Shards of Her (2022)

Hard-hitting Psychodrama

This one popped up on my Netflix feed recently and while the premise sounded intriguing, it was the magic words "Toby Lee" that hooked and reeled me in. Toby Lee last seen by me in the historical detective drama Miss Truth isn’t the main character here but he certainly commands a strong presence throughout the storyline. The titular "her" is played by Tiffany Hsu and she gives a sterling performance as the deeply troubled Lin Chenxi, a competent HR recruiter or “headhunter” whose life is thrown into complete disarray on the arrival of a new employee.

The show begins with a suspicious death in an aged care facility in a small town. The victim is a former high school physics teacher Xie Zhizhong. The local cops finger a nurse, Yan Shenghua, a former student of his, as the chief suspect. As the show progresses, who done it, however becomes secondary to why it was done. The teacher's death is more or less a MacGuffin to make way for the real story — a terrible destructive secret that sets the stage for family dysfunction, guilt, regret and estrangement.

Lin Chenxi is a busy professional going places in her company. On the surface things seem to be going well for her. But enter Danny (Chris Wu) the cousin of the CEO who is eager to prove himself as the organization’s new rising star. His cocky, glib, overconfident demeanour camouflages a far more sinister persona. Danny, in fact is a sociopathic misogynist and loathes being upstaged, particularly by women. When Chenxi successfully talks a potential recruit into accepting a contract after the arrogant Danny botches the negotiation process, he goes ballistic. He lashes out and deploys the only weapons available to him — sexual harassment which escalates into violence.

These series of events seem to trigger deep seated memories and emotions that seem to set the stage for a mental breakdown. In a state of panic after escaping from the clutches of Danny, Chenxi meets with a road accident and is rendered unconscious.

When Chenxi regains consciousness she finds herself back in the house that she grew up in with her parents and twin brother in their hometown. From then on she exists in a perpetual state of confusion about where she is, who the people around her are and her relationships with them. The folks tell her that she’s been in an accident and seems to be suffering amnesia but why does she have fragmented memories of of a life elsewhere in Taipei with a supportive boyfriend (Toby Lee) who is now nowhere to be found. Much of the show sees her trying to navigate these memories trying to sift the truth from the lies as she becomes embroiled in the investigation of the death of her former teacher and the disappearance of an old classmate. It soon becomes clear that her family and former besties are keeping things from her as she stumbles around in the dark looking for answers.

“Shards” used here is apt as it points to the fragmentary and even unreliable nature of memories. Moreover it also refers to the fragility and brokenness of a soul stuck in a tragic past with no healing in sight. A shattered visage as it were. Furthermore “shards” can also signify the pieces of a puzzle that the audience has to put together as they journey with Chenxi.

As the audience sees events through Chenxi’s lenses, we are inevitably drawn into the same disorientation and speculation. Has she travelled back in time? Has she landed into an alternate universe? Is this all just a really bad dream?

The answers come eventually because the show isn’t just about the sordid past but about the dysfunctional gender dynamics that plague our world today. Sexual harassment opens the door to other unpleasant subjects related to the treatment of women in the workplace, the use of technology to invade women’s most private and intimate spaces. As it exposes the nasty side of cosmopolitan 21st century living, the show doesn’t shy away from taking a broad perspective on how both men and women are complicit in perpetuating such behaviours this side of the sexual revolution.

Despite the hard-hitting subjects covered in these 9 episodes, all of this still manages to arrive at a satisfying and profoundly moving finale. It's no exaggeration to say that this drama probably has the best ending I've seen all year. There’s undeniably an ugly side to humanity that has to be confronted constantly and often it seems to be our default position to do harm even with the best of intentions. In spite of the psychodrama and psychobabble at the end, I don’t find the resolution simplistic. There is an acknowledgement that the past is not so easily expunged and living with mental health issues does take a toll not only on the survivors but also on their loved ones. The goal is healing which will take time and effort.

All in all this is a strong script that’s tightly plotted. The cast as a whole is excellent — young and old. It’s the first Taiwanese drama I’ve watched in a few years because I had more or less given up finding one with a decent script without tons of fillers. I imagine that the format — 9 episodes — helps in keeping this trim and terrific. Regardless of the fact that I found this show engaging and immersive, I can’t see too many wanting to revisit it.

