Drama Digest
Based on the popular classic psychological thriller ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1955) by Patricia Highsmith, the drama revolves around the story of Lee Yoo Mi. Yoo Mi grew up in an economically handicapped household. Her parents always tried to fulfill her wishes, notwithstanding the immensity of the amounts. Yet to quench her thirst for luxuriousness, she lives a double life under the name Lee Anna. With the vigorous flow of events, she gets married to the to-be political leader Choi Ji Hoon.
As her private self and public mask almost come closer, that simple lie goes out of her control.
The Feel-Good Part
The effects of Ripley’s syndrome enhance eyebrow-raising moments and offer an engaging journey of the story.
The Disappointing Factor
Staying in sync with the continuous upheaving and falling of rhythm of Esmeralda’s variation, the drama paves the journey of Lee Yoo Mi to Lee Anna. The change in the name speaks of her lies and also her identity. It is a transition from poverty to richness. Yet as it is prevalent in a society driven by class importance and connections, it is never easy to get up the social ladder. Either the upper class is trying to shove out the people from whom they can’t get any advantage, or the lower class is imitating them and eventually becoming them.
In-Depth Analysis
A destitute lie that reels to enormous proportions with time. It is no surprise that with money comes power, and with power comes responsibility. Yet, in a society driven by an ancestorial train of hierarchical importance, it is hard to separate riches from brutal sacrifices. Thus begins the story of Yu Mi, a small country girl who got the taste of luxury and a piece of advice that’ll eventually welcome deceitful happenings. But at the core of the drama, it reflects the barbed wire between wealthy and poor. Blended with Yu Mi’s boiling coldness and Choi Ji Hoon’s cutthroat laughter, the drama gains a new height of tension as it progresses. Her name change from Lee Yu Mi to Lee Anna doesn’t only bear a crucial plot point but also highlights the symbolic change of class identity. This is also seen through different scenarios of Yu Mi trying shoes. In the beginning, when she gets to bring Anna’s clothes from her apartment, she tries on Anna’s red stiletto heels while watching herself in the mirror. Another significant part is when she tries to avoid Anna in the elevator and takes the stairs instead. Here she takes off her shoes while climbing the stairs exhaustingly. All these factors posit a vivid picture of class difference and how a mere lie, which held the comfort of luxury, pulled Yu Mi into a series of events that she couldn’t shake off with ease.
The cinematography and symbolic representation were apt, along with the beautiful structuring of the story. It rightly conveys the choreography of class and politics inside glass doors.
Star Power
Bae Suzy was undeniably amazing in building the depth of the character. She intricately captured Yu Mi’s shift in nature with pace. Jung Eun Chae, Kim Joon Han, and Park Ye Young splendidly weaved the characters and upheld the tension.
Overall Opinion
The drama deals with another common but relevant reason in South Korean society. If you love an appealing experience of psychological thrillers, then this one is a must-watch.
