THE SHORT VERDICT:

Given that Show is, at its heart, an homage to pansori and gukgeuk, it is surprisingly approachable; ie, you don’t need to actually already know or love pansori or gukgeuk, to enjoy this one.

The underdog theme running through, the characters and relationships, and the excellent performances of our cast, make this easy to get into – and then the pansori / gukgeuk education comes as a bonus.

Show isn’t perfect, but it manages to be engaging and absorbing, in spite of any flaws, and on balance, I liked this very well.

THE LONG VERDICT:

To be honest with you guys, I hadn’t been too sure of what to expect, coming into this one, because Show had looked like it would be good in the trailers, but part of me had wondered if it might turn out to be too highbrow for me to appreciate.

After all, I knew nothing about pansori, and I didn’t have a special interest in this time period either.

I was hopeful that I would like it, regardless, because of the amazing cast, but I was also a little concerned, y’know?

Well, I needn’t have worried.

I took to this one very well, and right away. It’s not highbrow like I’d worried; it actually feels very accessible, to my eyes.

And I’m here to tell you guys alll about it. 😁

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Here’s a playlist of the OST, in case you’d like to listen to it while you read the review.

If you enjoyed the pansori in our drama world, then fret not, it’s included in this OST tracklist.

I don’t have an ear for pansori, so I don’t have a favorite among those, but I did appreciate the non-pansori tracks nicely, like Spring Days Pass, which I find very lovely, in its melodic, lilting sort of way.

Here it is as well, in case you’d like to listen to it on repeat. Just right-click on the video and select “Loop.”

HOW I’M APPROACHING THIS REVIEW

First I’ll talk about how to manage your expectations going into this one, and what viewing lens would be most helpful.

After that, I talk about stuff I liked and didn’t like so much, before I give the spotlight to selected characters and relationships, in a separate section. Finally, I spend some time talking about my thoughts on the penultimate and finale episodes.

If you’re interested in my blow-by-blow reactions, &/or all the various Patreon members’ comments during the course of our watch, you might like to check out my episode notes on Patreon here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are some things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. It’s way more approachable than one might think

What I mean is, there’s no need to feel intimidated that this story centers around pansori and gukgeuk; you don’t need to know anything about it, in order to enjoy the show.

Let Show be the one to educate you. 😉

2. This is an underdog story

There’s a strong underdog theme running through this show (I’ll talk more about that later), and I find that thinking about it as an underdog story, makes it a lot more approachable than thinking about it as an homage to pansori / gukgeuk.

3. This is also an homage to pansori / gukgeuk

That said, this show still is an homage to pansori / gukgeuk, so expect a fair bit of screen time to be dedicated to showcasing it all.

I will talk more about this later as well, but for now, just know that that being Show’s key focus, does have some narrative impact.

4. Some suspension of disbelief is required

This isn’t a huge thing, but sometimes, you do need to suspend disbelief a bit.

Here’s a fairly early example, from episode 3.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3. I did think that that was odd, that Jeongnyeon (Kim Tae Ri) would even be allowed to perform, after missing group rehearsals, but I suppose we can chalk that up to drama logic?

Coz it does strike me as very unlike Maeran, which is known to be a place that’s very strict with its rules and regulations, to allow a trainee to miss multiple group rehearsals, and then actually go up on stage like that.

[END SPOILER]

STUFF I LIKED

The underdog theme in our story

If I had to pinpoint the thing that really grabbed me the most, right from the very beginning of my watch, it would be the underdog part of our story, because I do love me a good underdog story. 🥲

I feel that that there are so many underdogs, when it comes to this story.

Yes, there’s our titular character Jeongnyeon, and her journey in chasing her pansori / gukgeuk dreams.

Alongside her, there are other underdogs too, from her friend Jooran (Woo Da Vi) to her rival Yeongseo (Shin Ye Eun).

I would also argue that beyond our characters, gukgeuk itself, is an underdog in this story world, where gukgeuk’s prospects are being challenged, with the advent of new mediums of entertainment, like TV and film.

Since I have a big soft spot for underdog stories, this worked for me very well.

The brisk pace

Because Show is just 12 episodes, and has quite a big story to tell, there just isn’t time for Show to waffle about with filler.

It also means that plot points that might take up, say, 2 or 3 episodes in a regular 16-episoder, are typically done and dusted within about an episode, in this show.

It does feel a bit like a rollercoaster, sometimes, because this also means that we can start an episode in one place, and then end it in a very different place, in terms of Jeongnyeon’s journey.

That definitely keeps me on the edge of my seat, and didn’t give me a chance to get bored, both of which I count as very good things. 👍🏻👍🏻

The introduction to pansori / gukgeuk

I don’t think I’ve watched another drama where I’ve had the chance to hear this much pansori, to be honest.

In fact, I often literally had pansori reverberating in my brain, after watching an episode, or just part of an episode; that’s how sticky it is.

The thing is, as a noob who knew nothing much at all about pansori coming into this watch, I liked it. 🥲

I was also 100% floored to realize that every one of our cast is doing their own singing in this show.

Even to my untrained ears, I felt like I could appreciate it when characters look on in wonder, at someone who’s got an amazing voice.

Even though I knew nothing about pansori, I felt like I could hear that the alleged amazing voices do sound better, richer and more expressive, than average.

I thought that was very cool.

Also, here a behind-the-scenes video that shows us our cast training in pansori. The dedicationnnn. 🤩🤩

In terms of gukgeuk, I was most fascinated at the various interpretations of the same roles, by different characters.

It really made me realize just how differently a character can be delivered, in the hands of different actors, in general.

I thought that was really cool, especially as a drama lover. 🤩

The large chunks of gukgeuk performances

I feel like I can confidently say that there’s no other drama out there, that offers such large servings of gukgeuk performances.

Quite regularly, we are treated to extended highlight reels of various performances that our characters are putting up, so much so that it genuinely feels like we’re part of the audience watching the live performance.

I thought that was pretty cool.

STUFF THAT WAS OK

The slight stagey effect

This is something that I only really became cognizant of, as I entered Show’s late episodes, and then once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. 😅

Basically, there’s a pretty strong sense that our story is taking place on a set, rather than in a real world.

From the way the spaces look like sets, to the way characters seem to exit the stage after their part is over, much like they would during a theater performance, it all struck me as being rather stagey.

However, I do think that this could very well be deliberate; an homage to gukgeuk, if you will.

I personally found it a little distracting, but I wouldn’t call it a dealbreaker.

The effect of Show wanting to be an homage to pansori & gukgeuk

So here’s the thing. Even though I do love the idea of Show being an homage to pansori and gukgeuk, I have to admit that this gave rise to some narrative decisions that I didn’t prefer.

I talk more about this in my thoughts on the finale, but basically, in its effort to showcase the history around gukgeuk, I found Show making narrative decisions that I feel most dramas wouldn’t make.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Again, I talk more about this later, but I’m referring to the sudden and complete exit of Okgyeong as a character, the exit of Jooran, and the fact that Chief Ko (Ryu Seung Soo) gets away with all of the financial crimes he’s committed against Maeran.

I can understand this as writer-nim’s effort to showcase the types of events that were happening during these times, ie, gukgeuk stars moving on to film; gukgeuk actors being forced to give up their dreams because of financial pressure, and gukgeuk troupes struggling financially.

However, like I said, these arcs aren’t satisfying to watch, and I feel that if Show hadn’t been so intent on being a gukgeuk showcase, perhaps we could have had more narratively satisfying outcomes.

