The Trunk (2024)

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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Loved the show, hated the ending

initially, after finishing this show, I gave it a 10 rating. But after sitting with it for a few hours, I realized I was really upset by the ending and lowered my rating. I really don’t understand why she left him in the end. I mean, at first it was to protect him, right? Once the threat was gone, what was her reason? If it was because she needed some time alone after years of suppressing her trauma, then okay why didn’t she just say that she needed some time and space? I never understand these dramas where people leave each other like this. He was nothing but supportive, protective, and loving to her, even through dealing with all his trauma. Such an unsatisfying ending.
Other than that, I enjoyed every episode up until the end.

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Boring ending

Everything was going well until we got to chapter 6, from then on the story started to seem boring to me. The story about the murder and the stalker, I found it very ¿? what are you trying to tell me, how to find out who the murderer is is very boring, the reason why he does it is also boring (personally). Maybe if the story had a stronger motive about the murder it would be much better, but well, the ending was not a big deal and leaves you very much like, I watched 8 chapters for this?

I had read bad reviews when I was on the 4th or 5th chapter and I thought they were exaggerating by giving it a bad rating, but no. I was not.

It's ok to pass the time, but you'll probably be disappointed by the ending, or maybe not.

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Broken people searching for closure and trying to heal.

This was dark perhaps but not in a bad way; the darkness added dimension to the inner turmoil of the characters.
Han Jeong Won played by Gong Yoo and his ex-wife have a mutually destructive relationship, she's manipulative, controlling and quite frankly unhinged; He's rudderless, tormented and searching for an anchor - the two of them are completely wrong for each other as neither one has what the other needs.
The arrival of Noh In Ji into Han Jeong Won's life starts the process of healing for both of them because she is also a wounded soul; we get insight into her life and her struggles with stalker Eom Tae Song.
Han Jeong Won and No In Ji gradually fall in love as they create a safe space for each other, and help each other deal with the antagonists in their lives (his ex-wife and her stalker)

The story telling is non-linear, so the story line jumps forwards and backwards without any cues for the viewer to keep track, I quite liked this element though it's probably not for everyone.
Han Jeong Won's house is architecturally impressive and can actually be considered a character in the story as it plays such a big role in the narrative.
The music is good, some of it is suspenseful and the rest is so emotive and beautiful, It really accentuated the story beautifully.

Some cons from my perspective: it took me up till episode 3 to figure out the flow of the story - the murder investigation, the flashbacks and the current narrative were shown interchangeably as scene progressions with no "2 years ago" or "5 years later" markers for the viewer.
Also, I though there were too many unfinished conversations especially between the male and female leads, I understand that this is a dramatic device, but I found it frustrating when the female lead left a lot of questions which were posed to her unanswered.
Something else that isn't explored adequately is the backstory of the ex-wife. What exactly led to her derangement prior to the baby story?

I like dramas that explore the inner landscape of characters, Trunk did so evocatively, and I was drawn into the emotional and mental turmoil of the characters. The slow burn love story is portrayed in a human and realistic way with unfinished sentences and hanging questions. Right up to the end Han Jeong Won and Noh In Ji were so wary of their love that they required a double confirmation of its existence, I thought this was very apt considering the emotional terrain that had been travelled by the characters.

The acting in this is excellent by all especially the main leads, the ex-wife and the stalker. Hats off to the cast.
I gave this drama a well deserved 8/10.

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The Arranged Marriage Trope takes a Dark and Twisted Turn

Love does blossom in these arranged marriages as it always does, but not before it’s revealed what these arrangements are truly all about.

Seo Yeong, SFL, has been married to Jeong-won for a mere three years when she decides it’s more fun to divorce him and punish him for making her miserable by immediately marrying someone else, via an arrangement, while arranging for him to take on a new wife, which she claims will ultimately save their relationship. Though divorced, she keeps a close eye on his new marriage via hidden cameras, uses his past trauma to gaslight him and supplies him with copious amounts of drugs to keep him malleable to her manipulations.

The ML, Jeong-won, is utterly pathetic until the FL, Noh, accepts the job as his new arranged wife. She immediately upsets his life, in a good way, which facilitates much needed growth for him and an interesting relationship between the two. In the mist of all the manipulations, cat fights and trauma,, there is a stalker, who is somewhat at the center of the story. His obsession with Noh is exactly what you’d expect out of someone who is delusional and deranged. However, as crazy as he was his actions brought an interesting yet terrifying element to the story.

