My Name (2021)

A perfectly adequate revenge story

Good stuff:
(1) Park Hee Soon as Choi Moo Jin. For real this guy is so charismatic and compelling. He is just so commanding whenever he is on screen. He has this occasional softness to him but is so intense and dark at times. I was so interested in what he was thinking and feeling. His relationship with Han So Hee’s character is so interesting too.
(2) Han So Hee. She has this quiet intensity to her, such that I truly believed she had this inner rage and drive for revenge all while she basically acted normally. I don’t know, oftentimes it’s the fight scenes that tell you a character is badass, but she is just so intense all the time that like, I just believe she is. It’s a somewhat subtle performance as she’s a fairly reserved person, but Han So Hee totally sells it. She’s also amazing in the fight scenes.
(3) The fight scenes are genuinely very good. They’re often long takes, there are multiple people fighting oftentimes, they take place in well-lit areas (what a concept), and are just really well choreographed.
(4) oh, and Jang Yool is a complete delight whenever he is on screen.
Problems with this show:
(1) Plot is basic. If you’ve seen a few revenge stories or thrillers, you can probably predict fairly easily what will happen. Even if you haven’t, so much of what happens is pretty generic. Like the first few episodes were fairly unremarkable, gotta set up her tragic backstory with a parent dying, etc etc etc. So it’s just not very engaging.
(2) Characters are basically paper thin. Alongside the generic plot they just become even more bland. It’s really only Han So Hee, Park Hee Soon, and Jang Yool who keep things interesting. Even then they get toned down because they don’t have the writing chops to back up their excellent performances.
(3) Weird writing choices. For example, a new antagonist pops in about halfway through and while I love him, I don’t understand his role in the story. I felt like they couldn’t come up with anything else for the revenge story and needed to fill up the run time. Like I said, I love him, but I don’t get what the point of his character was because it was so distant from the real plot. They could’ve spent more time on the central relationships instead.
(4) Ending was rushed and kinda lame. Last few episodes not only speed through the plot but also the emotions of the characters, or rather they don’t get to be as well fleshed-out as they deserve. I also think the ending was a weird choice; it felt like they were going somewhere with “killing/revenge makes you a monster” but then the story just kinda ends and you’re like… alright.
I’m not sure I’d recommend watching this show (go watch Healer or City Hunter instead) but it’s perfectly fine.
(Also this is the most attractive group of gangsters I’ve ever seen. They should give up their life of crime and just open up a modeling agency or something)

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Kinda predictable and cliche, but still entertaining

My Name is like the average kind of revenge drama we see almost everywhere, whether in Korean or Western movies, and it all follows the same route. Family member died. MC driven by fury and revenge. MC went full training and adapted badass fighting skills. MC goes undercover. But this time, it’s girlboss.

This drama felt very one way, like moving from one scene to another in a straight manner, lacked complexity, but regardless was still pretty fun to watch. This is mainly thanks to the action scenes that were really great and very satisfying to see.

There's action every episode that are choreographed really well. Even used moves that gurlie learned from her training earlier. I just generally enjoy sitting in front of my laptop to see scenes where crime gangs are out there fighting each other, using guns, knives, and all those stuffs. The showcase and brutality made this drama way cooler (not to sound like a sadist). But other than the badassery, not much can really be said about the kind of drama My Name is. Like really, its just like that. Violent, grey, violent, revenge.

Plot wise, it was pretty easy to guess the twist. Maybe cause I've watched too much thriller crime, but from the first episode I'm already like, “yeah that's probably what's going to happen.'' Although so, the revelation was still suspense builded. I've also come to find more than few plotholes here and there, and some parts of the premise also lacked enough explanation or solid backstory, like for example the whole importance with Jiwoo’s dad. Even while he's the whole reason why this drama even happened, it’s always just “your dad was special to me”, “my dad was special to me”, but not enough of the how. Everyone just seemed to be involved with him but not much details are put.

Honestly I kinda reeealllyyy doubted this show and Sohee in the first ep because the whole setup just seemed pretty meh and unrealistic, and because I just didn't click too much with how flat Sohee acted at the beginning, especially in her more emotive scenes. But once I threw realism out, and Sohee started looking more like she’s adjusted to her character, I found myself enjoying the first few following eps. They were cool, wow, fast paced, and Sohee also performed her scenes well with even greater determination in her action.

