My Name (2021)

The brutal truth and reality of revenge

Honestly, I randomly clicked on this drama. I'm not really one who enjoys action, but I ended up loving this. It was a quick watch and didn't drag anything on. Perfect for an 8 episode series. The story itself was nothing incomprehensible. It all made sense so it didn't feel too outrageous. It was real and it was honest. You definitely get a look into the main character's mind, and before you know it, she's learned so much about herself and the people around her. I thought her relationship with Pildo was nice and didn't feel too out of place. Not to mentiom Choi Mujin's character. I'd give him a 10/10 alone. I loved it. I only wish that we saw a little more of Gangjae, but I guess the limited time would not permit it. Anyways, this drama was something I never saw coming. I hope lots of people watch it and enjoy it as much, if not more than I did.
(Also this was the second drama I've seen with Han So Hee as the lead, the first being Nevertheless, and I definitely think she killed this role. I enjoyed her in this way more.)

Read More

Promising but fails to live up to its potential.

With an extremely interesting premise and a badass, strong female lead, and the director of Extracurricular (my all time favorite drama), My Name was very promising from the start. It has very well choreographed fight scenes and a Netflix budget to boot. It had all the ingredients necessary to be a very good drama.
It started off extremely strong. Although at first I wondered why Jiwoo would go this far to avenge a dad who hadn't been there for her, the story quickly filled in the gaps to my satisfaction. I also thought that the writers handled being a woman in male dominated fields very accurately. Jiwoo being a double agent for the gang was also really interesting to see, the whole time I was nervous for her identity to be revealed. I loved that this drama had a premise of "the good guys are actually the bad guys and the bad guys are the good guys".
When it was revealed that Jiwoo's dad was actually an undercover cop I was a bit disappointed but retrospectively it was a cool twist rather than a cliche "cop kills the gang member because he's a criminal" thing.
However, then it turned out that her dad's killer is actually Mujin and his motive was a simple and typical revenge for betrayal. I felt like this was such lazy writing and it would've been much cooler to have this drama explore topics of corruption within the police force and Donghoon being killed by a fellow cop. I also don't understand why Mujin took the time and effort to train Jiwoo if he knew that eventually she'd betray him once she found out the truth. I understand that he wanted to use her to kill Cha Giho but if Taejoo was able to kill him with ease then there was no reason for him to involve Jiwoo. Although I understand that tricking her could be seen as the ultimate revenge against Donghoon, he seemed genuinely disappointed when she "betrayed him" and I felt like that was stupid of him to do when he knew it would eventually be coming.
I also have a problem with the ending scenes, I felt like forcing a sort of happy ending to this drama was unnecessary and Jiwoo dying in the tunnel after finally getting revenge for her dad's death would've been much more fitting.
Finally I want to talk about the sex scene in episode 8. I feel like when it comes to k-dramas, fans are way too prude and have almost a fetishistic mentality about the lack of sex scenes in kdramas. I think the sex scene wasn't out of place considering he had been pining after Jiwoo since the first snowfall, and she finally had a person she could truly depend on without requiring anything in return, unlike with Mujin. Emotions were running high considering they were previously running away from the Dongcheon members. I think it's a physical manifestation of Jiwoo deciding to trust Pildo, considering she's a fighter and letting her guard down in such an intimate way is proof of that. She's also the one to initiate the kiss. We have to consider that prior to this episode, she lost everybody she could trust. She was a cop who was now a fugitive, and the man she'd trusted with her life turned out to be her father's killer. I also think this scene mirrors the scene where she first let her guard down around Pildo, on the day of the first snowfall when he sees her fathers urn and learns of what Gangjae almost did to her. In that scene he pulls her apartment's blinds up, a metaphor for her letting her guard down (she probably has the blinds down so people can't see in to her apartment). When he leaves, she pulls the blinds back down. I also think it was necessary to give her the conviction to go after Mujin once again after he murders Pildo.
Overall, this was an action packed drama with a cool premise but not much to hold it up. I finished it because it kept me hooked, but I doubt I will rewatch it. I feel like it could've done better if it had a longer run time or if it had kept its original premise.