At the very least, I would have expected Chief Ko to get punished for his crimes, y’know?

[END SPOILER]

When Show gets a little surrealistic [BROAD SPOILER]

Show consistently does this thing, where Jeongnyeon’s performance is so overwhelming, that she consistently stuns her co-actors into losing their train of thought with regards to their performance.

We see this with various characters, both during rehearsals, and during actual performances.

Most often, it’s portrayed as them being transported to a completely different place that is not the stage, like in this screenshot above, where Yeongseo feels like she and Jeongnyeon are on palace grounds.

Honestly, I couldn’t really get a handle on what Show was doing, with this.

Are they just.. momentarily stunned by her talent? Or is it what I’d said earlier, that they find themselves so sucked into her performance, that they’re stunned by the real feelings that they feel in response..?

Show doesn’t really address this much, except to indicate that it’s due to Jeongnyeon being so immersed in her character.

Show also kind of drops this, in our late-stretch episodes, and I’m just reaching for the conclusion that perhaps this reaction went away, after our other characters got used to acting with Jeongnyeon.

All in all, I found this all a little odd, though I wouldn’t call it a deal-breaker.

[END SPOILER]

STUFF I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH

When the writing is less than elegant

Confession: I only just looked up the writer for this show, and have only just realized, in the last several minutes, that this is the same writer who gave us A Time Called You (review here!).

Maybe if I’d thought to look up the writer earlier, that would have been a clue? Coz I also felt that A Time Called You had some shaky writing. 😅

But yeah, over time, I became cognizant of the fact that I found the writing in this, well, not very elegant.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Case in point, writer-nim uses Chorok (Hyun Seung Hee) as a plot catalyst a good amount of the time, and it’s Chorok’s words and actions that end up helping to push the plot forward.

It’s Chorok who injures Jooran in episode 3, and that injury is the whole reason Jeongnyeon ends up working at the coffee house, and therefore, the root reason why Jeongnyeon ends up getting expelled from Maeran.

And then in episode 7, thanks to mischief by Chorok and her sidekicks, Jooran gets injured – thus creating the opportunity for Jeongnyeon to step into the role that Jooran would have otherwise played.

I mean, yes, it works? But it’s also not elegant, because Jooran gets injured twice in the space of 5 episodes, in order to be a plot catalyst. 😅

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTERS / RELATIONSHIPS

Kim Tae Ri as Jeongnyeon

I basically came for Kim Tae Ri, and she did not disappoint. 🤩

Immediately, I loved Jeongnyeon. In Kim Tae Ri’s hands, she’s so earthy, spunky, expressive and full of heart.

I love that she loves to sing, not because she has a gift and wants to show it off, or make use of it; she just loves how it feels. 🥲

With that kind of true love for singing, and a deep desire to help her family achieve a better life, how could I not support Jeongnyeon’s quest to pursue her singing dreams?

I really wanted to see how Jeongnyeon’s journey would unfold, and this was a big hook for me, during my watch.

Here’s a collection of my thoughts around Jeongnyeon’s journey.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. The moment that changes the direction of Jeongnyeon’s life, is the moment that star Gukgeuk performer Moon Okgyeong hears her singing at the market, because that’s what convinces Okgyeong to seek out Jeongnyeon, and scout her.

Despite Jeongnyeon’s love for singing, I’m pretty sure that she wouldn’t have gone to that performance, if she hadn’t heard that Okgyeong had become wealthy from singing.

Because, at the heart of it, Jeongnyeon wants to take care of her family, and it’s because she sees that glimmer of hope, that singing could be the thing that she could depend on, to lift her family out of poverty, that she goes to that performance.

And it’s that performance, that really gets under Jeongnyeon’s skin in a whole new ways, which eventually leads her to seek out Okgyeong, to pursue the idea of singing.

E1-2. I love that scene where Jeongnyeon’s practicing her dance steps, while putting out the laundry; it encapsulates so well, just how much passion she has for it. 🥲

E1-2. I love how unabashed and fearless Jeongnyeon presents herself to be, even when she is sometimes scared.

I also love that Jeongnyeon is quick to admire talent in others, instead of taking pride in her own.

She always defaults to approaching others in a friendly manner, and only becomes competitive when others throw down the gauntlet and challenge her. I like that about her.

E3-4. I’m not surprised that Jeongnyeon turns down Okgyeong’s offer of the script, because she wants the chance to prove herself.

It feels very much in character for Jeongnyeon to just bite the bullet and turn it down – and then only have that moment of doubt later on, on whether she did the right thing; Jeongnyeon does strike me as a person who would be led by her heart.

E3-4. We spend most of episode 3 on Jeongnyeon searching for – and delivering! – her own take on the character of Bangja.

Again, it seems that Jeongnyeon following her heart is the thing that brings her success, because her inspiration to learn the art of dance comedy from that street dancer, causes her to deliver a shade of Bangja that’s unique to her – even if it means skipping out on group rehearsals until the actual performance itself.

E3-4. The way Jeongnyeon’s able to react in the moment, when her staff breaks, and turn the moment into something even more poignant than it would have been otherwise, is very impressive as well.

Jeongnyeon has a natural knack for this, and it shows. 🤩

One thing that I like about Jeongnyeon, is how she doesn’t appear to bear grudges.

I mean, I think that she really lets Chorok off pretty easily, given that Chorok had even tried to sabotage her performance.

When Jeongnyeon hears from Director Kang (Ra Mi Ran) that she will get a copy of the official script as requested, she simply tells Chorok to apologize, and then even accepts Chorok’s very unconvincing and insincere apology. I was pretty impressed by that, not gonna lie.

E3-4. Of course Jeongnyeon would end up contacting that TV producer dude, Park Jongguk (Kim Tae Hoon), because he’s expressed an interest in her talent, and she really doesn’t have anyone else to call.

It gives me pause, certainly, that she signs that contract without understanding a word of it; that’s surely going to come back to bite her, yes? 😅

That said, I did get a kick out of watching that makeover that Jeongnyeon gets from Patricia (Lee Mi Do); it gave me some classic “My Fair Lady” vibes, particularly since Jeongnyeon looks far from comfortable in her new style, despite actually looking very pretty in the dresses and makeup. 😁

E5-6. It makes sense that Jeongnyeon would struggle and chafe at the limitations put upon her singing; that she should just follow direction instead of interpret the song in her own way.

Additionally, it’s a big wake-up call for Jeongnyeon, in more ways than one.

Not only does she find out about the harsh realities of the world, where she can’t just do what she pleases and break a contract without consequence, she also finds out that she’d been scouted, not quite based on her own talent, but because she sounds exactly like her mother, when she sings.

Oof. That’s gotta hit hard, and I can see why Jeongnyeon would be so disturbed and upset.

E5-6. It seems that Jeongnyeon’s desire, to not be outdone by others, contributes to her passion about finding her own interpretation of her soldier character.

I don’t mean to say that Jeongnyeon doesn’t have a pure artist’s heart; I believe that she does.

At the same time, it seems that we see, again and again, these episodes, that Jeongnyeon is quite affected when she sees others doing well, whether that’s Yeongseo and Jooran doing well in their own rehearsals, or everyone else doing well, during the performance itself.

I think that that’s the thing that trips her up, at the end.

I thought it was commendable that Jeongnyeon would go out into town dressed as a boy, and try to find inspiration for how to interpret her soldier character, but I also think that Okgyeong, Doaeng and Director Kang are right, in their observation that Jeongnyeon doesn’t know how to blend with the flow of the performance, while keeping the big picture in mind.