It would be remiss of me to end this review without some kind of warning. This is not a show for the faint-hearted, it’s certainly not for those who will be triggered by images of sexual assault especially if that’s been a feature of their past. Even though I’m someone with a strong stomach for crime shows, I too found those scenes disturbing and confronting.

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Arc Toward Justice

Wow! This drama is amazing.

You have to watch past the first episode. The first episode is disjointed on purpose. It withholds information from the audience. Episode two presents a plot twist, and the missing shards of her begin to come together as the series unfolds.

This drama is part mystery and thriller, but more about how sexual violence impacts an individual, a family, and an entire community. It shows how people respond differently, including victims but also their loved ones.

Quite poignantly, the drama explores and condemns the cultures of silence that develop around acts of sexual violence. This silence allows predators to get away with their crimes and then commit them again. Meanwhile, victims are blamed and left without justice.

While the subject matter is serious, the drama is redemptive and moves toward justice and hope. The ending is presented with sensitivity and realism. I can’t praise it enough!

The acting is outstanding. And the OST is crazy good!

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what can i say, it’s really good. the cast is top notch, the storyline is intense and the synopsis is captivating. “Seher” feels she can’t move past that trauma, but she accomplished so much present day which proves she was stronger than she believed.

The two characters (sheng hua and Chen Xi) are stuck in a universal boomerang where the same trauma occurs present day. this seems tragic, but the universe is trying to give them a second chance to defeat their oppressors. the promise they made as teens to give life a try until adulthood becomes the statement which provokes them to finally avenge their past and defeat that part of them that hides and allows the same trauma to repeat.


The friendships of Chen Xi is complicated but genuine at best. even though they’ve made big mistakes, they stayed by her side. that’s seriously enough to show that they do genuinely love her. (the acting from the friends, again top notch). Although Chen Xi runs away from the people in her life as a normal reaction to discomfort, she keeps an open heart for forgiveness. Her past partner, also deserves props for trying but her current partner Hao Ming/Chiang Yu was probably my favorite cast member of the show. he’s rooted in integrity, sometimes maybe to a fault, but he (just like Chen Xi’s brother) practically lives to protect her. a true “ride or die”.
the soundtrack (intro) song matches so well with the events and more so exudes the feeling of protection and love from Hao Ming who falls in love with Seher and is motivated to become a better person after meeting her. it’s truly a beautiful song and show. worth a rewatch as i’m still attached to the characters..

“don’t push yourself too hard. when you’re in pain don’t be afraid to ask for help. even if you feel stuck in the past, be good to yourself.”

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A complex analysis of the effect of trauma - AMAZING

This drama was so unique in its storytelling that it took more than two episodes to fully immerse myself in the essence of the story. However, once you begin to understand the writer's intention you begin to understand the mind is so delicate that it can be fractured into parts that interact with the future and the past. This drama should be a college thesis on dealing with trauma and documenting how incidents of unimportance to others often scar an individual to the core. It was so deep you have to reflect on all misfortunes and misgivings that occur in a lifetime and how you filter these misfortunes from the past into your current psyche. The acting was magnificent, the transitions in time were placed smoothly and not confusing, the ultimate conclusion was amazing and believable, and gave the viewer pause to reflect on the mental process of healing the mind. I was completely blown away by this drama. It could cause PTSD for any victim of any type of assault but this drama helps you to understand why so many people suffer unresolved fractures in their personality or suffer mental stresses or mental health diagnoses. The music just kept that feeling of despair for the protagonist in sync and each scene's change. Definitely a must-see and a short drama of substance. Highly recommend.

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How do you articulate something that can't be spoken?

It's a common assumption that our memories work like a filing cabinet; that our brain captures moments as documents that we can pull up and view later until they're so old they disintegrate. But that isn't how our minds work at all. Memory is slippery. And when we experience traumatic events, our survival instincts overtake everything else. Yet it's the first way of thinking that shapes the expectations lumped onto survivors of sexual violence – how we should behave and remember events. It's a heavy burden to bear.

