[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Miss Korea" Episode 19

"Miss Korea" made quiet allies of Ma Ae-ri and Hyung-joon and kept the "feel-good" mood that this director/writer pair is so wonderful at portraying. Logic is not strong in this show, but as it nears the end of its run, it brings home the message of warm, loving relationships between people and helping each other through crisis.

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The best thing about this episode was that Ae-ri put Ji-young in her place. She's been flighty and unfocused about everything but the "Miss Korea" competition. Ji-young leads a rather aimless life and tends to latch onto people: her family and Hyung-joon. Although I wish this element of the story had been focused on a lot earlier for a lot longer, Ji-young's growth comes from Hyung-joon's unwavering support and from Ae-ri's ability to tactlessly call Ji-young on her selfish tendencies. Forcing a character to grow like this doesn't deter from the overall mood of the drama. In fact, the focus allows the mood to glide along the well-organized character progression. This needed to happen way sooner.

The other thing that worked well was that Ae-ri is secretly helping Hyung-joon's company by styling her clients (Ji-young and other famous people) with Hyung-joon's make-up. It was strange last episode, but now it's much easier to see that she respects Hyung-joon and is doing him a favor because of it. It would be better to be clearer about how Ae-ri has changed over the course of the drama - enough to help someone who beat her and honor his efforts.

Another person who is finally being understood by his peers is Seon-saeng. The Vivi scientists are beginning to see his good intentions, street smarts and have decided to accept him. Hwa-jeong's acceptance of him romantically has a lot to do with that. This pairing is sweet and says a lot about how people get through rough times like the IMF crisis: goodwill, sharing, and teaching people how to care for themselves. Through working with the Vivi scientists, Seon-saeng learns valuable works skills and vice versa.

Many issues about the characters were aired this episode that should've been aired much earlier such as Ji-young's fear of being left behind. That would explain her ridiculous neediness. Or the fact that Ji-young has no long-term dream. That could've been explored a little when preparing for "Miss Korea" and preparing her profile rather than just briefly mentioned. Rather than a lot of the wandering plot this show has given us, more focus explorations would've pushed it along much more fluidly.

With one more episode to go, "Miss Korea" doesn't really have much to do but wrap up a few loose ends. It has dropped Jae-hee's plot thread almost entirely and tends to warble through those of the Vivi scientists. I'm not expecting much wrap up for those. I'm mostly hoping to see Ji-young be pro-active about her own live and for her to stop following Hyung-joon around like a puppy. Hyung-joon seems to have really grown since the beginning as has Ae-ri. A few fluffy feel good moments are never amiss either.

Written by Raine from Raine's Dichotomy

Follow on Twitter @Raine0211

"Miss Korea" is directed by Kwon Seok-jang, written by Seo Sook-hyang and features Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Yeon-hee, Jo Sang-ki and Lee Mi-sook.