Drama Digest
Thorn (2020) is a series that televises a story that follows the entangled lives of four women after a mysterious disappearance. Han Xiaoting goes missing, and Chen Qian, who is investigating the case, finds clues that lead him to the unraveling of a past that is scarred by the cruel and vicious school bullying that happened a decade ago. The pieces of evidence lead him to her old seatmates at school, Liu Tao, Zhang Beilei, and Chai Zijing, who had supposedly pricked Xiaoting’s heart with “thorns.”
The Feel-Good Part
This series tackles numerous heavy themes, with bullying at its center. It is impressive that this series acknowledges how long emotional wounds inflicted by bullying take to heal, which they do rarely in the first place. The series throws several questions at the viewer and forces one to reflect on the importance of little things and the consequence of actions we consider dismal. It also points out the importance of how adults should approach bullying and how parents’ attitudes towards their kids impact them.
Something that stands out is the way this show never villainizes vulnerability. Often, a victim is considered legitimate only when she stands up for herself, but this series lets Xiaoting feel weak without putting the pressure of being strong on her constantly.
The Disappointing Factor
This series, unfortunately, is weakly written and produced. This story had so much potential, and it got wasted because of the rushed presentation. The complicated parallel timelines existing in the show get tedious after a while. The show starts slow and flat, picks up pace in the middle, and then drops off its course again when it nears the end. There is some shaky camerawork involved as well, and it makes the intense scenes lose their gravity on several occasions.
In-Depth Analysis
Thorn has its heart in the right place. An emotional and thought-provoking portrayal of school bullying and the wounds it leaves, this show leaves the viewer reflective of their own behavior. There are numerous weak links to this show, though. The pacing is faulty, and some of the writing is all over the place.
The cast embodies their roles to perfection and redeems the show. All the four women are delightful to watch; they enact the complicated emotional turmoil they go through suave.
Star Power
Su Qing and Bao Wen Jing deliver measured performances and they keep you wanting to watch more. They are the highlights of the show.
Overall Opinion
This is an audacious attempt at depicting bullying and despite its shortcomings, it is a decent watch.
