As expected from the new work of writer Kim Soon-ok, known as the 'godmother of evil', tvN's 'Pandora: A Fabricated Paradise (hereinafter referred to as 'Pandora') was intense from the first episode. It was revealed that Lee Ji-ah, who lived a life without envy, had committed murder as a killer. It felt like a 'penthouse' in 'Pandora' with the lid open, but it's not a bad start.
On the 11th, tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Pandora' premiered. 'Pandora' is a revenge story about a woman living a life that everyone envies, recovering her lost memories of the past and punishing the forces that manipulated her fate.
On this day's broadcast, Hong Tae-ra, who was living a perfect life, was depicted suffering from unfamiliar, ugly memories that could be a dream or memories of a lost past. Meanwhile, an incident occurred that completely shook Hong Tae-ra's life. Go Hae-soo (played by Jang Hee-jin), Hong Tae-ra's best friend and YBC's main anchor, suffered from trauma due to the murder of her father, former President Go Tae-seon (Cha Gwang-soo), 15 years ago. Go Hae-soo, who was tracking down the real culprit who killed his father, received a photo with a message from someone wearing a skull-shaped helmet. Oh Young (Chae Rin) is the real culprit who killed her father, and if she wants to find her, she should come to Hanul Mental Hospital. Hong Tae-ra felt a sense of déjà vu and was overcome with anxiety when she saw Oh-yeong with her left ear torn off in the photo given to her by Go Hae-soo.
Hong Tae-ra and Go Hae-soo headed to Hanul Mental Hospital together. There, Tae-ra Hong faced her past. The memories that poured out like a Pandora's box being opened were shocking in themselves. The woman in the photo that Oh Young and Go Hae-soo, who were thoroughly raised as murder weapons, believed was the real culprit was Hong Tae-ra herself.
The truth that Hong Tae-ra, whom Go Hae-soo trusted and relied on more than anyone else, was Oh Young was shocking. It stimulated curiosity about why Hong Tae-ra lost her memory and who was behind the manipulation of her fate.
As expected from the start of a Kim Soon-ok drama, the intense story captured the hearts of viewers. The viewership rating for the first episode (based on Nielsen Korea's paid platform) recorded an average of 4.9% and a peak of 6.3% for households nationwide, ranking first in the same time slot including cable and general programming channels. Hong Tae-ra's twisted ending, which opened Pandora's box with her returned memories, foreshadowed 'bloody revenge.'
This drama is directed by director Choi Young-hoon, who provided a pleasant and refreshing catharsis in 'Wonder Woman' and 'Good Casting'. Above all, writer Kim Soon-ok, who wrote 'Penthouse', 'The Last Empress', and 'Temptation of a Wife', participated as a creator, and a local writer from Kim Soon-ok's division will write. From the first episode, unpredictable suspense, exciting action, and spectacular visuals attracted attention.
On the other hand, I felt a sense of déjà vu. ‘Penthouse’ comes to mind. The cast of 'Penthouse', including Lee Ji-ah and Bong Tae-gyu, appear in this work. The characters with secrets seek revenge and the romantic relationships between the characters are intertwined. It is probably not a coincidence that the image overlaps with 'Penthouse', not only because it is a similar genre, but also because writer Kim Soon-ok participated.
However, writer Kim Soon-ok has made several Kim Soon-ok-type extreme dramas successful. The thrilling revenge that seems difficult in reality, and the acting of actors with acting skills, make you immerse yourself in the story. This is why I look forward to the next episode of ‘Pandora’, which got off to an easy start.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr