This drama is another proof that we should never judge a show by its genre. Because we always think twice about watching "period" dramas, we almost passed on this gem of a story. I'm just so glad that I took the time to read what it was about and I knew right away that we were going to love it.
Plot
Jeongnyeon tells the story of Jeongnyeon (Kim Tae Ri), daughter of a retired pansori (Korean style of folk singing) genius (Moon So Ri of Juror 8 and When Life Gives You Tangerines). Jeongnyeon sings well, that she even uses her skills to ward off gangsters who bully Mokpo market vendors like her. For some unknown reason, however, her mom prohibits her from singing and threatens to punish her if she's caught singing in public. One day, famous gukgeuk (all-female Korean theater group, which uses pansori) prince Ok Gyeong (Jung Eun Chae) chanced upon Jeongnyeon singing in the market. Ok Gyeong's troupe, Maeran, was in town for a show. She was so impressed with Jeongnyeon that she took her under her tutelage and trained her to audition to become a Maeran trainee. Of course, Jeongnyeon's mom was against it. But stubborn Jeongnyeon won't back down. Against her mom's wishes, she went to Seoul with Ok Gyeong to try out for Maeran. The story takes us through how Jeongnyeon's simple life becomes entangled with the crazy world of gukgeuk and pansori and how she overcomes all of the numerous challenges that went her way.
Kim Tae Ri as Jeongnyeon
It's easy to just classify Jeongnyeon as someone feisty (like her grand act of defiance on live TV). But there are so many facets to her feistiness that you can't just stop there. She's so much more than that because she does everything with so much feels and passion. You can feel the longing in her heart to sing and how music is her life. She uses it to express her anger and frustration even at a young age. And that love for music and the arts is so evident with how she is so amazed everytime she watches performances like the first time she watched gukgeuk or when she first heard her vocal coach (Lee Mi Do of A Millionaire's First Love and When Life Gives You Tangerines) sing.
With Jeongnyeon, it's all about finding what her heart really wants. But her integrity is rock solid. She refuses to take the easy path because she wants to prove her worth. She does not want to live in mom's shadow but it also matters to her that mom approves of what she does.
In the beginning, pressure consumed her because of her desire for perfection. To the point that she followed what the evil gukgeuk princess Hye Rang (Kim Yoon Hye) told her to do - sing in the mountains until she coughs up blood, which literally happened to her. She was so absorbed that not even Maeran Director Kang (Ra Mi Ran) could talk sense into her.
Despite her seeming immaturity, I loved how Jeongnyeon always tries her best to be level headed and be the bigger person regardless of the situation. She helps people sort out their feelings - like telling her archrival Young Seo (Shin Ye Eun) that the latter should channel her anger towards her mom (Jang Hye Jin of Parasite, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Doctor Slump, Hospital Playlist 2, and Crash Landing on You) who was pressuring her so should not take it out on Jeongnyeon.
And how despite their competition, she cares enough to tell Young Seo to find her own character and not merely copy what Do Aeng (Lee Se Young) does, because just like in life, she has to be her own person and not a mere puppet of her mom.
And I am amazed at how unbreakable Jeongnyeon's spirit was. She never gave up despite being down so many times. She was expelled for outside work, banned from the stage for going out of script, failed on her TV debut, lost her voice, etc. But she rose above all of those challenges.
Thus, she deserves to reap all her rewards and blessings. For instance, despite going out of character, she was given the chance to replace her friend Joo Ran (Woo Da Vi) who got injured before a production.
Pairing up with her arch enemy Cho Rok (Seunghee) for a major audition was also a blessing. Jeongnyeon needed someone brutally frank like Cho Rok to help her move on from the pain of Joo Ran's betrayal of picking Young Seo over her. And Cho Rok defending Jeongnyeon against anyone who tries to bash her. It was so cute to see them after all the bickering in the beginning to be on a level of friendship where Cho Rok would buy Jeongnyeon's favorite hot steamed buns to make her feel better after getting sick. And how Jeongnyeon rewarded that by saying she knew Cho Rok was kind deep down.
Shin Ye Eun as Young Seo
We've seen Shin Ye Eun really scary in The Glory 1 and 2 and sweet and cute in More than Friends and I'm loving her career progression so far. I liked how she was given the chance to show us what she's got here with a role that has more depth.
