The Trunk

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 relaxing
Not 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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Started strong and fell off midway

Acting was excellent. I saw that this was based on a novel which leads me to believe they shoved too much of the plot into 8 long episodes instead of the usual 16. This leads the show to have a strange pace that increased the further into the show I went. By the end, I started skipping forward in a rush to combat losing interest but wanting to know how it ends. The story is interesting but was not delivered in a way that compelled the viewer to care about certain things - like the murder that takes place. By the end of the show, I felt puzzled and wondered how the main divorced couple even ended up together as they seem like such an unlikely couple. There is definitely a hint of mystery and desire to root for the new wife and husband yet i'm not sure if it's because I liked their characters or because I want to save them from the shitty characters (ex wife, stalker, ex husband of FL) in the show.

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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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Old School Cool with a Few Bumps in the Road

The Good: Finally, Grown-Ups!

Honestly, it feels like forever since we've had K-dramas featuring actors who can actually, you know, act! For a while there, it was all perfectly sculpted noses and pretty faces, but not much in the way of actual talent or personality. (I could name names, but my therapist says I should work on my anger issues.) "Trunk" was a breath of fresh air, a shining example of "old is gold." The seasoned actors here brought such maturity and screen presence, it was like a masterclass.

The whole vibe of this drama was just chef's kiss. The color tones, the mood, the melancholic sounds and sights, the camera angles, and the OST — all perfectly executed. Even though it was marketed as a mystery, it never gave off that creepy, eerie feeling. The director clearly has an eye for design, going for that edgy mid-century style in Han Jeong-won's houses and the entire production set. And don't even get me started on the cars – they practically screamed "wealthy ML," and they were on point.

The Bad: Where'd the Episodes Go?

K-dramas are known for being quick and easy binges, but I honestly think "Trunk" could've used a few more episodes, say 10 or even 12. The story had so much potential to be developed and expanded. But then again, if you look at Gong Yoo's drama history, he does seem to pick projects with shorter episode counts. And like practically everyone else, I wasn't thrilled with the ending. But let's be real, with only 8 episodes, what were we even expecting?

One thing that felt a bit underdeveloped was the ML's career as a producer. Unless you were paying super close attention, you might have missed what he actually does. Him just showing up at the studio and lounging on the sofa while his assistants do all the work didn't really sell his "boss" status. His actual "boss," O Hyeon-cheol, seemed to represent him more on the career front. I would've loved to see at least a scene or two where he was actually immersed in his production role.

The Ugly: Mystery? What Mystery?

Okay, full disclosure: I'm not usually a fan of the mystery genre. So the fact that I actually enjoyed this drama means one thing: there was no real mystery. The whole time, you feel like the director is building up to some big, twisted reveal, but then... crickets. If you're a hardcore mystery fan who loves shocking twists, turns, and maybe a dash of psychotic elements, you'll probably snooze through this one.

Overall: A Mature Romance with Good Looks

My personal take? I went into "Trunk" looking for a mature romance and some solid acting, and that's exactly what I got. Plus, they threw in some great visuals and top-notch production. So yeah, I'm pretty satisfied.
What are your thoughts? Did "Trunk" hit the mark for you, or were you left wanting more?

