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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Strong Woman Do Bong-soon" Episode 16 (Final)

We've made it to the final episode of "Strong Woman Do Bong-soon" and what an eventful journey it has been. From silly gangsters, to doppelgangers, to evil kidnappers, to the strong woman herself, this drama has fit in a little of just about everything. Let's talk about the finale and send off this drama with happy hearts.

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Jang-hyeon is jailed to his fury. The process of getting him to jail was anticlimactic, but it pales in comparison to the happenings of Bong-soon's new life. Now she is in a happy relationship and has decided to use her strength for good. She goes out of her way to help and begins to suffer the side effects of heroism: problems in regular life. These problems are not addressed in the slightest. Instead, they're left to be addressed by the characters after the show has ended. How does Bong-soon deal with work and hero-ing? How does Min-hyeok deal with his twin baby super hero girls? How does society deal with the mysterious help that it's been receiving? All of that is left open-ended, which isn't bad. What we do know is that Bong-soon's family and Min-hyeok support her, her powers, her work in society, and her happiness.

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The path that she walked to get there was lined in cuteness and that was the strength (hur) of "Strong Woman Do Bong-soon". Park Hyung-sik was charming and powerful as he always is on screen. His work here makes me want to see him in a film and in a more serious role that requires more of him. Here he was spot on and his chemistry with Park Bo-young was marvelous. She was adorable and transitions well between cute and serious. Although there were many feats of strength, they weren't overwhelmingly convincing. Her strength, while a focal point, could've been better dealt with on the whole. I'd like to see the constant effort she put into it, not just the training montage. I also would've liked to see her with her daughters so that they weren't just used for humor, but haveå a plot/character point.

As for her family and friends, her mother treats her father with more patience and care. Bong-gi, well, we don't see much of him save for the fact that he isn't dating Gook-doo's ex. Both he and Gook-doo were left by the way side developmentally. Gook-doo cries out his heartbreak and we hear very little from him otherwise. The monk was pointless as was the doppelganger subplot. Both should've been omitted. And that is the general complaint with this show, many things were included just for effect or for humor and were subsequently left undeveloped. That lack of development and the heavy emphasis on the romance makes "Strong Woman Do Bong-soon" more of a fun, thoughtless rom-com than a meatier drama. There is nothing wrong with this kind of show. Sometimes a person just needs to plunk down and lose herself in some adorable romance. But, I was expecting more based on the premise.

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My favorite part of this drama is how much Min-hyeok supports Bong-soon despite the fact that he could fear her instead. He helps her control her power, appreciates her quirks, and stands by her through thick and thin. She fusses with him, but for the most part, it is the same for her. They are a good team without the annoying bickering. There is a good amount of playful fussing as is a requisite of any self-respecting rom-com.

In the end, Bong-soon accepts her strength and learns to use it for good rather than just standing by as she did for much of Jang-hyeon's evil reign around her neighborhood. And she gets an adorable, self-sufficient, handsome husband to help her through it all. Hopefully he'll make it through their super children's infancy. Perhaps that will be addressed in the sequel.

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Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Strong Woman Do Bong-soon" is directed by Lee Hyeong-min, written by Baek Mi-kyeong, and features Park Bo-young, Park Hyung-sik and Ji Soo.

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