Her transitions between the bitch behind the scenes and the sweet, foolish, or whatever character it is that she's playing on stage is amazing. It's as if there's a switch somewhere there that is so easy for her to turn on and off.
Yes, Young Seo is difficult to deal with. But she actually has a good head and heart and you can never question her integrity and respect for her craft. She knows she needs high quality competition to thrive so while competing is hard for her, she never tattled on Jeongnyeon's moonlighting in a cafe. And she even told Ok Gyeong about Hye Rang locking up Jeongnyeon in the prop room. So she's scared of competition but she respects her rivals.
A lot of Young Seo's problems stems from her painful relationship with her mom. It was sad to see her open up and expose her weakness to Jeongnyeon that all she actually wants is her mom's approval. What makes it sadder is that she feels so alone and without a friend that she had no choice but to rely on her rival. I'm glad that Jeongnyeon also admitted that she likewise feared living in her mom's shadow.
I was so scared that pressure would kill Young Seo. So I'm glad that little by little, she eventually learned to relax, enjoy, and rely on other people. That acting, like life, is all about giving and taking. It was nice to see her humbly ask Jeongnyeon to teach her how to sing. Yes, she did it in anger, and she broke the record of Jeongnyeon's mom (she replaced it in a cute manner!). But I see that as an admission of weakness and a call for help. And a hint that probably she was learning to trust Jeongnyeon more. I'm proud of how Young Seo stood up against her mom and how Director Kang and Jeongnyeon affirmed her. Oh, how losing all those uneasiness really did wonders for Young Seo's acting and confidence too.
I loved how Young Seo was instrumental in helping Jeongnyeon return to Maeran for a final time. Her humility in admitting that she envied Jeongnyeon's skills and that she was willing to wait for her until she was ready to come back and how she promised to always be by her side.
I hope this signals the beginning of bigger things for Shin Ye Eun because she truly deserves it.
Woo Da Vi as Joo Ran
It's our first time watching Woo Da Vi and I noticed right away how she's blessed with such a pretty, pretty face.
I loved her good times with Jeongnyeon - how she always supported her. And how they always relied on each other with Jeongnyeon encouraging Joo Ran to try out for bigger roles and Joo Ran helping put Jeongnyeon at ease. How Jeongnyeon courageously replaced Joo Ran in her part-time job when the latter got injured that led to her expulsion from Maeran. It took a while but Joo Ran paid that back by admitting to Director Kang that it was actually her part-time job and not Jeongnyeon's. I loved how she dreamt of her and Jeongnyeon being the successors to Hye Rang and Ok Gyeong. And how she kept on getting better in acting by analyzing how to attack roles and who should shine in particular scenes.
But I absolutely hated the bad parts. Why didn't she tell Jeongnyeon right away that she was going to audition with Young Seo? Regardless of her reasons, the least she could have done for a friend was to give her the heads up. And to add to that, she had to say all those painful things like how Jeongnyeon was unstable, as if to say that she would only pair up with Jeongnyeon if she was good. And that hurt a lot more knowing what Jeongnyeon did for her in the past.
Joo Ran did redeem herself a bit in the end. But for me, that relationship was forever marred by what she did.
But I still love Woo Da Vi and I want to see more shows from her.
Ra Mi Ran as Director Kang
Ra Miran always shines in regal and "superior" roles like those in The Last Princess, Resident Playbook, and Reply 1988. And this one's no different. She was perfect as a theater troupe director who mentored young talents.
Director Kang was perfect as Jeongnyeon's mentor, knowing how she goes way back with Jeongnyeon's mom. And oh how she saved her so many times, the biggest of which was when she paid damages to buyout Jeongnyeon's abusive contract from PD Park (Kim Tae Hoon of Samjin Company English Class, Law and the City, Live, Reply 1988, and Angry Mom).
Her tough love on her trainees, especially Jeongnyeon, was endearing. And I can just imagine how the nightmare of Jeongnyeon's mom losing her voice all came back to her when Jeongnyeon began exhibiting the same symptoms. Jeongnyeon's departure was so hard on her. And I'm glad Jeongnyeon was able to come back one last time to comfort and encourage Director Kang.
