[Drama Review] 'My Sassy Girl' - Episodes 11 & 12

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Posted by Susan-Han Thursday, June 15, 2017

Jungshin, Joo Won, Oh Yeon Seo, Kim Yoon Hye

What?! My pick on 'Produce 101' season 2 might not make it in the top 11?!?!

At the end of episode 10, we saw the royal guard officer Kang Joon Young (played by CNBLUE's Jungshin) fending off the mysterious man with the scar while Princess Hyemyung (played by Oh Yeon Seo) ran away. She thankfully encounters Gyeonwoo (played by Joo Won) and finds safety hidden in Gyeonwoo's home, while both the scarred man and officer Kang go off in search for her. The search ends quietly, however, once Gyeonwoo and his father report to the King that the princess is currently in their home, and that an enemy is trying to trick the princess. Now the King, officer Kang, Gyeonwoo, and Gyeonwoo's father have inadvertently joined forces on the same side, against the antagonist force consisting of advisor Jung Ki Joon, the queen, and the other greedy members of the royal advisory board. Meanwhile, Princess Hyemyung has been ordered to live with Gyeonwoo's family as punishment for her leaving the palace (again)! You'd think Gyeonwoo's mother would feel honored to have the princess living in her home, but it seems because of all the bad rumors about the princess going around and because of her former status as Gyeonwoo's stalker, mom ain't too happy about the current situation.

That about wraps up the major events of episodes 11 & 12, but of course we can't leave out the jaw dropping cliffhanger at the very end! Min Yoo Hwan shows his face in front of the princess in the middle of the bustling shopping street, and while the princess wants to confront him right away, Gyeonwoo stops her. At this point, most of the characters still believe that the princess and Min Yoo Hwan are former lovers, with no knowledge of the former, deposed queen's search whatsoever�

That doesn't look like the most comfortable pillow...

The interesting development we saw this week through episodes 9, 10, 11, and 12 were the growing evil motives of the antagonists. The advisor Jung Ki Joon, the queen, and now even Jung Ki Joon's daughter, Da Yeon (played by Kim Yoon Hye). That makes three very greedy and scary people out to get the princess. This development with the antagonist characters of the drama is something completely outside of any relation to the 'OM'. Which is fine, as long as the drama series manages to provide an interesting and entertaining narrative on its own, while still managing to play in more of the 'OM's aspects in the romance side. What's most important, in my opinion, is to keep the light and comfortable vibe that this drama series has been promoted with, because it is a fusion-historical romantic comedy. So while we can still stay tuned in to the political and power struggles these antagonists pose for us, the drama needs to be careful to use a good mix of the heavy plot and the lighter, romantic comedy side. Because if we were viewers looking for a very heavy and dramatic story to watch, there's one going on by the name of 'Monarch - Owner of the Mask' that's about a perfect historical drama rival for anyone to switch over any time�

Joo Won = doesn't understand why she's making googly eyes at some old-looking guy who is clearly not better than him.

As I briefly noted above, I feel it's important to keep the light and fun mood of this drama. That was something well done in the 'OM', and even in this drama's story, it's very possible to do. In this week's set of episodes, we didn't have as many of the funny and witty scenes, due to the story focusing on plot development and character growth. Another character whose motives have become much more concrete in this week's set of episodes was Gyeonwoo, whose mission to help Princess Hyemyung endure the ongoing search for her missing mother is going in the right direction. But while it's heartwarming to see a man willing to stay by a woman's side through her emotional struggles, we have to remember that in the 'OM', the two main characters did not fall in love because of that alone. In the 'OM', Gyeonwoo and Geunyeo had grown to like each other before they knew it, because of all the fun they had going on spontaneous dates. This is something we need to see more of between Gyeonwoo and Princess Hyemyung in the drama series. Otherwise, how can this production carry the name of 'My Sassy Girl'?

Master Doggy says, "Now, kiss"!

Lastly, one character we've yet to explore further, and one I'd like to see grow more, is royal guard officer Kang Joon Young. Judging by his actions in the episodes we've seen so far, it's hard to tell if Kang Joon Young will grow into an actual love rival for Gyeonwoo, or if his role is to serve as a loyal and trustworthy guardian for Princess Hyemyung, the King and the royal family, and even Gyeonwoo, later on. What are your opinions on Kang Joon Young? Will his character evolve from the almost robotic, too-hardworking officer into someone with more personal objectives, or do you like him and his hunky bodyguard role as he is?

Next week, I'll begin analyzing more in-depth the drama's overall structure, cinematography, pace, actor/actress performances, and the likes. Until then!