In the pantheon of modern K-drama anti-heroes, few have swaggered onto the scene with the icy panache of Vincenzo Cassano. Played with lethal charm by Song Joong-ki, the titular character of the 2021 hit Vincenzo isn't your typical protagonist. He is a man born of two worlds: adopted as a Korean orphan into an Italian family, he rises to become a consigliere for the mafia—a lawyer who specializes in winning through violence, intimidation, and the creative application of an olive oil-drenched lighter.
The villainy is particularly noteworthy. Jun-woo starts as a naive intern and descends into a full-blown Nero, complete with dramatic monologues and a chilling disregard for human life. The show doesn’t shy away from asking a difficult question: When the law is owned by the criminals, is it immoral to become a bigger criminal to stop them? Vincenzo
Vincenzo is not a quiet drama. It is a loud, flamboyant, operatic epic that demands your attention. It will make you laugh until your stomach hurts, then leave you stunned by a moment of sudden brutality. It has the pacing of a thriller, the heart of a comedy, and the soul of a tragedy. In the pantheon of modern K-drama anti-heroes, few