Save Me

Synopsis:

Han Sang-Hwan, a son of a powerful political leader of Muji is enjoying his youthful years in high school along with his friends. They are Seok Dong-Cheol, who lives with his loving grandmother but a son of an abusive drunk. Woo Jung-Hoon, a son of policeman and had high hopes for him to have a brighter future when he goes to college. And, Choi Man-Hee, who loves to eat and works in the garage owned by his family. Their youthful years of fun ended when Seok Dong-Cheol was accused of murdering one of the rich kids in his school who caused the suicide of Im Sang-Mi’s brother. Im Sang-Mi is a beautiful girl whose family got swindled. Because of this her family ended up joining and being adopted by a religious sect that’s actually a cult in Guseonwon led by Baek Jung-Ki. All of their paths crossed again 3 years later upon Han Sang-Hwan return from college, after the death of Im Sang-Mi’s twin brother and the tragedy that happened among Han Sang-Hwan’s friends when he betrayed them to protect his father’s political career. On that brief incident when Han Sang-Hwan saw again Im Sang-Mi and heard her soft cry of help, Han Sang-Hwan vowed not to let down her and his friends again this time even at the cause of his life and family.

Characters:

Ok Taecyeon as Han Sang Hwan
Woo Do Hwan as Suk Dong Chul
Lee David as Woo Jung Hoon
Ha Hoe Jung as Choi Man Hee
Seo Ye Ji as Im Sang Mi
Jung Hae Kyun as Im Joo Ho
Yoon Yoo Sun as Kim Bo Eun
Jang Yoo Sang as Im Sang Jin
Jo Sung Ha as Baek Jung Ki
Park Ji Young as Kang Eun Shil
Jo Jae Yoon as Jo Wan Tae
Son Sang Kyung as Jo Wan Duk
Son Byung Ho as Han Yong Min
Choi Moon Soon as Chae Min Hwa
Jang Hyuk Jin as Lee Kang Soo
Kim Kwang Gyu as Woo Choon Gil
Hong Sung Duk as Dong Chul’s Father
Son Young Soon as Dong Chul’s Grandmother
Lee Sul Goo as Shaman Park Soo on Episode 4
Ko Joon as Cha Joon Goo
Kang Kyung Hun as Lee Ji Hee
Son Jong Hak as Chun Jae Soon
Choi Hyuk Joo as Restaurant Ahjumma
Park Soo Yun as Officer Choi Kyung Hye
Jun Yeo Bin as Hong So Rin
Lee Jae Joon as Dae Shik
Yoon Jung Suk as Lee Byung Suk
Son Byung Wook as Pil Soo
Jung Hee Tae as Homeless On Episode 1,15
Jung Joon Won as Jung Goo on Episode 4-5
Min Kyung Ok as Jung Goo’s Grandmother
Kim Seo Hwi as Yoo Ra

My Review:

Recently, my preference in what to watch is more of the action and suspense genre rather than satisfying my usual romcom addiction for a feel good hit. Maybe because interesting plots are getting rare and quite repetitive, probably, because most of my favorite actors who can definitely carry a romcom, no matter how cheesy it is, are all in the military training right now. Plus, most of the k-dramas recently being shown just looks good in the optics and can probably be considered entertaining yet treats its audience like morons with a “doesn’t make sense” plots and messy scripts whether original or an adaptation. So, currently, there’s not much romcoms that piques my interest. With the lack of my interest in most of the k-dramas recently done or currently showing, I took a chance of watching this k-drama, and, wow, it totally caught me by surprise on how superbly done it was. I am ecstatically glad that I did checked this out because it is not only entertaining but the grit and solidness of the story is perfectly done. I believe this is one of the k-dramas that can uniquely stand on its own genre due to its boldness in tackling two of the most controversial topics you can discuss with anyone as it gives a honest inside look of religion and politics that deals with the revelations of its flip side where in the midst of supposedly good there’s indeed presence of total evil, which is something that do exists in real life.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) I must commend Ok Taecyeon as Han Sang Hwan for his good performance on this k-drama but, honestly, it is Woo Do Hwan as Suk Dong Chul who takes the price of its brilliance in delivering his role and Seo Ye Ji, with her minimalistic portrayal of Im Sang Mi. Just by the expression of her eyes speaks volume about her fear, anger, hope, love and strength. She was quite a revelation on this k-drama that deservedly provided her an opportunity to showcase her talent.

(2) I also love the performances of most if not all the supporting actors especially Jo Sung Ha as Baek Jung Ki, Jung Hae Kyun as Im Joo Ho and Jo Jae Yoon as Jo Wan Tae. They really made their characters someone one can utterly despise and wishes them to be gone from the face of the earth.

