Too much drama, too much whimpering, too many close-ups, too many tiring zoom-in, too many onion tears, too many sad love songs, lame directing and acting, too long. So disappointing. Some real good actors though but the show is not up the expectations...

Review of Season One:IRIS was a massively popular South Korean TV series that took the form of a spy thriller. The film focuses equally on explosive and fast-paced action sequences along with numerous and complex character interactions along the way. I watched the first season of the show, which comprises of twenty episodes centred around Lee Byung-hun's put-upon lead character. The story jumps into the thick of the action from the word go and remains fast paced throughout, although I did think twenty episodes were a few too many. What surprised me was just how low budget the show feels. The requirement to stage regular fight scenes every episode means that the production has a cheap digital look at times, and one two or there bits of music which are repeated over and over again throughout the twenty episodes (pulse-pounding music during the action bits, a cheesy song during the romantic scenes). There is padding and there is melodrama and romance, but generally this is watchable, exciting fare. The director makes the most of his star's matinee idol looks and there are so many twists that you quickly lose count of them amid the mayhem. Think of a Korean version of 24 or SPOOKS and you'll be close, but IRIS is very much a product of its own nation and as such has a voice all its own.

After a few months even I'm crying after the time wasted to see this stuff. A mixture of (what?): body lotion, scented hair gel, some uranium, french perfumes, goulash, absurd stunts, syrupy kisses, whatever. Strong cut scenes (being imperfect anyway), lustrous actors, the feeling that they come from marketplace at their headquarter, fashion parade at the end of the series , unbelievable acts, a Kim Tae-he looking towards nowhere in many crucial points. What? A nuclear attempt? With the most unbelievable pretext? What a joke! All the series seems a huge, monumental joke; of bad taste. The actor Lee Byung-Hun is blank as always. For me, he never rises to convey an extraordinary state of life. Only the actor Jeong Jun-Ho saved a bit this messed movie. And actress Kim So-Yeon, yep, she really performed OK. I have all my respect for art and the work in movies but we are here, this years 2000 plus and this movie has not a valid message.

Towards the end of this show, I found myself saying what more and more. This is not my first k- drama, but this is definitely one of the most disappointing shows I've ever watched. It seemed to have so much potential that all just fell flat in the final, crucial episodes of the series which made me even more confused as to why it was so highly praised and rated by everyone. I'm now wondering if we even watched the same show. Honestly, if you are going to watch this show, be prepared to be frustrated at the end.****************CONTAINS SPOILERS*************************First off, the beginning, although slow to some viewers, showed lots of promise. There were so many great opportunities that were set up and there were good characters, a lot of good twists and turns as the series continued, I could almost overlook the constant shaky cam., the choppy editing, and the odd direction. However, the show peaked around episode 15 or so and then rapidly declined at the end. The main failings were the plot, which became pretty convoluted towards the end, the lack of resolution of major plot points and the subsequent forgetting/absence of said plot points, and the plot holes that require you to suspend your disbelief and logic in order to follow what's going on and have it make sense. Then there is the final ending scene. I mean really, after watching all that they end the series with a major death that comes out of literally nowhere...I know apparently there were some issues with Lee Byun Hyun not wanting to continue with the series, but at least write off his character in a convincing way that actually makes sense in the context of the story. How are more people not upset with this? I understand that this was a tragic show and people died, but it seemed as though they wrapped up the main plot of the story, and LBH and KTH were going to get their happily ever after....except just kidding, he gets mysteriously shot and the show ends with no explanation whatsoever. That is not a befitting ending for the characters and his death was not set up at all and seemed to be a quick fix to the LBH issue and a chance to get in one last death for shock value.Giving this five stars because the plot was good towards the beginning and had some good performances in the lead roles.