Sadly towards the end it kind of went mediocre, the way where audiences could easily guess the next move. The closure was also very improper and anticlimactic and full of question marks, but okay at least its not too open ended so I see Netflix has improved.

I love dramas where characters are gray, and they did that here. Especially the dynamics between Mujin the gang leader and Jiwoo was very worth noting. Mujin is second best part about My Name. He makes use of every second of screentime he has and dominates the entire scene and entire show with his oozing charisma and badassery. Yus.

The other dynamics they wanted to show here was between Jiwoo and Pildo, but tbh it came off pretty dumb I actually laughed when they had an emotive scene together I'm sorry I'm so mean. Cause firstly, Pildo is pretty useless. Its hard to sympathize with him not because he's bad or anything, but because it just felt so umm... so flat. Like they just gave him a random tragic backstory then called it a day and expects everyone here including the MC to connect with him. I like him though, although he was pretty 1D and other times acted pretty inconsistently. Like he's supposed to be that smart tough cop leader but sometimes he act more like just some random male who simps blindly over a badass female.

The romance was the most wuutttt thing ever, because it was just too sudden and unnecessary. First of all the tags said no romance. Well in all honesty, I too am a very weird person cause for first few eps I actually hoped there'd be subtle romance between leads like what they did for extracurricular. But then they went all the way and I just ??? . It was so out of context irrelevant, and I just hate it. I hate how they always feel the need to give the strong woman lead a love interest. I get that it's to make her feel humane, but the build up is still so unnecessary it could've just been partnership with small hints of attraction and it’d still be fine. It's as if they were aiming so bad and pushing so much of a Wattpad enemies to lovers. Which was why I just can't help but laugh. Too much of romance in a non romantic thriller action drama most of the time always take up too much of what really should be more focused on. Not to mention their fate in the end was pretty uhm what?! And hard to feel.

Overall, My Name may not be a brilliant fabulous shows and had clear and predictable flaws, but it’s still a nice drama to be watched especially when you’re in the mood for a dive in its badass girlboss action.

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Wow , the show Rocks !

Plot
The first 15 minutes of My Name was solid. We see Jiwoo in a very miserable plight — she’s ostracized and bullied at school, constantly tailed by cops looking for her dad, with nobody to lean on but herself. It gets worse after she has witnessed her father’s horrific murder on her birthday, just a door away from the crime scene. Put all of these pieces in the first episode, and you now tugged the viewers’ attention.

As the show goes forth, we see Jiwoo fearlessly clinging to all means there is to get justice, even if it involves joining a notorious drug cartel and embodying a whole new persona. She then successfully infiltrated the Inchang Metropolitan Police Agency’s Narcotics department, intending to unmask the identity of his father’s murderer.

However, My Name soon fell into one huge cliché puddle. There were twists, but they felt underwhelming. Everything was moving so fast, but it didn’t really make the series more compelling. The romance between Jiwoo and Pildo, for instance, seemed to have bloomed out of nowhere. Episode by episode, there weren’t any notable scenes to tread that romantic lane. The build-up was scanty, leaving an impression that it was just an afterthought. Even the open-ended conclusion may leave you puzzled or tepid, to say the least.

Extra two or three episodes would’ve helped improve the show overall. For an action-packed series like My Name, making it an eight-part series almost seems like a disservice because it has the potential to go for something more thought-provoking, storyline-wise. Whether a new season is in the works or not, the series is still good for your nightly K-drama binging. But in terms of replayability? Not really.

Characters and Performance
In an interview, So-hee reveals she wants to show a different side of her in My Name. The up-and-coming actress was successful in accomplishing that goal because she delivered an excellent performance. Jiwoo is a woman of few words, revenge-driven—but So-hee portrayed the pain and grief of her role marvelously. Not to mention, she also went through extensive training together with her co-actors. That nature of commitment is almost a rarity in the entertainment wonderland and merits praise.

Given the show’s gritty and dark theme, Pildo (played by Ahn Bo-Hyun) could’ve given a tinge of delight or goofiness that My Name needs. He gave a good performance, but his character tended to be a little uninteresting in some scenes. The relationship dynamic between Pildo and Jiwoo would’ve been more thrilling to see if they weren’t too similar.

