“Unkind Women” is a captivating KBS family drama whose thought-provoking plot and strong female cast is drawing in prime time viewers. The Wednesday-Thursday series managed to dethrone “Kill Me, Heal Me” from its top ratings spot, providing a respite from the recent wave of psychological and supernatural series. In theory, “Unkind Women” should not be a successful weeknight series; its emphasis on inter-generational dynamics is the heart of most weekend dramas.
The series strikes a chord with female viewers, as it explores several generations of women and their struggles to succeed in a male-dominated society. These are not simpering K-Drama women who are waiting for their chaebol prince to arrive in his sports car or a man who will eradicate their psychological woes. They are women who are not misandrists but are not clinging to men, making the male characters of the series more like window dressing. The female characters of “Unkind Women” live up to the name of the series through social manipulation and a winner-takes-all mentality.
The heart of the series and the most enviable female character is Kang Soon Ok (Kim Hye Ja). Soon Ok is highly respected as a cooking instructor, exuding an air of confidence that was born out of necessity. She is the matriarch of the family, who doesn't hesitate to dropkick her deceased husband's mistress, while wearing a hanbok. Jang Mi Hee portrays Jang Mo Ran, the mistress who is struggling with her past deeds as she clings to her last days on earth. It is a reversal of roles, as Soon Ok wields her power over Mo Ran, unlike the wronged women of most Korean dramas.
One of the most interesting aspects of “Unkind Women” is the juxtaposition of Soon Ok's daughters. Kim Hyun Jung (Do Ji Won) is her daughter who appears to have her life completely figured out. She was once a successful anchorwoman-turned producer but she is being pushed out by younger on-air talent. Once her show is canceled, she begins to acknowledge the subtle privileges that accompanied her position at the television station. When she racks up a $300 bill for a blowout at her preferred hair salon which previously provided her with a 50% discount, reality sets in. She may have thought she had everything figured out but she has aged out of her beauty-driven position. While she may be a difficult character to root for, audiences who watched “Healer” will experience initial glee at seeing Do Ji Won back on the screen.
Chae Shi Ra portrays Kim Hyun Sook, a downtrodden, compulsive gambler. Hyun Sook is also Soon Ok's daughter but is the black sheep of the successful family. She is separated from her husband and participated in a fight with local high school students. By all accounts, she is a failure and is an outcast within her own family. This is most likely the reason behind the baffling compassion she exhibits for Jang Mo Ran, the woman who destroyed her family.
Hyun Sook has some of the most compelling scenes in the series. She contemplates suicide after losing the last of her meager savings but ends up saving the life of a suicidal student. She is prideful and refuses to sign a letter of apology, after the situation evokes memories of humiliation during her school days. Her story is one that many Korean and Korean-American parents will relate to. Hyun Sook wears threadbare clothing and sacrificed everything so that her daughter, Jung Ma Ri (Lee Ha Na) could become a teacher. As the episodes unfold, it becomes evident that Hyun Sook will evolve from a hapless woman to a successful member of society, but she repeatedly declares that she does not need her soon-to-be ex-husband or any other man.
Lee Ha Na is in the most traditional role for a female K-Drama character as Jung Ma Ri. She is a brilliant student with a rich educational background but she is clueless when it comes to life skills. She loses her job due to the actions of Lee Doo Jin (Kim Ji Suk). Rather than walk away, he sets out to right his wrongs and tries to return Ma Ri back to her previous position. He serves as eye-candy in the female dominated world of “Unkind Women,” along with Song Jae Rim.
Song portrays Lee Roo O, a Kendo instructor who has repeated run-ins with Ma Ri during one of her numerous part-time jobs. Roo O could be a sweeter version of “The Heirs” Choi Young Do, ready to save an older Cha Eun Sang from her woes but “Unkind Women” approaches their dynamic from a more nuanced angle.
The show bears resemblance to the "I Need Romance" series but from a completely difference angle. The quest for men and sex is less important than the freedom to curse and live life the way one chooses to. “Unkind Women” is meaty and a refreshing alternative to many of the K-Dramas that are currently airing. Hopefully, it will continue to live up to its name, providing a more nuanced perspective on the subjects that made “Desperate Housewives” and “Sex in the City” worth watching.
“Unkind Women” airs on KBS in the Wednesday-Thursday 9:55 p.m. KST time slot. It is available with subtitles on Viki.
