"Insider" (인사이더) KDRAMA & My Spoiler Impressions of Eps 1-4
Debating which KDRAMA series I should start this Friday night, I had chosen "INSIDER" over "EVE" and "WHY HER" (whom I will get to eventually), which I was initially adamant against, as I'd just finished a male-protagonist orientated series with "AGAIN MY LIFE (어게인 마이 라이프)" with Lee Joon-Gi leading. I like to vary my watches as I'd not want to burn my own interest out. Be that as it may, Insider was my final choice, and it did manage to grab my attention, and I binged all 4 episodes in a night/day, so here I am with some SPOILER-ISH impressions and videos to share, cheers.
"Insider" (인사이더) is a new KDRAMA starring Kang Ha-Neul as "Kim Yo-Han", in a tale written by (who also penned 2018-2019 "Priest" for OCN), as directed by Min Yeon-Hong.
From the JTBC network, this 16-episoder premiered June 8th and is scheduled to end July 28, with two episodes airing weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays (22:30).
The SYNOPSIS on viki.com: "Kim Yo Han (Kang Ha Neul) is a trainee with the judiciary. Tragic circumstances have befallen his family, and while he is working undercover to investigate the suspected corruption carried out by a prosecutor, ends up in the fearsome Seongju Prison. Understanding that he has been betrayed by forces unseen, he decides to make avenging those who wronged him and his family his life’s mission.
Kim Yo Han’s fellow inmates have it in for him – and threaten to destroy him utterly at the lawless Seongju Prison, even though he is blessed with incredible wits and formidable fighting skills. However, he may have found an unconventional ally in the form of a shady female entrepreneur named Oh Soo Yeon (Lee Yoo Young). She visits him in prison and promises him the chance to avenge those who caused his downfall...on the condition that he helps her realize her own selfish goals. Will Kim Yo Han’s dreams of revenge ever come true? And what are Oh Soo Yeon’s true intentions?"
EPISODE 5 PREVIEW:
The above synopsis essentially describes the first four episodes I'd watch, but does not describe what happens next - for which the OPENING SEQUENCE in Episode One is supposed to lead to, "One Year Later".
Episode One is somewhat like a "origin story" which sets up the base for what impacts how Yo Han navigates his way thru the series, when he goes undercover in an unsanctioned project (but for two seniors) taking part in a gambling den scenario held in a temple (which'll impact the show in real life, pretty soon). We are introduced to the 2 seniors and as well his grandma, as they offer "jesa" to Yo Han's deceased father, who worked with both gentlemen, so there is a deep seated sense of loyalty (which of course will be tested) beyond just colleagues.
The two seniors in question are like chalk and cheese, and how their individual journeys play out, sets up how Yo Han will navigate his life as the series progresses.
How Yo Han is the person he is, was influenced by his late father. How he is pushed to advance, is due to two more deaths (which I'll not spoil here, but you'll figure out by the first 2 episodes).
Yo Han decides to go further uncover and get himself into jail in an attempt to find a person and secure a USB drive for a video. But once he steps in, he is abandoned due to "circumstances", and he is the punching page for all of 3 episodes.
I appreciate that the character of Yo Han does not start off as a well rounded fighter, or street-smart independence crusader for justice. He starts with noble intentions, and does what his seniors tell him (or tell him not to), thus leaving a possible space for his character arc to develop into a "hero" as the series develops, hopefully. But in Eps 1-4, he is a someone in over his head within circumstances he cannot control... not yet, anyways.
One key aspect of INSIDER, is the focus on "gambling". Gambling in the reel-world, gambling inside prison, where a world is built around gambling, so for folks fearing being "triggered", you cannot escape this series whose foundation centers around "gambling".
It is a key component of this series, and what provides the different "levels" the protagonist has to conquer, for him to advance - very much like a video game, followed by a next level introduced, so on so forth.
A whole lot of the battles are "skill" versus "luck" - very much like gambling. Yo Han is taught gambling skills, but he is faced with lucklessness when it comes to his opponents. Sometimes he lucks out, sometimes he looses (a lot more than expected lol), but will somehow gain something else in return. The push and pull aspect of the first 4 episodes were what had piqued my attention LOL
In the opening episodes, it showed Yo Han trained in the Buddhist temple as a child and how he is attuned to its "teachings", at the VERY LEAST the "rhythm chanting" (I don't see any further holistic influences or references mentioned within the 4 eps Id watched tho :p), and showcased his learning of gambling skills aligned with Buddist-styled chanting, and looks to be a schtick for this series... but for the on-air disclaimer starting Episode 3 where the production had to apologise for utilising a Buddhist-temple as a "gambling den", which incurred wrath from offline folks who'd complained about the scenario.
I've not read about this situation in real-life, but it's the first time I see a production acknowledge and apologise (NOT that I watch a whole lot of KDRAMAs, but...).
Kang Ha-Neul is doing a bang-up job so far to convince the type of person he tries to be, and has been, with his much vaulted "poker-face" no doubt something to be developed in later episodes (he sucks at it in the beginning hahahaha), and with a emotional depth experienced with each tragedy and betrayal wearing him down, but no doubt building his resolve. "Revenge" is an inevitability, but I wonder of that's the main thing on his character's mind...