Park Hee-Soon was also very remarkable. The fact that viewers can dislike and feel for him simultaneously proves how effective he is in portraying Choi Mu-jin’s calm yet ruthless demeanor. It’s a little difficult to imagine someone else filling in that kind of role without coming off too dull or monotonous.

Cinematography and Visuals
My Name lived true to its promise of delivering heart-pounding scenes. All fights were impeccable and well-choreographed, presenting viewers with an impressive variety of camera shots every time Jiwoo is on combat mode. One great display of camerawork was seen in episode one. The creative showcasing of how Jiwoo and her father were near yet so far from one another is simply exquisite. The use of warm colors fits the show’s bloody theme, too. All things considered, My Name wasn’t confusing nor congested with unnecessary flashiness.

Conclusion
It felt like My Name live up to its hype and the remarkable performances of the cast. After watching up to the last episode, really leave an impact. The show is still worth watching, but it also makes you wonder what could've been if the story was further explored.

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An action thriller which delivers exactly what it promises

A solid watch which will keep you engaged all throughout. The fight scenes really were the star of the show -- SO good, made me want to learn fighting. I read that Han Sohee did her own stunts which is incredible, and I also commend her decision not to wear makeup. As for the story, there was nothing crazy or unforeseeable that happened, but that's precisely why it made for such a strong plot. It didn't try to be oversmart, stuck with the basics, which really paid off in the execution. If I had to criticize, I'd say her romance with the cop was pretty underdeveloped so the sex scene felt a bit ?? But I didn't mind much. Though I will say that the pacing of the last episode felt kinda rushed which made the ending slightly anticlimatic.

Special mention to Choi Mujin who was insanely charming, and to the OST which added to the coolness of the drama.

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good ol' fashion REVENGE!

It is clear that this is a Netflix production, with plenty high octane fight scenes and one too-steamy-for-broadcast-television sex scene.
Yoon Ji Woo, a troubled young woman whose father was murdered on her birthday, seeks to avenge her father's death by climbing the rungs of his former gang. Taken under the wing of her father's friend and crime boss, Ji Woo hones her combat and investigative skills and becomes an undercover member of the gang. If you're looking for a show that passes the Bechdel test, this probably isn't for you, as Yoon Ji Woo is almost the sole woman in the 'My Name' creative universe. Although Ji Woo's character is, at times, written to revolve around solely around influence of the men around her, she subtly reclaims her agency *SPOILER* in true 'Final Girl' fashion, effortlessly defeating throngs of knife wielding assassins despite being mortally wounded. From powerless to powerful, the resilient Ji Woo exacts revenge with every punch, kick, slash and bullet and gets the last (mournful) laugh in the end.

OVERALL, the plot twists were relatively predictable and the 'whodunit' aspect of the story was meh at best. Luckily, My Name was brought to life by its excellent crew and cast, namely Han So Hee, who absolutely shined as the protagonist Ji Woo/Oh Hyejin. Han So Hee's impressive physical stunt work and fighting scenes were truly the highlight of this series. She fully served us some Charlize (Theron, of course) energy! Han So Hee shows immense promise as an action star!

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Action Packing and Engaging

There is a lot to like about this drama. It's addictive, fast-paced and very-well produced and acted. This was a solid 9-9.5 until almost the last episode where plot seems almost rushed and character decisions toe the line between making sense and not. Still, it is a solid conclusion and the drama as a whole is incredible so I averaged it to 8.5

At 8 episodes screen time but the same amount of content as a standard K-drama, the writing is pretty well-paced with little to no filler. As someone who watches some but not a ton of crime/revenge dramas, some of the twists and turns were cliché but executed well enough to be entertaining while others were a true revelation. I really appreciate that this was female-lead driven. Despite the plethora of physically/mentally strong females in drama nowadays, 1) action dramas are still mostly male-lead driven and 2) the writing for these females can be inconsistent or overdone. Jiwoo consistently maintains her physical strength and her thought process remains consistent with her characterization. More importantly, her actions help drive the plot and at the, this is her story. Mujin is also a very interesting character who evokes a lot of different emotions and Pildo just brings so much positive energy.