I do like that we get to see a nice big chunk of their performance, in episode 6, not unlike how we’d gotten to see a large section of their trainee performance, earlier.

And, it’s also pretty great, to see how the audience responds with such blithe fervor, to the point of interacting with the performers, by shouting to them.

..And then, we come to Jeongnyeon’s part, which should have gone without a hitch, but it looks like she allows her emotions to get the better of her, and that’s how she seems to feel compelled to go off-script, not only in her style of delivery, but in even adding in a song where there had been none.

Ack. I know that it’s what the audience asked for, but it’s still a huge no-no, for her to go off-script like that, particularly since she’s playing an extra who literally doesn’t even have a name, on the script. 🙈

I’m sure Director Kang won’t stand for it, because this kind of volatile, self-focused, emotion-led behavior can only be a hindrance to a team effort.

Our Jeongnyeon needs to grow and mature, and transcend this type of thinking and behavior, if she truly wants to do well in gukgeuk, and I’m sure we’ll see some progress on that front soon, in our next episodes. Or at least, that’s my hope. 😅

E7-8. My main takeaway is that Jeongnyeon, unlike most other performers, gets so sucked into her roles, that it’s almost like she’s been possessed by her character.

I don’t think it’s so much the fact that she hasn’t learned how to consider the big picture and the overall needs of the performance, although that is definitely part of it.

I feel like the bigger, more unpredictable thing, is what Jooran points out in episode 8, that Jeongnyeon really doesn’t quite know how to control this thing, where she loses herself in her character, and the character takes over her, in a manner of speaking.

Which is why she gets so lost in her soldier character, at the top of episode 7, that she loses the capacity to reason – that she’s just an extra, and the character isn’t written to sing.

Instead, she gives in to the character and the moment, and does what feels right, in that moment, for her character.

Given all of that context where she’s so emotionally affected by the stories of those soldiers that she’s met with, and with this understanding of Jeongnyeon, I can understand what happened there, in that moment, even though it was completely off-script, that her character would start singing.

Jeongnyeon gets the logical understanding of it quite quickly, to her credit.

When that fan states enthusiastically that she couldn’t see anyone or anything else, after Jeongnyeon’s performance, Jeongnyeon immediately understands that she’d ruined the entire performance, and she also understands why Director Kang bans her from the stage.

It’s like team sports, in that way, isn’t it? If you have a player who can’t keep the overall wellbeing of the team in mind, then that player becomes a wild card, and a danger to everyone else on the team.

I’m glad that Jeongnyeon takes on her punishment with gusto and a good attitude, and even pours herself into studying all the characters, in order to have a better overall understanding of the play.

E7-8. I find it so ironic, honestly, that Jeongnyeon becomes so insecure about her voice in episode 8, since, up to this point and especially in episode 7, everyone is envious of the depth, power and control that she seems naturally blessed with.

But, I can understand Jeongnyeon’s perspective; that she feels compelled to do better, so that she won’t always be automatically compared to her mother, every time she opened her mouth to sing.

Plus, there’s also a layer of jealousy and insecurity at play here, with how Jooran chooses Youngseo as her partner, instead of Jeongnyeon.

With Jooran choosing to partner Youngseo for the audition, clearly, we needed someone to partner with Jeongnyeon, and I was quite surprised that that person turned out to be Chorok.

It was really painful to watch Jeongnyeon pushing herself to the point of sickness and exhaustion, and you can literally hear her voice giving out, as she pushes herself so relentlessly.

And finally, we get insight into what had derailed Gongseon’s pansori career, back in the day; she’d pushed herself as relentlessly as Jeongnyeon’s pushing herself now, and that’s how her voice had finally given out.

Eep. So Mom’s (Moon So Ri) estimation that Jeongnyeon would end up destroying herself in the name of pansori hadn’t been rooted just in her own experience; she’d made that estimation based on her understanding of Jeongnyeon’s character – and Jeongnyeon must be so much like her, for her to feel so strongly about it.

That’s such a sadly poignant realization, honestly. Jeongnyeon is her mother’s daughter, in more ways than she knows or understands. 🥲

E7-8. I really appreciate Director Kang’s efforts to talk sense into Jeongnyeon; she’s so gentle and non-judgmental, as she tells Jeongnyeon that she and Youngseo have different experiences and strengths.

However, there’s no reasoning with obsession, and that’s exactly what Jeongnyeon is dealing with; an obsession with honing her voice to perfection, in pursuit of the mastery of pansori.

That’s why she doesn’t listen to anyone, whether it’s Director Kang, or Youngseo, or Jooran, or Chorok, who each try their best to reason with Jeongnyeon, that she should stop before she hurts her voice for good.

It’s honestly really painful to watch Jeongnyeon push through that audition, even with her voice giving out halfway.

Her desperate plea to Director Kang, to allow her a second chance to finish the audition, and Director Kang agreeing, not for any other reason than Jeongnyeon’s passion and desperation, combined with the strong possibility that this might be Jeongnyeon’s last chance to sing, period, is so hard to watch, honestly.

It truly feels like Jeongnyeon gives that performance every last drop of her entire being, and that’s why, after that effort, she passes out, completely spent.

It’s heartbreaking, and also, it’s scary, because she’s coughed up blood, just like her mother had, when her mother had lost her singing voice for good.

[END SPOILER]

Shin Ye Eun as Yeongseo

Yeongseo is a complicated character, and that’s why I found her interesting.

She’s talented, hardworking and commanding to the point that her peers are intimidated by her, but in private, she can be insecure, fearful and lacking in self-confidence.

She holds those insecurities close to her chest, even as they eat away at her, and it all makes for a very faceted, layered character indeed.

I really enjoyed watching Shin Ye Eun in the role, and I also enjoyed watching Yeongseo’s journey of growth, to not just overcome her fears, but grow into her own skin. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. I think Yeongseo just feels awkward about forming connections with anyone, because she’s afraid to let anyone see her weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and letting someone in, feels like she’s so much closer to being seen.

Because, as proud as Yeongseo is, she’s actually quite insecure on the inside, and that becomes clearer, the more time we spend with her.

When she overhears other trainees musing that people come to the performances just to see Doaeng perform as the antagonist Gomigeol, that’s enough to shake her confidence in her own interpretation of the character, to the point that she changes her delivery, to mimic Doaeng’s interpretation.

Coming from the very person who’d mocked Jeongnyeon for not having her own interpretation of Bangja, that says a great deal, doesn’t it?

And Jeongnyeon seems to see through it all; I think that’s why Yeongseo is extra prickly around Jeongnyeon; she likely feels vulnerable, like she’s unable to hide anything.

Perhaps that’s why I found it so heartening, to see Yeongseo warm up to Jooran, and let her guard down around her, during their joint rehearsals.

I really liked watching them analyze their characters together, and enrich each other’s interpretations of the characters, through their observations, and I especially liked it when Jooran’s words helped Yeongseo get into character better.

Because, who would have expected, that unassuming little Jooran, who’s always blending into the background, could help Yeongseo, the up-and-coming star whom everyone admired and was rather intimidated by? 🥲

E7-8. I’m glad for Youngseo, that she’s finally getting the approval from her mother that she’d always craved, but I also feel bad for her, because it doesn’t look like it’s quite as happy or enjoyable a thing, as she might have imagined.

I mean, it really doesn’t take Mom very long to start comparing Youngseo to Jeongnyeon, and then she even goes so far as to instruct Youngseo to crush Jeongnyeon, before she becomes too successful.

Uh. That’s not a very glowing statement about your confidence in your own daughter’s skill and talent, ma’am. 😅

And, I think that Youngseo, being the smart girl that she is, doesn’t escape her notice either, which means that Youngseo’s probably just about as miserable as before, despite gaining her mother’s praise and approval.

Gah. It’s hard to be Opera Mom’s daughter indeed. 😬

I think that pressure really gets to Youngseo, and that’s why she ends up destroying Jeongnyeon’s record of her mother’s singing, and even cries while pleading with Jeongnyeon to teach her how to sing.

[END SPOILER]

Woo Da Vi as Jooran

I honestly don’t have strong feelings for Jooran as a character, because I do think that she’s quite underdeveloped, overall.

I feel that her importance, is partly to act as a plot catalyst, like I’ve mentioned earlier, and also, to be a foil for both Jeongnyeon and Yeongseo, in their own journeys of growth and self-discovery.

That said, I do have general good feelings towards Jooran, and appreciate that Show gives Jooran more talent and understanding, when it comes to gukgeuk, than I’d first expected.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. Jooran’s got a better macro understanding of the performance, and how one character supports another, compared to Jeongnyeon.

We see Jooran explain, without any emotional baggage, that her character of Precious, is there to support Gomigeol, and make Gomigeol a great antagonist, whereas we see Jeongnyeon pause, when Chorok points out that the audience wouldn’t remember her soldier character, after leaving the theater.

I felt a stab of respect for Jooran, right then. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Jeongnyeon and Jooran

Overall, I liked the friendship between Jeongnyeon and Jooran, though I have to confess that I do find the starting and ending legs a little more wobbly than the mid-section.

[BROAD SPOILERS]

What I mean is, I felt that the way this friendship is shown to go from zero to lifelong bestie pledges really fast, and therefore, kinda without much foundation to support the friendship that then comes after.

And, I also found the closure to this relationship a little lacking, which I discuss more, in the finale section.

However, in general, I really did like the trust and support that Jeongnyeon and Jooran share.

[SPECIFIC SPOILERS]

E7-8. At about this point in our story, is when Jooran gets spooked by the way Jeongnyeon tends to become her characters, and I feel like this in itself works out to be a plot catalyst.

Because, 1, this leads to the rift between them that eventually drives Jeongnyeon down a path that leads to her losing her voice, and

2, I don’t feel that Show ever deals with this properly, ie, we don’t actually get a full understanding of what Jooran’s thinking and feeling, and we don’t work through it, with her.

I assumed that Jooran had been overwhelmed by Jeongnyeon’s immersion in her characters, but at the same time, I also had a feeling that Jooran had possibly felt real romantic feelings for Jeongnyeon, in the moment, and that had scared her.

Show doesn’t really confirm this, although there is some low-key indication of it in our finale, when Jooran says, in her letter to Jeongnyeon, that Jeongnyeon had always been her prince.

Overall, I found the writing of this relationship a touch lacking, unfortunately.

[END SPOILER]

Jeongnyeon and Youngseo

The relationship between Jeongnyeon and Yeongseo is one of the most interesting in this drama world, I felt.

From a tense rivalry, they eventually grow to become friends; a journey that isn’t unexpected, but one that I found gratifying to witness, nonetheless.

I have to give props to writer-nim; this relationship felt well teased out, to me.

The evolution of their tense frenemy-ship to something much more positive, powered by mutual respect, is gradual and built on many small interactions and incidents, so much so that I barely even noticed that things were evolving between them – until we arrived at their new friendship, and I saw how far we’d come.

Nicely done, I thought. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. It seems that this surprise delivery from Jeongnyeon, really affects Yeongseo, as we get that moment when the entire story world seems to come alive to Yeongseo, because of Jeongnyeon’s performance.

I do credit Yeongseo, though, because, like she says later, a lot of the success of the performance, also has to do with Yeongseo having the ability to align herself to Jeongnyeon’s performance, and that’s a whole skill in itself.

If Yeongseo had been unable to match herself to Jeongnyeon on the fly the way she did, the performance wouldn’t have been as successful, for sure.

Additionally, I do like the way Yeongseo keeps the big picture in mind, and warns Jeongnyeon about there potentially being some funny business going on, when she overhears the other trainees snickering.

She may not like Jeongnyeon, and she may wish that Jeongnyeon wasn’t part of the performance, but she would rather warn Jeongnyeon of potential trouble, than risk the performance being adversely affected. I liked that.

E3-4. I love that Jeongnyeon tells Yeongseo that she knows that it hadn’t been Yeongseo who’d told Director Kang about her secret job at the coffee house.

I really feel like that was a very pleasant surprise to Yeongseo; that, despite their tense relations, Jeongnyeon wouldn’t default to blaming her for her predicament, even though she’d seen Yeongseo at the coffee house.

It’s just too bad that this positive moments seems to go to pot, when Yeongseo realizes that Jeongnyeon had overheard Yeongseo being put down by her mother.

Given that this is a source of shame for Yeongseo, I can fully understand why she’d be upset, and want to lash out.

But wow, that double-slapping action had me gasping, a little bit. Like, the tension is getting serious between these two. 😬

What I do take away from this, though, is that Yeongseo still looks down on Jeongnyeon as not being her equal, because while she feels that it’s ok for her to slap Jeongnyeon, she’s shocked that Jeongnyeon would slap her back.

However, Jeongnyeon’s right; that she no longer has any reason to put up with Yeongseo.

So, it will be interesting to see how these two rivals face off, going forward, now that Jeongnyeon’s established that she has a temper and pride, just like Yeongseo; that she’s essentially standing on equal ground.

E5-6. At the top of episode 5, both of them had been convinced that they would never see each other again, and yet, here they are, roommates again, after not much time has passed since their big confrontation at Yeongseo’s family home.

One of the things I love about Jeongnyeon, is how forthright she is, and how she will always do the thing that feels right to her, even if it means backing down from her previous stance, and apologizing – which is what she does with Yeongseo, right after moving back into the room.

She actually doesn’t have to tell Yeongseo about what she’d found out about her mother, but she tells Yeongseo anyway, and you can just feel that every word is coming from her heart, and that she’s sincere in feeling bad, and taking back her words, because she realizes that she, too, had had an unfair advantage, which is exactly the thing that she’d mocked Yeongseo for.

I really admire Jeongnyeon for being able to be so open and humble, despite the strained relationship between her and Yeongseo, and the fact that their last conversation had been so full of tension. 🥲

Yeongseo acts all strong and nonchalant about it, and even cuts Jeongnyeon off, telling her that she doesn’t need an apology, but I do think that Jeongnyeon’s wearing her down, bit by bit, and that these two will eventually become friends.

Plus, I do think that Yeongseo has respect for Jeongnyeon’s talent, and wants Jeongnyeon as a worthy rival, and that’s likely why Yeongseo berates Jeongnyeon for using her punishment chores as an excuse for not rehearsing for the audition.

I thought it was quite cute, really, when Jeongnyeon takes Yeongseo’s words to heart, and actually starts competing with Yeongseo on who gets to cross out the date on the calendar, on the countdown to the audition. 😁

And of course, there’s the way Yeongseo volunteers to fetch Jeongnyeon, when Jeongnyeon doesn’t show up to the audition, and even helps to free Jeongnyeon from being trapped in the window.

Again, Jeongnyeon is quick to express her heartfelt thanks to Yeongseo, but again, Yeongseo is gruff and noncommittal about it.

