Currently Watching: SPY

Currently Watching

SPY

Before the drama started, I read that it was going to be an Israeli remake, so I thought for a while about the original drama. How was it? Who was the SPY? Israeli? Palestinian? Or Russian? But then I gathered myself and decided only to focus on the Korean version. Too much reading is not necessarily good.

This spy story is definitely genuine. Everybody spies on everybody trying to protect somebody; the drama is centered around that, more or less.

So our gorgeous hero, Seon Woo - acted by Kim Jae Joong who’s finally at his ease - is the perfect and filial son on the outside. He eats breakfast at home, never comes home drunk and calls his parents diligently. He’s the apple of his parents’ eye. Announcing that he’s a civil servant who works in an office, Seon Woo hides the fact that he’s an NIS agent. The reason for this deception being his love for his parents. The only person outside his workplace who knows his true job is his dear girlfriend; Yoon Jin (Ko Sung Hee). Seon Woo loves and trusts Yoon Jin completely, to the point that he fights with his mother –whom he never fights with- because of Yoon Jin. His blind trust in his family and beloved will cause him much more than he has ever imagined.

P.S Them big sharp eyes!! And there’s a shower scene! *smirks*

His mother, Hye Rim (Bae Jong Ok), is a perfect mother and wife. She does whatever it costs to take care of her family. A single thing disturbs the serenity of her life; the fact that she once was a North Korean secret agent. When that one challenge resurfaces, she finds herself actually in a position to do WHATEVER to save her family. Will she?

Our villain Hwang Ji Chul (Yoo Oh Sung) is an NK agent whose life was ruined because of Hye Rim. He’s ruthless, merciful, determined and vengeful. We still don’t know if he’s really back for the mission or for revenge but he’s doing both faultlessly.

How can a person be so natural while acting a villain? Apart from Friend, he was the villain in all the other works I watched for him. As if he was born a villain. His face, eyes, expressions, gestures and voice fill exactly the image of the villain. Awesome!

Hye Rim’s and Gi Chul’s encounters are the best thing about the drama so far. The tension, intensity, hatred, vengeance and disgust in the air between them give me the chills.

While the love of Seon Woo’s parents is so touching. When they meet one another’s gazes or press each other’s hand I can feel the deep unspeakable love.

Up till episode 6 I had no idea what on Earth Ko Sung Hee was doing there. I can finally tell. Suspicious and deceitful, Yoon Jin keeps Seon Woo blind to her truth but she cannot fool the legendary agent; his mom. When left to choose between her family, country, and love; what will she choose?!

I want to especially mention the most adorable actor in the drama; Jo Dal Hwan, acting the scared agent Kim Hyun Tae. His speech, tone, voice, language and facial expressions are priceless.

The drama is a fresh portrayal of the typical spy theme. I would normally preach that no matter what the situation is; there are things we shouldn’t do. But watching this I’m changing my mind. I keep asking myself; what would I do if I were in each character’s shoes? What would principles and beliefs matter when my loved ones are threatened?

There’s no right answer. There’s no safe way out. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.