The Trunk

The soul in the trunk

I apologize for my English

It is not easy to “define” the genre of this series. And it is not easy to put into words the emotionality it left behind.
Because “The Trunk” is figurative, it represents the soul and the journey, arrival and departure. It represents short-term and long-term memory. It represents the expertise developed in the perilous ways of life. “The Trunk” is everyone's black hole into which we throw, voluntarily and involuntarily, what we call “junk” for our psyche. At the same time, it is the place where we store the “scents” and “sensations” that define being “alive.”
Few times do trailers deflect expectations so profoundly, and even fewer times is the product so memorable to the point of countering those unmet expectations.
However, viewing the series requires a fair amount of mental stability so that one does not passively endure the tidal wave of emotionalism, which is brutal, raw, cynical, and intimate for long stretches.
Once again, Korean scriptwriters, actors, and actresses are extremely skillful in portraying the dark side of the human soul. Depictions that are never grotesque but almost always “disturbing” because they are extremely real or realizable. The negative in the series is not utopian but sadly anchored in reality.
From the first moments, the rhythms are deep, psychically tribal, flanked by music and settings that support the “dark” and “noir” framework of the plot. High praise to the music, it enters directly into assonance with 21 grams and leads the mind to live the optical experience firsthand. Special mention to the architecture of the protagonist's house, initially I interpreted it as the bony cavities of birds. Large spaces of emptiness encompassed in “slender” but strong structures. This impression changed as the plot progressed. After the first few episodes, with the knowledge of the protagonist's “illusions,” the house's architecture became a representation of the encephalon, with its bright places and cramped spaces in which memories lurk. To then become, until the end of the series, the soul, the “the trunk” of the protagonists, but also the curse that each one hides inside. And it is on this last development that the architecture and interiors reach the pinnacle of visual representation. From the “hallucinogenic” chandelier to the spiral ramp/slide in the “Archimedes screw” imagery of the involution and evolution of the soul. Even the materiality of the walls, rough, and porous, marry the essence of beauty to perfection. The unpolished, the need to come to appreciate the essence only through consciously experiencing suffering.
And this catharsis, emblematic but not sensational, again, not utopian but realistic, envelops the protagonists, whom I identify in four characters. The main couple consists of Seo Hyun Jin (the wife, No In Ji) and Gong Yoo (the husband, Han Jeong Won). The second couple was composed of Jung Yun Ha (the first wife, Lee Seo Yeon, of Gong Yoo) and Jo Yi-geon (the husband, Yoon Ji-o, of Gong Yoo's first wife).
A masterful performance by Seo Hyun Jin, a soul troubled by the most intimate betrayal and the perpetuation of the most visceral social bullying. Wife by “contract,” detached, seemingly emptied of feelings and emotions. Polished beauty that unfolds becoming pure roughness, pure emotion, warm.
Gong Yoo confirms the acting prowess already appreciated on the big and small screen over the years. Here we find him in a mature, complete, confident acting guise. He enacts the “lost” and “hallucinated” soul of a son “psychologically raped” by his father, family, life, and everyone but especially himself. Fascinating his “chase” to rebirth, nothing superhuman, everything rough, harsh, bitter, true, and alive.
Special mention to Jung Yun Ha, the charming first wife of Han Jeong Won, intelligent, cunning, bewitching, a mantis in the body of a "Medusa". This chimerical image formed in my mind as the episodes passed. And as a "Medusa", she is the cause of her demise, her pain. It does not retreat in its treachery, its viciousness, its brutality of control and domination over everything and everyone.
Jo Yi-geon, victim and perpetrator, accomplice and protagonist, fits perfectly into this trio of characters. In the space, marginal to the trio, she best expresses her acting characteristics in staging the brutality of being used while experiencing the darkest love.
Interspersed with them is the avowed “villain,” Kim Dong Won (No In Ji's stalker Um Tae Seong), who cynical viciousness does not let on but portrays it without physical reins and with extreme reasoning. Ratiocination disarms the viewer because its brutality is not embellished but is naked, unadorned, and internal to those who perform adorable pastry gems.
“The Trunk” represents a psycho-social journey of destruction and rebirth, with this phoenix-like soul leading us in questioning ourselves about being protagonists of our own lives, with mercy and compassion for ourselves.
Finally, as sleet, hope and “forgiveness” appear.

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Cryptic...in a good way.

Upon seeing the leads and not even reading
a word of the synopsis, I immediately knew that 1.) The chemistry was going to be 5-Alarm-Azula-Blue-Fire-Flames-Spicy and 2.) The kiss scenes were going to send me to another dimension, another timeline, another universe, another plane of existence!
Sooooo....check and MOTHER.Flipping. CHECK.