I am really quite invested in this potential friendship between the two of them, and I find myself holding my breath and squeeing a bit, with each step closer to friendship that they get. 🥲

E7-8. I really appreciate the way Jeongnyeon responds, when Youngseo destroys her record.

In her shoes, I think I would have been so mad at Youngseo for destroying that precious record, particularly given how Jeongnyeon and Mom are now estranged.

But instead, Jeongnyeon chooses to respond to Youngseo’s tearful insecurity, by sharing her own – that she’s afraid she will always be in her mother’s shadow.

And then she tells Youngseo that she’s decided that her mother is her mother, and she is herself, and that the same goes for Youngseo; that everything she’s worked for, belongs to her and her alone.

That was so compassionate and empathetic of Jeongnyeon, I feel. 🥲

What a beautifully poignant moment, which I hope will continue to add up to a stronger connection between Youngseo and Jeongnyeon.

And we do get that moment, at the end of episode 7, where Youngseo gives Jeongnyeon that replacement record, without Jeongnyeon having to ask for it.

Aw. I thought that was nice. And also, it was cute that Jeongnyeon would tease Youngseo so mercilessly about not having heard her apology, and could she say it again? 🤭

[END SPOILER]

Ra Mi Ran as Director Kang

I really enjoyed Ra Mi Ran in this role.

I mean, Ra Mi Ran’s always awesome, but I was honestly blown away each time we need to see or hear Director Kang demonstrating anything to the trainees.

I love that we get to see Ra Mi Ran sing pansori, and even demonstrate swordplay for the trainees. Very cool indeed! 🤩

[SPOILER ALERT]

Director Kang may not be great at some things – like being more business-minded about the accounts, for example – but I appreciated her passion for gukgeuk, and that she approached with the soul of an artist.

I also loved how Director Kang recognized Jeongnyeon’s talent and potential, and always found a way to give Jeongnyeon a second chance – or a third one – if Jeongnyeon needed it.

[END SPOILER]

Jung Eun Chae as Okgyeong

Overall, I’d say that I have mixed feelings about Okgyeong, as a character.

I’ll talk more about that soon, in the spoiler section, but first, let me just say that I really, really enjoyed Jung Eun Chae in the role. 🤩

First of all, it’s more than a little trippy seeing Jung Eun Chae dressed in such an androgynous manner, and being called the Prince of Maeran, after seeing her be such a feminine beauty in The King: Eternal Monarch (review here!).

I’m impressed by her range!

I’ve read that there’s a lesbian loveline that’s in the webtoon source material that this show does not include in its adaptation, but it does feel like Show gives Okgyeong a bit of a male lead flavor.

It’s in all the little ways that Okgyeong is, towards Jeongnyeon, like how she’s jaded with life, but brightens once she encounters Jeongnyeon, and then how she seeks her out, and always seems to have a little twinkle in her eye, when she looks upon Jeongnyeon.

It’s all the things that I would expect a traditional male lead to do, and well, the rest of our characters also seem to validate this perception of Okgyeong, in the way they relate to her.

[BROAD SPOILERS]

I spent most of my watch liking Okgyeong a great deal; I felt she was shown to be a very pleasant, understanding person, and I liked that a lot.

That said, I felt that Show didn’t do a very strong job of portraying or exploring Okgyeong’s underlying restlessness and dissatisfaction, and then I didn’t like how Okgyeong exited our story – which I’ll more about later, when I discuss the finale.

For now, here are some of my favorite Okgyeong moments.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I’m honestly quite struck by how pleasant and understanding Okgyeong continues to be, every time we see her.

She’s the one who’s put in all this effort to bring Jeongnyeon to Maeran, and as she states, she brought Jeongnyeon here, not to play in the trainee pool, but to compete for big roles in actual official performances.

And yet, when Jeongnyeon turns down her offer without seeming to give it a second thought, she continues to be pleasant.

She simply accepts Jeongnyeon’s decision, while reminding her that there are consequences to every decision, and that Jeongnyeon should be prepared for any consequences to this decision.

It’s really only upon revisiting these episodes for these notes, that I realize that there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sort of momentary falter in Okgyeong’s expression, when Jeongnyeon turns her down.

I feel that it communicates so effectively, that Okgyeong is disappointed to hear Jeongnyeon’s answer, even though she doesn’t say so.

Credit to Jung Eun Chae for her delivery, which, to my eyes, really makes Okgyeong a very kind and good-natured presence, down to her gaze and body language.

I also like that Okgyeong is able to present as open-minded, kind and unbiased, even though she definitely has a soft spot for Jeongnyeon.

Like, when she encounters Yeongseo later in these episodes while practicing her swordplay, she only has kind and encouraging words for Yeongseo; I thought that was very nice. 🥰

And, that piece of advice that she gives Yeongseo, to enjoy her performances, does seem to be very key, and very wise, because I do think that Jeongnyeon succeeds in delivering Bangja as a character, because she finds a way to enjoy the character too.

[END SPOILER]

Kim Yoon Hye as Hyerang

My interest in Hyerang, from the moment I set eyes on her, was mainly to marvel at how perfectly coiffed she always looked, with perfectly chiseled makeup and every strand of hair in place.

She was like a living, moving Barbie doll, kinda. 😅

By Show’s mid-point, Hyerang does do more than show up and look perfectly pretty, and I was suitably perplexed and frustrated, by her actions.

The silver lining, is that it was at least interesting to try to understand her.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E7-8. I thought it was strange that she would actually push for Chief Ko to actually embezzle money from Maeran, even if it was in the interest of protecting Okgyeong.

To my mind, this was strange because, in the end, both she and Okgyeong were also part of Maeran, and if Maeran suffered major losses, so would they, yes?

But, I rationalize that this was an act of desperation, rather than stupidity.

I believe Hyerang was just that desperate to preserve Okgyeong’s reputation, that she would do anything, and risk anything, in order to achieve her goal.

Which brings me to Hyerang’s animosity towards Jeongnyeon.

Because, not only is Okgyeong – who is her lover, which I’ll talk about soon – distancing herself from Hyerang, she’s also only showing glimpses of true relaxation and happiness, mostly when she’s interacting with Jeongnyeon.

I can see how that would make Hyerang insanely jealous, which is why she does everything that she can, to hurt Jeongnyeon, rather than help her.

Like that terrible “advice” that she gives Jeongnyeon, in episode 8, once she’s gotten Jeongnyeon all insecure about the idea that Youngseo and Jooran are doing sooo great as a pair, and therefore, Jeongnyeon has to do something, or risk losing to them.

I found it all incredibly cruel and harsh, and it’s all quite tragic, considering that it’s all rooted in Hyerang’s obsession with Okgyeong, and with preserving their respective “thrones” in Maeran.

[END SPOILER]

Okgyeong and Jeongnyeon

This relationship did not turn out to be as major a part of our story as I’d first imagined, but I really did enjoy watching the various mentor-mentee moments that Okgyeong and Jeongnyeon share.

[BROAD SPOILER]

In particular, the early days in our early episodes, where Okgyeong and Jeongnyeon spend days on end training together, are very heartwarming and lovely.

It really feels like Jeongnyeon is a duck taking to water, as she learns from Okgyeong; she isn’t fantastic at every single thing right away, but you can tell that she really enjoys it, and is passionate about it.

[SPECIFIC SPOILER]

E3-4. I liked the moment when Okgyeong asks Jeongnyeon about how she’s doing, after getting expelled from Maeran, and then, when Jeongnyeon says that she’s doing fine, remarks that she hopes that Jeongnyeon won’t stray too far from Gukgeuk, because she likes it best when Jeongnyeon sings pansori.