Though the ML was a pitiful mess, the reasons for his brokenness made him endearing and thus a character to root for. The FL had her own traumas that had left her stuck and in a dark place, but she was not one to tolerate BS. The way she took on the manipulative SFL was perfect. And for once in a K-drama she , the FL, did not allow herself to be mercilessly slapped and bullied. Loved it!

The acting in this was very good as was the writing. All of the characters had great chemistry. It is a mature series so there is foul language, violence, sex and some nudity. It’s only 8 episodes. Thus easy to binge. Really good series.

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If I cant have it, I will destroy it

I'm a fan of Kim Kyu Tae director's dramas. I followed his dramas since A love to kill. I especially love his collaborations with Noh Hee Kyung writer, like on Its Okay Thats Love & Our Blues. Their collaboration drama show excellency on potraying human fragility & raw emotion within beautiful yet bitter atmosphere. Paradoxically, this "bitter & ugly truth" tendency become a healing drama.

When I watched The Trunk trailer, I wondered why Kim Kyu Tae become director for thriller/crime drama. I know that it is not impossible, because he had directed Iris, one of the memorable action-conspiration drama.
After finished watching The Trunk, I feel like this drama is remind me to A love to kill, also seems like dark version of Its okay thats love.

The trunk depicts dark and depresive side of human mundane life. Love has destructive side, that as powerful as, its ability to empower and heal human scar. From someone who give up in life & powerless in relationship, then our hero & heroine become someone who protect their partner bravely. Allso finally they have clarity about the problem, & their own flaws.

The acting, directing, cinematograhy, & editing are top notch. But the script would be better if it can give audience more layer for Um Tae Seong character. The chemistry between Gong Yoo & Seo Hyun Jin is beautiful. I want to praise Kim Dong Won (Um Tae Seong), & especially Jung Yung Ha (Lee seo yeon) for their great performance.

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A very different tale than usual melancholic dark dramas. Acting was so perfect, well you don't expect anything less from these actors.
Cinematography and directing was an art. The mystery around murder itself was handled very gracefully. Usually when there is non-linear story telling, it tends to overdo itself and we keep jumping the time to lose focus on the main aspect of the story. This wasn't the case here and you don't lose the anticipation and grip of main story flow. Characters being consistent, plot being equally paced, it gives sense of a well made and thought drama.
The story of healing of the characters from their past is done well but you only end up sympathising with them as the backdrop of these dark past is so bizarre you hardly co-relate. Nevertheless, it felt natural in this plot dimension itself.
A worthwhile watch, a fresh concept and equally fresh execution.

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Beautiful Portrayal

Ever since I heard of a Gong Yoo-Seo Hyun Jin pair up, I have been looking forward to The Trunk. I was cautious since most dramas I have watched this year have been mediocre, to say the least. But the K-drama gods came through this time around and I was not in the slightest disappointed. After watching, the first episode, I considered not going to work to watch the whole show in one sitting which I didn't do, but wished I had done so I could have finished this faster.

Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin's portrayals of two very broken people was heartbreakingly and miserably beautiful. I loved the acting, their chemistry, the main support character's roles and the OST. While watching , I did not cry, but I felt like I was holding my breath, anxiously awaiting where the journey would take, not only the main leads, but also me. However, in the last 30 minutes or so, I began to crack me and in the last 5 or so minutes, my tears would not stop.

My main complaint would be that the flashbacks were a bit confusing in the beginning. Although once you got used to these, it was easier to discern at what point they were by noting which characters and locations appeared on the screen, I also wonder if this almost seamless, confusing element was done in this way on purpose to drive the point home. As the past merges with the present to show how the events that took place in the past have an impact on the present and even the future if this issues are not addressed properly. My second complaint is that Yoon Ah and Hyeon Cheol's parts felt unnecessary.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this and hope GY and SHJ meet again in another beautiful drama. 9.5/10

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Mature, Understated, but Beautiful

If you're looking for a romantic drama or a mystery/thriller drama, then look somewhere else. This felt more like a meditative exploration of what relationships can look like. I personally loved it. I loved that it was a wholly mature, no emotional melodrama BS that kdramas are known to dish out on popular demand. I wish they delved more into the backstory of NM agency instead of being this shrouded in mystery organisation. That would've added more depth to the story. Other than that, I loved the acting, the cinematography, the story, and most importantly, the framing of the story. Its not always that we see mature, muted, understated kdramas, and I truly think we need more of these.

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