La Valigia (2024)

Love is temporary and marriage is a service

"The Trunk" is an enthralling mix of romance, mystery, and emotional drama that intricately weaves together the lives of its complex characters. At its core, the series explores the fragility of human connections and the lengths people go to protect their secrets, blending suspenseful twists with deeply personal moments.
The story centers around Noh In-ji, a field wife working for a marriage service company, and Han Jeong-won, a gifted but emotionally fractured music producer. When they enter a contract marriage, both carry emotional baggage that gradually surfaces—In-ji from a string of failed relationships and a painful betrayal, and Jeong-won from a past haunted by unresolved guilt and a toxic relationship with his ex-wife. Their initially transactional bond slowly transforms, revealing their vulnerabilities and sparking an unexpected intimacy.
What sets *The Trunk* apart in the ocean of contract marriage K-dramas is its ability to balance layered storytelling with sharp social commentary. The concept of contract marriages serves as a metaphor for modern relationships—transactional yet yearning for depth. The show doesn't shy away from themes like betrayal, emotional manipulation, and the scars of childhood trauma, but it handles them with sensitivity and nuance.
The characters are the lifeblood of this drama. Noh In-ji is a fascinating protagonist—a woman who seems unshakable on the surface but harbors deep emotional wounds. Her journey of self-discovery is as compelling as her dynamic with Jeong-won. Han Jeong-won, meanwhile, is a man trapped in his past, struggling to reconcile his unresolved feelings for his ex-wife with his growing affection for In-ji. The supporting characters, particularly Jeong-won's enigmatic and complex ex-wife Lee Seo-yeon and the unsettling stalker Eom Tae-seong, add layers of intrigue, ensuring the plot never loses its momentum.
The production quality is top-notch. The cinematography captures both the tension and intimacy of the characters’ lives, with dimly lit interiors and wide shots of isolated landscapes mirroring the characters' emotional isolation. The music, composed with a mix of melancholic strings and ambient tones, enhances the mood, making even the quietest moments resonate deeply.
Ultimately, The Trunk is more than just a romance. It’s a deeply human story about facing the shadows of the past, learning to trust, and finding meaning in unexpected connections. The title trunk does not point toward the actual trunk. the trunk here is metaphorical, about all the past traumas each character carries.

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Flawed drama about flawed and broken people

The Trunk was filled with deeply flawed and wounded people. No one walked away looking like a hero by the time it was all over. There were many moments of frustration over truly idiotic decisions and the never welcome noble idiocy. Through it all Gong Yoo showed why he is a top actor regardless of country, unfortunately, not everyone could keep up with him.

Han Jeong Won cannot get over his ex-wife, Lee Seo Yeon, and takes the pills she supplies to sleep and get through the day. In order to maintain any contact with her he has to agree to a 1 year contract marriage to Noh In Ji. Lee married a younger man, Ji O, and uses him like a Boy Toy. Jeong Won and In Ji tie the knot by signing a contract which is stored in her designer Prada trunk. The trunk and a dead body are later found with the police investigating this damaged group of people.

When a drama or movie bounces back and forth repeatedly in time, it’s usually a clue that the story isn’t that deep but the writers want to make it appear to be mysterious. Such was the case with this drama. Though Han Jeong Won’s story was compelling, most of the drama focused on Noh In Ji. What with having been jilted at the altar quite publicly, having a stalker, no relationship with her mother, and a friend who died in high school, she walks around with a frozen stoic appearance on her face which did not change for 6 ½ episodes out of 8 and then just barely. Micro expressions with aloof characters are so terribly important and were missing here. Gong Yoo’s face was a window into his character’s tormented soul. Even his crazy, obsessive ex and her boy toy were able to emote.

The story itself dragged most of the characters over the coals of desire and despair. Han made a terrible decision during a moment of anger and desperation. In Ji seemed to see what Han could not, yet made numerous idiotic decisions. Lee had a right to be angry even though she created a deadly situation, yet decided to punish Han into self-destruction. Not exactly the most likeable lot, yet Jeong Won and In Ji slowly dragged their way toward atonement. I was disappointed that a few of the familial elements were never cleared up.