In that moment, there’s so much wistfulness in Okgyeong’s gaze, and yet, there’s also a strong note of affection in there, like she wouldn’t want Jeongnyeon to do something she didn’t want to do.

I really like that about Okgyeong. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Okgyeong and Hyerang [SPOILERS]

The relationship between Okgyeong and Hyerang is an interesting one, because with the way they consistently take the male lead and female lead roles respectively in Maeran productions, it feels like their stage roles are bleeding into their real life relationship.

At least, that’s the way it looks to me, as an observer.

And so, sometimes, it seems like they’re just taking their stage personas and extending them into real life – with varying levels of actual emotional engagement and involvement.

It’s hard to say if Okgyeong had actually been more emotionally engaged in this relationship, but when we meet them, it becomes increasingly clear that it’s Hyerang who’s more emotionally invested, and it feels like Okgyeong’s just playing along, to fulfill a duty.

In episodes 5-6, we get some more solid indications, of the nature of Okgyeong’s relationship with Hyerang.

I’d assumed that Show would leave it ambiguous, so that it’d be up to us as viewers to interpret the relationship as we liked, but instead, we have some strong signals, these episodes, that point to the idea that Okgyeong and Hyerang are romantically involved.

This is quite bold for a prime-time kdrama, I do think, because Show serves up some casual skinship that makes it hard to miss the intended message; that these two are absolutely a couple.

From Okgyeong laying her head on Hyerang’s lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world, to Okgyeong telling Hyerang, while cradling her face, that of course she wouldn’t leave Hyerang, and she was just joking about quitting gukgeuk, it all adds up to a very clear picture of relationship togetherness, even if these two don’t often seem to be on the same page about things, these days.

I think that adds an interesting layer of context to Hyerang’s actions, particularly when it comes to the way we see her targeting Jeongnyeon and locking Jeongnyeon in the props storage room so that Jeongnyeon wouldn’t be able to make it to the audition.

With that layer of context in place, it’s easier to understand that Hyerang’s likely coming from a place of a jealous lover.

On the one hand, she wants to protect Okgyeong’s place, because Okgyeong’s talked about Jeongnyeon competing with her for male lead roles, and on the other hand, she’s jealous that Okgyeong’s got a soft spot for Jeongnyeon, and wants to punish Jeongnyeon.

Overall, Show does stay somewhat ambiguous about the true nature of this relationship, and I found myself feeling rather morbidly curious about it all, particularly given Hyerang’s obsessive state of mind.

[END SPOILER]

Jeongnyeon and Unnie

We don’t get a lot of screen time showing us the relationship between Jeongnyeon and her Unnie Jeongja (Oh Kyung Hwa), but even in the tiny bits that we’re shown, this relationship stole my heart. 🥲

There is just so much love, trust and loyalty between these two, in particular, Jeongja towards Jeongnyeon, and it moved me so. 🥹

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. The scene when Unnie Jeongja begs Jeongnyeon to tell Mom that she’ll never think about gukgeuk again, is so heartbreaking and so poignantly delivered by both actresses.

Unnie’s fear for Jeongnyeon is so real, and Jeongnyeon’s breathless, tearful conviction is so raw, that I found myself choking up at it all.

And then even more so, when Unnie sets Jeongnyeon free and takes her to see Okgyeong, despite knowing that Mom would likely punish her severely for it, and that this would mean sending Jeongnyeon away, likely for a very long time. 😭

Their tearful goodbye scene had me by the heartstrings; I felt like I could taste their sacrifice, made so that Jeongnyeon would be able to pursue her dream, and thereby save her family from poverty. 💔

[END SPOILER]

Jeongnyeon and Mom

The relationship between Jeongnyeon and Mom is complicated, with complicated feelings on both sides.

I think it hurts so good, because we can understand Mom’s desire to stop Jeongnyeon from pursuing singing as a career, because she believes Jeongnyeon will get hurt, and we can also understand Jeongnyeon’s desire to use her talent to lift her family out of poverty.

I talk more about this relationship in the sections where I discuss Show’s penultimate and finale episodes, but for now, here are some thoughts that I had about this relationship, before any resolution was in sight. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. As it turns out, I was right about Mom being Gongseon, the gifted pansori singer we’d met in the prologue to episode 1.

It’s very poignant to see Mom watch Jeongnyeon sing – and then see herself, in Jeongnyeon.

That perspective really makes it seem like Mom’s trying to undo her past, in manner of speaking, by trying to prevent Jeongnyeon from taking the path she’d taken?

Like, if she could undo it, she would, but since she can’t, she’ll do all she can, to prevent Jeongnyeon from taking it.

It’s heartbreaking all-around, when Jeongnyeon refuses to quit like Mom wishes, to the point that she would accept Mom cutting ties with her. Oof. That’s gotta hurt so much, on both sides. 💔

And yet, I can see that Jeongnyeon is doing this not just for her own love for singing, but also, so that she can help her family. 😭

[END SPOILER]

Special shout-out:

Lee Mi Do as Patricia

The relationship between Jeongnyeon and Patricia enjoys so little screen time, that you could almost consider it a momentary blip in the overall trajectory of our story.

And yet, there’s enough heart in this relationship, for me to remember Patricia fondly. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. I really appreciate Patricia for approaching Jeongnyeon, not as a puppet master who wants to mold Jeongnyeon into something specific, but as a fellow artist who appreciates Jeongnyeon’s talent, and wants to see her shine in her own special way.

The way Patricia encourages Jeongnyeon to put forth a performance that is authentic to herself, is so great, and afterwards, I felt really moved to see Patricia congratulate Jeongnyeon for a great performance, with tears in her eyes, like she’s just witnessed a miracle with her own eyes.

This, when Jongguk’s basically losing his mind over the fact that Jeongnyeon didn’t cooperate, and has ruined everything.

I’m honestly rather sad that this will likely be the last we see of Patricia. Thank you, Patricia, for being a class act. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON THE PENULTIMATE EPISODES [SPOILERS]

E9-10. So here’s the thing, my friends.

I still like this show, and I’m still here for the ride, but at the same time, I couldn’t shake the sense of frustration that I felt, while watching these episodes. 😅

Mainly, I find myself feeling quite perplexed, because the problems that our characters are angsting so hard over, were mostly easily preventable.

The one that niggled at me the most, is the fact that Jeongnyeon loses her voice, for the simple lack of common sense.

I’m rationalizing that when someone’s in a very emotional, vulnerable place, they often lose sight of common sense, and end up making stupid mistakes. I’m also rationalizing that this is, quite likely, also partly the folly of  youth, where you tend to think that you’re invincible, because you’re young.

At the same time, I find it hard to shake the thought, that Jeongnyeon could have spared herself all this pain and angst, if she’d just listened to her body – and to everyone who’d tried to reason with her – and simply rested her voice, instead of pushing it to the point of no return.

I’m telling you guys all this, in an effort to explain why, while watching these episodes, I sometimes found myself shaking my head, and wondering if Jeongnyeon is just too emotion-driven, to be a protagonist who’s worth rooting for.

Because, as we’ve seen, she has the tendency to get herself into trouble, because she is too led by emotion, and not enough, by common sense.

That’s how she’d messed up as that soldier character, and that’s also how she’d lost her voice.

