May 05, 2021
Song Joong-ki in a still from Vincenzo. Towards the end, the show ceased to be a David-versus-Goliath story and turned into a slowburn tale of vengeance.
Netflix
3.5/5 stars
We all love a good David-versus-Goliath story. Few things are as satisfying as seeing a righteous underdog beat the odds as they stand up to, and take down, a once-mighty foe.
Vincenzo has given us a lot of underdogs to root for, starting with the stalwart Jipuragi Law Firm and stretching through to the other colourful residents of Geumga Plaza.
On the other side of the spectrum, the main villains have been the powerful Babel Corporation and the slimy Wusang Law Firm, paving the way for the former’s unchecked malfeasance.
The scenes in Vincenzo featuring Italy s impressive architecture were all created using computer graphics (Image: Netflix)
Song Joong-ki had to work with green and blue screens to feign walking down Italian streets (Image: Netflix)
1/5
Vincenzo wasn’t filmed in Italy
The opening of the Korean drama sees titular character Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong-Ki) in Italy, carrying out his role as a consigliere for the Italian mafia. The breath-taking landscape views and architecture that cites iconic Italian locations captured the viewers’ attention. Thus, it came as a surprise when the production team revealed that none of the cast or crew stepped foot in Italy to film the shots.
March 08, 2021
Song Joong-ki in a still from Vincenzo.
Netflix
The worlds of K-drama and the Italian mob collide in explosive fashion in Vincenzo, a sweeping if occasionally awkward new series that sees Song Joong-ki return to Netflix just a few weeks after Space Sweepers.
Song plays the memorably named Vincenzo Cassano, a Korean-born but Italian-raised consigliere for the mafia who lives in a swanky apartment, wears only the finest Milan-tailored suits and has boyish looks that belie his ruthless streak.
The show kicks off in Italy in gangster saga mode with Vincenzo travelling to a vineyard following the death of his boss, where he meets the head of another crime family. The conversation is tense and confrontational, but Vincenzo never flinches.