Just exhausting . . . but for the most part, beautifully written. As the show is approaching the end, its starting to cash in its revenge drama chips. It's almost certain that Ji Young will forgive Do Young eventually. It's almost certain that Do Young will not end up with Joo Sae. It's almost certain that Do Young will probably be brutally undone. It's however not certain whether Do Young would choose to jump into the ocean (as she often says), or whether Dong Woo will be there by her at the ocean, when she has lost everything, when she can end it all or start anew. But it seems almost certain that she'll be there at the ocean.
Women in the Sun has turned into a wonderful character study on the differences between older and younger siblings. As they act out their revenge and deceit, they unknowingly fall back into the relationship of their childhood. They fight just like they did when they were kids. Ji Young would storm into Do Young's room. Ji Young would demand something of Do Young. Ji Young would threaten to tell mom. Do Young would use false promises. Do Young would resent Ji Young through her relationship with her mother. Ji Young, the younger sister, cannot understand why Do Young did this to her. The older sister doesn't know how to appease the fury of Ji Young.
Do Young, like many older sisters, feel that they were the parenting experiment for their parents. That it is their duty to bear the mistakes of their parents and to mantain the status quo or order of the house, and to live up to the expectations (or in this case, to hope for the love) of their parents. For all the evil things Do Young did to Ji Young, she also accepts Ji Young's anguish easily and does not strike back.
As the older sister, Do Young is crumbling under the weight. It is as if she is preparing for her execution, and that it will be a relief when everything she values is destroyed. And then, she will be merely a erasure smudge from the book of her own life.
Ji Young, like many younger sisters, feel that their identity is in the shadow of their older sister. That, for all of their efforts, they will always be compared (or pressured to exceed) the achievements and image of the older sister. And even in this house, Ji Young felt intimidated and inspired by SHin Do Young. Part of her had always adored her as the person she most wanted to be. For all the vengeful spite Ji Young has for Do Young, she cannot understand how the older sister could do this to her younger sister, could do this to her.
As the younger sister, Ji Young -- even after the reunion and the possibility of a romance with Joon Sae -- is confused with hatred and love, jealousy and a desire to forgive. She quietly loses herself; even when there is happiness, it is a mad, unstable happiness, because she is still looking for her mirror (her older sister) to reflect back.
I love the contrast in their romantic relationships. I love Do Young and Dong Woo. It is a relationship of the moon -- illicit, intimate, sad, quiet, tender and compassionate. It is the older sister, who values security and order above all else, finding the only relationship she can trust from the dark depth of her soul. I love Sa Wol and Joon Sae. It is a relationship of the sun -- bold, creative, inspirational, sweet, warm and hopeful. It is the younger sister, who values hope and inspiration above all else, finding the oppa prince who is still like a fairytale romance and who is always uplifting her.
This drama is the rare one where neither sendimentalism nor memories engender the connection between people. The drama is our habits, flaws and reactions put under extreme duress. Ji Young and Do Young reconnect as sisters, not because they like each other or because the good memories won over, but because they were always sisters. They can't, by habit and personality, help but be sisters to each other.
I love the action so much between the three actresses. The way Jung Ae Ri never goes for a histrionic to convey the emotional violence Do Young's mother levies upon Do Young. Again and again. Their scenes are consistently heart breaking. At various moments, Lee Ha Na's eyes go wild, then cold, then wild, the remorseful again. It creates a nervous, unsettling texture between her and Ji Soo; the sisters are much more casual than you think they would be.
But I think Kim Ji Soo is going to be a frontrunner for KBS Actress of the Year. She's able to articulate her character's cowardice and selfishness and overwhelming, overwhelming loneliness and sadness. Often as if a camera isn't there. At times, she pulls off the subtle trick with her voice and posture to turn herself into the oldest 12 year old ever, pitying herself privately in the car or in her bedroom or when scolded by her mother. It's a controlled performance that grounds the whole drama as her character study. "I didn't meant to do it" sounds so trite, but she makes her case for her character very strongly.
So many other things I like about the drama. The story mantains a strong professional drama narrative, and it does a marvelous job weaving revenge, deceit, and confession through Do Young's job as an announcer and Ji Young's play and recent job with the station. Her job has such high visibility, and so the workplace is like a minefield that DY sidesteps episode to episode. I like how the President's own secret and Eun Sub's thuggery makes the ending so unpredictable.
Oh and I love the Tell Me Tell Me slap video!
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Man, I have got to stop doing that.
thanks