Green Rose

My mother introduced me to this intense drama. The plot is great, the cast is strong, the acting is awesome, and with the lead actor oozing immense charisma and charm in every scene, there is no reason not to watch it. I nodded my head then, thinking otherwise.

It's not that I do not trust my mother's choice of great dramas. My doubts actually lies within my loyalty towards Japanese Dramas - I am a true die-hard fan; although I limit myself to only certain genre of them. I find the strong portrayal of reality in Japanese dramas more captivating than the dramatic arrangements in Korean dramas.

Well...apparently after watching Green Rose, I have to drop my pride and apologise to all the Korean fans out there.

I managed to persuade my housemate to buy the set of VCDs. She had the urge to buy 'something' at that time. Unable to figure out which 'something' she should spend her money on, she turned to me for help. I immediately pointed to the set of 'Green Rose' VCDs lying silently before me, stacked in midst of the other popular Korean drama VCDS. She took a short glance at me before picking it up. "Are you sure?" Her eyes were questioning mine. I nodded and told her my mother's remarks. Without any second thought, she placed the box of VCD onto the counter and paid for it.

That was months ago.

Last week, being superbly bored at home, I decided to watch a video to pass the time. Looking through my own collection, I realised that I've watched most of the shows umpteen times. Re-watching them, once again, doesn't seem like an attractive idea. Until my eyes caught the 'Green Rose' VCD box sitting on the table - where my housemate last left it after the purchase.

I shall watch this show then. Even as I slot in the first piece of CD into the player, my mind was already anticipating boredom.

But...

The first scene caught my curiosity. Because like one of the very few Korean Dramas I love, "All In", this starts off with the leading male actor running through crowds of people bustling in the airport background. He seemed to be chased, and was racing against time in pursuit of something. The actor did amazing stunts like jumping over a line of trolleys, and swimming through the incoming swarm of people during the getaway. Finally, he hijacked a car from a couple about to be wed, and speed off.

We soon see the intensifying car chase between the man and the people chasing after him. Only now we know that he is a wanted criminal by the police. They are gaining upon him, but despite the many times they try to corner him, his determination wins his freedom. When the police finally succeeded in stopping him at the bridge, the man dragged himself out of the car, and even with many guns pointing at him, he launched himself upon the edge of the bridge.

He then tells his audience what is going through in his mind as he peers down at the deep vast ocean. His heart cries out painfully to his mother, and a woman named Oh Soo Ah. Different scenes from his memories flicker by on the screen, and you might start guessing that Oh Soo Ah is his lover.

Then the big question arises - what happened to him in the first place?

The director appears to hear your doubt, and rewinds the story back to a year ago. The man, called Li Joong Hyun, being just employed by one of the largest electronic companies in the city, SR, was in midst of celebration when he first met his future lover, Oh Soo Ah.

After a stormy incident whilst climbing a mountain for one of SR's orientation programmes, Joong Hyun and Soo Ah got together. The story was forwarded to a year later when the couple had been together for almost a year, and the intimacy between them suggested a possibility of exchanging marriage vows.

Soo Ah appeared to be the one who suggested the proposal of marriage to Joong Hyun. But the only problem that lies in their relationship is Joong Hyun's ignorance of Soo Ah's background. He confessed his insecurities to Soo Ah, and voiced out his discomfort about not being able to send his future wife straight to the doorstep of her family. He questions her sincerity in continuing their relationship, and feigns anger until she gives in, telling him to visit her at her home during her father's birthday later next week.

It was then we see Joong Hyun, nervous about meeting his father-in-law for the first time, showing up at Soo Ah's house, only to discover that she is the daughter of SR's CEO. Feeling uneasy and immensely uncomfortable about the environment he was unprepared for, he left with the gift that his mother had spent the entire night before, preparing it for his visit.

After a couple of persuasions, Soo Ah managed to answer all the insecurities and doubts in Joong Hyun. And as a secret between themselves, they exchanged vows of eternal love before the sunset view. The same one that emerges when they first got together.

The cycle of unhappy events begin to take place after this.

We then see Joong Hyun being tricked into becoming a scapegoat for attempted murder of Soo Ah's father. The director show us 3 suspicious characters involved in the crime, the Finance Manager, the Marketing Manager, and the CEO's driver. The real murderer was not revealed till the very end, so throughout the show, the audience will be stuck making guesses among the 3 suspects.

It was an attempted murder because Soo Ah's father did not die from the incident, but saved by Joong Hyun, who slipped into unconsciousness after being knocked out.

The crime he was alleged to have committed sent Joong Hyun behind bars. Seeing how devastated and lost his son became, the mother decided to pursue all means in helping prove his innocence, and finally resort to committing suicide. The authorities released Joong Hyun for a few days to finish his filial business at his mother's wake and funeral. This indirectly provides a chance for Joong Hyun to slip out of the police radar, and find the real murderer to clear the charges tied to his name.

However, the Gods appeared to be against him when he was almost caught by the police. With them gaining hard on him, he managed to get only a few clues to the puzzle. On the verge of getting arrested for breaking out of prison, he was still unable to see the face of the real murderer.

We were then taken back to the scene from the very beginning where Joong Hyun jumps off the bridge into the freezing waters. We see him drowning in fury, for the injustice that he received, and also in grief, for his mother's death and his separation from Soo Ah.

Meanwhile, Soo Ah, who is painfully accepting the possibility of her father becoming a vegetable, and the reality of Joong Hyun's arrrest, then fell into a deep hole of depression state upon learning Joong Hyun's sudden death.

However, with a twist of fate, or maybe under God's will, Joong Hyun actually survived the fall and escaped to China.

To cut the story short, the 'Green Rose' is likely a recount of 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. Joong Hyun went through many hurdles, and finally rise to become a respectable figure in the business world of Shanghai. With the new name he acquired, and some good friends, he returns to Korea to implement his plan of revenge.

Ko Soo plays the role of a Mr. Nice Guy, Lee Joong Hyun, who eventually turned vengeful because of all the painful and unhappy events he experienced . His acting skills were tested when his character was arrested, when he learned of his mother's death in jail, and when he stands before his lover, for the first time after years of feigning death, but pretends not knowing her. Every heartache that he displayed, whether through his eyes, his actions, or facial expressions. was transmitted directly to his audience, and it is really hard not to feel for him.

Lee Da Hae is also perfect as Oh Soo Ah who is a rose amongst the thorns in the drama. She manages the elegance and gentleness of Soo Ah very well. The Korean fashion had once again project its uniqueness through Soo Ah's clothing line.

The bad guys of the drama played their parts well, and because of this, I have to say that the cast of this drama is truly strong.

The director was patient in telling the story, thus the drama was driven at a very spectacular pace. It unfolds with an unexpected twist, and leaves a powerful impression in the audience when the final credits rolled up.

It's a serious drama, with suspense and romance. And I really enjoyed the originality.