SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'From Today, I'm Human' (directed by Kim Jung-kwon, written by Park Chan-young & Jo Ah-young) concluded with its 12th episode aired on the 28th.
Eun-ho (played by Kim Hye-yoon) sacrificed her life to restore the fates of Kang Si-yeol (played by Lomon) and others. However, the memories and longing for each other did not fade, leading Park Gun (played by Joo Jin-mo) to send Eun-ho back to Kang Si-yeol. Despite knowing their destined future, they chose to cherish the present moment, culminating in a beautiful reunion. The final episode achieved a peak rating of 5.4% in the metropolitan area, with a 2049 demographic rating peaking at 2.4%, marking a beautiful conclusion.
Kang Si-yeol, who was shot by Lee Yoon (played by Choi Seung-yoon), was in a life-threatening condition even after surgery. Eun-ho, tearfully watching, recalled Park Gun's prophecy of a 'moment of choice' and headed to Namsan Park with Hyun Woo-seok (played by Jang Dong-joo), the place where she first kissed Kang Si-yeol. Eun-ho handed the photo sword to Hyun Woo-seok, saying, "Stab me with this." Ultimately, Eun-ho chose to erase herself to save Kang Si-yeol.
As the sword pierced Eun-ho's chest, the fates of Kang Si-yeol and Hyun Woo-seok changed again. Kang Si-yeol was shocked to find the sword in his hand, but for Eun-ho, it was merely a future she had foreseen countless times becoming reality. In Kang Si-yeol's arms, Eun-ho bid farewell, saying, "I wanted to erase your memories if I returned to my original state... but I no longer have that power, so you must forget me. That's my wish," and with her last words, "I love you," she vanished, leaving Kang Si-yeol alone, evoking tears.
Meanwhile, the narration by Pal Mi-ho (played by Lee Si-woo), who became a gumiho, stated, "At the place where life ended, everything that was twisted and distorted found its place, and the world of humans just flows," depicting a world without Eun-ho. Amidst the peace, Kang Si-yeol couldn't believe Eun-ho's absence. Even after ten years, nothing changed. However, in a moment of danger due to a fleeting mistake, Eun-ho suddenly appeared, holding his hand, leading to an unexpected fateful reunion.
It was all the will of the heavens. Park Gun sent Eun-ho back to the human world, unable to cross the river of the afterlife due to lingering regrets. Yet, knowing that even if they loved again, the end would be the same, Eun-ho said, "This is truly our last," bidding farewell to Kang Si-yeol once more. Kang Si-yeol responded, "Just live as you are. I'll live as I am. As a human, I'll age and eventually die, and you'll live forever in this form, but even if we painfully part someday, the moments we shared won't be a burden to you. I'll make sure of that," holding onto Eun-ho.
'From Today, I'm Human' delivered a delightful and witty 'salvation' fantasy romance, blending reality and imagination. The unique character of 'MZ Gumiho,' who captures both familiarity and novelty, and the intriguing story of humans whose fates are altered by her powers, offered unpredictable fun each episode. Above all, the narrative of salvation, where the gumiho Eun-ho, who lost her powers and became human, and the human Kang Si-yeol, demoted from world-class to a lower league, change, grow, and love together in 'ruined lives,' captivated viewers. As director Kim Jung-kwon promised, it delivered deep emotions and profound resonance until the end.
The outstanding performances of Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon, who showcased an unexpectedly perfect 'rom-com chemistry,' cannot be overlooked. Kim Hye-yoon's wide range of emotions led to deep immersion, while Lomon's serious yet witty performance received praise. Lee Si-woo, who perfectly portrayed dual roles as 'Geum-ho' and 'Pal Mi-ho,' and Jang Dong-joo, who enhanced the dimensionality of the character 'Hyun Woo-seok,' were central to the drama. Kim Tae-woo, as 'Jang Do-chul,' and Choi Seung-yoon, as 'Lee Yoon,' provided intense performances that maintained the drama's tension. Additionally, actors like In Gyo-jin (as Park Yong-gil), Lee Seung-jun (as Hyun Sang-chul), and Joo Jin-mo (as Park Gun), known for their reliability, joined the cast, enhancing the drama's completeness with their flawless acting and presence.
Im Chae-ryung, Ten Asia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr