Sisyphus’ Sigma: A Look into Mental Illness
Charismatic Killers in Korean Dramas and Films: Part 3
“Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it. Remember, thou hast made me more powerful than thyself; my height is superior to thine, my joints more supple. But I will not be tempted to set myself in opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.”
Was Frankenstein the real monster? Was
he, at least, the only one? Though killing people is a definite NO that I won’t
argue against and I hate myself when I do, and though killers are sinners no matter
what –and I will dare to generalize here for my mental health-, we cannot
simply rule them out. Readers and Kdrama and film watchers know the mental
battles we go through because of those existential questions. Beyond good and
evil, and right and wrong, lie realms of deep issues impossibly not easily
sorted out. And those killers stand stuck in the shadows of those realms,
leaving us helpless.
Jung Woo Sung / Daisy
If Jung Woo Sung was not an actor he might have been a killer. Seriously! All these evil roles, and he fits in that category magically.
In Daisy we see the most charismatic contract killer ever. He’s calm, romantic and loving. I know the irony! He just kills, skilfully.
In this film we see the attempt for repentance. When love walks in it brings humanity along. But, even before love invades his life we do not SEE evil like they show it in other works. Evil is not a concrete and touchable object. The killer doesn’t need to look a certain way, or grin in another, for him to be a murderer. Jung Woo Sung as Park Yi is a clear example. A guy found himself walking an assassin’s road, with no turning back.
Back to fanmode.. that facial hair!!
Park Hae Joon / Dr. Stranger
Having Park Hae Joon in this role here is a hard decision, because the role was pure evil with no ups or downs to his character. Still, he absolutely amazed me so I ended up adding him here.
Can’t believe this man has not been acting in dramas for long. The waste!
Being a North Korean agent full of hatred of the South is a sufficient reason to kill any political threat. What if torture in death camps and personal revenge are added? Park Hae Joon’s portrayal of Cha Jin Soo has it all. Cha Jin Soo is a man living in hatred and for hatred. No one is immune. No one is safe. He will kill and he will exact that revenge.
I’m a desperate fan of PHJ (Incomplete Life’s side effect) and his bad guy image totally wins over me .
Sung Hoon / Faith
This drama had so many eye candies it was cruel. But this guy just couldn’t let me enjoy his beauty for one second. Without a blink of an eye he’d kill, and swiftly, adeptly and insanely enough beautifully. To kill with music is savage.
A musician who’s desperately in love with his sassy team mate can make one heart-throbbing killer.
Shim Hyun Joon, Shin Ha Kyun, Jung Jae Young, Won Bin / Guns and Talks
If we were to search the whole world we won’t find such a group of ‘cute’ contract killers.
When killing is just a job and killers become devoid of all emotions. Not that they like to kill or agree with the idea, but they don’t interfere because it’s their job. Their lives change when emotions actually get in the way. But that only happens when they connect to other people personally. Which means previous victims meant nothing. As long as the person is not personally connected to them they’re no longer humans, they’re targets. I hit, I get paid. The film is sarcastic and extremely funny but tackles one sensitive and sadly common issue. If it’s not about me, it doesn’t matter.
T.O.P / IRIS
''Even God can't kill me.''
Sounds so much like biblical Satan. Well he was his embodiment. T.O.P as Vick is one performance I haven't seen anywhere else and I honestly wouldn't want to. A merciless assassin who believes he can control the world. I usually hate those types of extreme villains but not T.O.P in IRIS. His skills, outfits, evil smirk, empty eyes and monotonous voice had left me hugging myself all the time. I'm an adventurous girl and not at all a scaredy cat but even if I were to meet criminals one day, I wouldn't wish to run into another Vick. That's be too much for an inspiration.
And here’s a reply to the questions I try to suppress:
“You are in the wrong," replied the fiend; "and, instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable; am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? Would you not call it murder if you could Precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts, and destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man, when he contemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, and instead of injury, I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries: if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear; and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care: I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you curse the hour of your birth.”
Seems like I'd need a long break before I venture into the topic again..