The Trunk was stylishly shot and had a beautiful OST. Some of the acting was exemplary while some of it was perfunctory. The scattershot approach to storytelling was confusing at first but by the fourth episode was clearly laid out. Han’s mansion resembled a fun house with mirrored scenes and wild swirling circles and lines. The cold, severe decorating scheme would be enough to cause isolation issues. Shortcomings in stalking laws were brought up as well as a tyrannical view of bisexuality and terrible invasion of privacy and internet laws. For me, the only thing that held it together and made it worthwhile viewing was seeing Gong Yoo once again in a starring role even if his character was often shoved to the side. This was closer to a 7.5 drama but the cinematography, music, and GY’s acting bumped it up to an inflated 8 for me. Welcome back, Gong Yoo, don't stay away so long next time!

29 November 2024
Triggers: Sexual content and nudity. One gratuitous scene and other more “artistic” ones and two shower scenes that go lower than Kdramas.

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Riveting tale of two broken people that find themselves in a contract marriage

I don't write reviews for shows, but I guess I'm going to start after watching this show. Fair warning to viewers, this show handles themes that are quite mature and doesn't shy away from displaying explicit scenes unlike most other kdramas I've watched.


Nonetheless, I was enthralled by this story of how two deeply broken souls find solace in one another. In a way, I even found it healing, despite the dark themes overlaying the story. The leads have genuine chemistry.

Initially, I hated certain characters (ML's ex wife) but as the show unfolds, we get to understand the nuances involved and there are really no bad guys here, just broken people.... Well, except for one crazy stalker dude.


The show has romance, but at its heart, this show is about how two people heal each other from their past wounds and learn to move on. All in all, I highly rate this show and definitely suggest this show to viewers looking for a nuanced, mature mini-drama.

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Beautifully Written & Executed! Perfect at 8 episodes!!

If you enjoy a drama that does a nice mix of melodrama, romance (and healing each other) between very very flawed people, and a touch of suspense... The Trunk is for you. This isn't really about "who done it" or even "will there be a HEA" it's more about how a group of very f*d up characters deal with their past, traumas, the things they've used as a crutch (drugs, other people etc) and how they can move away from it all and into a better place.

Acting was very well done. I saw some people saying the FL was too wooden etc but literally her character is written in a very specific way and that she's shut off all her emotions. She portrays this very well but you can see her sense of justice and outrage shine through as well which really pads out her character.

The vibe and pacing was perfection and if you enjoy a drama with emotional DEPTH and pacing that allows us to dig deeper into characters, motivations, and plot... then you'll enjoy this a lot. If you can't enjoy a drama unless you're being slapped in the face with drama for drama's sake, over the top characters, or action happening every 30 seconds, then, you may want to pass on this for something with less emotional substance and try for some fluffier or drama-y.

P.S. this is for 18+ with some sexual scenes, drug use, and other hard-to-watch themes that you should be warned about just in case you can't deal with those kinds of shows. <3

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Boring, Bland, and Unfulfilling

What is there to say about The Trunk? Normally I start my reviews with a brief summary of the show so people who haven't seen it may know what to expect. But I have no idea what to put here because honestly this show is just...nothing. The official premises provided on MDL, wikipedia, and even Netflix promise a mystery show about unraveling murder and a powerful company. Yeah, no, don't expect any of that.

I think that is where a big issue of this show lies - it is not what it is promised to be at all. The fact that this show is advertised as mystery is to me, false advertising, especially in regard to 'a whirlwind of secret behind the NM company' when in reality the murder is really second fiddle, and the NM company is practically not involved at all. Instead the show focused on the twisted relationships between four people - the ML, the FL, the ML's ex-wife, and her new husband. The problem is that it's really not written well. The relationship between the ML and the ML's ex-wife is particularly written as though it should be complex, but instead it's infuriating. The ML's ex-wife's actions are bizarre, and unjustified, and considering she is the driving force between a lot of the show it's hard to enjoy it when she's constantly on screen being a terrible person.