On this end, the story is brought to life with amazing acting. All the actors/actresses did a phenomenal job, especially Han So Hee. The production, sets and lighting are also incredibly well-done; I loved that somewhat somber lighting. The music is also astounding. Not only are the tunes catchy and entertaining on their own (I was listening to Mediocre Life on repeat these past few days), they completely complement and elevate the drama. This is decent re-watch.

In conclusion, honestly, the only reason I watched this was because it was a female-lead led action drama. That aside, it is an engaging drama with good writing, great production, terrific music and supreme acting that I would definitely recommend.

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Easy binge

OVERALL
This drama is short and thrilling, so it's an easy watch. Consider if 1) you're looking for an action-packed series, 2) you like revenge stories, 3) you don't need much more than that. Skip if 1) you want well-developed characters, 2) you're craving a good romance, 3) you don't like tragedy.

THE STORY
A pretty conventional revenge story. No major event is really unexpected, even the main plot twist. The ending is also quite predictable if you know anything about Korean action films and their unconditional love for the tragic. Where My Name shines is in the delivery. In the little details.

The Good
- The drama REALLY makes you feel and root for FL. She goes through hell and becomes strong but also so vulnerable. Her life sucks too much and you're dying to see it suck a bit less.
- Although the drama is short, they do try to squeeze in a bit of a love story and they do it successfully; it actually makes sense and is even kind of cute?
- Although nothing's out of the ordinary, the show still remains gripping enough to be binged in a day. There's the suspense surrounding FL's cover, the mystery of her dad's death, the drug cartel, so much to keep you on the edge of your seat. And there's the occasional joke too. The drama is conventional, but good conventional, definitely.

The Bad
- How unoriginal the plot is, though I guess if you only care about action this isn't a problem. The biggest let-down is the fact that the most promising aspect of the drama, FL going undercover in the police, ends up being so unimportant. So lackluster. They could have played it up and it would have made the show much better and much more original.
- The unnecessary tragedy (because trust me, it's absolutely unnecessary. A death that is unavoidable is fine, a death that is just there because the writer wanted it there is an abomination).
- The lack of depth, especially character or relationship development. Granted, this is a very short series, so there's only so much we can ask. But at the same time, there're so many fighting scenes...a few could have been replaced by deeper stuff.

THE ACTING
I LOVED her. ML was also fine though. In general, they were all great! A huge asset for the series, because acting makes an average plot ten times better.

THE MUSIC
No comment.

REWATCH VALUE
Not high for me. Don't get me wrong, this drama is a good binge. But it's a one-time binge. There's nothing there that'll make me come back to it.

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Decent Action, Underwhelming Plot

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I decided to watch this drama because I was in the mood for something darker and this one is only 8 episodes. So why not? I’m kind of also trying to get a sense of Han So Hee’s (한소희) acting ability because I haven’t liked anything I’ve seen her in so far.

Acting/Cast: The acting is fine, but the casting of the female lead could have been better. She’s supposedly 5’5” but she seems even smaller in the drama. It makes no sense for her to be able to take on all these dudes at once. There’s a scene where she’s picked up and thrown into a wall like a ragdoll. She looked so tiny...I can suspend some amount of belief but this is ridiculous. I think Guem Hae Na (금해나), who plays Min Hye in A Shop For Killers, would have been perfect for this role. She’s awesome at action, whereas Han So Hee (한소희) had a few kicks and hits in there that lacked any power behind them at all. Then, the sound effects added in just made it cringey. I could see Claudia Kim (김수현) from The Atypical Family and Gyeongseong Creature as a potentially better option, too. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise to see Ahn Bo Hyun (안보현) in this drama. I liked his character and I felt the drama got significantly better once he came into the picture. The major gang member characters had good acting, but Park Hee soon’s (박희순) character came across as too overly dramatic for me. 4.5/10

