Greetings, it's been a while since I posted something on this blog. I was supposed to finish up my top favorite songs in 2021 but I got stuck with writer's block that I had to delay it until I'm done with the list. In the meantime, I was focused on my final years in college by writing a dissertation and completing group projects and exams. Now, as I wait for the date for my graduation, I decided to rebrand this blog because I want to expand in reviewing other medias such as tv shows, movies and books (yes, they count.) Don't worry, I will post some music reviews from time to time. Without further ado, here's my first review of a television show. I will warn that some parts of the review may contain spoilers. So, I advised you to watch the show first before reading this review.
For this first tv review, I'll be doing the Korean adaptation of a beloved classic literature, Little Women, set in the modern day. It’s about these three sisters, one works as a Bookeeper while the other one works as a reporter and one is a student. Oh In-Joo, one of the sisters, was caught in an 70 billion won embezzlement scheme caused by her friend at work who died mysteriously. With the help of a mysterious man who is closely associated with that friend, In-Joo has to figure out why her friend gave her 2 billion won and what is her cause of death. Meanwhile, Oh In-Kyung is working on a case about the mysterious blue orchid and a shady politician.
I had no familiarity with the original source. Never read it or watch the movies it was adapted from (although I did watch a few scenes of the recent movie starring Sairose Ronan). I went in the show with curiosity and wow. One episode in and I was blown away immediately. The cinematography is phenomenal, I love the camera work in this show. The locations from Korea to Singapore is beautiful. I appreciate the scenes outside of Korea. As well, the acting is superb. I feel their character, motivation and emotions throughout the episodes that I want to root for or against them. If you watch Vincenzo, you may recognize the similarities between that and this show. These two shows have the same director, Kim He-Won. I love her work on both of these shows.
Little Women (2022) is a mystery thriller formed into a 12 episode series. The plot starts out with the characters being poor and experiencing poverty. Suddenly, a turn of events happened to them and they’re trying to figure out the cause of these events. Little did they know that it is connected to each other (the politician, the dead friend, the strange society and the blue orchid). After watching this show, let’s say I won’t be buying that flower. I loved that it is 12 episodes. As someone who binge watch the show in a couple of days and thinking about the clues, twists and turns, it is very impactful after watching it. I gasped at the plot twists and the clues being unraveled. This kind of show intrigues me and keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Now for the acting, let’s start with the main stars. Kim Go-Eun stars as Oh In-Joo, the eldest sister of the family. She may be naive but she’s willing to do what she can to support her sisters after her mother abandons them during In-Hye’s birthday celebration. Even if it involves her dead friend’s embezzlement scheme. Go-Eun delivers a spectacular performance. I love how versatile she is during the intense scenes and how expressive her emotions are throughout the show. In one episode, she’s naive and hopeless. In the other, she’s determined and unhinged. Sometimes these emotions are displayed on the same episode. Although I was only familiar with her works such as Goblin and Yumi’s Cells, she might be my favorite Korean actress. I hope she wins an award for her performance on this show.
Nam Hi-Jun stars as the middle child of the Oh family, Oh In-Kyung. She’s a reporter who struggles to find appreciation in her workplace and alcoholism. Her workmates don’t respect her, her boss undermines her hardworking ethic and points out her flaws (she’s emotional when reporting sensitive topics). Despite that, she is tenacious and persistent. I’m not familiar with the actress but I loved how she never gives up on her passion of reporting no matter the obstacles that get in her way. She was going to be my favorite character until Oh In-Joo steps in on the later episodes. There are times where I feel embarrassed when she goes to find her younger sister at the politician’s house while drunk. Aside from that, I respect her determination of reporting the story of a mysterious blue orchid and the politician who she suspects and despises.
And now for the youngest sister, Oh In-Hye played by Park Ji-Hu from All Of Us Are Dead. I did not realize that was the same actress from that show until I looked it up. Her performance is fine but my god, I feel frustrated by her character. I’m an only child but I was so mad at her for not appreciating her older sisters who are working hard to give her money for her overseas trip. Also, her choosing the shady politician’s family over her own because she would rather be with them over being poor. Agh! Uhh.. positive things… Well, I liked her interaction with the daughter of the politician. And her paintings are nice and detailed. That’s pretty much it.
Moving on to the supporting characters, I’ll start with the rich family. The politician is portrayed as a kind man who helps the poor in the media. In reality, he is selfish and murders them in secret. This can be reflected through his wife who’s father is the General and was a part of a secret society that involves the blue orchid. The daughter who is the only bright spot of the family. The actors did a great job portraying these characters. I especially applaud the actress who played the wife. You can go from liking her to absolutely despise her in the later episodes. The plot twist on her character is shocking.
And now, the supporting men, Choi Do-Il and Ha Jong-Ho. You may recognize Wi Ha-Joon from shows like Squid Game and Bad and Crazy but he did a great job portraying a mysterious man with a complicated family history and was working with the shady politician. Despite of that, he’s willing to work with Oh In-Joo during her embezzlement crisis. The only downside I had for his character is whether you are rooting for him or not. There are scenes where you think he betrays In-Joo by taking all the money or trying to kill her as ordered by the politician. Going from those scenes to the ones where he saves her is interesting. Also, come on. No romantic scenes between the two? No scenes where he confesses his love to her, especially in the last two episodes? Bummer. Kang Hoon, the other guy did well playing his character who’s helping Oh In-Hye on her story. Nothing much to say about that.
Oh and not to forget, Jin Hwa-Young and the Great aunt. The former is a friend of Oh-Injoo who mysteriously died at her own home. You might think she’s also an outcast who doesn’t have a lot of money but she’s secretly rich. And the plot twist surrounding her character, wow.
A lot of people were confused with the ending of the show. I thought is great how I now appreciate Oh In-Hye pays back to her sisters. Her monologue in the finale is pretty good. I felt like that is a perfect closure to the journeys of the main characters.
If you’re looking for some mysterious thriller with complex hints, family dynamics and female fronted characters, this show is for you. I’d rate it a 9/10.
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