My Name (Korean: 마이 네임) is a South Korean action crime thriller series that was released on Netflix on October 15, 2021. Directed by Kim Jin-min, this 8-episode series stars Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, and Ahn Bo-hyun in the lead roles, with a script written by Kim Ba-da. Produced by studio Santa Claus Entertainment, the series has a TV-MA rating. When I saw Han So-hee’s badass fight scenes and dark revenge story in the trailer, I thought, “This is going to be a hit!” Is it really a hit? I will share my feelings, highlights, and some minor shortcomings in this review!
What is the story?
Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee) witnesses the brutal murder of her father, Dong-hoon. Shocked, she becomes determined to catch the killer and take revenge. To do so, she joins a drug gang called Dongcheon, run by Choi Moo-jin (Park Hee-soon). With Moo-jin's help, Ji-woo infiltrates the police department as a mole under the new identity of Oh Hye-jin. There, she teams up with Detective Jeon Pil-do (Ahn Bo-hyun). Narcotics Unit Head Cha Gi-ho (Kim Sang-ho) tries to deal with the Dongcheon gang. Meanwhile, Moo-jin's close friend Jung Tae-joo (Lee Hak-joo) brings twists to the story of Do Gang-jae (Jang Ryul), who has left the gang. Ji-woo's attempt to find his father's murderer reveals unexpected truths. Where did this revenge journey lead? The series is fun!
My feelings: The action is great, but the climax is one!
After watching the first four episodes, I felt like, "Wow, this series is fire!" Han So-hee's fight scenes, the dark gang world, and the suspense had me glued to the TV. Ji-woo's character's raging determination gave me goosebumps from the very first scene. Although the story went a bit predictable from the fifth episode, the action and twists kept me on the edge of my seat. I really liked Han So-hee's performance, the bloody fight sequences, the moody lighting, and the OST. However, the climax didn't give me that emotional boost. The romance scenes between Ji-woo and Pil-do felt forced and unnecessary. Pil-do's death didn't touch me that much. While the stylish action and gritty vibe were full marks, the depth of the story, some character development, and the satisfying ending were a bit lacking.
Acting, Technicalities
Han So-hee is amazing as Yoon Ji-woo! She gained 10 kg of muscle for this series, and the intensity she gave in the fight scenes and vulnerability in the emotional scenes made me think "hotsoff!". I think this role gave her a career breakthrough. Park Hee-soon gave a sympathetic performance as the crime boss Choi Moo-jin. Ahn Bo-hyun was okay as Pil-do, but I was disappointed that his character didn't have much scope. Lee Hak-joo, Jang Ryul, and Kim Sang-ho did well in the supporting roles.
Technically, Kim Jin-min's direction gave the series a stylish gritty vibe. The cinematography used red, purple, and blue lighting to give the drug raids and dive bar scenes a wonderfully dark tone. The fight scenes' choreography made me think, "This is Korean action magic!" The OST brought the intense moments to life. While the editing was crisp at first, the last two episodes felt a bit slow. Kim Ba-da's script touched on corruption and morality, but the lack of novelty in the revenge story left me a little disappointed.
Likes, Dislikes
Likes:
Han So-hee's acting - badass in fights, soft in emotions. Perfect!
Action scenes - bloody, intense, super choreography.
Cinematography, OST - full marks for dark, moody vibe.
Minor criticisms of corruption, crime world.
8 episodes - crisp without fillers.
Dislikes:
The story was a bit predictable, the twists were not shocking.
The climax did not connect emotionally.
Ji-woo, Pil-do romance was forced, unnecessary.
Pil-do, Gang-jae characters lack depth.
Brutal violence, rape scenes may make some people uncomfortable.
Who can watch it?
My Name is Han So-hee is a perfect choice for fans of action thrillers, and for those who watch Korean dramas like Squid Game and Vincenzo. Due to the TV-MA rating, there is bloody violence, rape, drugs, smoking, and sexual content, so it is suitable for 15+ adults. Skip if you want to watch it with your family. There are Telugu subtitles with Korean audio, but there is no Telugu dubbing. A bit of a disappointment for those expecting emotional depth and a new story.
Rating: 3.5/5
My Name is Han So-hee impressed me with its badass performance, stylish action, gritty crime vibe, and crisp format. However, the predictable story, weak climax, forced romance, and brutal content held me back a bit. Action thrillers and Korean drama lovers should give it a watch on Netflix, they will enjoy it raw!
Release Date: October 15, 2021 (Netflix)
Director: Kim Jin-min
Writer: Kim Ba-da
Cast: Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-joo, Jang Ryul
Rating: TV-MA (Action, Crime, Thriller)