Things I adored about FxC
**Jin I-soo. Such a fantastic bloviator-to-regular-guy stereotype. Played to perfection by Ahn Bo-hyun. Hair and all.

**Lee Gang-hyun. Such an amazing tough-as-nails member of the police, softened by seeing the humanity in others. @kurama remembered that Park Ji-hyun played opposite Ahn Bo-hyun in Yumi's Cells as "that" member of his games start-up and now I can't un-see that...but man, are both of them playing SUCH different characters here!!

**Park Jun-young (our second in command) and Yoon Ji-won (our coroner). This pairing of sensitive-but-rough member of the police and the desensitized-but-soft coroner/pathologist never, ever gets old and Kang Sang-joon and Jung Ga-hee will now have my heart on hold until the possibility of a season two.

**The marriage of Gang-hyun's parents, Lee Hyung-jun and Go Mi-sook. Yeah, he condescends to her early to side with his daughter (my ♥♥), but in the end, gah. These two have such a loving relationship. It's marriage goals.

Things I thought were "fine" about FxC

**That we can't have brothers who support one another. But I will say that I ended up feeling somewhat satisfied with the "twist" that hyung was being the kind way he was towards his dongsaeng not because he was somehow inherently a nice guy, but because of his guilt. I would rather have had it another way, but this was OK.

**That the butler (?) took over the company?

For the future, more cases-of-the-week please!?! I really will watch season two if they promise not to harm any more of our beloved Team's families. NONE of their families. Definitely not those we already know, but also...just saying...the hoobae? I shall protect that young man from all narrative threats. FIGHT ME, WRITERNIM! 🤗

I thoroughly enjoyed this silly little cop show!

Alas, the evil brother plot was very predictable but I agree that the show did such a good job with the execution that the audience felt like Isoo, we didn't want to believe it either.
Watching them tear the brothers apart was quite heartbreaking!

Aside from that, I'm looking forward to season 2! Just praying they keep it consistent with the first season!<3

I am sorry I hadn't written before about my hypothesis that it was the hyung who killed the mom. I thought it could be possible that the brother was somehow under the influence of the evil mom and he thought that he's helping his mom by killing the mistress. Well, I got the details wrong (his mom really effed up the poor hyung).
But I also clung to the last moment to the hope that hyung hadn't kill the dad. I tried to convince myself that the scene where he confesses to his mom might be a dream that his mom has, in order to deny her own misdeed.
By the way, even if he had been caught, I don't think he could have been indicted for Yi Soo's mom's murder, because he was a minor at the time (I don't know what the laws are in South Korea, but his punishment would have probably been less severe).
I am so bummed that hyung couldn't be a nice guy all the way. Now my hope is that the actor (Kwak Si-yang) will get to be in a drama where he gets to play a bumbling puppy who is in love! His voice deserves a sweet character!
The two last episodes were so dark, wayyy too far away from the zaniness of the first episodes. Let's hope the fun returns in season 2!
I enjoyed this drama a lot, the found family was so sweet (I loved the scene in which Gang-hyun's mom cooks a meal for uri cop and consoles him). I loved all the actors and I can't wait to see them again!

I would like to set off some virtual fireworks to celebrate this amazing show!!!! 🎉🎉 (and in particular the skills of writer Kim Ba da.)

She has done an amazing job juggling many different genres, all delivered with great skill overall.

In the mood for some over the top comedy and action- yes! Early eps were like a love child of James Bond/Austin Powers and Miami Vice with Yi-soo's rebellious Hair (it deserved capitalisation), his loud wardrobe, and the preposterous but enjoyable stunt work! Loved it.

But that alone would have got quite shallow and boring, right? Fear not, because also layered in were dramatic relationship dynamics that we could invest in!

That included lovely hints of romance that were like sprinkles on top of your ice cream - they were an added bonus, but never overwhelmed the main story/flavour.