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Heavy Stuff

It should be said from the very beginning that this film presents a very different point of view on marriage, from the common perception. This is for those who took very, very hard blows from life, and it won't speak too much to those who were speared. One needs to go through some hellish experiences to fully understand this series' philosophy on marriage, and relate to its characters and events.
Personally, I very much enjoy fairy tales-like love stories, but once in a while I come across these heavy stories which remind me of my own stuff. They give me the opportunity to contemplate my own path so far, and a sense of self-satisfaction knowing I somehow managed to get through hardships, move on and retain my sanity, at least to some degree. 😁 It's a hard film to watch, even if you "have been there", as the saying goes.
Except for the music, I liked everything about this film. Although it was as unbearable as the experiences presented, it was for a purpose: it had to add to the arduousness of the events.
The story was good, and believe it or not, real. Such twisted people do exist, and they put others through hell. I can even state that this being a film, it quite embellished facts and the whole atmosphere.
The acting was perfect, each artist stirring up emotions according to the nature of their respective characters. Although the series is filled with sadness, grief, desperation, anger, frustration, injustice, helplessness, still the characters are very much embellished and idealized. If we take No In Ji for example, which represents the type of strong person who rescues themselves and heals others in the process, it's evident that she possess so many more qualities than a real person in real life. I mean, who can possibly be so level-headed and so self-controlled when they have to deal with life-threatening situations and so much heartbreak? And more than this, she even gives her all to heal and rescue a wreck (Han Jeong Won). And is this even possible? I mean, how immature must one be to not know that we cannot actually heal and save anyone, unless they want to do it themselves? Luckily, Han Jeong Won provided that ideal situation when somebody was actually willing to save themselves and accept help in the process. Now, this being given, it isn't impossible (for No In Ji to save him), but there's bound to be some mistakes in the process, some setbacks. Yet, we only see the steps forward, the advancement on the path to salvation. This is why I say that everything was embellished. Real people are more fragile, less ideal than No In Ji. Her behaviour was very classy, always speaking only what was important, refusing to wallow in gossip or pointless conversations, answering only to the questions which carried sense or served a constructive purpose. This is another ideal behaviour. Let's be serious, who wouldn't slip out a few curses now and then, a few blamings here and there? 😁
I close my review with the hope that everybody has at least a peaceful life, if not happy. And if people cannot relate to this film, it's a good sign, it means my wish came true. ☮️

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More Psychology than Thriller

First allow me to confess that I am a huge fan on Gong Yoo and I have loved him since Coffee Prince. Further, I lean more towards soft romances, with a gentle storyline and I shy away from dark and grotty stories. So, fact that I watched this, says a lot about it. Also, I have rewatched multiple times as is recommended because the story is so layered, even if simple.

I feel the series tried a little too hard on the mystery side and people who enjoy this genre saw through it fairly quickly resulting in boredom. However, I think the story was heavy on psychological themes and the mystery just added an extra layer of flavour to what was already cooking.

This is what I think I saw. There are those who go through life fearfully, some who are unable to communicate their needs and some who do not know or recognize their needs, some lack of self awareness even. We can find each of our characters in these descriptions. Loving from a place of fear is characterised by constant worry that you will be left and to prevent that from happening, an enormous amount of control is exerted onto the love interest and relationship. Depending on who they are, the result could be catastrophic. In this instance, the control was met with abandonment issues and lack of communication skills. How do I tell you what I need from you and be sure that you will not leave me?

What I appreciated the most from here, was the character development. We see our male lead emerge from under the thumb to become his own man who feels sufficiently secure to say this is what I need and only you can give it to me. Of course, sweet romance never killed anyone and so to add to that and say ' I will wait for you' has many of us swooning. The love scenes between our male lead and his current wife, had me levitating off of my couch, they felt so real to my body. Mainly because these are characters fairly close to me in age and so I could relate so much to the need for touch and for emotional connection. The other couple's love scenes did not reach me at all.

There were moments when I felt the female lead was not meeting the male lead emotionally and I was not clear if this was the acting or how the character was written, but this is negligible. All cast members brought their a-game and it showed.

I recommend this series if you are into growth, finding love and connection at any age, but most especially during the middle ages.

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there are better but this was good too

The Trunk is a suspenseful thriller that draws you in from the start with a complex story full of secrets and unexpected twists. The series does a great job of creating an atmosphere of uncertainty – you never know who to trust and what is really true. I loved how the characters’ hidden motivations are gradually revealed and how every detail can be crucial.

The series’ greatest strength lies in its suspense and clever storytelling. The story is dark but engaging, with visually powerful scenes and a thoughtful pace. If you like mystery thrillers with elements of psychological drama, The Trunk is definitely worth watching.

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