Shards of Her is the first piece of cinema I've seen that captures the relationship between trauma and memory so well. The strength of the drama is in its fragmented – and intentionally unreliable – storyline. Except for hints along the way, we as the audience can only accept the reality offered: the one that Lin Chen Xi experiences. We are disoriented and confused too. We are uneasy. We are pulled through Chen Xi's life like a knotted thread through cloth.

Unlike more black-and-white film depictions of survivor stories, Shards of Her moves beyond a victim/perpetrator binary. The drama explores the degrees of culpability resting with certain characters but without being didactic in its judgement. It's a nuanced approach I wish we saw more often.

While the strength of this drama is in its storyline and characters, I just want to note that there are some beautiful landscape shots in the scenes set in Chen Xi's hometown. Some of the music timing and choices were a bit of a let-down, however.

I highly recommend this drama but please proceed carefully. As a sexual violence survivor myself, there were a few moments that were alarmingly close to home for me. By that point in the storyline, I saw it coming, so it was fine. But please take care. All in all, a stunning series.

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This drama was difficult to watch at times because of the subject matter, but the story is handled with such care by the director and cast. In the end, I was quite moved and glad I was able to watch through the whole thing. Just as the English title suggests, at the end of the drama, the broken pieces of our female's lead's life and person are slowly starting to come back together.

Still, it isn't one I would likely re-watch because it is quite heavy overall, but the message it conveys is also quite healing, hopeful and worth contemplating. If you're a fan of Toby Lee or Tiffany Hsu, this is worth checking out for their great performances, as well as that of the supporting cast.

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Realistic, Emotional Story

The premise of this drama and the high ratings already convinced me to give this drama a go but the main soundtrack was the final push. I went into this not knowing any of the actors but they did not disappoint. I was pulled into the story so quickly right from the first few minutes of episode 1. The rest of the drama went by very quickly and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It did not help that the ost was so catchy. So catchy and sad.

The drama covers a very serious and dark topic but the writers managed to tell it with a lot of thought and seriousness about portraying it correctly. I can tell they spent a lot of time researching and that they want to send a message to the victims of similar experiences. They cover the aspects from all perspectives after the assault- the victim, victim's family and friends, and partners. It evens goes as far to show how the perpetrator and their family might handle the assault and its repercussions. The ripple effects of the assault affects everyone's lives and we can clearly see it in the drama. Moreover, the director chose to film everything to perfectly show Lin Chen Xi's mental state and her breakdown. The drama does not look down on the trauma and respectfully shows how deep it scars and how long it takes to heal. There are moments where you get hints of what is reality and what is the past. Watching this drama gives you a good look at what happens to victims of sexual assault. It is thought provoking, emotional, and angering at the same time. The story telling was skillfully pieced together for viewers.

Most importantly, the acting is amazing! Lin Chen Xi is a heavy character to play but Tiffany Hsu and Charlize did great. They were very convincing and it must have been hard. Toby was also great at making two different roles but making them both attractive in their own ways. I really like Lin Chen Xi and Li Hao Ming. I hope we all have a Li Hao Ming in our lives to support us in our darkest times. All the older actors, even the teacher Hsieh, were great. I was most surprised at how good Chris Wu was at his role as Danny- first time seeing him like that and it was shocking. Those were all tough roles but they were amazing. There really are some great Taiwanese actors. Will be keeping an eye on a couple of these actors. ;)

Overall, I really liked how the writers chose to tell this story and the message they are trying to send to viewers and sexual assault victims. It might be too heavy for some but it is worth giving a try. Taiwanese dramas really not afraid to cover any topic whether it is dark or not, and I love that. They also do it so well! Hoping to see more dramas with deep stories like this one.

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This just feels like life

So, the story is about a SA survivor, it is such a beautiful and sad history about how is living with this trauma and how you sometimes just get push and push by the things that happened in your life, were you get to a point, to an untenable point.

For me the writing for the characters were so spot on, it was masterly done, and the producers did a good job with everything, I can't find a single thing that doesn't feel accurate and in mach with the entire thing.