Jung Eun Chae as Ok Gyeong
Initially, I loved Ok Gyeong. I'm sure she made a lot of people swoon with her K-pop idol-ish looks. I was curious about why she took special interest on Jeongnyeon. Turns out she was bored and wanted someone talented to challenge her status as gukgeuk's prince. I liked that she was secure in her position and she was not afraid of younger and more talented newbies competing with her. I felt her sadness when Jeongnyeon left Maeran for TV and she told her not to wander too far because she's better at pansori.
But all of that love was lost the moment she betrayed Maeran. How could she leave in the middle of a production? Why did she even start doing it only to leave a lot of people hanging - her co-actors without a show and her troupe deep in debt? That was so irresponsible and it's as if she felt no gratitude towards Director Kang at all.
Kim Yoon Hye as Hye Rang
Although Kim Yoon Hye played a bit of a crazy role in Vincenzo, I knew she had a pretty face. And that makes her perfect as the gukgeuk princess.
Unfortunately, she's so insecure and clingy to her status. She can't let go of that position so she does anything and everything to drive away the competition. It was okay as long as she didn't harm anyone. But when people's lives were endangered - locking up Jeongnyeon and telling her to sing until she coughs up blood or hurting Joo Ran with the falling lights or stealing Maeran's money - I knew she was going too far. Fortunately, Director Kang put an end to all of these by kicking her out of Maeran, thanks to Cho Rok's confession.
Oh Gyeong Hwa as Jung Ja
While she played (Miracle: Letters to the President) a very small role, I still want to talk about Jeongnyeon's sister a bit. To me, she played a huge role in making Jeongnyeon's dreams happen. She sacrificed and understood that Jeongnyeon had dreams and desires and they have to let her go. What she said about having a dream is a gift was really touching. Their reunion was so heartfelt and I saw how difficult it was for her to see Jeongnyeon so broken after she lost her voice. Without her sister pushing and advocating for her, who knows what could have happened to Jeongnyeon.
Execution
This drama is very, very complex. I can just imagine how super challenging it must have been to act within an acting. And everyone played their main characters and the characters they played in the various productions so well that they must have been so drained after filming everything.
Main focus was of course on the entertainment industry. I loved the historical bit about gukgeuk and its feminist side. Imagine it as an olden day K-pop trainee competition, complete with bullies.
Then there's gender fluidity that's often associated with showbiz. The show kept everyone curious and guessing whether certain characters were together romantically or if they liked each other. I read there was a deleted kissing scene between Ok Gyeong and Hye Rang. I guess the show's trying to teach us to read between the lines.
I loved how the beauty of theater was highlighted here - how colorful, artistic, expressive, bold, and precise everything has to be. And the little acting lessons like how you must never go out of script and character so you don't outshine the stars and how you must always look at your character in relation to the other characters and the bigger picture so you'll fit right in.
A story on the entertainment industry won't be complete without exposing the challenges that come with it. First would be the very high standard you have to meet and the unreasonable restrictions needed to meet that standard. Yes, it's glamorous and glitzy but it's also very high maintenance. One little misstep could be a scandal. Like that no singing for money outside of Maeran prohibition. Makes sense if they were well paid. But if not, then that's very harsh. And how the stigma of a scandal can sometimes take precedence over talent the way Jeongnyeon's vocal coach had to retire after her divorce.
And how the industry keeps evolving fast so you should always be on top of your game. You need to have foresight like PD Park who knew that TV and film would soon take over theater. And for actors to always be their best, which could lead to them pushing themselves beyond their limits the way Jeongnyeon and her mom lost their voices or how some would resort to prohibited drugs or alcohol to help them cope.
How loyalty in the industry can be fleeting as shown by how Director Kang was betrayed by the very people she trained and made into big stars.
And the exploitation, especially of country bumpkins like Jeongnyeon, with unfair contracts. The industry objectifies girls, treats them like puppets, and typecasts girls to be girly and not masculine.
And how connections help. For instance, the rich like Young Seo will always have an advantage over poor ones like Jeongnyeon in terms of training and opportunities.
But there were also hopeful messages here and there. Like how hard work pays off too and it can even trump talent the way Joo Ran masked her deficiencies in singing by analyzing and learning her characters really well.