Read More

Really good but predictable

The only weak point of this drama, in my opinion, is that it is predictable, the idea has been used in other films.

Even though I knew what was going to happen I really liked the series, there was never a moment that bored me. I adored the actors and characters, I empathized a bit with the killer and the music was so on point. There was really chemistry between the actors, the main characters are strong but they also have weaknesses and shows emotions. It is easy to relate to them. I think I am a fan of Park Hee Soon now.

P.S. Do Gangjae can go to hell.

Read More

I am on the fence about this...

I have honestly been on the fence about this ever since I finished watching it yesterday. I watched all of it in one day; I found it intriguing enough to binge watch it. BUT!! I did not like the last episode and the ending. Why? Why? WHY?!

But let's start at the beginning shall we: The storyline was good but I feel like this whole thing could have been avoided if the hooded cop just took off his hood and didn't bang on the door as if he was trying to break it down... A simple "Jiwoo, it's the police, please open the door" would've changed the whole story but without it we would not have had the story they wanted to tell. Fair enough; I'll accept the massive misunderstanding that the whole story is based upon and we'll put that aside for now.

If you really do not want big spoilers then stop reading here...!

Second and most importantly: I'll focus on the last episode :|
Where on earth did the writers find this last episode? In the depths of the darkest pit or something??? That intimate romantic scene was completely out of place and so unrealistic! Why would a cop sleep with a suspect? I understand that there may have been some feelings before all this happened but that is not the time or place for that... A police officer/detective would know how bad the implications of it would be! Any evidence or testimony from him would be ignored now due to personal involvement. I think they just added it to make it so much worse when he gets shot... That is my next point: why did he have to die? Why couldn't he just be badly injured like most of the other characters in the series and at least recover? And if he had to die then why does she get to live?? Either way, there would be no happy ending for them even if he had lived. And what happened to her after? The ending feels empty and vague.

I am happy with the fact that it was just 8 episodes but I needed a fuller ending... I needed more loose ends tied up, especially with the members of the narc unit.

Lol, I just realized that this is more of a rant than an actual review but I hope someone finds this useful somehow.

Read More

I really enjoyed this drama, it is not the best I've ever watched, but it surely was cathartic!
I appreciated a lot the acting especially from the protagonist! She was fantastic! The story is interesting, but it felt rushed. It looked like they tried to convert the usual 16 episodes in the standard Netflix format of 8 episodes and lost scenes here and there!
A thing that I really didn't like (like at all), was the soundtrack. K-drama are famous for delivering powerful soundtrack, you could remember an entire drama, just by listening to one of the songs from the soundtrack, but this didn't have a memorable soundtrack, I will surely not be able to remember it through music!
A very memorable thing instead, are the fighting scenes, this drama is full of action scenes. This is an important part of the drama, and it is well delivered in my opinion! Also the emotional moments are well acted!
I would recommend it, even if it is not the best of dramas!

Read More

Me to Choi Mu Jin: Daddy? sorry, Daddy?...sorry, Daddy?

Choi Mu Jin is literally SO unbelievably sexy and dangerously hot, he made me forget what I was watching the whole time.
My man was really out there trying to give girls a major problem ever liking someone their own age, huh.
Well, he succeed, and THEN some.
I swooned every time he came on screen, every time he walked or smoked or damn existed. I was jealous of TaeJu for being so close to him, for our female protagonist that she got to hold his special attention.
I wished to be conquered by him. He definitely made me FEEL a lot of things and that made the show so damn enjoyable to me.
EASY thirst trap recommend 10/10

Read More

Not really live up to its name!

I was so excited to watch this.I had really high expectations.It is not bad.It is a good one.What really saves it is the fact that it is only 8 episodes,so it worths 8 hours of your life.For me personally,if it was 16 episodes i would have dropped it for sure.