As if that wasn't enough, the second half went a bit darker and shifted into serious thriller/crime story threads that were truly nerve-wracking - and worked brilliantly because we were so invested in the core characters (see earlier relationship work).

I doff my cap, and perform a low bow to show my RESPECT. This was such a joy to watch and bar a few minor niggles, delivered in such a satisfying way. Bring on Season 2! 💖💖💖

"I'm sure there will be some sad Beanies who are devo that the brother 'dunnit'.😞😢 Personally I found it a satisfyingly twisted outcome. 😁

I was more worried about the Butler, Mr Choi, being involved, as he felt like someone who really had Yi-soo's back in numerous situations, rather than the bro who talked a big game, but didn't seem to DO much to actually help Yi-soo out (and now we know why...).

I also appreciated the red herring of the step-mother, and the twist that maybe she wasn't such a monster after all, but she had raised one.
The fact that this realisation left her in a dissociative state felt believable (although I didn't really get her turning up in court in the wheelchair- was that to support him, or condemn him?)
Added bonus it meant no more screamy acting from her - phew!

Overall this was a really satisfying conclusion to what started out as a show that I didn't have any great expectations for, but grew to love more and more each week. 😍😍

(Full disclosure here- I had been trying to watch The Impossible Heir over the weekend- man, that was hard going. Just as I was losing the will to live in Ep 4, I decided to switch over to Flex X.

It was like taking a magic story pill. Everything made sense, but wasn't completely predicable. There were characters I cared about and was invested in, and the writer seemed to understand basic human psychology. The contrast could not have been more marked.

This may mean that I found the final Flex X eps even better than I would have otherwise.... This show was the epitome of under-promising and over-delivering and that cannot be said (cough, cough) for TIH)

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it; finished it mostly for the bean. It ticked off a bunch of boxes on the trope list and followed a pretty predictable path. Glad they didn’t force a romantic relationship on the leads, which would have messed up the team chemistry. I found Ahn Bo-Hyun’s heavy makeup and Elvis Presley pompadour an annoying distraction. The highlight of the show for me were Gang-Hyun‘s parents; Dramaland needs more warm, caring, supportive, well-adjusted couples just like them.

Thank you DaebakGrits for your wonderful recaps over the 16 episodes.
Big Sigh....I'm so sad it's over and will miss these characters while we wait for season 2.
The last two episodes were ABH basically stealing the show. He was fabulous as Yi-soo, truly making this character believable and heartfelt.
He worked hard, did well and should be really proud of himself.
Of course this wouldn't be possible without being surrounded by a really fantastic crew and amazing fellow actors.
A big shout out to the costume department for Yi-soo's fashion sense which was a character in itself and for making Kang hyun seem all the more real.
My favourite scene would have to be Mi-sook inviting Yi-soo inside for a meal, consoling him for all he has been through while he breaks down in tears. For a scene which was relatively short, not much dialogue, simple in set up but very well directed, it was very impactful and beautifully done.
I think this is one of the reasons why this show stands out for me, the balance between the crazy, zany and pure, heartfelt moments worked well.
I do wish there could have been some way to save Yi-soo's father so we could see some sort of reconciliation in the next season and like others I wished it wasn't so with his brother being the villain.
That being said, this show will be a highlight of the year for me and I only hope season 2 will be as good.

I dropped “See you in my 19th life” but “Flex x cop” and ABH have made me come back to that show, currently 4 episodes in, and it is not as bad as I thought.

ABH said he deliberately asked for the 2 hair strands down his forehead so that his character here would look different from his character in “Itaewon class”. (His hair in “Flex x cop” took one and a half hour to do, with 50 hairpins to keep it in form). Although I dropped “Itaewon class” halfway, I saw ABH’s character there enough to say that viewers wouldn’t need the whole first episode to see that Isoo and Geunwon had nothing in common, except that muscular 1.88m body 😅.

