Powerful Opponents - Review

Just watched Powerful Opponents (2008) korean drama. Late, but better than never.

I do have some (ok maybe alot of) beef with this drama though.
 
The main lead, Su Ho, played by Lee Jin Wook was such a horrible character. I couldn't comprehend why the writer hinted at the last episode that the main female lead, Young Jin, played by Chae Rim, ends up together with Su Ho, in its supposedly "open ending".

Su Ho was a bratty son, who can't seem to comprehend and understand that his father is the president, and thus, does whatever he likes. For goodness sake, YOUR FATHER IS THE PRESIDENT. Anyone in the right mind would carry themselves properly at least in public. Heck, if my dad was the president I would be beaming every single day unless he did nasty stuff. But the writer did not paint the president evil; there were no telling of whether the president is a man that is not fit to be the president. The president was just painted as the busy father who had no time for his son, but still, tries hard in showing love to his son.

And all Su Ho had was self pity, and more pity for himself that his father did not have enough time to spend with him or brought him to the zoo when he was young and goes on to create scandalous news in public. Seriously?! And then he gets the girl?!?!?!

The other main lead's character, Gwang Pil was a much better character in terms of depth and characterization. In fact, with all the build up of all the sacrifices Gwang Pil made for Su Ho and his family, it was clear cut that he was the better man, matured and responsible, yet still kind and caring in his own way. He deserved to be loved, and loved dearly and to be happy.

Gwang Pil was a great brother and friend to Su Ho in their university days. Gwang Pil practically grew up with Su Ho (i think Gwang Pil did not have a family anymore, and thus, Su Ho's family was like his family). They unfortunately, fell in love with the same girl, and the girl eventually gave Su Ho her affection. Although jealous and heartbroken, Gwang Pil continued protecting Su Ho. During the relationship, Su Ho accidentally impregnate the girl, and so to avoid bringing bad publicity to Su Ho's father, the president, Gwang Pil was asked to help to walk away with the girl, bearing the name of the father of her child (and the hatred from Su Ho). Su Ho, who did not know about impregnating her, was heartbroken that the brother and friend he thought Gwang Pil was, stole his girl.

 So he goes to find them. In the moment of accusation by Su Ho, the girl told him that it was actually his child, but he could not hear at all nor think because he was so self-absorbed in his anger and sadness. While staggering backwards, he was about to fall over a wall, but Gwang Pil saves him and takes the fall. Both of them end up unconscious, and the girl passed away. Su Ho forgets this memory when he wakes up.

Back to the present. Su Ho acts all bratty, blaming his brother and friend, Gwang Pil, who worked up his way to become a bodyguard for the president and his family and protect them, even after 8 years for supposedly "stealing" his girl back then. Again, history repeats itself - they both end up falling in love with Gwang Pil's bodyguard partner.

Then came the surprise, Gwang Pil has a daughter, Ggot Nim (fabulous acting by the child actress btw) which eventually was revealed that it is Su Ho's. Even so, Gwang Pil has raised the girl for 8 years and even with all the love he has for her and all the sacrifice he made for her, he had to hand her over to Su Ho when Su Ho finally finds out it's his and claims her. (wtf?!?! your hyung and friend sacrificed so much for you - his happiness and life, and you still want to take the ONE thing he loves most, who was his only family during the 8 years away from everyone, from him?!?! to leave him with nothing?!?!?!)

And Su Ho gets the bodyguard girl in the end (another WTF moment.) (it was hinted by the writer as she was to timid to write it out clearly who really gets the girl in the end).

One example of why Su Ho is an outright ridiculous guy. Even when he supposedly 'changed for the better', in the moment of wanting to help Young Jin, the girl he loves, he still could care less of the implications to his family of his simple actions(Episode 13). Where is your rationality, Su Ho? Why are you still acting like a kid?! I get the appeal of the guy-who-can-give-up-the-whole-world-for-the-one-he-loves, but to implicate his family negatively, especially when his dad is the president is just so outrageous! It's going to the extreme, boy. Like he could just listen to Gwang Pil and let him settle it, but no, you must talk to the reporter in person who is desperately fishing for news of YOU Su Ho, trying to bait you. Also, when he said he was going to help Young Jin to find out the truth oh-so-heroicly, the first thing he does is call Gwang Pil, with Gwang Pil having found out the important info already(about the reporter who is in-charge of the published news) to help Young Jin.

LIKE........IT'S PRACTICALLY GWANG PIL HELPING YOU THROUGH YOUR WHOLE FREAKING LIFE SU HO, AND YOU TAKE ALL THE CREDIT?!

 Bloody hell. Yes I'm pissed. lol. But I can see why the writer was too timid to take an outright stand (Su Ho ending up with Young Jin) because the way she wrote Gwang Pil would bring a storm if she stated outrightly that Gwang Pil does not end with Young Jin.

There are alot more examples why Gwang Pil is better but i'm too lazy to write anymore. At the end, the writer hinted that Gwang Pil met another bodyguard girl who is similar to Young Jin, so i guess he might get a girl after all...

The only thing I've got after this whole drama is dislike for Lee Jin Wook (because I thought he acted horribly in the emotional scenes, thus failing to make me sympathize for his character. Please use your eyes more LJW) and his character Su Ho. If he wasn't good looking, he wouldn't have been able to gather any support at all for his poor character. The character had no ability to think of others (other than the girl he loves), and goes about his life selfishly. Sure, he had some redeeming moments, but those weren't enough to make up for his poor character ya know, Ms. Writer of this drama.

Lee Jong Hyuk, btw, wins me as a fan, not only because of his character Gwang Pil, but his acting throughout was stable and kept me engaged as a viewer, with his loving relationship with Ggot Nim (played by the amazing Kim Yoo Jung). I thought Gwang Pil and Ggot Nim was the highlight of the show, really.

 On the other hand, I found Chae Rim (Young Jin) a tad irritating in some scenes, and could not see her appeal. Loved her in All About Eve, not here though.

This drama leaves me with a bitter taste due to execution in plot and blur direction, which failed to make me root for Su Ho and Young Jin as the "main" couple. and I'm definitely not checking out this writer's future dramas anymore with the mess she made here.