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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Woman with a Suitcase" Episode 7

"Woman with a Suitcase" is losing it's steam the more it goes along. The root of the problem is the lack of chemistry between the leads and the looseness with which the main intrigue is treated. There is so much potential buried within the premise, but after seven episodes the show still hasn't found its stride.

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The biggest lack is the relationship between Bok-geo and Geum-joo. Joo Jin-mo and Choi Ji-woo have mediocre chemistry at best and watching the two pretend to flirt is a painful experience. Choi Ji-woo and Lee Joon, on the other hand, hard crackling with life any time they appear on screen together. The script reads like Bok-geo and Geum-joo are the destined couple (and the promotional material tells us so), but the final physical product and interactions fail to support the dialogue and motions.

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As for Scarface (which is the name I'm giving to the mysterious figure who works behind the scenes and manipulates situations in very dangerous ways), he is growing in importance, especially since the link has been made between him and Hye-joo's immoral boss. There is a much larger, much more political ring backing the nefarious events that led to Geum-joo's imprisonment than first appeared. Unfortunately, like Geum-joo's and Bok-geo's budding romance, it is also lackluster.

What I loved about this show at its start was Geum-joo and her story. She goes through tough times and slowly puts herself back together using her own strength and gumption. While those traits are still present, her story is bogged down by the love triangle that is working in full force and by the lack of focus on her personal growth. Bring that back, "Woman with a Suitcase". That was where the meat and potatoes of this drama was found. Now it is as fulfilling as a handful of Tic Tacs.

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

"Woman with a Suitcase" is directed by Kang Dae-seon and Lee Jae-jin-II, written by Kwon Eum-mi, and starring Choi Ji-woo, Joo Jin-mo, Jeon Hye-bin, and Lee Joon.

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