Aema

Ambiguous premise with lackluster execution

When I came across Aema, I got pulled in by its female centered plot and the 80s aeshetic. I haven't seen many kdramas that address the topic of female exploitation in the film industry so I immediately decided to give Aema a try.

The first episodes were interesting enough to make me continue watching. Although I wouldn't describe the drama as a pure comedy, there were some funny moments which toned down the dark plot. The scene on episode 4 where Hee-ran pointed out at Kwak In-U how ridiculous the script for "Madame Aema" was had me roling on the floor. As the story went on, the series became more serious and I got more immersed in the cruelty of the film industry. Some elements were obviously presented in an unrealistic way and some behaviors were caricatures. But the overall message is more than clear.

The drama tackles various themes but ultimately, the heart of the series was the presentation of women's exploitation by the film industry in the 80s. Since they worked in a male dominated field (as if there are many women dominated fields in the first place), actresses were made to get stripped of their dignity, unless they wanted to fall into oblivion. They had to succumb to the producers' wishes and do as they were told to, pose as the trophies of rich patrons in extravagant banquets...In Hee-ran's words, women needed to become bitches in order to survive.

The acting was great, especially from the two main leads. It was the first time I watched anything with Lee Ha Nee and it certainly won't be the last. She was absolutely captivating and captured Hee-ran's bold character perfectly. She commanded the screen with her confidence and wild determination and shaped Hee-ran into a strong woman. But that wasn't all of it. Hee-ran might have hidden under the facade of a proud, bitchy actress but she carried too much shame and pain. After being exploited for years, she wanted to keep Ju-ae away from the claws of the film industry by pushing her away and belittling her. Although she appeared to care very little about her co-star, she truly wanted to do the best in order to protect her and she wouldn't hesitate to clash with the producer in order to do so.

Alongside the magnificent Lee Ha Nee, Bang Hyo-Rin delivered an equally excellent performance. Having a real rookie actress embody the role of a rookie actress was a bold move by the writers and Bang Hyo-Rin did not disappoint. Shin Ju-ae, a nightclub dancer, dreamt of escaping her life and becoming an actress like Hee-ran, whom she looked up to. Determined to achieve her goal and not let Hee-ran's dismissal to discourage her, Ju-ae (who was oblivious of the lengths of female exploitation), did everything she was told by the producers. She did her erotic scenes without questioning their purpose, she didn't care about her sexualization and she went as far as to help the producer film the provocative scenes without having to censor them and she was overall an obedient rookie actress, who wanted to achieve success through her first film.

The contrast between the two female leads was what made them clash in the first place. Ju-ae was willing to give up her dignity for the sake of the film and she remained naive to the dangers of the industry and the lengths a woman would cross in the name of fame. Because of her innocence, the producer sent her to entertain the government officials who would than the '88s Olympics, in order to gain their favor and make them allow the filming of the movie "Madame Aema". And this is the moment Ju-ae's fantasy about showbiz was shattered.

Hyo-rin portrayed Ju-ae's disgust and fear perfectly. I could tell just by her expressions how distressed Ju-ae was. The scene where she had to sit with the President made me want to puke. I liked how the tone of the series changed once Ju-ae got exposed to the cruelty of the film industry. It became darker and bolder. The scenes deliberately evoke discomfort and even though they didn't delve into more details, they presented the dark side of an industry that treated women like mere objects.

One aspect that I liked was how the series portrayed the differences between Koo Jung-ho and Kwak In-U, the producers of " Madame Aema". The first is an unapologetic misogynist, who doesn't hesitate to make bold sexist comments and who openly objectifies women while the latter, although tamer, hides his desires under a layer of artistry (because after all, even he thought according to his d*ck). It was interesting to see the subtle hypocrisy because even though they were different in terms of how they approached the movie and the eroticism it evoked, both of them were unable to take into consideration the point of view of the female characters. The power imbalance between them was interesting too, since In-U had to succumb to Jung-ho's wishes and allow his ideas to be bastardized in order for the film to become successful.

Ultimately, what defined Aema was the relationship between Hee-ran and Ju-ae. Although the two women did not start off on the right foot, they eventually bonded over their common experience of being paraded as common objects in order to satisfy powerful men's desires. After their encounter in the government's official's party, the two women grew closer. Ju-ae got to understand Hee-ran and the way she tried to protect her while Hee-ran understood that Ju-ae's hard life was what motivated her to become an actress, in an attempt to escape poverty. Their shared passion for acting and their common treatment shaped them into a powerful duo. I must add that the writers clearly intended to give a subtle queer tone in their relationship, which is evident from the scenes where Erika, portrayed by Hee-ran, protects Aema, portrayed by Ju-ae.