Now, plotwise, the dynamic between Seo Yeon, Jeong Won and In Ji reminded me a lot of Never Let Me Go(moreso the book, than the film) where two people who were perfect together from the beginning and should have fallen in love and been happy together much earlier, are forcibly separated by a third person, who sees they are meant to be and ruins it, just to come back around to it when it inevitably falls apart.

Cinematography is beautiful, and was reminiscent of Scandinavian set shows and movies like Wallander or A Man Called Ove, where the weather and nature is almost its own character and you can feel the cold through the screen. That being said, this was released at the cusp of Autumn/Winter, which was a very fitting time, it fits the aesthetic of the show wonderfully.

The acting is on point from every actor and I really enjoyed how the main couple did not waste time. Jeong Won, once he got over his hesitation, was just hauling ass with his feelings and was ready to risk it all at the drop of a hat.

Idk about other reviews on here but if you like cryptic shows(which I do) that are mysterious and have you wondering what happens next, but also explore deeper, darker emotions between damaged people who are starved for love, then you will really like this show. Highly recommend!

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I thought there were some really positive things about this drama, but I also had some issues.

The cast was really strong and I thought the chemistry between all of them was great. The complexities of the relationships were written well, and I really enjoyed the compelling scenes between the two female leads. There were some twists I didn't see coming, which is always a nice surprise.

What I struggled with was the time jumping in the first couple of episodes causing me so much confusion. I understood that there was mystery surrounding the trunk, but I didn't know what was present day or flashback. I also felt at times that this drama had a bit of an identity crisis. I was invested in the struggles of the ML and was really interested in how the FL coming into his dynamic with his ex would play out. Then, rather abruptly, the focus shifted to the mystery almost as if the director suddenly remembered it was supposed to be part of the story. The romance was slightly disjointed because of that and I was left wondering what their relationship actually was.

In the end, I feel that it was an entertaining drama despite its flaws.

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Delight between how to love yourself and how to love another

One measure of love which might perhaps be the greatest measure of love, maybe the understanding of another’s need despite how strange, how orthogonal and unusual they might appear to be. Here in this drama is demonstration of the laws undergirding the reciprocal nature of love in sheer delight. Learned through life’s best teaching tool; suffering, the show etches deep into our hearts that in every relationship of trust and tenderness, each is the guardian of the others particularity. That if we are to grow into the full bigness of heart we desire as human beings, we must love a person not because of the compliance they can give, but for their particularity and how special they are. At the center of this recognition is the incredible work by the cast members and writers. The cinematography is nothing to praise in particular but the cold fall backdrop and dimly lit cage like brutalist house being complimented by the warmth intimacy of our leads allows for this story to be delivered in a way that is delicious to the eyes as well.

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A short tale of Love, lost and found

In Ji gets hired as a contract wife for Jeong Won. The relationship is going to last for a year and there is a manual to help them in sync.

A big trunk is the center of the story. Decorated with tiny flowers, In Ji carries it with her when she moves to a new place. Her living with Jeong Won starts on a difficult note till the grieving man finds himself falling for her. But Soo Yeon is not allowing the change of heart.

The modern take on contract marriage is quite gruesome and concerning. The way marital graphs are changing, it is raising concern among the audience. The latest take on fake love is vicious. Girls are not fighting for love anymore. It is more about who is holding the bigger key. The baggage from past life and relationships is leaving a scar that is impossible to heal. Have we stopped believing in love as well?

There is no word to define how powerful Gong Woo makes his character. His eyes speak words louder than him. The dream scene of killing In Ji invoked a thousand pain without a single word. Hyun Jin gifted a stellar performance after such a long hiatus. Her smoking yet soothing chemistry with Gong Woo made the ride more thrilling. But the cream of the tale is Yun Ha. Her portrayal of Soo Yeon is the perfect seasoning. She is savage, brutal yet so painful. Her fight is with her own desire and soul.

We all carry a trunk with us. Sometimes we let the stuff inside it decide our destination. And sometimes we change the baggage according to our wishes.... the choice is ours you know.

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GongYoo and Seo Hyunjin!! My dream pairing?

So, The Trunk finally dropped, and I’ve been waiting for this one for months—mainly because it stars Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo (a pairing I didn’t know I needed). It’s an 8-episode drama with a mature, dark vibe, and honestly, it was worth the wait.

The plot mixes mystery with psychological themes and touches on loneliness, relationships, and marriage. Since I’m still in my early 20s, I couldn’t completely relate to everything, but the emotions and struggles felt real. I liked how the story kept me guessing until the end, which made it super engaging.