I also really like how they chose to tell the story, a little confusing at first, but when the episodes get past, you kinda get what's happening but even after they actually show what happened, the story doesn't lose anything, instead it gains more. Being honest, at the beginning I feel like she did not care about her partner, and feel bad for him, but has the story goes by, you just get everything, you fully understand and you suffer with her.

This will make you crie, and is beautiful. You can learn so much things from this, and also get angry, and also fall in love, but in the end it was worth it 100%.

I think more people should know about this, because is healing, and I appreciate so much, I give props to the actress for putting herself in such a vulnerable position. If you watch it please recommend it to other people, because even if not your cup of tee, this kinda of history need to be seen and heard more often.

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Don't watch it if sexual assault triggers you!!!

I feel compelled to write a review when a story hits you hard. Sexual assault is not a light topic to discuss, and yet they tell the story through the eyes of the victim perfectly.

I've been watching a few of Tiffany Hsu movies lately, and by far this is her best performance. Charlize did great too portraying her younger character.
She walks us through the life of a teenage girl Lin Chen Xi who was raped by her teacher. The saddest part of this drama is her family caving in to the pressure of the principal and try to bury the scandal from the public. Growing up in an Asian country up to my teenage life, I could see how the community could see rape as something shameful, her family didn't wanna be pitied or looked down on by everyone.
For Lin Chen Xi carrying this trauma all through her life is one thing, not having the support system through her family is another whole level of suffering.

As you get the scene of the accident, it was confusing when they switched her memory the first time. Was it a dream or did she get back in time? But the whole thing made sense when she came back to reality.

For her to move through life by suppressing her memory and made something of her life was not an easy task and show her strength.
I was glad that she was able to get away from the attempted rape by her coworker and get her revenge with him.

I was a little disappointed at first that the person that raped her when she was a teenager didn't die like in her alternate reality. But to think about it he got what deserved. Living as a vegetable on a wheelchair is a better punishment for him than killing his character. And his wife who helped him bury his crime, actually hates him and wants him dead, and yet have to take care of him the rest of her life. I wouldn't say justice served on a silver platter for Lin Chen Xi, but it's an ok punishment.

I may rewatch it again in the future, but I will FF the assault scene.

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Great storyline letdown by subpar execution

I really wanted to like this drama. Really. The story/premise is fresh, and serves to highlight the issue of sexual assault and its consequences especially in the context of a conservative, patriarchal society. It is one of the rare few Asian dramas that dares to explore the topic of mental health issues without devolving into the commonly used stereotypes of "crazy" people.

BUT.

The cinematography is just SO UNINSPIRING. Maybe I've just been spoilt by the increase in quality of Kdramas because holy shit, there is a really great difference in how this show is shot and how a typical Kdrama is shot. I'm not sure if this is a budget issue, but it's definitely not something common in Taiwan shows because I've watched several Taiwanese movies and they've never given me this impression. The editing/transitions were also choppy and felt so random at times. Not to mention, the music isn't great and didn't fit in tonally with some of the scenes for e.g. one scene where a young Chen Hsi was confiding in her friend about the sexual assault and a fairly upbeat song was playing in the background. Makes no sense AT ALL and almost seemed like the show was trivializing that moment when if anything, it should be highlighted as one of the pivotal moments in Chen Hsi's life as it was the first time she tells anyone outside of her family of the assault. Lastly, the acting of some of the support characters was kinda bad and the wigs/makeup choices didn't help either.

With all my complaints out of the way, I would like to say that I would still recommend this show to others. Such media is really what Asian societies need to highlight and bring awareness on the pain that sexual assault survivors go through. The #metoo movement didn't really gain traction in Asia as much as in the West, and such shows are really needed to show that it is ok to step out and seek justice and do whatever it takes (legally) to seek closure. The spotlight on the importance of mental health treatment was good as well, even though I wished they went about it in a different way. Chen Hsi was literally giving a PSA on her condition and the importance of therapy which broke the immersion and the ending started to come across as a documentary.

To conclude, even with all its flaws, this show does try its best to transmit a positive message on mental health and sexual assault though the execution could have been better.

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