I so loved Kanghyun and her family dynamics. For once, actress Yoon Yoosun weren’t made to play a depressed alcoholic mom and it was refreshing to watch. I did want to see stronger hints of romance between Kanghyun and Isoo, but since there will be season 2, I’m ok with waiting.

It was also refreshing to see Isoo’s father wasn’t the real villain. I’ve never seen Jang Hyunsung in a non-villain role before this one.

The first few episodes of this show were nothing outstanding, with quite a few plot holes/convenient plot devices, but it was fun to watch. It changed its tone in the later episodes, especially in the last few ones, and I became much more invested in the story. The show was fun and had a lot of heart throughout. I gave me characters that I cared for and that would stay with me after the show ended.

Before the last episode, I thought about which would make me sadder: Seungju or the secretary being the real villain?! But I think it would have broken my heart more if it had been the secretary, so I was satisfied with the ending.

Another detail I liked was the fact that Isoo took an unloaded gun from the police station, that act was very him. I wouldn’t have noticed the difference if it had been a loaded gun. But the moment it was revealed that the gun was empty, I could just admire the smart and sensitive writing.

This show is very rewatchable and highly recommended.

I can't think of the last time a show exceeded my expectations to this degree. So, thank you, Flex X Cop, for an entertaining run and for earning a second season! I hope all our favorites return for another go -- their characters have been a joy to watch.

The show was well executed on a number of fronts, but I especially loved the character growth and the way relationships were developed in such a natural way. By the time we got to the finale, it felt like Yi-soo and Kang-hyun had a real rapport based on mutual understanding. Case in point -- the way she made sure he had something to eat after they met at their scenic spot. By saying she was hungry, she didn't give him a chance to decline her invite, and then she told him he had to eat first before she would listen to he had to say. She knew just how to boss him around for his own good (contrast that to Ep. 1). The way she put morsels of food in his bowl warmed my heart. Both women in the Lee family have been making sure he eats well. Will they be sharing a table for a lifetime? Maybe we'll find out in the next season. I hope it marks a return to the more comedic crime-solving of the middle episodes. Let's give everyone a break from trauma, OK?

"Because, even more shocking is the revelation that Seung-joo also killed Yi-soo’s mother. (Pausing here so we can all collectively flip tables and throw things in frustration.)"

Yep. It was heartbreaking.

I can't find it in myself to be properly angry with Big Bro. Not only because Kwak Si-yang is an excellent actor, but because we got to see Seung-joo being such a good brother and son at the beginning of the show that when everything fell apart I couldn't help but feel sorry for *both* brothers.

Thank you @DaebakGrits for all the great recaps!

The murderer's revelation was sad but not completely capilotracted. If the Police, more precisely Gang-Hyun's father, didn't find anything suspicious is because the only traces of a stranger in the house was from a child. I was sad Seung-Ju chose his mother over his father and killed him but he already did it when he was young, so it made sense. The mother was the most awful character, her scene at the funeral? She didn't know shame... I liked how Gang-Hyun's father still searched for evidence, how Jun-Young didn't shy away and told that Seung-Ju was the main suspect even if he knew I-Soo won't accept it, how the team was always there for I-Soo during the investigation.

In a general, it was really a great drama because they fixed a genre and went for it. The investigations were ridiculously fun. The character development was really good, it felt earned and I loved watching the evolution of the different relationships (Take notes, The Impossible Heir!).

The casting was really good and I'm excited to watch a second season with them.

Thank you for a great recap. Loved it from beginning to end. Although they were a couple of weird stories they made us believe ! That's what I call a successful drama :) Such a great cast. We knew what's coming in the end but may be , may be would be a only a evil stepmoms fault:) Last 3 episodes were heart-breaking! Which one was so sadder I don't know, Yi Soo being left all alone , our ML deserved better , or his beloved brother being the villain. Kwak Si-Yang is an amazing actor. He is the best loved villain in drama land for a long while:) Both the leads were amazing. Ahn Bo Hyun as usual was so bright and kudos to FL. She was a real cop with emotions. I ll miss both teams 1 and 2 :) 

I was not happy with the final arc. My brain could follow the steps and appreciate the art and acting, but my heart... my heart wasn't there (also, while I had no problem to suspend my disbelief with all the cases before, here I just couldn't shake away the constant How could a family member be part of the investigation and have access to everything?)

