Ahn Bo-hyun is fully captivating living rooms with Jin I-su's uniquely cheerful and bold charm in Flex x Cop 2.
SBS's Friday-Saturday drama Flex x Cop 2 (produced by Studio S, Big Ocean ENM, BA Entertainment) is a lively, refreshing and thrilling collaborative investigation drama in which chaebol detective Jin I-su flips the game with wealth when investigations hit a dead end and new head of team Joo Hye-ra's money-fueled approach energizes the partnership. Ahn Bo-hyun leads the drama at its center, portraying Jin I-su from a sly third-generation chaebol to a bungling detective who never drops his bluff even in moments of crisis.
In episode 3, which aired on the 14th, Jin I-su brought laughter when he faced a nightmarish reality the moment Joo Hye-ra (played by Jung Eun-Chae), who returned from the anti-terrorism team, was appointed as the new head of team. Jin I-su tried to keep a poker face and act unfazed in front of Joo Hye-ra, but his repeated collapses were rendered more vivid through Ahn Bo-hyun's detailed facial acting.
In the pride showdown with Joo Hye-ra that escalated to darts, shooting and even a Tekken arcade match, Jin I-su's competitive streak exploded. Their feud chemistry, clashing over every little thing yet refusing to give an inch, injected cheerful energy into the drama, while Ahn Bo-hyun elevated the character's charm by toggling between Jin I-su's slyness and his poignant humanity.
Later, after receiving a tip about a "haunted abandoned house" and searching it, Jin I-su was attacked by assailants and faced the crisis of being tied to a chair. Even as flames spread before his eyes and he became frightened, he showed a twist of charm by feigning calm and trying to free his restraints so Joo Hye-ra would not worry.
Even in a life-threatening moment, Jin I-su's boasting, saying "the protagonist doesn't die easily," drew laughter. Ahn Bo-hyun skillfully portrayed Jin I-su's characteristic shamelessness that surfaces even in tense situations, preserving both the drama's tension and its comedic elements.
Above all, the highlight of the episode was the "chaebol-level flex" investigation that only Jin I-su could pull off. After extinguishing a fire, he found a suspicious lock in the basement but the search was halted without a warrant. Jin I-su then smashed the lock with a hammer without hesitation and said, "I bought this house. Don't worry about it. Welcome~," instantly overcoming the limits of the investigation with his wealth.
Jin I-su's outlandish cheat-code moves of solving problems with money whenever investigations stall delivered a thrilling catharsis when met with Ahn Bo-hyun's crisp performance. It was a moment when Jin I-su's unique charm—making his status as a third-generation chaebol more than just background and integrating it into his investigative methods—truly shone.
In Flex x Cop 2, Ahn Bo-hyun is showing a variety of faces, from the slyness of an immature third-generation chaebol to an endearingly bungling side and a detective who demonstrates a sharp investigative instinct at decisive moments. Critics note that he absorbs Jin I-su's exaggerated bravado and buoyant energy in his own colors, showing a high degree of synchronicity with the character.
[photo] broadcast capture
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