The other selling point of this show is supposed to be the relationship between the ML and the FL. This has the same issues as the plot does in that is underdeveloped. This show clearly suffered from being 8 episodes - it either should have been shorter (like a movie) so it didn't meander so much or way longer (like 16 episodes) so it could actually explore what it wanted to. Instead its stuck in this in between where nothing it touches on really gets fleshed out, and man does it want to talk about so many things. The ML and the FL's relationship is especially rushed - we don't really get to see why they work for each other, why they click aside from that they help each other heal (kind of). It isn't unique to them - you could replace one of them with a different person and the love line could stay practically the same.

On the technical side I will say the cinematography is gorgeous - it is certainly a beautiful show to look at, but that's really the only thing about it I can say was positive. I was very disappointed by the soundtrack, especially because the ML is a music producer. Maybe it is on me for expecting that that would mean more care is put into the music, but there was nothing noteworthy about it. It would have been a great way to weave the technical with the story - if the ML is a music producer you can use music to symbolize his feelings, his life, but there is none of that. It's just another aspect of the show where you can see so much potential in it, and then its just...not used.

Speaking of potential, this feels like a real waste of good actors. I do think that Seo Hyun Jin is particularly stand out from the cast when it comes to acting - she was amazing in her role. On the other hand, I expected more from Gong Yoo. But I don't think that's necessarily his fault when he is given a character who's default mood is 'miserable.' I've seen better from him (even his cameo in Squid Game was more intriguing than this), but again, I think he did well for what he was given. The other actors are fine, but again, it feels like a misuse of a lot of talented people who could have devoted this time to far better projects.

At the end of the day The Trunk is immensely disappointing, especially if you went in wanting to watch it for the mystery aspect (don't even bother). If you watched it for the drama you may enjoy it more but even then things are so contrived and frustrating it's hard to get through. The only reason I can think of to watch this kdrama is if you want to be mad? Like if you really need someone to hate and get angry at this will be perfect, but otherwise don't waste your time - there are far better kdramas with these elements. There isn't anything unique to this drama that you can't find done somewhere else with more nuance and better writing.

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I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.

Maybe I should have watched Dune: Prophecy.I don't know.

I absolutely adored the aesthetic of the show. The house, the lake, and the colors. I thought the aesthetic was the most creative part of this series.
I was ready to rate this 6 stars because the visually is beautiful and the music is amazing, but as I kept watching, the story lacked too much to retain my interest.
A dark tale of grief, mental health and loneliness. The concept was really good but the execution just didn't do it for me. Maybe my expectations were too high. But nothing can change the fact that this was a very unsatisfying series. There were parts I enjoyed ( but it wasn't enough to keep me on the edge of my seat) but there were parts which were simply put- so bland.
5 stars - because of the artists & the beauty.
It's always hard for me to give a low score, but... I guess I can't give more.

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not a bad attempt

Some attempts to blend psychological thriller and romantic melodrama. It's a show that delves into the darker side of human emotions, exploring themes of love, obsession, betrayal, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.

The story centers around Han Jeong-won, a man haunted by his past and his toxic relationship with his ex-wife, Lee Seo-yeon. In a desperate attempt to escape her clutches, he agrees to a one-year contract marriage with Noh In-ji. As their lives intertwine, a mysterious trunk becomes the catalyst for a web of secrets, lies, and dangerous obsessions.

It's less about a traditional mystery or a guaranteed happy ending, and more about how troubled individuals confront their past traumas and strive for healing. It is a good journey.

The show features a cast of complex characters:

- Han Jeong-won: A tortured soul, haunted by his past and desperately seeking redemption.
- Noh In-ji: A woman with a guarded heart, who slowly opens up to Jeong-won's warmth and kindness.
- Lee Seo-yeon: A manipulative and controlling woman, obsessed with Jeong-won and willing to do anything to keep him under her thumb.