Music: Nice and catchy songs with a beat to suit especially the fighting scenes.But it is better to add them in your playlist and listen to them any other time because in the drama the music is more absent than present.I don't know why but during every episode i had the feeling they use it into minimum.Most scenes are lacking.

Production/Direction/Cinematography:All in a good level made with much professionalism but nothing really awed me.As this is mostly an action drama they could and should have used the camera in better ways than they did.Ofc iam not a director but iam an avid watcher and i have definetely watched better dramas than this, regarding the use/angles etc of the camera.Anyhow i was expecting something more than this.

Cast:Familiar with many of the male actors.Never saw the main actress before.Already thought 2 or 3 alternatives for her role!

Acting: I gave a 9 mostly for Park Hee Soon (Choi Moo Jin char)because he was just amazing!I liked all the others as well.
But..I know there is always a but...

About the FL.Her acting was just good until episode 5.Flawless and natural.But it lacked the fire this char suppose to have.It was like a good student gets an A but you expected he must get an A+++You cannot give a B but still A seems too little.
But in episode 6...BOOM!The shining star has risen.She had to deliver a variety of emotions and she did GREAT!
And i started to change my opinion about her acting BUT!...In episode 7 the star has fallen back to be just good!Like she had an ON/OFF switch and i was like WTF is going on here!And then another flip.Episode 8,last one,she was AGAIN amazing!
Everyone praises her acting mostly about the fighting scenes.That wasn't the case to me.Took me some time to realize why this switch happened.Is is because she is a bad actress?Because she is a good one??No, it was because when the script given to her was demanding and based on emotions and feelings,her acting was superb!When she had to perform physically she was just good!Yes i know she was trained too hard for all the fighting scenes but for me her strong point was the emotional part of her role.

Story/Plot:And here we enter the Twilight Zone! i gave story a 7,5.Pretty low for this "masterpiece".I can't folow the hype over this.Definetely NOT a masterpiece.A good drama but that's all.Don't shoot me but the 8,7 overall rate is too much.One of the most overrated dramas out there.There are many good Revenge dramas easily surpass this one.

Revenge trope is always a tricky one.Is a hit or miss.To create a story,a world and characters and tie them all smoothly is not easy.I get this.And the Revenge Dramas audience,is hard to please.Including myself.
The big miss of My Name is that was too predictable,too early.And i cant help but mention the many plot holes,the unanswered questions and a bad plot-line leaving us more confused than satisfied.I won't get into details because if i would i give many spoilers away.But you will find yourself while watching.It was better to be a 12 eps Drama with a more detailed story and a more satisfactory closure.

There are 2hrs(or less)movies with more substantial plot and character's development.My Name has NONE!Is an action packed series with a very plain revenge story.Neither plot nor characters have any depth!Within 8 hours they could do so many things to enrich this Drama...
Unfortunately the FL is not the heroine for me.I never saw her like this.She was drown into her own revenge.She lost herself in the process.Well she was a lost soul to begin with.She followed blindly Choi Moo Jin,she was manipulated.She should have know better.After all she had a cop's training.Never once sits back to think,search and analyze all the facts.

Side notes: The ending -unlike many-didn't affect me or my overall rating/feelings about this Drama.Made no difference to me,as i wasn't attached to any of the characters.Obviously this isn't good for a Drama.It simply means the viewer was not touched/related and/or sympathized the chars.

As for the romance.Totally unnecessary.Unrealistic.Out of the blue.With no ground at all.I guess the writer already knew herself so she added it only in the last episode!She thought she would add more drama to the Drama!Didn't work for me.

Revenge based on mind games intrigues me more than those based on beating!

Is not the worst.Is not the best.It is only 8 hours.Squeeze it in your schedule or watch it to take a break from your regular dramas/genres.Or don't!!Up to you!

Read More

Han So-Hee can kick ass!

My Name is violent, revenge-themed kdrama.

What I liked:
1) Han So-Hee was believable in her role. She looked like she is a real trained martial artist.
2) Park Hee Soon was amazing as a ruthless tycoon & looked good with moustache.
3) I like Pil-do as supporting character who doubted Ji-woo at first.

