1
kobeno1
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
This review may contain spoilers
"Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold" In One of the Best Mystery-Thrillers Ever Made!
I have been watching movies and show for over 45 years, and I MUST start off this review by stating that Han So-Hee’s performance as Ji Woo Yoon is one of the best I have ever seen from any actor or actress. If she hasn’t literally won every single acting accolade and award, then something is seriously wrong. Yes, her performance is that good, and it’s also a big reason why this series is so good, aside from the stellar writing, directing, cinematography, editing, and pretty much everything else. This is one of the best series I have ever had the privilege to watch.
After watching mostly light-hearted K-Dramas over the past four or five years, this series is entirely different. It takes us deep inside the dank and dark underworld of Korean organized crime. A place ruled with an iron fist in Moo Jin Choi (another exceptional performance by Park See Soon). As with exceptional storytelling and one of the best thrillers ever made, we know the players, but we don’t know who is who and what is what. It plays like “24,” “The Departed” and a “Bronx Tale” all rolled into one with a bit of “The Professional” thrown in. The series is, indeed bigger than the sum of any of these parts. It is its own intriguing identity. And the writers do a terrific job keeping us on our toes. Just when you think you have figured something out, and another curveball is thrown our way to make think, “Okay, maybe that’s not it at all!”
Ji Woo Yoon devotes her life to seeking revenge upon the person who killed her father when she was in high school. Throwing herself into hand-to-hand combat training and learning how to use her wits, Ji Woo Yoon becomes what happens when someone is laser-focused on achieving their goal. She doesn’t smile. Her apartment is empty, except for her weight equipment, and her life is basically as empty and dark as the streets she patrols. She doesn’t engage in anything that takes her mind away from her ultimate job: to find and kill the killer. However, things are seldom as they seem, and despite her incredible tenacity—borderline obsession—smarts, and abilities, she’s not invincible or infallible. What is it like to watch someone with that kind of determination? I think of people like Bruce Lee or Kobe Bryant; people who will do whatever it takes to achieve a goal and not apologize for it. This is part of the intrigue of this series and also why Han So-Hee so deftly is able to give us this character and bring Ji Woo Yoon to life. I would be extremely curious about the training she must have had to go through. I have seen some amazing performances by Korean actors and actresses, but this one by Han So-Hee, just blew me away. When I looked at her profile on Mydramalist, I was like, “Wait, is that the same girl?!” A transformation from a beautiful model to a person you wouldn’t want to cross on your best day is something on par with Jodie Foster, Doona Bae, Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett or Meryl Streep. Yes, I’m putting this performance of Han So-Hee on that kind of a level. I think it takes tremendous courage and dedication to turn in this kind of performance.
At only eight episodes, this series will make you feel like you’ve sat through sixteen or even twenty. You can’t help but watch the next episode after you’ve finished one, and by the time it’s all over, you might feel like you need a vacation or, at the very least, a few days to catch your breath.
I love movies that showcase strong female characters, and this one certainly achieves that. We need more characters like this one. Ji Woo Yoon is definitely not someone you’ve ever seen in most K-Dramas, and man, am I thrilled to death that they pulled no punches in this hardcore series. The violence is extreme, but there is no scene that doesn’t belong, no act that is out of place. It plays like a meticulous hard rock song that always pulls you in. I’m so glad that Netflix collaborated to bring this series to light as well as keep every element of the story intact. As far as mystery-thrillers go, you’ll be as hard-pressed as I am to find one that’s better. I can only think of two off the top of my head: The movies “Seven” and “Silence of the Lambs.” And, yes, “My Name” belongs in that company.
After watching mostly light-hearted K-Dramas over the past four or five years, this series is entirely different. It takes us deep inside the dank and dark underworld of Korean organized crime. A place ruled with an iron fist in Moo Jin Choi (another exceptional performance by Park See Soon). As with exceptional storytelling and one of the best thrillers ever made, we know the players, but we don’t know who is who and what is what. It plays like “24,” “The Departed” and a “Bronx Tale” all rolled into one with a bit of “The Professional” thrown in. The series is, indeed bigger than the sum of any of these parts. It is its own intriguing identity. And the writers do a terrific job keeping us on our toes. Just when you think you have figured something out, and another curveball is thrown our way to make think, “Okay, maybe that’s not it at all!”
Ji Woo Yoon devotes her life to seeking revenge upon the person who killed her father when she was in high school. Throwing herself into hand-to-hand combat training and learning how to use her wits, Ji Woo Yoon becomes what happens when someone is laser-focused on achieving their goal. She doesn’t smile. Her apartment is empty, except for her weight equipment, and her life is basically as empty and dark as the streets she patrols. She doesn’t engage in anything that takes her mind away from her ultimate job: to find and kill the killer. However, things are seldom as they seem, and despite her incredible tenacity—borderline obsession—smarts, and abilities, she’s not invincible or infallible. What is it like to watch someone with that kind of determination? I think of people like Bruce Lee or Kobe Bryant; people who will do whatever it takes to achieve a goal and not apologize for it. This is part of the intrigue of this series and also why Han So-Hee so deftly is able to give us this character and bring Ji Woo Yoon to life. I would be extremely curious about the training she must have had to go through. I have seen some amazing performances by Korean actors and actresses, but this one by Han So-Hee, just blew me away. When I looked at her profile on Mydramalist, I was like, “Wait, is that the same girl?!” A transformation from a beautiful model to a person you wouldn’t want to cross on your best day is something on par with Jodie Foster, Doona Bae, Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett or Meryl Streep. Yes, I’m putting this performance of Han So-Hee on that kind of a level. I think it takes tremendous courage and dedication to turn in this kind of performance.
At only eight episodes, this series will make you feel like you’ve sat through sixteen or even twenty. You can’t help but watch the next episode after you’ve finished one, and by the time it’s all over, you might feel like you need a vacation or, at the very least, a few days to catch your breath.
I love movies that showcase strong female characters, and this one certainly achieves that. We need more characters like this one. Ji Woo Yoon is definitely not someone you’ve ever seen in most K-Dramas, and man, am I thrilled to death that they pulled no punches in this hardcore series. The violence is extreme, but there is no scene that doesn’t belong, no act that is out of place. It plays like a meticulous hard rock song that always pulls you in. I’m so glad that Netflix collaborated to bring this series to light as well as keep every element of the story intact. As far as mystery-thrillers go, you’ll be as hard-pressed as I am to find one that’s better. I can only think of two off the top of my head: The movies “Seven” and “Silence of the Lambs.” And, yes, “My Name” belongs in that company.
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