Writing: The plot is pretty lame. A lot of holes, basic, predictable. Just unintelligent writing all around. And the ending came across as lazy and uninspired. The plot became interesting for a second when the female lead’s identity gets revealed but unfortunately it doesn’t last long. They should have exposed her earlier on in the drama (at least to her partner) and played around with themes of “going by the book” versus vigilantism mixed with elements of understanding, love, and the struggle of saving a traumatized soul. But...a plot like that would have taken a lot more thought to write; it’d have to be heavy in psychology, character development, character growth, and dialogue that really hits. Another issue I had with this drama (surprisingly) was all the blood. How can someone get stabbed, cut, and shot so much and not pass out from blood loss? Especially for a girl as small as her. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate seeing fight scenes with a female character that gets visually messed up (swelling, bloody, scars, stitches, messy hair, etc.) - but realistically, she wouldn’t be able to keep going day after day losing more and more blood like that. 1.5/10

Direction/SFX/Music: No huge issues in this area except a couple times where some sound effects sounded cheesy. However, comparing the action in this drama with the action in The Worst of Evil, there's a clear difference in quality (with The Worst of Evil taking the prize here). The music was fine, not memorable though. I think this drama would have done much better as a movie, since the plot is severely lacking. I think as a movie, all of the holes in the plot may not have been as obvious. 5.5/10

Entertainment Value: They really got the cliffhangers down in this drama. Good cliffhangers are important; do not underestimate their power. I can binge watch a terrible drama easily as long as there’s good cliffhangers. A lot of action, too, so that always helps with keeping me entertained. And a hint of a romance (that probably should have stayed at ‘just a hint’). Nevertheless, I got through this drama very quickly and was highly entertained despite all of the plot issues. However, I don’t think this drama will be very memorable to me in the long run. 7/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 4.5/10. I found myself comparing this drama to The Worst of Evil. I liked the plot of My Name better in the sense that it wasn’t as depressing. However, the action in The Worst of Evil is so much better and the writing is technically better (with more of a focus on psychological aspects). If you want to watch this just because it’s a girl kicking ass, then ok I get it. But because of the casting choice, it doesn’t seem believable here. I would recommend A Shop for Killers for that.

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my somewhat biased opinion.

PLEASE BEFORE WATCHING THE SHOW LOOK AT THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.


I believe this specific genre and story is suited for a very specific audience, from other reviews, I believe this drama is either hit or miss. My name is a story of a girl who joins a gang, to avenge her father's death, and soon becomes an undercover cop. the story is suspenseful, it's action-filled. But most of all this story is dark and suited for once again a specific audience. Before watching this please look at the trigger warnings, and age restriction as it dives pretty deep into gore, and a lot of violence in many different ways.

The story is eye-catching, we all love a strong independent female lead, and my name delivered exactly that. They delivered those suspenseful moments, which had us hold our breath if you're looking for something like that. this drama is suited for you. But if your arent, and looking for a sweet romance-filled good guy wins story this isn't for you, My name did not speak to me in ways other viewers did. To me, it was a very hardcore, in-your-face type thing, and in all honesty, I truly did not enjoy the themes of sexual violence. I didn't enjoy the fact our female lead almost got raped, it was triggering and brutal, but I know it was necessary for the plot which I respect. I didn't enjoy the explicit gore, but once again others may. It really depends on how much you can take and where your interest lie when it comes to a show like your name.

The set design was good for the story, the characters were complex, in ways where they differ from good to bad. The costume design was good enough for me, and the s were great choices. But there were many times where the story got sloppy and sometimes overwhelming. But then again, this isn't my usual cup of tea so I am being biased when it comes to my review. Would I watch it again? Definitely not. Should you? That's your choice but just please look at the rigger warnings and if you are not comfortable do not keep watching ( this goes for all kdramas!)

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Can't get enough of woman-led action shows

As some reviewers have noted, the plot isn't entirely original—but the storywriting makes it so that you're still left on the edge of your seat throughout the 8 hours. This drama has also converted me into a big fan of Han So Hee. I can't believe this is only her second lead role! I previously saw her in Nevertheless, where I thought her acting was somewhat stiff. She shines in My Name, playing an anguished, rage-filled, and revenge-driven heroine who fears nothing and will stop at nothing to fulfill her life's goal.

Although the plot isn't entirely new in the realms of revenge noir films/dramas, there's something about woman-focused action shows that I can't get enough of. And the action in this drama is SO satisfyingly good.

Also, the soundtrack is exceptional and deepens the drama's emotional value. 10/10 would recommend. And get ready for a bloodbath.

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