Who Is She (2024)

How a bad lead character can ruin a show

This story is about a 70 year old woman that finds herself not being needed and feeling unwanted by her own daughter after spending her life raising her while running a restaurant. One day after an argument she leaves home and ends up at a shop where her appearance is changed, taking her back 50 years to her 20 year old self. Now in a much younger body she must decide what she will do and if maybe this is her chance to follow the dreams she abandoned long ago.

First this show has great side characters. The two male leads are great and fun to watch, the granddaughter is multifaceted, and the overall concept makes the story interesting. The music is also great which adds to the appeal. But, while I enjoy aspects of this show the things I do not enjoy outweigh the things I do. The cinematography is mostly done very well but the repetitive use of the close ups on the faces at a downward angle are really unflattering. It is such an odd camera angle and used so frequently that it is hard to overlook at times. The styling of the show also feels unbalanced making the show that is set in 2024 feel more like its decades behind.

The show's biggest blunder, however, is that it suffers from two major flaws. First is in the execution of the the main character's transmigration. Time travel and transmigration can be a bit tricky to get just right but there are so many examples of stories where leads went back in time or were able to start their lives over that were complete successes and that is due to the way the performances were delivered. As a viewer I have no problem with a 70 year old becoming a 20 year old again and having a second chance at achieving their dreams but for it to work the character has to feel like they are young again. This show gives us Mal Soon/ Do Ri who is taken back 50 years to appear as her younger self but she never once acts young. She continues to behave, dress, and speak exactly like her 70 year old self. This approach feels like a miss to me because I find that I can not connect with the character when she behaves in this way as it never feels like she is trying to achieve her dreams or change her life. She is just trapped in this younger body and instead of actively pursuing her dream of becoming a singer she is being dragged into it. This is also where the romance feels wrong to me. I can accept her falling in love with a man the same age as her appearance if she behaved that way but since she never sheds her 70 year old persona then the romance with a much younger man gives me a bit of the ick.

That leads me to the second major flaw and that is in the way the main character behaves. Mal Soon/ Do Ri is not a likeable character. She is arrogant and stubborn but without just cause to be that way and the way she treats the people around her is selfish. Her not being likeable at first would have been fine and would have shown character development and allowed the viewer to grow to like her. But 10 episodes in and this character is still not likeable. Not liking the titular character of a drama for the entirety does not make it an enjoyable watch. Especially for a show like this that is supposed to be a romance and a second chance at life.

The flaws are made more glaring when you see Park Jun become his younger self and actively accept the change and dress and behave as a 20 year old would. He still gives advice or makes comments with the wisdom of years as he would as an older man but he is believable as a young man and easy to root for. Mal Soon's daughter is another horrible character that you never find yourself feeling pity for because she is just as awful as Mal Soon. Even with the reveals that give some reasoning behind their actions I find that they are given too late in the show so there is no impact. The change in the characters occurs far too late in the series and is rather sudden instead of the gradual build up throughout that would have given the viewer more attachment to the story.

Could have been a good story but ultimately fails to capture any of the magic and 'what if' energy I usually get from watching transmigration stories. The last two episodes are touching but also confusing and ultimately underwhelming ending the series with many unanswered questions.

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WATCHABLE BUT SOMETHING IS MISSING.....

The show tells the story of a 70-year-old woman who gave up on her dreams of becoming a singer to raise her child after her husband passed away young. Years later, she experiences regret and self-doubt, strained relationships with her daughter, and a longing for the life she never had. One day, she takes a cab that leads her to a mysterious photo studio, where a photo taken by a mysterious man transforms her into a 20-year-old version of herself, resembling a missing K-pop trainee named Emily. This twist propels her into a new identity and a chance to fulfill her long-held dreams.

While the premise might make you question the logic of a 70-year-old woman suddenly becoming a 20-year-old, the characters are interesting and engaging. The female lead is clumsy and awkward, with endearing granny mannerisms that make sense given her true age. Despite her age, she is bold and has a captivating presence. The male lead is calm and collected, and the female lead's granddaughter brings a bright, cheerful energy to the mix. The interactions among the characters, especially between the female and male leads, are cute and often make me giggle, even though their relationship isn't romantic.

The acting, particularly from the female lead, is commendable as she navigates the challenge of portraying the same personality across two different ages. Although the series is set in 2024, the quality feels somewhat dated, which is a bit off-putting for me, but I can overlook it.

Starting off, I thought I was heading into an emotional journey with this woman who gets a second chance to follow her dreams. However, for some reason, it doesn't feel like it's going in that direction, and it's a bit underwhelming. Yes, she's pursuing being an idol, but it doesn't seem like she has any emotional connection to the fact that she's singing again.

I get her character being over the top and her outfits being displeasing; she's still a granny at heart, role-playing a young girl, and it takes time to fully get into character. With just 12 episodes, it's taking longer to see her transition, and while I’m okay with a slow buildup, her accent can really feel forced at times.

Recently, they introduced a twist that created a love triangle between her, her best friend (who also got a chance to turn back to his 20s), and the producer helping her debut. Some people find the idea of her getting with the producer weird, but honestly, we’ve seen 500-year-old demons and goblins get together with young girls, so what's the real issue? It's all fantasy—she was a granny, and now she’s 20, so none of it makes sense anyway. The romance part isn’t my concern; it’s more about the emotional depth that seems to be missing from her journey....Like I expected, I was hoping for a tale of this woman who got robbed of the chance to follow her dreams back then and now gets a second chance by reverting to her 20s. We see her trying to re-follow those dreams while also navigating this new change. The female lead is supposed to be a character I root for, but at times she can be over the top and annoying. There’s no doubt her character has potential, but she could have been written better.

The drama also initially introduced the fact that she has a strained relationship with her daughter, which could have added depth to the story. It would have been great to see them navigate the problems surrounding their relationship, but that aspect feels robbed from us too. With only four episodes left, I'm not sure how I feel; the series is watchable, the comedy is good, and some characters are interesting, but something is definitely missing. It feels like it could have been more than what it is.

Overall, while I appreciate the premise and some of the humor, I can’t shake the feeling that the emotional depth and character development could have been much stronger.

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