Although the pace is slow, I still enjoyed watching it. It's not the usual drama. Gong Yoo was very attractive and the female lead is really suitable for her role.
I just hope that kind of marriage arrangement doesn't happen in real life.
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When good actors need money
This had to be the most convoluted, weirdly paced, discombobulated drama I have ever watched. There were basically no stakes. There was no chemistry between the leads. The story kept going back and forth with the timeline in a manner that was meant to confuse the audience. Oh and we also never find out what's in her trunk but we get a quote about a trunk being enough for a marriage.I hated it.
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Dystopian view of future contractual marriages
What made this experience for me more riveting than most viewers was having read the book. It does not follow the storyline exactly and the script writers selected different aspects to highlight this dark drama. The premise of renting marriage partners for a 1 year contract with the ability to cancel and divorce with or without fault was briefly sketched but not well disclosed.The ML, played by Gong Yoo, gives a nuanced performance of a person scarred by first his mother's suicide then his pregnant wife's attempted suicide and subsequent death of their unborn child.
His current relationship is due to a contract marriage and when he begins to show too much attachment to the FL, played by Seo Hyun-jin, she abruptly ends it leaving him grieving.
His ex wife, although now also in a contract marriage, is shown to be still obsessed with him and deranged enough to install cameras in his home, threaten suicide and plant suicide pills in his studio.
Add to the mix another stalker who is a psychopath and also obsessed with the FL threatening to kill the ML and boasting about having already killed someone and the tensions are running high.
The trunk theme is based on the importance of the two trunks in the story.
One belongs to the ex-wife and is stolen by the psychopath convinced he will find damming evidence about the organisation and be able to expose them for putting him in a mental institute.
The second trunk belongs to the ex-wife and it too contains emotionally damming items.
The tension is slow paced, dark, brooding and oppressive a lot like how the relationships are featured. Use of lighting, music and atmospheric sounds keep the noir aspect.
The ending is hopeful and open ended.
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Mature story
This is the first time I write a review on this site. I felt that I had to, because this genuine piece of art has way too low ratings. I loved the actors, they are really talented professonals, they made the story believable. The characters they were acting felt real. The story was multilayered and clever. You could never know what's going to happen next, the plot was never predictable like it so often happens when it comes to Asian dramas. If you are ready for an adult and mature drama, this is for you.Was this review helpful to you?
A warm, dark, hot and sad slow burn
The plot is dark but so comforting at the same time. The cast transmit so perfect their chemistry, its so enjoyable to watch them <3, I love how she's not stupid like other protagonists that you just want to smack their faces and He's just the definition of 'I can fix him' but this time SHE REALLY FIXES HIM!!! ugh Gong Yoo you're so perfect that hurts... long story short, if you're into more mature and a little twisted kdrama it's *worth watching*Ps. I really loved it... but why that ending? My anxiety can't take it
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This review may contain spoilers
The show had perfect pacing!! It did such a great job discussing trauma and toxic relationships. This is what I wanted to see for Mr.Plankton. I see that many new directors of this genre are doing abnormal camera shots and music which is great because it's good to see something new. Though I disagreed with some of the characters, especially the original wife, I sympathized with everyone. I loved how the writers addressed being apart of the LGTBQ in a non cliché way(I even think the female lead friend liked her). It made the movie feel real. I thought the first wife would kill herself, but I'm was glad she stuck through. This was really a solid 8.5. This genre is hard to execute well, but the director in my opinion did a good take on it. I loved that the leads were not the typical lovey-dovey couple — that would be unrealistic. Everything about this drama was raw and real, not forced at all in my opinion.Reading other reviews, I understand why people would think it was dull or drawn-out, but I think it's because they went in with high hopes. I went in knowing nothing, and I guess I was in the perfect mood for this drama.
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Lofi vibe of slow pace actually refreshing
Overall I loved this show, different from what we are used to in other kdramas. Yes the pace is slow but I kinda found it relaxingNot all storytelling needs to have the same pace or be full of stimuli, or have lots of stuff going on.
Intriguing plot and character arcs, stunning acting, smart use of symbology (trunk, chandelier, house, slippers).
The only thing I found out of place was the explicit nudity (for me it was unnecessary) and the ending, which could have been more impactful. That bit I agree with the mainstream opinion that it was boring.
A one time watch, but worth it!
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It was just Ehhhhhh
So the story of this drama is quite different from the cliche rom-coms, yet it just wasn't fulfilling. The contractual marriage plot did not make any sense and the obsessive ex-wife of the male lead was just a bad character with good acting. The plot just did not make a lot of sense, with many loopholes. It was just a high-budget drama with a not-so-likable plot. Casting I would say is the only thing that stood out in this drama as all the actors did justice to their roles. Other than that it was just ehhhh.To anyone wondering whether to start it or not, I would say this drama is something that you can pass on. There are much better shows you can watch in the meantime.
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This drama features sexual scenes and nudity, which is why I classify it as an adult drama. With the inclusion of sexual content in Queen Woo and now The Trunk, perhaps the K-Drama industry is moving away from a puritanical approach, especially with the emergence of BL and GL genres.
The story centers on a contract marriage, while the mystery of the trunk serves merely as filler.
This is the first time, after finishing the second episode, that I had to rewatch the opening to familiarize myself with the key characters!
I liked the part where the ML asked, "Does the contract include sexual services?" The FL responded, "If both parties are willing."
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This review may contain spoilers
It could have been only 6 episodes
The trunk had a good premise when I first heard about it, but going through these 8 episodes was definitely tiring. Like going around circles every time. The acting did kind of the impossible job to keep this show moving forward, even if it seems like there's no direction at all.One of the scenes that were kind of cringey for me was the fight in the elevator between the 2 wives. Unnecessary and it's mostly there to show how one of them is worth of his love and the other isn't. I'm not even sure how he got to a relationship with his first wife, since she's this terrible monster. Didn't we miss something? How things happened the way it did? She's apparently just there to be a villain.
Some people mentioned the OST being so good as if that could save this show but honestly it was boring. Maybe 1 or 2 songs are likeable but that's it.
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Came for Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin, then left with Jo Yi Geon
The gist of the story would have you go 'Okay, that sounds interesting...' and that is what happened to me. Then I got more enthusiastic after seeing Gong Yoo (Silenced) and Seo Hyun Jin (Why Her?) in the cast. The first episode's opening moments got me hooked and at its end, I was feeling for Jeong Won (Gong Yoo) the most.IMO the writer and its director struggled with the backstories. The presentation just did not flow seamlessly which made my experience with the series quite unsettling and unfulfilling. Like how episode 2 opened with a totally new character and you're thrown in the past grasping at straws to make sense of it all.
Then there is Yun Ji Oh (Jo Yi Geon/ Cho I Geon) who was forgotten in limbo land for most of the episodes. He was, for most of the time, the a$$holic man candy who was quickly shoved into a hero position to save every one.
Then there's the abusive father. His hospital bed scenes were so unnecessary. It would have been more effective had he been in his virile and vile self, in Jeong Won's and Seo Yeon's (Jung Yun Ha) flashbacks.
The acting I enjoyed. No surprise there. It's what carried me through to the last episode. I just will specially mention that as much as No In-Ji raged to protect Jeong Won, it was her soft moments that I find special. I melted every time No In-ji smiled. But I still enjoyed her several displays of physicality.
The music is enjoyable too. Now where is that rock music available?
Unfortunately, there is little chance I will rewatch The Trunk. But I will look out for a spin off. I am curious about Yun Jin Oh. His transition from keeper to husband-for-hire for one. Also, he was tagged by the writer as cruel. To me he was the most straightforward character amongst the lot. He knew what/who he liked and he expressed it. He also was loyal to the very end. There's very few people in the world like that and I am intrigued how he came to be and why he is so devoted to the crazy selfish bish.
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This review may contain spoilers
THE MATURE ROMANCE/ACTING WE VE BEEN STARVING FOR
THE GOOD:There is something that has been lacking in K-drama for awhile,versatile actors that started it alld
were forgotten for a minute,while young ones were paraded on our screen wsith their shaped noses
and perfect faces but lacking in acting and personality..I can name a few but thats not why we are here.
This was a perfect example of old is gold.The maturity in terms of acting and screen presence was top.
I noticed that the casting director had one visual in his mind,tall,dark and manly,all the side characters
almost had the same physical features and were really fitting in the frame not forgetting talented.
The color tones used,the mood,the melo sounds and sights,the camera angles and the OST were really done well
Though it was marketed as mystery,it didnt give out that eerly feling.The director knew what kind of architecture to
use in this drama,He went for an edgy mid-century style seen in Han Jeong Won's both houses,the whole production
set and wardrobe,the cars that shown the ML's wealth status,all were on point.
THE BAD:
K-dramas have always been known to be short and quick to finish but I feel like this drama should have been at least
10 or 12 episodes,the story was there and it could have been easly developed and expanded,but looking at Gong Yoo's
drama history,he tend to pick projects with shorter episodes.
Just Like all the viewers werent happy with the ending,I believe it would have been better,but with 8 episodes what else
were we expecting?
The ML's career as a producer was not something that was explored,If you werent attentive,you might miss what exactly
does he do,showing up at the studion and laying on the sofa while he is two assistants add extortions on the computer
didnt sell enough.He is "boss" O Hyeon Cheol seem to represent him on the career front but I would have loved to see a scene or
two where he is emmersed in the producton role.
THE UGLY:
I will be honest,Am not a fan of mystery trope so the fact that I enjoyed this drama means there was no mystery.
The whole time,you felt like there is something twisted that the director is trying to bring out but in the end nothing
came out.I can say that if you are a mystery hardcore and like twist,turns and psychotic elements,you will sleep on
this.
OVERALL:
This is my personal opinion,I came to the Trunk looking for mature romance and mature acting and thats what I got
and am satisfied with this as they added a pinch of good visuals and perfect production.
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