A ragtag team of misfits form an undercover operation in this latest series that’s creating quite the buzz.
Code name of the undercover investigation is ‘Good Casting’ as three women from the NIS (National Intelligence Service) come together to catch an unidentified ghost and industrial criminal known as Michael Lee, meanwhile preventing a technology leak overseas from a conglomerate corporation. The team consists of an expert negotiator, Hwang Mi Soon (Kim Ji Young), IT specialist Im Ye Eun (Yoo In Young), and eccentric agent, Baek Chan Mi (Choi Kang Hee) who aren’t without their flaws but somehow manage to pull their weight and give female power a whole new meaning.
Their mission entails that they must target and surveil three men within Il Hwan Tech who are most likely affiliated with Michael but personal feelings get thrown into the mix as the President (Lee Sang Yeob) of the company suspects Chan Mi, convinced she resembles his first love while Ye Eun has to pacify a spoiled idol (Lee Jun Young) as well as juggling the role of a single mother. Mi Soon also struggles with her own personal matters as her family drives her up a wall, her work life taking its toll on her and keeps her away from her daughter. Espionage is no picnic, and these women are in for a long ride as the ups and downs of field work change them.
I’m just going to throw it out there and say that this series is such a treat! It’s a racket and so well deserving of all the breaking high ratings and popularity its been garnering. I managed to watch a full 8 episodes within a day and every hour barely feels like 10 mins have gone by because the drama is simply that enjoyable.
The pacing of the series is well executed with flashbacks and transitions that are fluid but never felt as choppy or too lengthy. I’m going to pin the success of the series down to the good synergy between screenwriter and director while the cast seems to have exceptional chemistry as well, the characters endearing from the start. The investigation of the female spies is the overarching and central plot line of the show but each of them as individuals, create their own sub-stories as undercover agents with different roles within Hwan Tech, reflecting their skill sets and capabilities, juxtaposed with their private lives when they’re not working as spies.
It’s an odd mix of subject matter that might anchor heavily in one direction but the drama has managed to keep a balance between everything and all its genres as it can go from dark to light instantly but it somehow makes sense. The comedy is similar to The Fiery Priest with several slapstick moments that have you howling with laughter but the antics are taken up a notch here as their quirks end up creating hilarity or misfortune. The action segments are delivered in ways that we know we’re watching an action and spy series; there’s not an ounce of cheesiness when it comes to the punches and fights these ladies throw.
The drama isn’t afraid of making a feminist statement in the most explicit way possible since it’s three women up against the world, and it’s no coincidence that they’re meant to expose evil men and have to target men as well. The proclamation is certainly there but dilated into a believable discourse as they work side by side with team leader, Dong Kwan Soo (Lee Jong Hyuk) while the President of Il Hwan Tech is far from being a villain. I’m also going to speculate and say that the mastermind behind everything may be a female as well since the agents are so fixated on Michael and the people involved in the case which are primarily male. And there are hints of the plausibility of this so although female-centric, it still maintains a slight sense of gender disparity of women vs. men in terms of either being glaringly good or evil.
Certain aspects of the case tend to be farfetched at times and muddled with inconsistencies but can for the most part, be forgiven since it’s made up with more action and complications in regards to unmasking Michael. If you’re more into intense mystery-thrillers with complexity then this series may be a huge let-down for you since it tends to fixate more on the action and and the lives of the women involved. The drama is easy to follow once all the characters are established while the storyline remains linear and consistent. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily predictable but its not leaving you speechless with a nerve-wracking cliffhanger at the end either.
Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about the drama and it will definitely take you out of a K-drama rut if you happen to be caught in one. The production of Good Casting is exceptional, containing a well-rounded cast, and a solid storyline. Incorporating a bit of everything, this female empowerment series is out to make massive waves and draw people in. In short, it’s badass and fun!
Release Date: April 27, 2020 (Eng Sub available on Viki)
Mary
It sort of reminded mer of Charlies Angels I think it is cery good!
Debra.J
I totally agree! It's a much more PG version of the Angels xD