(3) It boldly and equivocally show the evil side of religion and politics, both controversial and taboo to be a starter discussion with others. That the world of religion and politics. in my opinion, more often than not, pretends that there exists a separation between them and that they stand alone, but, the truth of the matter is that they do converge and leans toward each other to build their good image to the public. One uses the other to gain power and money. So, the evil people who also exist on these institutions use either God or governing beliefs it stand to manipulate the law or faith as an excuse to justify their wrongful actions and fool people to do things they won’t normally do. In real life, this blatant hypocrisy makes me cringe to my very core. So, seeing a realistic reel depiction of what’s real was a treat indeed for me.

(4) The undeniable unpredictability and suspense thrill of this k-drama made me watch this in viewing pleasure. It is dark in its premise but not to the point one will shy away with it because it makes you think.

(5) There are enough or probably too much documentations in real life to my liking how faith of people are used against them to be manipulated in a cult or even in a real religion. There are so many impostors who shouts to the world their devotion yet they are the total antithesis of what’s true on who they are. And, this is well performed by Jo Sung Ha as Baek Jung Ki, Jo Jae Yoon as Jo Wan Tae and Park Ji Young as Kang Eun Shil. Moreover, I don’t understand why people get suck into this kind of things. Their self-esteem and love for oneself are probably so low that they are willing to unquestionably believe that religion or the God they believe in would want them to do all those evil things for His namesake and this had been splendidly depicted by Jung Hae Kyun as Im Joo Ho on this k=drama.

(6) The side stories within the main story are also diverse and well directed and performed by the casts in tackling the ails of society like bullying, corruption in the police, the very government officials we have entrusted to do their job to serve us well and dysfunctional families because the parents are so weak that the children ended up suffering from their failures. I can’t help but to thank the powers above, who I call Papa Lord for giving me parents who is the total opposite of the parents of Im Sang Mi, Suk Dong Chul and father of Han Sang Hwan. I’ve always believe that the first blessing given to us when we are born is the kind of parents we are born with. It is something we didn’t have a choice and have to live with for the rest of our lives.

(7) This K-drama really worked with resounding success in my book because of the great collaboration of the director and writer with the excellent performance of the entire casts that formulated an effective ensemble to bring out a dark, chilling and socially relevant story.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

Honestly, the weaknesses of this k-drama didn’t lessen my admiration on how the entire casts and production were able to excellently showed the darker side of religion and politics or even family yet, still be entertaining to watch.

(1) There are some characters that I wonder why in the end they were able to continue their lives as if nothing happened and found not responsible for their actions under the law like Kang Eun-Sil.

(2) Although, this is not a weakness of this k-drama but, actually a plus that Jung Hae Kyun played Im Joo Ho so effectively that I want to literally shook and slap him to death to wake him up from what he’s doing to his children. Guess, his character is really that naive and stupid for him to allow the destruction of his family just because he believe in the kind of God that the cult has been brainwashing him with and Baek Jung-Ki, the leader of the cult. However, I placed this here as a flaw of this k-drama because every time Im Joo Ho character was on the screen I get totally stress out and angry. It is actually more of my flaw not this k-drama for me being so invested on the story.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? 100% Yes

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars

OST:

01. Title of Save Me – Various Artists
02. I Am – INKII
03. Hallucination – The Vane
04. Sandstorm – JungCha Shik
05. Out of The World – INKII
06. Endless Tears – Hwa Yo Bi
07. Stranger – Various Artists
08. Goosunwon – Various Artists
09. 구마의식 – Various Artists
10. Time of Pain – Various Artists
11. Good and Bad – Various Artists
12. Satan’s Energy – Various Artists
13. 가려진 눈물 – Various Artists
14. Tenacity – Various Artists
15. The Four Bumpkins – Various Artists
16. Prayer Room – Various Artists
17. Judgment Day – Various Artists
18. Bitter Reality – Various Artists
19. Admiration of Evil – Various Artists
20. The Chosen One – Various Artists
21. The Place Without Sadness – Various Artists
22. Narrow Road – Various Artists
23. Ordinary Family – Various Artists
24. Blood of Faith – Various Artists
25. Desire and Fantasy – Various Artists
26. Expansive – Various Artists
27. Two Faces – Various Artists
28. All Because of Me – Various Artists
29. 어깨 피라! – Various Artists
30. Promise – Various Artists
31. 판단과 정죄 – Various Artists
32. 꼭꼭 숨어라 – Various Artists
33. 검은 그림자 – Various Artists
34. 무너지는 마음 – Various Artists
35. 위장된 구원 – Various Artists
36. 꼭 살아야 해 – Various Artists
37. 구원받은 악마 – Various Artists
38. 새하늘님의 음성 – Various Artists
39. 무의식의 늪 – Various Artists
40. 의미심장한 눈빛 – Various Artists
41. 무지군의 비밀 – Various Artists
42. 보이지 않는 덫 – Various Artists
43. 한통속 – Various Artists
44. 계략 – Various Artists
45. 절박한 속삭임 – Various Artists
46. 그늘진 자리 – Various Artists

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