The production design of the drama was very good. The settings were rich and accurate enough and the outfits capture the retro vibes of the 80s. Under the vibrant and joyful colours, however, laid the dark world of the entertainment industry and no amount of extravagant dresses, hairstyles and makeup could hide it (as Ju-ae herself realised).

No matter how much one can try, you cannot turn a blind eye on the mistreatment of women in the series. Aema does not shy away from showing the lengths of abuse of power, sexism and objectification, which continue to happen even after all of these years. The drama really makes you wonder how far women were willing to go for the sake of fame and a life that promised them a rich and comfortable lifestyle. The catalyst of this tragedy was the death of Mi-na, Jung-ho's girlfriend who was a young actress in search for her own path in the industry. Although her role was small, it serves as the heavy reminder of what happens to many young actresses who wanted to become famous. Her mistreatment from the younger VIPs which resulted to her own death was by far one of the most uncomfortable and darker moments in Aema and it almost brought me in tears.

Although Aema's intentions were good, I must say that for a drama that wanted to bring attention to the darker side of the industry, it did it in a shallow way. I expected the writers to go into more depth about what is happening behind-the-scenes and go even more in-your-face. I think that they played it quite safe which is not necessarily bad but I'm afraid that by trying to balance the social commentary with some funnier and lighter bits, the message was kinda lost in translation. Either they should have gone all in or stick in subtlety.

I am also quite disappointed at the way the relationship between Hee-ran and Ju-ae was handled. Their bond is one of the most prominent elements, there is no doubt for that but the story should have highlighted it even more. Instead of having so many scenes between the male executives, the drama should have given more scenes between the two women in order to establish their bond and shared feelings even more. I'll be honest with you, it was clear that no woman was involved in the writing and directing of the series because unfortunately, the plot retained some male-cendric aspects that robbed us from seeing more of the women themselves. I would have also liked to see more of Hee-ran's character. She was very interesting to watch but I feel like I didn't get to see much of her feelings, especially concerning her exploitation and anger towards the patriarchal society.

The premise of Aema was very ambiguous and I deeply respect the messages it wanted to convey. The problem is that because of its length (6 episodes only), the execution lacked depth. I feel like we saw everything from the surface instead of getting a deeper view of the matter. And to be frank, the pacing did not do much favour to the story. Had the drama been longer, I'm afraid that I wouldn't have finished it as quickly as I did.

Last but not least, I feel that the ending did not give a satisfactory conclusion. It felt a little bit rushed and it left some issues unfinished. It's unclear whether Hee-ran can work on her next project or not and it's a pity we didn't get to see more of the public's opinion about the expose of the male producers.

All in all, I'm happy for giving Aema a try. It was not a masterpiece but it was a good attempt to bring more attention to the cruelty of the entertainment industry. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and although the drama itself did not become a favourite of mine, the issues it addressed deeply moved me and brought much food for thought.

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A Missed Opportunity in Storytelling and Satire

The series arrives with immense potential, positioning itself as a dark satirical drama inspired by the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, what could have been a bold and unsettling exploration of the industry’s hidden layers ends up feeling hollow and underwhelming.

The story tries to straddle fiction while drawing from real events, but in doing so, it loses its edge. If the intent was to remain faithful to real incidents, that would have been acceptable; however, as a fictionalized take, it promised the freedom to dive deeper into the industry's secrets, power struggles, and moral compromises—territory it largely avoids.

The supposed “darkness” is conspicuously absent. Instead of exposing the underbelly of the industry through nuanced perspectives—be it the director’s creative struggles, the producers’ profit-driven mindset, or the audience’s voyeuristic appetite—the show merely scratches the surface. Both male and female perspectives could have been explored, but remain untouched.

The inclusion of sex scenes feels forced and ineffective. They neither serve the narrative nor push boundaries, yet still manage to provoke unwarranted outrage. If anything, the drama needed more courage to embrace its themes rather than shy away from them.

What I Expected:

Complex, morally ambiguous characters painted in shades of grey.

A genuine industry expose, highlighting behind-the-scenes dynamics.

Deeper character arcs, especially for the director and writer.

A fearless depiction of every department in production and their motivations.


What We Got:
A shallow narrative with wasted potential.

On the technical side, the production values are decent but far from extraordinary. Acting performances suffer as well—largely because underdeveloped character arcs and weak writing leave the actors with little room to showcase their talent.

Verdict:
Despite its premise, this series is a squandered opportunity. With stronger writing and more daring storytelling, it could have left an impact. Instead, it settles for mediocrity. Not worth your time.

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