3
2
The Swan: A rich story that lacked that punch
Okay, so "The Swan" has been lurking on my mental watch list for what feels like an eternity, constantly being nudged aside by the ever-expanding, frankly unwieldy, collection of dramas I swear I'm going to get around to. My current strategy, a stroke of genius if I do say so myself, involves a strict alternation: one C-drama, then one K-drama or J-drama. Because, you know, fairness.
Imagine my delight when "The Swan" finally floated to the top, especially after catching a few clips. "Finally!" I thought, "Someone's cast actors who aren't fresh out of their early twenties!" As a proud member of the OG drama-watching crew, it was genuinely refreshing to see familiar faces like Oppa Rain and Kim Ha Neul on screen. These are our people! Unfortunately, what started as a promising premise ended up being… well, just "okay."
Rain, truly did his best. He put in a great performance, but I couldn't shake the feeling he was a bit mismatched. Now, before anyone starts throwing accusations of ageism or anti-feminism my way (I assure you, I'm neither!), I do sometimes wonder if female actresses, in their later years, don't always carry the same vigor as their male counterparts. Or perhaps it was just this specific pairing, because, to be fair, I've seen some absolutely phenomenal supporting actresses in their sixties and seventies completely steal the show. Case in point: the chairwoman in "The Swan." She was an absolute powerhouse and honestly, one of the main reasons I kept watching.
One thing I will say for "The Swan" is that the production value was top-notch. Those sprawling mansions? Absolutely drool-worthy. All in all, if you're not particularly bothered by a somewhat lackluster ending, "The Swan" is an okay way to spend some time. And honestly, Rain's performance alone nudges my rating up to a solid 8.
Imagine my delight when "The Swan" finally floated to the top, especially after catching a few clips. "Finally!" I thought, "Someone's cast actors who aren't fresh out of their early twenties!" As a proud member of the OG drama-watching crew, it was genuinely refreshing to see familiar faces like Oppa Rain and Kim Ha Neul on screen. These are our people! Unfortunately, what started as a promising premise ended up being… well, just "okay."
Rain, truly did his best. He put in a great performance, but I couldn't shake the feeling he was a bit mismatched. Now, before anyone starts throwing accusations of ageism or anti-feminism my way (I assure you, I'm neither!), I do sometimes wonder if female actresses, in their later years, don't always carry the same vigor as their male counterparts. Or perhaps it was just this specific pairing, because, to be fair, I've seen some absolutely phenomenal supporting actresses in their sixties and seventies completely steal the show. Case in point: the chairwoman in "The Swan." She was an absolute powerhouse and honestly, one of the main reasons I kept watching.
One thing I will say for "The Swan" is that the production value was top-notch. Those sprawling mansions? Absolutely drool-worthy. All in all, if you're not particularly bothered by a somewhat lackluster ending, "The Swan" is an okay way to spend some time. And honestly, Rain's performance alone nudges my rating up to a solid 8.
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