faltava alguma coisa, que algo não estava no lugar a história simplesmente não decola o que é uma pena.

Se voltaria a assistir esta temporada? Definitivamente não. Se indico? Talvez para quem não tenha assistido a primeira temporada e decida começar por esta temporada possa até funcionar mas para quem assistiu a viciante primeira temporada não consiga dar uma nota superior a um mero 6 no máximo. Se assistirei a terceira temporada? Sim, afinal minha esperança nunca morre!

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A solid series

Stranger 2 is different from Stranger 1 in many ways, e.g. here we have - alphabetically - police vs. prosecutors as leitmotiv (and the "incest" between the two that has been hinted throughout the episodes, but has not fully come to light).
I am glad about that, because some series start great, and then just rehash the same stuff.
Having said that, I am wondering why Stranger 1 steadily increased its viewers share (in Korea) from 3% to 7%, but this series is stuck as a yoyo between 6% and 7.5%: market saturation for this kind of series?
In all fairness, one cannot write a complete review until the series is over, and there are so many loose ends right now, that I am expecting a great finale.

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Change in Focus

I feel that session 1 characters have more "personalities". Session 2 focusing more on the character personalities changes and not so much into the "politics"
Prosecutor Seo changed from the tactful person in session 1 to cunning, busy body like salesman type in session 2
Hwang Si Mok also changed, he can yell and smile in session 2!

Session 2 pacing is better, faster compare to session 1.

Story & mystery wise, session 1 have heavier topics and give more surprises compare to session 2.
I can say session 2 is lighter and more towards entertainment, session 1 can be a bit boring for some people, but having more content and given an impression of more well prepared compare to session 2.

Still thumbs up for all the actors and actresses acting.

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Two characters we actually need right now in our world.

I honestly love Simok & Yeojin's relationship. Whether we call it platonic, professional, or even romantic - they by far exceed any two lovers I have seen on Korean television. Their teamwork really works, and it works because of the way they are. I have seen any two people so straightforward especially Hwang Simok. Han Yeojin does sway when Choi Bit influences her but she does realize her decision of supporting Choi Bit. I understand why so many fans this season were so not into the story based off of the pacing. I think the show took off after we see the main leads finding out on Seo Dong Jae's kidnapping. But before that case takes off and other lies and cases open up we see that ep 1-8 are the setting ground for the show. If you see the ratings for the last episode it means the show worked. The audience (us) we were convinced by Lee Seo Yoon's writing. I really liked this show but also felt disappointed at parts because of the complexity of certain things I didn't understand but the reason why I liked this season once more is because of LSY showing on why people do certain things. Her entire concept of this show "we cannot rule those want nothing" (btw I read this quote on this review from 2017 -https://4musingsblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/27/hwang-simok-the-man-who-cannot-be-bought-ep-1-16/ ) still reflects in her writing. Hwang Simok's character is still pretty much the same but it has changed for the better and he has become a much more mellowed person based off what he went through. He still believes in justice and he still wants to solve to know and have what is right. Han Yeo jin's character goes through a change I think we all could go through (in fact I went through when I worked with administration) - she kind of blocks all the noise she hears from the Intelligence Bureau & her slimy co-workers and tries to work respectfully still trying to follow her ideals. Choi Bit reminds me of a fearless so called feminist that must / might believe in that women are better than men and that is feminism (in reality we all do know that feminism is equal rights for women and men). Woo Tae Ha - I won't say he didn't surprise me in fact he from day one seemed like a weak character that is just pure evil and full of himself. It made me laugh when he tried to compare himself of LCJ even though LCJ was more of a planned out evil guy who tried evil ways to show the truth. However each actor has played themselves very beautifully and have accomplished what they needed to. I do want to mention Lee Yeon Jae being a spoiled brat to a scheming bitch - the Hanjo storyline might be a storyline again for season 3 (fingers crossed) but I do feel bad for her having no one on her side except for Secretary Park but she did love her husband in her own way.

I am really impressed on the background score and how much work was put into it for this show. I do believe I will watch this show again in a couple weeks or so just to understand the intentions of each character and on why they did certain things. Like I said before we already know the corruption within the prosecution & police force - we see it and hear it everyday in fact there is corruption at every corner and like how Han Yeo Jin - if she gets rid of one criminal, two more criminals will pop up - this is in fact true. The main idea behind this show I feel like was to show us the emotions, feelings, and attitudes of each character toward their life but also other peoples' life too. It is hard to care for others when we don't care for ourselves but it is even more harder to support the truth and be part of what is right. I will be totally waiting on season 3 so I can see my Hwang Simok smile again haha :)

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Whoooa... what a ride - an awesome ride. I had the privilege to watch S2 without even waiting for years. I finished S1 not long ago and immediately started S2. And for me, this is better than S1. Why?

The storyline were clearer, each person has their own stories to tell which I think may be boring for some people and the storyline would be so much slower too, but for me it adds up the point for this drama. I don’t think I really enjoyed Lee Yeon Jae’s story, but the else was just really outstanding for me! There are some scenes that made me teary-eyed as well, when there is none actually in S1. The ending was really satisfying too. We get to see Hwang Si Mok smiling so freely now.

The actors and actresses is no doubt. They were a SUPER DUPER OUTSTANDING. They portrayed the story so beautifully, and it just WOWED me to the point I can’t move on. The only sad thing about this drama is that I think it has lesser scenes of Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin because they’re rivals in this season. But dont worry, nothing can break their relationship at the end! ;)

I really really wish S3 would come back soon... I can’t really move on fast from this drama because it is THAT GOOD. Trust me, it may seem boring for the 4 first episodes, but when you reach the 5th it gets better and better till the end. I hope Han Yeo Jin would reunite with her old team, Seo Dong Jae will rise back up again, Hwang Si-Mok will work with Kim Ho Seob once more, Kang Won Cheol would still be in the story too and lastly, for everybody to reunite and join forces to make Korea great again.

Overall, a solid 10/10. I could give this a 100/10 anytime ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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