By the end of Ep4, this phrase popped immediately into mind: "Every/each man for himself" ... but to do that, he'll need others to help him, although "do not expect loyalty, as you'll be disappointed in the end".
It's too early for me to "recommend" this, but I'll be continuing my weekly watches to see how the story unfolds, and if Yo Han becomes the "(anti)hero" I hope he will be.
Cheers
Andy TOYSREVIL
"Insider" (인사이더) is a new KDRAMA starring Kang Ha-Neul as "Kim Yo-Han", in a tale written by (who also penned 2018-2019 "Priest" for OCN), as directed by Min Yeon-Hong.
From the JTBC network, this 16-episoder premiered June 8th and is scheduled to end July 28, with two episodes airing weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays (22:30).
The SYNOPSIS on viki.com: "Kim Yo Han (Kang Ha Neul) is a trainee with the judiciary. Tragic circumstances have befallen his family, and while he is working undercover to investigate the suspected corruption carried out by a prosecutor, ends up in the fearsome Seongju Prison. Understanding that he has been betrayed by forces unseen, he decides to make avenging those who wronged him and his family his life’s mission.
Kim Yo Han’s fellow inmates have it in for him – and threaten to destroy him utterly at the lawless Seongju Prison, even though he is blessed with incredible wits and formidable fighting skills. However, he may have found an unconventional ally in the form of a shady female entrepreneur named Oh Soo Yeon (Lee Yoo Young). She visits him in prison and promises him the chance to avenge those who caused his downfall...on the condition that he helps her realize her own selfish goals. Will Kim Yo Han’s dreams of revenge ever come true? And what are Oh Soo Yeon’s true intentions?"
The above synopsis essentially describes the first four episodes I'd watch, but does not describe what happens next - for which the OPENING SEQUENCE in Episode One is supposed to lead to, "One Year Later".
Episode One is somewhat like a "origin story" which sets up the base for what impacts how Yo Han navigates his way thru the series, when he goes undercover in an unsanctioned project (but for two seniors) taking part in a gambling den scenario held in a temple (which'll impact the show in real life, pretty soon). We are introduced to the 2 seniors and as well his grandma, as they offer "jesa" to Yo Han's deceased father, who worked with both gentlemen, so there is a deep seated sense of loyalty (which of course will be tested) beyond just colleagues.
The two seniors in question are like chalk and cheese, and how their individual journeys play out, sets up how Yo Han will navigate his life as the series progresses.
How Yo Han is the person he is, was influenced by his late father. How he is pushed to advance, is due to two more deaths (which I'll not spoil here, but you'll figure out by the first 2 episodes).
Yo Han decides to go further uncover and get himself into jail in an attempt to find a person and secure a USB drive for a video. But once he steps in, he is abandoned due to "circumstances", and he is the punching page for all of 3 episodes.
I appreciate that the character of Yo Han does not start off as a well rounded fighter, or street-smart independence crusader for justice. He starts with noble intentions, and does what his seniors tell him (or tell him not to), thus leaving a possible space for his character arc to develop into a "hero" as the series develops, hopefully. But in Eps 1-4, he is a someone in over his head within circumstances he cannot control... not yet, anyways.
One key aspect of INSIDER, is the focus on "gambling". Gambling in the reel-world, gambling inside prison, where a world is built around gambling, so for folks fearing being "triggered", you cannot escape this series whose foundation centers around "gambling".
It is a key component of this series, and what provides the different "levels" the protagonist has to conquer, for him to advance - very much like a video game, followed by a next level introduced, so on so forth.
A whole lot of the battles are "skill" versus "luck" - very much like gambling. Yo Han is taught gambling skills, but he is faced with lucklessness when it comes to his opponents. Sometimes he lucks out, sometimes he looses (a lot more than expected lol), but will somehow gain something else in return. The push and pull aspect of the first 4 episodes were what had piqued my attention LOL
In the opening episodes, it showed Yo Han trained in the Buddhist temple as a child and how he is attuned to its "teachings", at the VERY LEAST the "rhythm chanting" (I don't see any further holistic influences or references mentioned within the 4 eps Id watched tho :p), and showcased his learning of gambling skills aligned with Buddist-styled chanting, and looks to be a schtick for this series... but for the on-air disclaimer starting Episode 3 where the production had to apologise for utilising a Buddhist-temple as a "gambling den", which incurred wrath from offline folks who'd complained about the scenario.
I've not read about this situation in real-life, but it's the first time I see a production acknowledge and apologise (NOT that I watch a whole lot of KDRAMAs, but...).
Kang Ha-Neul is doing a bang-up job so far to convince the type of person he tries to be, and has been, with his much vaulted "poker-face" no doubt something to be developed in later episodes (he sucks at it in the beginning hahahaha), and with a emotional depth experienced with each tragedy and betrayal wearing him down, but no doubt building his resolve. "Revenge" is an inevitability, but I wonder of that's the main thing on his character's mind...
By the end of Ep4, this phrase popped immediately into mind: "Every/each man for himself" ... but to do that, he'll need others to help him, although "do not expect loyalty, as you'll be disappointed in the end".
It's too early for me to "recommend" this, but I'll be continuing my weekly watches to see how the story unfolds, and if Yo Han becomes the "(anti)hero" I hope he will be.
Cheers
Andy TOYSREVIL
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