This review may contain spoilers
HARD-HITTING DRAMA WITH AMAZING PERFORMANCES
Starting with a dark and harrowing ordeal, the drama raises some very important questions. Beyond the onus on victims of se**al assault to prove their victimhood, having their whole lives put under society's moralizing glare, and the secondary harm caused through cyberbullying---the drama takes a close look at the deep-seated gender biases in parenting that shape the personalities of adult men and women.
The ML describes the young FL as shining, always looking ahead and fighting the odds. But when he meets her as an adult, it's as if the light has gone out of her. Because, through years and years of being deemed not good enough, always being put aside, always considered less important, being taught that obedience and sacrifice are the prime female virtues, she has settled with life.
The way the events unfold (and also why she is chosen to be the victim in the first place) is to do with this deeply ingrained sense that women must obey, accept any injustice that comes their way because that's the fate women are dealt, and they must sacrifice. Unfortunately, this set-up is all too familiar and many of us have experienced it first-hand or know of someone like this. One may get angry at the mother, but as the FL states, for the mother too, while she loves the daughter, son preference is normal, giving more to her son and expecting the daughter to sacrifice is normal even when she knows he's less qualified, and a woman's reputation and chastity are the most important things, because that is what she has seen herself.
The drama creates this complex narrative of each character brought to self-realization and change in the aftermath of the shocking event that affects the whole family. Vin Zhang as the ML brings much tension and nuance to his role and brings the outsider's perspective on the family. He is initially disappointed in the FL as an adult and even files for a divorce, but finds hope when she steps out of her shell to shine again. The drama uses the event of the assault as a crux to question the hypocrisies within families and the larger society, but also celebrates resilience, healing and the human capacity to rise above trauma. The script is layered and very well written and the performances are overall great.
I do wish, however, that there were some more moments of joy in the middle episodes to relieve viewers of the constant dark mood of the narrative. It was a difficult watch all through. I did not like the casting of the FL's brother. He is meant to be a somewhat pathetic person, but the actor looked too weak to believably show his character's growth. The court scenes were a bit meh. Perhaps it shows that that is not the ultimate focus of the series!
Overall, a very different kind of series with very strong writing and great performances. Highly impressed!!
The ML describes the young FL as shining, always looking ahead and fighting the odds. But when he meets her as an adult, it's as if the light has gone out of her. Because, through years and years of being deemed not good enough, always being put aside, always considered less important, being taught that obedience and sacrifice are the prime female virtues, she has settled with life.
The way the events unfold (and also why she is chosen to be the victim in the first place) is to do with this deeply ingrained sense that women must obey, accept any injustice that comes their way because that's the fate women are dealt, and they must sacrifice. Unfortunately, this set-up is all too familiar and many of us have experienced it first-hand or know of someone like this. One may get angry at the mother, but as the FL states, for the mother too, while she loves the daughter, son preference is normal, giving more to her son and expecting the daughter to sacrifice is normal even when she knows he's less qualified, and a woman's reputation and chastity are the most important things, because that is what she has seen herself.
The drama creates this complex narrative of each character brought to self-realization and change in the aftermath of the shocking event that affects the whole family. Vin Zhang as the ML brings much tension and nuance to his role and brings the outsider's perspective on the family. He is initially disappointed in the FL as an adult and even files for a divorce, but finds hope when she steps out of her shell to shine again. The drama uses the event of the assault as a crux to question the hypocrisies within families and the larger society, but also celebrates resilience, healing and the human capacity to rise above trauma. The script is layered and very well written and the performances are overall great.
I do wish, however, that there were some more moments of joy in the middle episodes to relieve viewers of the constant dark mood of the narrative. It was a difficult watch all through. I did not like the casting of the FL's brother. He is meant to be a somewhat pathetic person, but the actor looked too weak to believably show his character's growth. The court scenes were a bit meh. Perhaps it shows that that is not the ultimate focus of the series!
Overall, a very different kind of series with very strong writing and great performances. Highly impressed!!
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