Room No. 9 (2018)

I consider the acting performance in "Room No. 9" as it´s true highlight

Another KDrama about revenge? Not quite. Ok, it´s about injustice done in the past. Yet, it´s rather about the desire for official recognition of innocence, let alone the unjust verdict - as reconciliation with fate. Revenge is secondary. I would say, that is good news. The protagonist is more concerned with her own peace of mind than primarily with new suffering that she in turn has to inflict on her perpetrator. She doesn't want to keep turning the wheel of fate, she wants to stop it.

Yet once again, being stuck in the past is a driving force: in this case, the protagonist sits in prison awaiting execution - for decades. ----- SIDE NOTE: South Korea has in practice stopped using the death penalty, but all legislative initiatives to officially abolish the death penalty (most recently in 2019) have so far failed.

Dramaturgic maneuver with magical components: a body swap. The motif is not new to KDrama. Although the personalities in the body are now different, the bodies themselves still have their cellular memories plus the environment inevitably remembers the person originally owning this body. So there is lots of room for funny situations - although they are always solved humorously, they are not slipping into farce. The story is serious and touching, but also playfully told. Laughter is allowed. A teardrop here and there, too.

I consider the acting performance in "Room No. 9" as it´s true highlight: Kim Hee-sun and Kim Hae-sook manage brilliantly to unite the characteristic aura of the other and thus perfectly embody the switch. They are marvelous to watch. And it's a pleasure to see the experience in the body of the other person has a transforming effect becoming a new (cellular) memory...

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This isn’t a captivating sweet romance, it’s rather dark thriller, but it is worth watching because of an incredibly good and amazing acting. The main thought of the “Room no 9” is betrayal and it’s an original approach to the revenge drama theme.

We read in the synopsis that the heroines change their bodies. This idea doesn’t immediately have to inspire our trust, but really there is nothing cheesy here. This is the only beginning of discovering secrets and facing the truth. A greatly played and constructed thriller for all who like good written characters and an absorbing, unexpected story.

On the one hand, we have a thriller with a motive of betrayal and revenge and on the other, some lighter humorous scenes (with assistants), and even a completely unexpected announcement of a romance. The plot is entangled, the story turns back every moment, and the script doesn’t give any hint to what will happen next, really not a clue! And, of course, our hearts are broken many times of the betrayal. And Hae Yi says: All people dream of “always”, but only shards of memory exist in each moment. In regards to love there is no “always”.

An original scenario requires extraordinary skills from actors, and everyone did great job here. So we watch famous actors in unconventional roles. The two main actresses must both play cold witch Eulji Hae Yi and passive and naive Jang Hwa Sa. Kim Young Kwang (as fiancee) and Oh Dae Hwan (as detective) have probably never played such serious and mature characters before. This was a great opportunity to show their skills and also charm. And I have to say that I even prefer charming detective.
Even Lee Kyoung Young, who always plays morally corrupt chairman, here as Ki San is multidimensional and deep and he is fascinating!, his love to his son (played by Jung Jae Won) touches my heart.

Maybe there is no great song in the drama, but an instrumental music is really good.

It is a great adventure for everyone who loves thrillers, revenge drama with a bit funny moments. Sometimes a dark, criminal drama has no hope for humor, romance, warm and friendly relationship but not this one. We can be surprised and frightened of the story, but also consoled by the warm friendship and love.
Maybe someone doesn’t like the complicated plot or the idea of body changing – but still it has to be said: actors play very well and it is pleasure to watch their characters. Drama is strong and captivating from the start to the end. If you want to watch something good – try this, you will be not disappointed.

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