“Strong Girl Nam-soon” gained attention as a spin-off to JTBC’s hit drama “Strong Girl Bong-soon”
The “Strong Girl” series aimed to expand the world of female superhero stories, showcasing ambitious aspirations. It marked actress Lee Yoo-mi’s second lead role after her impressive performances in Netflix’s “Squid Game” and “All of Us Are Dead”.
The story begins with the protagonist Gang Nam-soon, a strong, innocent and quirky character who disappeared in Mongolia as a child. As an adult, she travels to South Korea to search for her parents. The narrative introduces homeless characters, Ji Hyun-soo (Joo Woo-jae) and Teacher Noh (Kyungri), who add lively charm. Gang Nam-soon’s heroics, depicted with lightness, provide enjoyable moments. “Strong Girl Nam-soon” is a comic-like drama, but its comic-like lightness and development are actually its strengths.
However, as the drama progresses, it loses some of its initial momentum, becoming more of a casual watch without the captivating storytelling seen in the early episodes. There are some disappointments, such as the narcotics investigation plot, which lacks depth and realism, feeling more like a light-hearted joke. Additionally, Gang Nam-soon’s powerful charm fades in the latter half, resembling a mere assistant to Detective Gang Hee-sik (Ong Seong-wu).
Some elements are regrettable, like the underwhelming depth of the narcotics investigation plot, which might have benefited from a quicker transition to a different crime theme, akin to SBS’s “Taxi Driver”. Furthermore, the impressive special effects that highlighted Gang Nam-soon’s strength early on seem to diminish as the series progresses, potentially due to budget constraints.
The drama tries to fill time with seemingly pointless comedy involving Gang Nam-soon’s grandmother, Gil Joong-gan (Kim Hae-sook). Meanwhile, the antagonist Ryu Shi-oh (Byeon Woo-seok) evolves from a charming villain into a noble and pure male lead, contributing to the overall confusion of the narrative. The initial premise of the three powerful women becoming heroes together has almost vanished.
Despite these shortcomings, “Strong Girl Nam-soon” serves as a decent comeback vehicle for actress Kim Jung-eun. Her portrayal of the character Hwang Geum-joo, Gang Nam-soon’s mother, stands out. Kim Jung-eun successfully injects human charm into the strong female character. Her acting, especially in emotional scenes where she sheds tears for her son Gang Nam-in (Han Sang-jo), elevates the drama and adds a touch of sincerity.
Kim Jung-eun’s ability to balance the stoic nature of Hwang Geum-joo with a wide range of emotions showcases her versatility. Despite the drama’s loss of strength in the hero genre, Kim Jung-eun reaffirms her status as a powerful actress who can bring humor, melodrama and relatable emotions seamlessly.
Source: daum