I also appreciated how the show inserted some social stuff into the story. Like the painful reality of arranged marriages that Joo Ran had to go through for her family's sake. And of course, the feminist angle and non-traditional family set ups like what Ok Gyeong and Hye Rang had. Then you also have the stigma that divorce brings. And the dangers of drug addiction too.
The later episodes were quite sad and heavy to watch because you know the end of an era was coming. The story in Ok Gyeong and Hye Rang's final performance was symbolic - they were saying goodbye and passing over to other things like film for Ok Gyeong.
Of course, it was nice that Jeongnyeon finally got her mom's blessings with mom teaching her to sing even if she had nothing. And mom painfully demonstrating how that was done.
Director Kang was not immune from breaking down either, especially after all the crazy things that happened to Maeran. It was heartbreaking to hear her lament about how she let her girls down and how she was backstabbed by the people she trusted.
As for Jeongnyeon, yes, she suffered the most, encountering misfortune after misfortune in her life. But I believe that all of those led and shaped her to who she really ought to be. Everything brought her to where she was meant to be. And I guess that made everything sweeter and more rewarding. Her comeback, with Cho Rok welcoming her in a grand and exaggerated manner, was funny but it also signaled how the former archenemies were teaming up to hold the line for Maeran.
I also enjoyed that blooming friendship between Young Seo and Jeongnyeon. And while the idea of a competition tryout may have sounded silly, it was probably what Maeran needed. It felt more special because Jeongnyeon sang her mom's song and she had that tearful reunion with Director Kang.
It took a while before Joo Ran and Jeongnyeon finally ironed things out but they got there eventually. Did Joo Ran confess? I'm not sure but all I know is that that final rehearsal between the two was so heartbreaking. It felt so heavy, knowing that that was not what Joo Ran wanted. And of course, she had to announce her departure in class so she can hurt Jeongnyeon even more.
Their final goodbye was even more painful - with how Joo Ran said Jeongnyeon should forget about her and she'll do all of the remembering for both of them. And she called Jeongnyeon her only prince. And how Jeongnyeon kept sobbing while rehearsing because she missed Joo Ran so much.
I was so proud of how Young Seo is coming into her own, starting with that poignant goodbye to her sister (Min Kyung A) who affirmed and envied her talent and artistry and ending with her asking for her inheritance to save Maeran even agreeing to quit if mom gives her the money.
Jeongnyeon was a bright spot, consoling everyone - Young Seo when she felt desperate by telling her that they can perform anywhere as long as they were together, and reminding Director Kang that the Maeran building is just a structure and the people are actually the foundations of Maeran.
That final audition was heartwarming. I knew from the first few seconds of Jeongnyeon's audition that she was going to make it. Her subdued and steady acting won me over compared to Young Seo's shifty eyes. And oh how Young Seo has matured, conceding right away after Jeongnyeon finished her part.
And how strong Director Kang remained amidst all of the chaos. She still had the energy to check on Hye Rang, proving that she never abandons her people especially when they're down. I liked her life lessons imparted to Young Seo and Jeongnyeon. And how her girls responded by promising to give their final performance their all and to have the time of their lives despite knowing that Maeran was probably going down. All because they respected Director Kang's efforts.
Joo Ran's letter set the tone for the final production - calling Jeongnyeon her wish, her longing, her prince, but letting her go and sharing her with the world. It was as if she was saying things may end but life goes on and we have to keep on living. It was quite sad that Joo Ran and Ok Gyeong did not watch the show, but they probably didn't deserve to be there anyway.
The story was again very symbolic. With Young Seo's character saying that Asadal (Jeongnyeon's character) was always two steps ahead of him yet he also looked forward to seeing Asadal's masterpiece. It mirrored the competition between Jeongnyeon and Young Seo - they feared or maybe even loathed each other's talents sometimes but they had such high respect for each other too. Their showdown in that final production was well done. And I loved how all of the girls looked so happy and relaxed while performing.
It was a bonus that Jeongnyeon's mom and sister were able to watch and Young Seo and her mom shared that little smile, hopefully signaling mom's approval and acceptance.
I wished Maeran would continue forever but I liked how the show ended there - mimicking how life is finite and imperfect.
Oppa says...5.
Noona says...4.8.