Seo Hyun-jin is the standout in this drama. Her portrayal of emotional vulnerability, especially during moments of heartbreak, is nothing short of breathtaking. Gong Yoo, as always, delivers a nuanced performance that complements her perfectly. Together, they form a dream pairing that fans have longed to see on screen. The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring a mix of fresh faces and seasoned actors who add depth to the narrative.

The cinematography was beautiful, and the aesthetics really suited the drama’s tone. It wasn’t overly flashy but had a quiet richness to it. The music worked well, too—it didn’t stand out too much but blended perfectly with the mood.

If there’s one thing I wish for, it’s more screentime for Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo together because their chemistry was so good. But overall, it’s a solid drama. If you like mature romance with a bit of mystery and psychological depth, The Trunk is worth checking out.

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A story of marriage, anxiety and a suitcase

finished 8.5/10 🌟
A story full of nuances, it talks about mental health, anxiety and the pain of loss... all wrapped up in a thriller and suspense plot.
What I liked most was the chemistry of the protagonists, although it is not a strictly romantic drama, each and every one of their scenes together was felt
Individually they also had their merits, I liked the references to how humans feel when they suffer from anxiety, hallucinations and substance abuse ✨👏
What I didn't like was that at the end it focused more on the murder, and the chapters seemed excessively long to me and I watched some scenes at x2 speed.
It's not a story for everyone, but it's good for passing the time.

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Edge of Your Seat Thriller

It's a romance embedded into a psychological thriller and murder mystery. Raw, gripping, sexy, and even sweet at times. A who-dun-it mystery that will keep you glued until the end. You have to watch it to the end because it will be a surprise, one I did not see coming. The musical score is good and helps with the tense, mysterious, and dramatic scenes. I would say my only complaints are that it shifts between present, past, and future and sometimes it s hard to tell which moment in time you're in. Also, there are awkward transitions between some of the scenes that I'm not sure make sense and add little to the story. Over all though, it was really good. Congrats to the actors--these roles were dark at times and could not have been easy to play--also the production value was outstanding, clothes, sets, lighting, camera angles, it was all done well.

At 8 episodes it's just the right length. I can easily recommend this one.

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Arranged marriage, what could possibly go wrong?

Man I did not expect to love this show as much as I did. The couple gave me so much butterflies and their chemistry was really something. I loved their dynamic, and although they were often described as ‘opposites’ of each other, somehow I found them the most similar to each other than any other character.

I loved everything about this show. The plot, the characters, acting, the pace. I think everything plot wise was perfect, and everyone got their closure in the end.

I can’t exactly say I was happy with the ending, although it was hinted that everything ended nice and happy but I just had wished after all these 8 sad episodes we would get a nice ending with them. Still, I won’t say the ending was bad but it was a little disappointing to say the least.

Like I said before, 8 episode K-Dramas never disappoint! It reminded me a little of My Mister since it started off very melancholic and it ended like My Mister as well. I love when sad characters find each other and help each other be happier.

I recommend this a lot! It includes a lot of psychological messing with your head as well as childhood trauma/ past marriage issues. I recommend it. Give it a go!

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Who doesn't want to have a good evening with Gong Yoo ?

Mini series, strange & mysterious (8 ep.) with Gong Yoo

PLOT: a toxic, rich couple divorces. The woman (FL2) remarries (1-year contract) and will only return to her husband (the ML) if he also accepts a 1-year marriage contract (with the FL, temporary professional wife). The FL has been harassed by a pervert-stalker for 5 years.
+++ Great cast ♡o｡(๑๏‿ฺ๏๑)｡o♡
+++ Dark, heavy atmosphere, with constant suspense.
+++ Format suited to the trope
+++ Excellent OST

### Open ending a little short.

=> What you need to have a good evening (with Gong Yoo, lol)
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Mini série, étrange & mystérieuse (8 ép.) avec Gong Yoo

PLOT: un couple toxique et riche divorce. La femme (FL2) se remarie (contrat d'1 an) et ne reviendra vers son mari (le ML) que s'il accepte lui aussi, un contrat de mariage d'1 an (avec la FL, épouse temporaire professionnelle). Celle-ci a harcelée par un pervers-stalker depuis 5 ans.
+++ Great cast ♡o｡(๑๏‿ฺ๏๑)｡o♡
+++ Atmosphère dark, lourde, pesante, avec un suspense constant.
+++ Format adapté au trope
+++ Excellentes OST

### Ending ouverte un peu courte.

=> Ce qu'il faut pour passer une bonne soirée (avec Gong Yoo, lol)

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