Week in Review (Aug 9 – 15, 2020)

What have I been doing this week? I’m glad you asked! Here’s what’s been on my watchlist this week:

TV

Extraordinary You (2016) – Ep 1-11

What I was expecting to be a lighthearted romance/comedy actually turned into a poignant look at the meaning of fate, mortality and identity. Is it possible to change the destiny written for you, to become the master of your own future and create your own path in the world? Watching Eun Dan-oh (Kim Hye-yoon) find the answer to these questions while simultaneously struggling with the impression she might leave in the world she inhabits is both fascinating and tragic. Kim manages to capture the quiet charm of the character in a way that doesn’t feel overacted, and I’m hoping she continues along this trajectory as the show progresses.

The one criticism I have of the show is that Rowoon, who plays Ha-ru to Kim’s Dan-oh, feels flat at times. His bland expressions never quite manage to convey the feeling of grand romance that the show tries to give us, and Kim is left to do a lot of the heavy lifting in that department.

Lee Jae-wook on the other hand, feels like he embodies his character. I love to hate Baek Gyung, and he is the perfect foil. To know that he was simultaneously acting in Search:WWW blows my mind because he delivers stellar performances in both and it never feels like he’s over reaching.

I also enjoy watching the show mock the tropes that are commonly seen in K-dramas. Seeing the characters gain self-awareness is intensely satisfying because they get to escape them and forge their own destinies despite the manhwa writer’s intentions.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed the journey that this show has taken me on, and I’m looking forward to see how the characters overcome the hardships they’ll face next.