Louf

Two fabulous actresses. I’m starting with this because what makes this drama so enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing is surely the quality of Song Hye-kyo’s and Lim Ji-yeon’s acting. Their screen presence and their embodiment of the characters are a major strength of the work. Of course, I found it extremely appropriate, especially in today’s world, to address the themes of bullying and violence in young people’s everyday lives. A drama where karma, the consequences coming back around, and the fatalistic aspect of the story lead us to think more about the lives we lead, the things we do every day, and to remember that any good or harm done consciously will come back to us like a boomerang. It’s a shame, regarding the themes, that suicide isn’t explored and portrayed more, given the current state of things, where it is often a common outcome for young people living through hell in these situations… That said, it’s good to show that life is possible afterward, even if victims like these will forever be marked by this abuse, mentally and physically, as their scars show. Psychological scars are also addressed through the different sounds and images Dong-eun hears/sees that immediately bring back past traumas. The scene where Dong-eun takes off her clothes to let her new companion, the doctor, contemplate the carnage and hell she had to endure is magically poetic… The atmosphere is consistent with the themes explored, neither too comedic nor too harsh/heartless, which would prevent us from having a good time too and, above all, from seeing that life outside all of this appears very beautiful. The pacing remains good throughout the episodes, even if the second half feels longer and less fluid to me (and overall less good). The rather classic ending suggests that life is always possible and that finding someone who has been through the same things as us can change the course of events… Love saves the day once again; can we really complain about it or call it defamatory haha? The poetry of the drama’s second half is nevertheless magnificent: the group of bullies implodes and ends up destroying itself, and the bullies ultimately bully each other… As for the negatives, I do find a certain unevenness between the two parts… (the first being clearly better). The pacing is better, the story clearer, less confusion, better narration, better-handled flashbacks, etc. Good music, particularly “Until the End” and “Dazzling Season.” A superb story dealing with serious themes that are generally rarely addressed, leaving us amazed by the acting performances of the two lead actresses! An ending that leaves the door slightly open for a potential sequel is never my style or my preferred kind of conclusion, but a solid 8 is well deserved nonetheless. Be good, everyone!