So last weekend was the premiere of The Trunk on Netflix, the last big premiere before the behemoth Squid Game 2 arrives end of the month at Christmas time. Starring Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin and adapted from the same name novel, the drama puts powerhouse A-list leads with a much more subdued and slow burn story. The reviews from critics and viewers are decidedly mixed, with some finding it a waste of the star power in a dreary story and dull washed out cinematography and others appreciating the nuanced storytelling at a leisurely pace to unfold. Basically if you like art house flicks and have the patience for the less is said and more is shown through action or inaction works then this will be for otherwise the other side view just finds it boring.
Frankly they should have named the show “the chandelier” rather than the “the trunk” 😂
They should have called the show “The chandelier” rather than “The trunk” 😂
Haha that makes so much sense.
couldn’t agree more ,hahahaha..
I hated it.
I sat through for 3 episodes.
Then had to fast-forward through the rest to understand what was the big trunk plot
I was so disappointed.
The characters are messed up I understand,but atleast throw in a good storyline or a twist to make us sit through 8 episodes,I think this would have fared well if it was a movie.
What a waste of such great actors.
And the herione,she has lost so much weight it’s disturbing.in the earlier episodes where they show her crouching down her spine is on focus.She looked so better in Another HY,Let’s Eat.
I didn’t like her styling in this drama either. For me personally that hairstyle wasn’t flattering at all.
Agree with this, saw some clips of it and they really could’ve done better
I could tell from the trailer it would be a drag and the plot sounded so far fetched to be a great watch, Gong yoo should do something fun or riveting for his next project especially if it is a drama, the theme of the drama seems more suiting for a movie set up instead of an episodic set up. Here we complain at times 16 episodes or more can seem a bit dragging and everyone hems and haws about 12 episodes and how they prefer it and this was just 8 lol. But I’m sure this elevated their opportunities since it was on Netflix.
I also got sceptic feeling from the drama after trailer.
It’s actually can be a case, some Netflix k-dramas would work better as a movies.
I didn’t dislike it, but I wasn’t a fan either. It was shot a bit like an arthouse film but I couldn’t feel much depth in the story.
I tried watching this but my mind is with When the phone rings…too obsessed with it to continue with this one. This married couple was just so boring.
I know right? I have been waiting for forever for Koala to do a piece on ‘When the Phone Rings’ – 4 episodes in and I am completely obsessed! It’s my crack drama! Never have I wanted Netflix to drop all episodes so badly. It occupies my waking thoughts, I have rewatched each episode so many times, so I have no space for other Kdramas right now. Though I may check this drama out when that one ends.
OMG, same. I been rewatching and dissecting episodes 1-4 since it last aired. Its so good and the leads are so beautiful together, the chemistry is just *chef’s kiss. Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo Bin is the couple we never knew we needed!!
+100000%
Addictive indeed!
A delightful addition to the end of year dramas!
I am with you! Can’t wait this Friday for When the Phone Rings
Yes!
Last week I kept rewatching it until ep 3 and 4 dropped
This week I am trying Away from eye away from mind technique 🤣🤣🤣
I ma seeing people going crazy about “When the Phone Rings” all over social media. Happy Chae Soo Bin finally picked a successful drama! I have liked her since her supporting role in ‘Moonlight Drawn by Clouds” but she just hasn’t quite managed to get that breakout drama ever since then even though she is a good actress. I think the ratings would be even higher if this wasn’t up against The Fiery Priest 2.
Ahhhhh! So glad I’m not alone. It’s toooo gooooddd.
I watched 2 episodes, not sure if I will continue. My problem is that so far I don’t like any of the characters, I don’t care what happens to them.
I actually enjoyed it. He is such a good actor!
I am watching it for Gong Yoo, but damn it’s not easy 😅 I keep dozing off or realizing I’ve been on the phone for half the episode which never happens (mostly because I don’t persist as hard as I am with this one…)
This drama tried too many things at the same time. But the main theme with the couple healing each other was really good. The couple worked very well. The actors were great (even if I didn’t understand SHJ’s haircut…)
So the other drama “When the phone rings”,it boring
IT IS NOT BORING!! ITS SO GOOD!
When The Phone Ringa is far from boring. I’m always at the edge of my seat watching each episode
It’s not an easy or comfortable watch, but I liked it. But it’s not a drama I would rewatch
Another miss from Seo Hyun Jin I guess. I don’t like writers previous work so I have feeling I won’t like this too.
Both actors are portraying the characters very well. They are suffering from past trauma and they handle the emotional acts so good. SHJ looks skinny in this series but what you expect from someone who has gone thru trauma for years and still look happy and fit.
Fast forwarded; confirmed happy ending; then enjoyed watching.
Thank you for this 🤣 I checked out the first episode and was thinking to skip the rest but now maybe I’ll continue for love of Gong Yoo
I watched because of the actors and was intrigued by the plot. Subtle, interesting and I liked that at the end of it all it has a good ending. Most of the episodes felt heavy buts that’s the plot. I liked it. The darkness of it all, and the positive vibe it gave in the end.
I loved it!
I’ve loved Gong Yoo since the 2007 Coffee Prince.
That started my K movies “addiction!”😂
The Trunk for me is one of the best shows on Netflix now. Although it has an indefinite ending, the story itself is nice. Not a typical romance story. And for the title “The Trunk” is appropriate if you notice the secrets, pain feelings and regrets of the leading ladies are all inside the Trunk.
I have mixed feeling twds the drama. Not hating it but not liking it either.
I also can say I feel rather confused by the drama surrounding the trunk. Supposedly the items inside are those of her involvement in so many contract marriages, but then there’s a scene which revealed the content to be baby items. Idk if I missed out anything or that I fell asleep till I missed it out. I also don know if the ex-fiancee actually been staying there all along or he just came back.
Anyway, I don’t feel the chemistry between Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin. They acted the best that they could though I hate the way Korean actresses portrayed emptiness. It’s always the same way of portraying it. Straight face, straight body posture, straight walk, talk like robot.
And I just can’t understand the feature of explicit sex scene like was it even needed. So unnecessary and guess that’s why I fell out of love with K-drama these days. Too much nudity and sex.
And am I the only one who finds that actress who portrayed the ex-wife seems to resemble Song Hye Kyo a lot?
@Alexa…the trunk that was recovered by the police is the trunk belonging to Gong Yoo’s ex wife not his current wife. That’s why the stalker freaked out cause she couldn’t opened the trunk. The ex wife got the same trunk as Seo Hyun Jin’s character after seeing the way Gong Yoo looked at SHJ while they were all at the luggage store. It was a flashback sequence. The ex wife put the clothes of the baby that they lost in that trunk and never opened it again till it was recovered by the police.
Personally, the sex scenes in this show are not gratuitous to me. They show the twisted relationship and feelings the ex wife has towards Gong Yoo cause she literally get turned on after toying with his emotions.
Agreed with you on the lack of chemistry between Gong Yoo and SHJ tho. I was so looking forward to their repressed yearnings at each other but it was rather dull and muted.