What I disliked:
1) Yoon Ji-woo characterisation - While it's great that she can kick ass, I wish she showed emotions other than wrath. I'd love to see confusion, grief, identity doubt after the revelation of her father's killer. Her character is almost a Mary Sue to me. I think perhaps producer, director and/or writer wanted a tough female character that is devoid of vulnerability to attract certain segment of audience or keep up with supposedly "dark" theme"
2) While the fight scenes are cool, I dislike the final fight scene when Ji-woo went against multiple attackers solo. She is not a mutant with super strength. Having seen Daredevil's corridor fight scene in season 1, how could she be standing strong after fighting armed attackers?
3) While the romance angle was no surprise to me, I feel that the sex scene was sterile and meaningless. It's as though she needed to satisfy her sexual desire. When romantic interest was killed, it seemed like Ji-woo felt nothing.

Favourite scene
Ji-woo training scenes.

Read More

wasted potential

As someone who almost always prefers shorter dramas/shows in general, I can't believe im saying how much I WISH this were longer.
The premise is pretty basic, your classic revenge story where the main characters vows to avenge a loved one's death, you can never go wrong with this! The begining of the drama was exceptionally good, introducing a set of intriguing characters and bad-ass action and fighting sequences( these stayed consistently great throughout the show) that only got me more excited for what was coming next. The middle and ending never quite outdid the begining, they didn't even do as much to reach it but my main problem lies elsewhere.
Even though this was an easy and enjoyable watch, I think both the story and the characters had so much potential to elevate this even more had they had a bit more time to develop. The relationship between the main leads was rushed and came out of nowhere, meanwhile we only got to see each character's one side and get a full grasp of who they really are ( except maybe for jiwoo). This problem to me is most obvious when looking at the character of gangjae: we were already familiar with and what he can do from the very begining, he had solid motivations for his actions and he was -to me- a great villain with a seemingly good plan to take revenge from mujin and jiwoo. But he was so underutilised and only was a threat for 3 episodes? The show had to get rid of him so fast because they didn't have more time.
Had this been 10 or 12 episodes long, I believe would have given all characters more depth and thus each big plotwist, a character's death and every other important event would have bigger impact.

Read More

Forgive, not to make other's life easier, but to make yours easier

My name was a brilliantly done dark thriller focusing on the theme of revenge. It proves that, if done well, it can be an entertaining focus of a show. It can also goes on to show how revenge is not something so desirable or glorific.

The story itself keeps making turns and adding plot twists, which certainly adds to the suspense. In this way, it feels like watching a crime drama trying to find the suspect.

Above everything else, I was the most pleased with the acting. Ahn Sohee portrayed Ji woo exquisitely. The pain, self hatred and ferociousness felt so real, it really had me emotionally attached. The same can be said for Ahn Bo Hyun (Pil Do). Neither of them were necessarily likeable characters, but I wished the best for them until the very end still. Choi Moo Jin was just perfect for this drama. He portrayed such a complex character with so much charisma.

The editing, production and cinematography were top notch. Action scenes can often get quite messy and surely are difficult to film, so I applaud the movie makers. Also take a notice in the darkness of this drama, and I mean that literally. The color scheme is, for the most part, on the darker side.

Alright, this might be biased, but I loved the OST's! I love swervy, so naturally, I listened to the soundtrack long before actually watching. It was perfect for the show and I really enjoyed that the music was somewhat.. distant? It wasn't overwhelming or repetitive, which is unfortunately the case with many shows.

After some consideration, I decided to leave this drama 10 stars. It left me feeling very bittersweet, but isn't that the perfect portrayal of revenge? From a psychological perspective this makes so much sense. I can not blame it for my own naivety of hoping for a noble ending.
I am happy to have watched My name; I can now understand why so many talk about it. I reccomend it to almost everyone, perhaps with the exception of those who don't like seeing blood or watching darker shows.

Read More