This review may contain spoilers
Review: Desperate Mrs. Seonju – A Drama That Tried Too Hard
Desperate Mrs. Seonju is a daily drama series consisting of a whopping 126 episodes. It starts with a promising premise: the fates of three families become intertwined through infidelity, divorce, and manipulation. Unfortunately, the series quickly loses its footing and becomes an example of how too much drama can be too much of a good thing.We follow Pi Seon Ju, a dedicated interior designer whose marriage falls apart when her husband falls for an other women. At the same time, hers marriage is ending with her husband . Seon Ju to find solace in her life crises but what begins as a compelling relationship drama quickly devolves into an overloaded soap opera, where each episode seems determined to outdo the last in terms of drama. Infidelity, betrayal, manipulation, revenge, family conflicts – everything is thrown in, often without sufficient depth. The result is a messy and at times farcical story, where it’s hard to feel anything for the characters, despite the actors doing their best.
I think the script is written by someone I usually like, though I’ve forgotten the name. When I started watching, I looked up her previous work and saw that she had been behind several well-regarded series, which makes it hard to understand how this production turned out so scattered. It almost feels like someone else took over the pen halfway through – or as if the series is trying to mimic an American daytime soap rather than a high-quality Korean drama.
A major part of the problem lies in the series’ length. With 126 episodes, a much more focused narrative structure was needed. Several side stories could have been cut entirely, and with fewer episodes, the drama could have been more concentrated and engaging.
In summary: Desperate Mrs. Seonju had the potential to be a strong relationship drama but drowns in its own ambition. For those who enjoy soap opera–like series full of intrigue, there may be some entertainment value, but for most viewers, it’s likely to be a frustrating experience. The sheer number of episodes and the constant twists and bizarre plotlines drag the rating down. It’s ultimately not worth watching.
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