What my heart really wanted was to keep the case of the week till the end and have Yisoo's and Kanghyun's families be the running story between the cases - the story of mending of the relationship between Father and Son (and Hyung). And also to have the two families interact together - the fathers could become friends perhaps, the moms could have some funny showdowns ...and maybe... maybe there could be a love story between Kanghyun and... Hyung! 😁 I got this idea and somehow I wouldn't mind this direction, keeping the friendship with Yisoo, which I really liked, and now I'm imagining all the courtship of smexy Kwak Shiyang and the teasing of Team 1. 😁

Anyway, my slight dissatisfaction with the finale aside, I really enjoyed this drama, it was funny and full of characters I loved and I'm looking forward to Season 2.
Thank you @daebakgrits for your company and witty recaps!

One of my favorite things the writer did was to NOT have I Soo find the report Kang Hyun wrote about him, but to have Kang Hyun's father find it instead. I really liked the way that expectation was subverted, and the way KH (mildly) called him out on it was really nice.

While part of me is disappointed that I Soo and KH's romance didn't progress more, it also felt right dramatically. Curious to see what they do with that next season. Also, I will be irked if Jun Young and Ji Won skip right to being in an established relationship. We need some skinship there!

I'm still annoyed that the brother did it, but the overall drama was so fantastic, I will treat the last few episodes as mere annoyances and I really look forward to season 2 capers, and for the love of God and beanies make it just capers, a little romance, and procedure.

But that scene where I Soo eats with Ganghyun’s mom… Ahn Bo Hyun is handsome and charming, but that scene was really well acted. Truly cathartic.

I loved the ending. Seungju, you broke my heart. I’m going to rewatch Oh My Ghostess to see him being sweet for a change lol.

I really didn't like the direction of the last few eps. I feel like the ending, while it put the show back where I want it to be (just in time to end, lol) didn't really fit. I-soo's world has pretty much collapsed. All of his family is dead, minus his step-mom who HATES him. His beloved brother, the only family he really was close to, completely fooled him. His last words to his father were accusing him of murder. And he's just, like, completely back to his old self within weeks? Feels disingenuous, like they wanted all of the chaebol family drama without actually giving it the attention or gravitas it warranted.

I wish we'd gotten more romance (I literally saw a description of this show as "the romance between Gang-hyun and I-soo" which is why I decided to watch it), but at least we're getting a season 2. I-soo also really needs a family, and Gang-hyun can give that to him. I always love slow burns, as long as they pay off. I think we can also assume that the second couple is gonna happen VERY soon, but I hope we get to see it develop in the second season--just at a faster pace.

As I posted elsewhere, my main takeaway from the final episodes was that Chairman Jin was an absolutely abysmal father to both Isoo and Seung-joo. The fact that he decided when the boys were both young that embracing Isoo (his "real" son) and his mother meant rejecting Seung-joo along with his wife was pretty terrible, but then the Chairman doubled down and made the same decision in the present (telling Seung-joo that his biggest regret was allowing him and his mother into his home in the first place). Then for years, he favored Seung-joo, the supposed legitimate heir, while allowing Drunken Evil Stepmom to constantly abuse Isoo. That's just vile. I'm not excusing Seung-joo for his own crimes, and there's no denying that he had the severe misfortune of being born to a selfish and parasitic mother, but Father Jin definitely deserves his fair share of blame for how things ended up.

