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| Jin Seon-mi kisses Son Oh-gong in "A Korean Odyssey," tvN's adaptation of Chinese classic "Journey to the West." / Captured from the program's Facebook |
By Oh Young-jin
It comes down to "whether you love me or not."
Sunday in the 10th episode of "A Korean Odyssey," the hip modern twist-and-turn drama of Chinese classic "The Journey to the West," two protagonists ― Son Oh-gong, the main character based on monkey king Sun Wukung, and Jin Seon-mi for Xuanzang, the monk, ― are engaged in another tug of war to see which of the two loves the other more. Despite the familiar plot, the whole episode is exciting.
The odyssey is a fantasy but not a fable, starring top young stars ― Son by Lee Seong-gi, singer/actor, and his love object by Oh Yeon-seo, known, among other things, for her almond-shape black eyes ― in their best human appearances.
Former model and now veteran actor Cha Seung-won plays opposite Lee as Woo Hwi-chul, the King Bull Demon. But as yet there is no love triangle.
In the latest episode, Jin loses the soul of her childhood, imprisoned in a Peter Pan book in a trap set by the Book Demon.
Son tells Jin that he has no obligation to protect her because he has made a deal with the girl in her. Jin blames her for having doubts about her love for Son, but feels it is too late.
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| Oh Yeon-seo plays Jin Seon-mi in "A Korean Odyssey."/ From the program's Facebook |
Son also feels something is not right. He should be happy, being free of the pang of pain he is forced to suffer when he acts in defiance of Jin's wish. In this modern adaptation, Oh is not a monk as in the original, but a real estate agent who specializes in haunted properties.
So he visits the library of the book demon, who disguises herself as Oh to seduce the monkey king. But Son sees through the trick and forces her to present her true self. Now, the two wage a war of words, the outcome already determined.
"They (children) live in hell and lead a wretched life," the demon provokes Son ― the unmistakable real-life reference being today's children deprived of play time. "I am just saving those poor souls."
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| Lee Seong-gi plays Son Oh-gong, the monkey king in Chinese classic, "Journey to the West."/ Captured from the program's Facebook |
Son responds, "You steal the souls and eat them at your leisure."
But one problem still remains. It is not the demon but Jin who wants to be "imprisoned" in the fairy tale in the first place. It is only Jin who can break out of the spell.
Oh is asleep on a desk in the library and is having a dream where she meets her young soul and escorts her out of the fairy land.
Woken from the reverie, Jin gives Oh a quick kiss on the lips to confirm Son is back at her beck and call. But Son playfully refuses to recognize it, but the very next moment he jumps and gives Oh a long kiss.
Is it the power of the bracelet that squeezes Son when he disobeys Jin or a pang of pain in his heart from his real love of her?
This tvN drama captured the highest rating among the cable programs in the same time slot on Sunday. It airs at 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