But ok. We’ve all made stupid mistakes in our lives, and we’ve all regretted those mistakes, while desperately looking for a way to remedy the situation, and that’s where I’m finding empathy for Jeongnyeon, despite that part of my brain tending towards frustration and judgey-ness. 😅

In the wake of Jeongnyeon being rushed to hospital, I also am reminded that it’s not just Jeongnyeon who’s made a mistake that she can’t undo; Hyerang is guilty of that too.

She’d goaded Jeongnyeon into pushing herself beyond reasonable limits, and now that Okgyeong sees the impact that this is having on Jeongnyeon, I don’t think there’s any way for Hyerang to undo the damage she’s incurred for herself, in Okgyeong’s eyes.

The moment Okgyeong says to her, “You ruined everything,” I feel like is the beginning of the end. I’m quite convinced, on hindsight, that this must have been the moment when Okgyeong realized that this was the end of the road for her, with gukgeuk.

Of course, I want to throttle Hyerang for still having the gall to act all self-righteous, and scream about how she hasn’t ruined anything, but again, I don’t think she has a clue as to what she’s done.

In effect, she’s ended up pushing Okgyeong away from herself, when the thing that she wants the most, is Okgyeong’s closeness and affection.

Additionally, she also earns a dismissal from Director Kang, the minute Director Kang hears from Chorok, that it had been Hyerang who had manipulated Jeongnyeon into wrecking her voice in the mountains with constant strain.

Yes, people can indeed do stupid things, especially if they’re obsessed, like Hyerang clearly is.

I have to say, I really appreciate how principled Director Kang is, in the matter.

She doesn’t blink twice at the fact that Hyerang is the Queen of Maeran, and has been one of the anchoring lead actresses of the troupe for many years.

She dismisses Hyerang immediately, even though she hasn’t quite figured out Hyerang’s replacement, and I honestly kinda love Director Kang for that. 🥲

As for Youngseo, I feel bad for her, because she’s so consumed by the idea that Jeongnyeon is the one who had deserved to win the audition, that she can’t enjoy the fact that she’s achieved something significant for herself.

And the realization that Opera Mom had gone so far as to bribe the judges, must sting a great deal as well. Again, Opera Mom is not demonstrating any faith in Youngseo’s skill and talent.

As a silver lining, I appreciate that Youngseo finally makes a decision to live for herself, and not for Opera Mom.

Yes, it’s a hard decision, but I do believe that Youngseo will be much better off, and in a much more healthy place, both emotionally and mentally, as a result of this decision, so yay Youngseo!

I do acknowledge that Youngseo’s got an upright, righteous streak about her, because she approaches Director Kang to decline the role that she’d won at the audition, for the reason that she believes that Jeongnyeon was the more deserving winner.

I’m glad, though, that Director Kang is as firm, kind and assuring as she is, when she tells Youngseo that she deserved that win, and that it wasn’t because her mom had bribed the judges either; that Director Kang herself had voted for Youngseo. 🥲

And there’s Jeongnyeon, and the journey she goes through upon her discharge from the hospital.

I do admire her just, righteous streak too, because a lesser person would likely question Youngseo’s win in her shoes, but instead, Jeongnyeon tells Youngseo that Youngseo had won the role fair and square, and she herself had simply not done well enough, that day.

I do like that Jeongnyeon is simple and straightforward, that way. And again, I feel like her matter-of-fact graciousness has a really freeing effect on Youngseo.

It was hard to watch her hope dwindle over time, as her visits to various doctors all yielded the same answer; that there was no way to bring back her voice; that her vocal cords were too damaged for that.

I do think that the best decision Jeongnyeon could have made, in the wake of her dashed hopes, was to go home to her mother and sister, in Mokpo.

I sincerely think that this was the best decision, to give herself time and space to heal, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

That scene where Jeongja sees Jeongnyeon and runs to take Jeongnyeon in her arms, is so affecting, to me.

The entire manner that Jeongja carries, is that of a fierce protector, and I can feel her strong desire to shield Jeongnyeon, in that gaze alone. I thought it was beautiful. 🥲🥲

And then there are the conversations that Jeongnyeon has with Mom, which feel so precious.

For the first time, possibly ever, it feels like they’re experiencing a sense of solidarity with each other, because they now have had the same experience, of losing their voices, which had been their most prized possession, along with their love for pansori.

It’s taken so much time and pain to get to this point, but in this moment, it actually almost feels worthwhile, just for the mutual understanding and empathy that mother and daughter finally share. 🥲

I really appreciate that we don’t hear any “I told you so’s” from Mom to Jeongnyeon, even though Jeongnyeon had literally run away from home to do gukgeuk, and had even agreed to sever ties with Mom, in order to stay at Maeran.

Instead, what we get is a quiet, slightly gruff sort of understanding, and an openness to share, when Jeongnyeon asks things like how long it had taken Mom to be ok, after she’d lost her voice.

In this moment, it seems like Mom instinctively understands that she’s the only person in the world who can speak to Jeongnyeon’s pain, and I appreciate so much, that she doesn’t hold back from Jeongnyeon, but instead, shares her experience, and tells Jeongnyeon that it is possible to survive. 🥲

It isn’t long before Director Kang comes knocking, with Youngseo along for the ride, and on this point, I wanted to state for the record, that I don’t think Director Kang is doing this because she hopes that Jeongnyeon can help fill the gap that she sees opening up because of Hyerang’s dismissal.

After all, Director Kang herself has no idea whether Jeongnyeon would ever be able to sing again; how could she even think that Jeongnyeon might be able to help fill that gap, yes?

Instead, I think it’s more that Director Kang sees possibility for Jeongnyeon to continue to be involved in gukgeuk, even without the ability to sing, and she recognizes that this is something that would nourish Jeongnyeon’s soul, and wants to lead her to that.

And, I do want to also give Director Kang credit, for taking time away from a crucial time for Maeran, to go to Mokpo, to visit Jeongnyeon.

She’s got heart, and she’s also got sound judgment, and I like that about her, even if, like Chief Ko says, she’s more concerned with artistic integrity than the practicalities of managing a business.

The meeting between Director Kang and Mom is highly charged, as can be expected, and I’m not surprised that Mom would be less than welcoming of Director Kang.

At the same time, the meeting between Youngseo and Jeongnyeon is also very emotionally charged, and I was shocked, first, that Youngseo would throw Jeongnyeon’s precious record in the water, and then I was shocked that Jeongnyeon would jump in after it – without knowing how to swim.

I have to confess, I’m very perplexed at the fact that Jeongnyeon wouldn’t be able to swim, having lived so long in Mokpo, and being so near the sea and everything. I would have thought that she’d be able to survive in the water, at the very least.

ANYWAY. I’m glad that we get an honest, open conversation between Youngseo and Jeongnyeon, after all that drama, and that Youngseo reminds Jeongnyeon that there’s more to her talent, than singing.

And, it feels meaningful that Youngseo would promise to wait for Jeongnyeon to come back to the stage, no matter how long it takes.

It feels like this is a turning point for Jeongnyeon, because it’s only after this conversation, that Jeongnyeon tells Mom that she wants to go back to gukgeuk; that it’s the only time she truly feels alive. 🥲

I was honestly half afraid that Jeongnyeon would then up and leave with Youngseo and Director Kang, without telling Mom, but thankfully, she seems to have grown up enough, to realize that she’s hurt Mom too much already, and that it would be better, to wait for Mom to be ready to let her go to Seoul.

Meanwhile, we get to see the combined performance that everyone’s been rehearsing for, and it’s still a treat, to get to feel like we’re watching almost a whole gukgeuk performance, even though we’re effectively only being served a highlight reel of snippets.

