Presentation
Korean Title: 터치
Aired in: 2020 (16 episodes)
Channel: Channel A
Grade: 7.5/10
Actors: Joo Sang Wook and Kim Bo Ra
For more…
Joo Sang Wook:
– Birth of a Beauty
– Fate and Furies
– Grand Prince
– Cunning Single Lady
Kim Bo Ra:
– Love Scene Number (E1)
– SF8 (Joan’s Galaxy)
– SKY Castle
– Her Private Life
Lee Tae Hwan:
– What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
– My Golden Life
– Graceful Friends
– W: Two Worlds
Analysis
Synopsis
Han Soo Yeon has spent 10 years trying to become an idol. Her dream finally comes true but is shattered by a scandal the minute after. She gives up on her dream and decides to become a make-up artist. She joins Cha Jeong Hyuk’s salon, recognized for his gift.
My Opinion (No Spoilers)
What to say!? I started watching that drama for Kim Bo Ra to be honest and because the idea of having a drama centered on make-up and not beauty in general attracted me quite much. Joo Sang Wook was also an actor I had previously seen, so I thought about giving it a go. And frankly, it was a bit hard, I always gave up midway. But I held on and for the best.
This drama is a bit cliché and stereotyped and reminded me of some twists and characters from the 2000s that are actually so annoying. Yet, the couple stood strong and was firm and assertive in its feelings, which saved to drama in my opinion.
Analysis (Spoiler Alert)
A drama centered on make-up: At last a drama that doesn’t revolve around models, idols, actors but clearly on a more specific and unknown field: make-up. I am not necessarily fond of make-up, I am not a make-up artist or anything, but I thought that it was a good move from the screenwriter to highlight an important job when it comes to beauty. Make-up in that drama is considered as an embellishment but not only, it gives confidence and assertion too, it can also cure and boost self-esteem. I globally really liked the message they transmitted about make-up: it is not just something you put on to be beautiful, it is also a remedy for your soul.
Chasing your dreams: Another very positive point for that drama I think. Han Soo Yeon (Kim Bo Ra) has dreamed of becoming an idol for 10 years but doesn’t make it in the end. Still, she overcomes her pain and moves on. She finds herself another dream to chase after and to hold on to. This was definitely admirable and inspirational for me, since she doesn’t bend and keeps on pursuing a career as a make-up artist, even when she gets new opportunities to be an idol and others push her to do so. Yet, that character is strong and affirms herself properly (either in life or in relationships). She doesn’t want to go back in the past chasing her past and old dream, instead she prefers focusing on her new and fulfilling one! Thumbs up Kim Bo Ra!
Even Cha Jeong Hyuk (Joo Sang Wook) ends up in a similar situation at some point. Indeed, he loses his salon, his reputation and has to start everything from scratch again. Driven by his passion for make-up, he stands back up on his feet and starts from the very bottom to thrive and soar.
The actress Baek Ji Yoon (Han Da Gam), Jeong Hyuk’s ex girlfriend, also decided to chase her own dreams: once as an actress wanting to become a housewife and a second time wanting to go back to acting. She is not afraid of the obstacles and wants to pave her own way to get where she wants.
This drama tackles the theme of people believing in their dreams and wanting to accomplish them; and it felt very pleasant to follow Han Soo Yeon, as she tried to create herself a new future.
Couple with age gap: It has now become quite common in dramas to have couples with age differences (Itaewon Class for example) and I really appreciate how South Korea opens up more and more to several topics, that used to be “taboo”. Age difference is one of them and the drama portrays here two people, who actually happen to unexpectedly fall in love with each other, even though they are at different stages in their lives. Han Soo Yeon is in her twenties and is still trying to find out who she is and what she wants and Cha Jeong Seok is in his thirties and is already well-established. Despite the gap, I think they actually get close to each other because Jeong Hyuk ends up at the exact same stage of life as Soo Yeon, who literally stands by his side and supports him all the way through.
The romance: The age gap makes it a bit difficult at first for our characters to accept and reciprocate their feelings. However, Han Soo Yeon is a bold and strong woman, who doesn’t fear confessing. On the other side of the spectrum, Cha Jeong Hyuk is a sensitive and tender character, really empathetic (even though he passes for someone arrogant at first). Soo Yeon’s demise and hard work, her will to do good and not disappoint touches him. I also believe they understand each other very well, as there are a lot of common points in their struggles. They know what it is to be in the shadow, how tough it is to be recognized for one’s hard work and they share lots of qualities. Their sweet romance is the reason I kept watching in all honesty!
Annoying characters: Now, after all of these positive elements from the drama, I cannot end this review without talking about all of these insufferable and annoying characters, that almost made me want to give up on the drama. I felt like I was catapulted back in the 2000s, when characters were pushy, forcing their feelings on others, inconsiderate and egoistic. Well, Baek Ji Yoon, Kand Do Jin (Lee Tae Hwan), Oh Shi Eun (Pyeon Jung Su) and to a greater extent Min Kang Ho (Song Jae Hee) are the perfect examples.
Ji Yoon and Do Jin clearly don’t understand when their respected unrequited love say no! Which is very frustrating to see! Han Soo Yeon tells multiple times Kang Do Jin that she is in love with another man and therefore won’t reciprocate his feelings. Yet, he keeps going and pushing to make her accept him. Fortunately, Han Soo Yeon stands strong on her positions and clearly chases him away. Same thing for Baek Ji Yoon with Cha Jeong Hyuk, even if he is more hesitant to push her strongly away. That is understandable because he has had a very long relationship with her and they were romantically involved contrary to Do Jin and Soo Yeon.
Oh Shi Eun, Jeong Hyuk’s ex-boss, is an opportunistic and egoistic person as well. Plus, she is so jealous, that she is willing to commit fraud, theft and all sorts of bad deeds to bring him down and stay on top. Only when she loses everything, does she realize how evil she acted. Naturally, she apologizes, but if it had been me, I never would have forgiven her (just to torment her back!).
Finally, Kang Min Ho is portrayed as a demon, a husband who is a control freak and wants to have a say in everything in Ji Yoon’s life. He mistreats her and destroys Jeong Hyuk to get back at her (of course, this doesn’t prevent Ji Yoon from pursuing her ex-lover even if it means ruining him). However, I felt more empathetic towards Min Ho than any other negative characters, because he really has an underlying fear of people using him and loving him for his money and not for himself. He was actually so scared of that, that he listened to false rumors surrounding his wife saying she was a gold digger. He then believed them and that’s how he drove an edge between them. Sad story in the end!
P.S: I didn’t analyze it, because I would definitely get mad, but anyone else wanted to kill Han Soo Yeon’s ex-manager and Kang Do Jin for using her as a scapegoat and ruining her career?
I’m sorry I couldn’t find a proper trailer 😦
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