On the flip-side, I want to give a shout-out to Mi-sook for that beautiful scene where Isoo finally broke down and let her comfort him. I had assumed prior to it that Kang-hyun would be the one to hold him as he cried, and that would have been fine. But this was so much better. Isoo needed a mother's unconditional love and acceptance in that moment, and that's what he got. Plus, the actors played the scene perfectly without any maudlin hints or melodrama to undercut the genuine emotions of loss and longing.

All that said, I really enjoyed this show. The snappy dialogue, found family relationships, hints of romance, wacky cases, and tongue-in-cheek fun with chaebol tropes made it a surprising comfort watch. Bring on season two!

I am sad to see this drama go for now and I am really looking forward to season 2. The murder mystery format is working very well and I loved the cast, led by Ahn Bo-hyun. There will be more emphasis on the budding romance(s) for sure.

The only disappointment was the step brother as the villain. Not only is it an overused trope, but what is the lesson here? Blood is thicker than water, you can never trust a child which is not of your own bloodline, the chairman would still be alive, if he had rejected this kid from the start.

It were his own decisions that led to this disaster - he abandoned his mistress and child, married a woman only because she was useful and at the end suffered the consequences of creating these dysfunctional relationships. I can't say that I feel sorry for him.

I a sure a butler can make a good chairman even if anecdotally they are always the murderer.

I'm one of those who did not handle the brother being the villain well. It doesn't ruin the series for me, but I was just disappointed after the wonderful journey I've had with the early episodes being a turn-off, followed by the weeks and weeks of pure delight, only to be pulled in the doldrums. I'm looking forward to season 2 focusing on the fun stuff.

As much as a disliked the writing decision to make the brother the final villain, the execution was really well-done and well-acted. Seung-joo got to be the red herring in one case only to be the true baddie in the second case. I could understand the pressure Seung-joo was under and some of the guilt.

I loved how the butler became the new Chairman! I hope he doesn't have to pull double-duty of Chairman-ing and taking care of Yi-soo.

I love how Kang-hyun's mom can be like his second mom! Kang-hyun's parents are so normal, and I appreciate how Kang-hyun is a high-achiever, but not one of those eccentric ones with wonky EQ.

What I really enjoy about this drama is not only the relationships and colleagues being good to each other and uplifting each other, but how it has a bit of respect for old-fashioned police work that you can't wave your money wand at - like digging through the non-digitized files for the fingerprint.

After episode 15, I had to fold laundry to get me through episode 16, as it was all so obvious. I don’t often do chores and watch because, well, subtitles, but I didn’t know how else to get my bean. I did enjoy the last ten minutes! The bravado of our chaebol cop I now appreciate as being very well earned. I will miss hyung.

Oh my heart! I just finished this and I have to say it was pretty fabulous. My kind show. I loved the cast-all of them fit so well. That was the almost sad best ending ever as it fit the story so well. I say bring on season 2! (I don't say that very often). Its one I will probably re watch just to get more Ahn Bo-hyun and Park Ji-hyun again! Please DO WATCH if you haven't!

Just finished watching the final. Arghhhh. I hate the writers for putting through Jin Soo so much pain. The guy can’t catch a break. Did they have to kill off every family member??
I am thankful for the last 15 minutes for reminding us that this show once used to be fun!!
I can’t wait for season 2!!! I want this wholesome team together and to see some romance budding.

There are so many things I loved about the show. The team. The female lead. Her family. How adorbs are her parents??!!

Also beanies who suspected uri butler, you owe him an apology 💙

And thanks so much for the recaps @daebakgrits! I was a bit late starting the drama, but I went and backread all of them and enjoying the writing!

An awesome show with the team one cops solving cases as well as family drama.

Hyung's betrayal was heartbreaking and everyone prayed he remained true and good, yet suspected he would turn out to be a villain ...and what a villain he was! Isoo's manager/uncle or as others say butler was another gem of a person ...he worked for the chairman and his real son more than the evil mom-son duo. The mother goes kind of crazy was poetic justice for her bad upbringing, heaping her imagined sorrows on others.