It’s still pretty great, and it’s true that both Okgyeong and Hyerang seem to be giving their best performances.

I’m slightly confused, though, that this single performance seems to be the end of the combined troupe effort? After all of that auditioning and rehearsing, there’s only one performance?

The reason I conclude that, is because Director Kang had told Hyerang that she would leave Maeran after the combined performance, and Hyerang tells Okgyeong that this had been her last performance. How strange, yes?

Maybe it’s just to tighten up our story, so that things can keep moving..?

Another thing I’m confused by, is the way Okgyeong is shown to tell Director Kang goodbye, after the performance.

Did Okgyeong not give Director Kang any notice, and just.. quit and walk outta there, just like that?

That’s the immediate impression I’m getting, but I’m rationalizing that it’s highly possible Okgyeong had broached the subject with Director Kang, and that’s why Director Kang had made Okgyeong that offer, that Okgyeong could choose the production that Maeran would do next.

Honestly, though, it does feel like quitting gukgeuk is the right way forward for Okgyeong.

She’s been feeling not just bored, but stifled, especially with Hyerang being so clingy and obsessive.

I think her choice to go into film would likely be a good way to switch things up, and give herself newer, more novel pastures to explore – away from Hyerang and her lying, manipulating ways.

Back in Mokpo, I’m genuinely surprised to hear Mom tell Jeongnyeon about that pansori master who’d made a name for himself despite being born with a hoarse voice.

Honestly, I’d been wondering, all through these episodes, how Show planned to solve Jeongnyeon’s problem, and allow her to return to the stage, given how permanently damaged her voice had become.

I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how Show planned to heal her voice enough to allow her to continue to perform.

But now, here’s this new option that I hadn’t even thought was possible; that she learn how to sing, with her broken voice, and sing in such a way, that it wouldn’t matter if her voice was damaged.

That actually makes me think of Uhm Tae Goo, whose voice I’ve really come to enjoy, while watching him in My Sweet Mobster (review here!).

Story has it that Uhm Tae Goo had injured his voice permanently while rehearsing too hard, being that passionate about acting.

How poignant it is, that it’s now his voice that makes him unique, and which fans are loving.

It makes me think that perhaps Jeongnyeon’s broken voice will also end up becoming the thing that makes her unique, and end up becoming her strength, instead of her failing, which, not gonna lie, does have a poignant sort of appeal to me. 🥲

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E11-12. To be honest with you, I have mixed feelings about this finale.

On the one hand, yes, it does work out to be a pretty stirring close to our story, but on the other hand, I can’t help feeling a niggling undercurrent of.. dissatisfaction, with certain arcs.

For example, I’m really quite disappointed that Jooran really ends up leaving Maeran, and then we don’t actually see her again.

My brain understands that the family and financial pressure on her meant that she had little choice but to agree to get married, in order to get her sister all the medical care that she might need, and my brain also understands that not all troupe members end up staying long-term.

My brain also understands that there is a poignance and poetry to the way Jooran leaves, first in acting out that emotional scene with Jeongnyeon, and then later, in the way she sends flowers to Jeongnyeon with that note, saying that Jeongnyeon had always been her prince – and now, Jeongnyeon would be everyone’s prince.

However, my heart is dissatisfied because I’d wanted Jooran to have a happier ending, and also, I’d wanted Jooran to be there, to witness the moment Jeongnyeon took on that career-making role.

In a similar way, my heart feels dissatisfied that after Okgyeong’s departure, we never do see her again.

Okgyeong had been such a pivotal force in Jeongnyeon’s life, and had been so pleasant and genial to so many of our key characters, that I’d wanted to believe that she’d truly cared about Maeran.

But maybe it’s because her departure had plunged Maeran deep into debt, that it’s too much to expect her to actually come back for our final performance?

Possibly. However, that sucks, because the effect that that had, for me, was this feeling that Okgyeong truly couldn’t care less about Maeran, now that she’s doing films. Boo.

Another thing I found myself feeling very dissatisfied with, is the fact that Embezzling Ex-Finance Manager never gets his just desserts, for all the terrible things that he’s done.

Worse, Director Kang does end up selling the Maeran buildings to him and Hongmae, to raise money for the performance, so it feels like this bad guy has not only escaped punishment for his crimes, but has made bank from them.

That doesn’t sit right with me, honestly. 😕

All that said, Show does give us an ending that is quite stirring.

The thing that I liked the most, was seeing that Yeongseo and Jeongnyeon are now so openly supportive of each other, even though they are auditioning for the same role.

I found it touching to see that they were each sincerely moved by the other’s performance, during the audition, and I loved that afterwards, it’s Yeongseo who basically calls it; that Jeongnyeon will be Maeran’s new prince, and I love that Jeongnyeon responds by hugging Yeongseo.

What a display of true sportsmanship, healthy rivalry and sincere friendship. I loved that.

I also loved that Mom and Unnie came to the performance, to watch Jeongnyeon.

I mean, I’m glad that other people came too – like Jeongnyeon’s fans, Patricia with her new boyfriend, and Hyerang, with her daughter(!) in tow (I found that hard to believe, for the record, because how could Hyerang have possibly managed to have a baby, being the main and only female lead in Maeran??) – but I cared most, that Mom and Unnie had made it, all the way from Mokpo, for Jeongnyeon’s big moment.

Seeing Mom be moved by Jeongnyeon’s performance, to the point of shedding tears, felt like such a momentous validation of everything that Jeongnyeon’s dreamed of and worked for, all this time. 🥹🥹

And, as before, I’m glad that we get to watch a good chunk of the performance as well, so that it feels like we’re part of the audience too.

I also thought it was a neat touch, to have Youngseo’s character in the performance, be a rival to Jeongnyeon’s character; someone who wanted to beat her, but also, someone who appreciated her talent and admired her.

That’s a clear mirror to Youngseo’s complicated feelings towards Jeongnyeon all this time, and it’s great that Youngseo gets to tap on those real emotions, to shape her delivery.

And, for Youngseo’s sake, I’m glad that Opera Mom is supportive too, as part of the audience.

I have to confess, though, that when the performance comes to a close, and our cast take their bows, I was quite startled to find that that really was the end of our finale.

I dunno; I think I’d expected that we’d get to see more of what happened after even if via a highlight reel; how the troupe had thrived in spite of the challenges, and how Jeongnyeon’s career as Maeran’s new prince had taken off.

As a viewer, I have to confess that I was disappointed that we don’t get to see any of that.

In the end, though, I can’t begrudge Show its chosen end-point, because technically, it really did deliver on its promise; it allowed us to witness the moment that Jeongnyeon, the star, was born. 🥲

And, it’s succeeded in being an homage to pansori and gukgeuk, as well as all the actors who’ve graced that scene, and that, in and of itself, is a worthy accomplishment. 🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Approachable and engaging, as well as a great introduction to pansori.

FINAL GRADE: B++

TRAILER:

MV:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of  Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born, is The Tale of Lady Ok [Korea].

You can check out my episode 1-2 notes on The Tale of Lady Ok on Patreon here.

Here’s an overview of what I’m covering on Patreon right now (Tier benefits are cumulative)!

Foundation Tier (US$1): Entertainment Drop (Sundays) + the first set notes of all shows covered on Patreon (that’s 2 episodes for kdramas and 4 episodes for cdramas)

Early Access (US$5): +Mr. Plankton [Korea]

Early Access Plus (US$10): +When The Phone Rings [Korea]

VIP (US$15): +Tell Me That You Love Me [Korea]