It's not your typical love story. The relationship between Jeong-won and In-ji develops slowly, with a focus on their emotional connection and personal growth. However, the undercurrent of suspense and the looming threat of Seo-yeon's obsession keep the tension high.

I think that the visuals are very on point, with its dark and moody cinematography and haunting soundtrack. Good uses symbolism and imagery to create a sense of unease and mystery. However, the show's pacing can be too slow at times, with some episodes feeling drawn out and lacking in significant plot development.

Pros
- Strong Performances: Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin deliver compelling and nuanced portrayals of their complex characters.
- Intriguing Plot: Enough twist to keep up some momentum
- Stunning Visuals: The show just looks good.
- Thought-Provoking Themes: Love, obsession, and the human condition, prompting viewers to reflect on their own emotions and relationships.
- Unique Soundtrack: Adds to the suspenseful and emotional tone of the show.

Cons
- Inconsistent Pacing: The deliberate pacing can drag at times, with some episodes feeling slow and lacking significant plot development.
- Anticlimactic Ending: The payoff just didn't feel like enough to me.
- Uneven Character Development: Some characters, such as the supporting cast, feel underutilized and underdeveloped, while others, like the main leads, receive disproportionate attention.

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1.5x....and still the story doesn't pick up!

This would've been better off a movie than an 8 episode drama!

1. Started quite strong but even the first episode took forever...even with 1.5x.

2. Too draggy and somethings were pointless. For ex, When the FL gets to know they're being monitored and that there's a camera she decides to not tell the ML. I mean for what? oh because the ML won't be able to take it. But how about eventually he will get to know it one day and then that'll be even more heartbreaking than now!?

3. The overall Trunk story had actually nothing to do with the trunk to begin with. The entire story was all about one's evil obsession and this trunk suspense was...i don't know why it was even needed in the first place!

Unfortunately it was just an ok drama that failed to bring in proper suspense due to its "melodrama" style.

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Underdeveloped Story... should you watch now, skip or watch later?

I watched the drama in one sitting and often skipped due to unnecessary scenes.

Plot: I feel that the story is underdeveloped. It is complex but lacks depth. The story lacks a central conflict driving the narrative. There were plot holes, and the investigation of the death story was not seamlessly done. I always think it was added to complicate the story, but it's unnecessary. Indeed, the characters must be built out of circumstances that happened to each character, but the female lead character was full of twists, trying to make her life appear miserable and broken, and to me, ended up with a question - what happened?

What's good about the story: They were able to stitch a good story about the cause of divorce between HJ and LS.

Romance: I think it was sufficient; it was nicely done, and it did not feel like the story was trying so hard to build the romance. It was ok.

The title: It seems they made the title as if the trunk is the driver of the mystery, but it was disappointing... Is it just me? The trunk could even be omitted.

The acting: I liked Seo Hyun-jin even from the other dramas she did. I knew she was a good actress. I know that Gong Yoo was one of the most popular actors in Korea, but I've not seen his works, apart from the old Coffee Prince. Maybe he is a good actor, but I did not feel him in this drama.

Recommendation: Watch later when you have no other drama to watch.

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I thought there were some really positive things about this drama, but I also had some issues.

The cast was really strong and I thought the chemistry between all of them was great. The complexities of the relationships were written well, and I really enjoyed the compelling scenes between the two female leads. There were some twists I didn't see coming, which is always a nice surprise.

What I struggled with was the time jumping in the first couple of episodes causing me so much confusion. I understood that there was mystery surrounding the trunk, but I didn't know what was present day or flashback. I also felt at times that this drama had a bit of an identity crisis. I was invested in the struggles of the ML and was really interested in how the FL coming into his dynamic with his ex would play out. Then, rather abruptly, the focus shifted to the mystery almost as if the director suddenly remembered it was supposed to be part of the story. The romance was slightly disjointed because of that and I was left wondering what their relationship actually was.

In the end, I feel that it was an entertaining drama despite its flaws.

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