BLISS RATING: ★★★★+
“I don’t want to be your weakness. You have a future, a future more important than me.” – Quote from Thundercloud Rainstorm
The is an astonishingly well-thought-out series. A bit weird, however, in its cryptic approach but entertaining from the beginning to its end. I felt manipulated but in a good way and interestingly I was not sure where the story was taking me. Therefore, I also found so much of it intellectually stimulating with a hint of kinkiness. It is hard to dislike this series, really. My only concern about it was its odd obtuseness; it felt at times flirting with abusiveness – like both protagonists were playing games with each other’s emotions, which heightened their veiled sadomasochistic tendencies toward each other. While I have nothing against algolagnia being explored in sexual behaviors as long as both parties agree to its rules and both are equal partners, in a few instances within this story, I was just not sure full consent was the case. The story became a gray zone of morality.
This is a very complex story that unfolds in small doses along the way to the development of a relationship. We get snippets of dynamics between the two protagonists and the one antagonist. Yet, they all are interconnected and interrelated. Lee Il Jo (Yoon Ji Sung) was adopted into a family and remained loyal and committed to his adopted father. Thinking of himself as unworthy, he has convinced himself that he is. Yet, he had managed to hold onto one trait that is more precious to him than fame or fortune. Integrity. It was no doubt for that reason, when the father died, he left the property to Il Jo, at the outrage and incense of his older half-brother, Joeng In (Lee Dong Joo) who then becomes quite abusive towards him, psychologically, physically, and mentally.
Their cousin Seo Jung Han (Jeong Ri U) comes to Lee Il Jo rescue. He is also abusive, though differently from his cousin, Joeng In. He turns the needs of Il Jo for money and a place to stay into a contractual agreement in which he essentially ‘owns’ him. Forcing him to do things on demand which then morphs into sexual activities. Initially, it unfolds by the usual excuse of drinking too heavily and both were drunk but then it digresses into more intense sadomasochism sexual pleasures. What is happening underneath, however, is that both foundationally begin deeply and intimately to fall in love with one another.
When their mutual cousin Joeng In discerns the extent of their love for one another, his level of intimation and threats towards Il Jo goes from threats to actual fears that he will harm Seo Jung Han. In addition, Seo Jung Han’s father does what he can to also break up the relationship between his son and Il Jo.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? The acting in this series is dynamic and dramatic, except for Yoon Ji Sung as Lee Il Jo. Honestly, up until the end, I was not sure if what we were seeing was sincere. By that I mean, all his life he had to scratch and claw his way to surviving and was constantly on the short end of the deal. So, he had to use his wits and his charm to get his way through life. Yoon Ji Sung with his laid-back approach to his role, was always one step ahead of the audience, which made him hard to figure out. Was he really this thoughtful about trying to protect others that he was willing to sacrifice not only his physical self but his mental stability for the love of Seo Jung Han? It seemed like naïve thinking on his part and a complete unnecessary burden to absorb. Understandably, when you have nothing in life, you expect nothing to go your way and therefore you feel as if you are unworthy of love, respect, or a place at the table. Yoon Ji Sung’s level of sincerity in how he saw his role, playing it so even-handed, was so cogent, that I was fooled by his rectitude. His motives were purely for altruistic reasons. No bitterness. Something so rare in today’s world that I had never even considered that as a part of his makeup or composition. Kudos for some great acting for, at first, making me feel as if this character was shallow and naïve, to one that was deeply complex and always thinking ahead and wanting what was best for everyone around him and was willing to sacrifice his own happiness and himself for that. An extraordinary depiction. The acting is exemplary.
This series is way more complex than it looks. It hides its messages and characters and presents only surface features. Joeng In is truly evil and is a cancer in society who was willing to use threats and intimidations and lies to bring down his half-brother. Il Jo, despite seeming weak, is the strongest of the three characters in terms of integrity, strength of character, and willingness to sacrifice. Seo Jung Han pretends to be strong but lacks backbone. He relies on his status to get him through. In a sense, he is completely and totally lost without Il Jo. He is so in love with him he is incapable of functioning without him. Appearing to be strong is just a façade.
Il Jo and Seo Jung Han absolutely need each other. Both supplement the other’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Il Jo can show Seo Jung Ho how to stand up for himself while Seo Jung Ho can show Il Jo how to become independent. Together both can lead lives that they define, free from others, and on their own.
This saga is a deeply introspective journey, surprisingly more complex and involved than it appears. What detracted from this series a bit was an emotional attachment of sincerity that we did not get until the end. Had they developed that throughout, this series would have been quite epic. Instead, one must wait to the end to fully grasp the magnitude of their relationship. Leaving just a bit too much doubt that it will work. Too bad.
I want this union to work with every fiber of my being.
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