Green Rose (2005)

Green Rose was my first ever revenge drama. I was interested in the plot because it was based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Besides, who wouldn't want a story of an underdog in a heavy and serious revenge thriller who actually won in the end? I DO.

THE GOOD
1. Gosh the ACTING, people.
Go Soo is definitely one of the most talented Korean actors ever. You know, his character in this drama demanded a lot from him as an actor considering the journey he had to go through in order to redeem himself. I rarely say this about a male Korean actor but I just have to commend his performance because darn it, he was absolutely BRILLIANT. His delivery was emotional, raw and powerful from the moment we see him crying and banging his head out of grief in prison after receiving news of his mother's death, to his wandering on the streets of Shanghai and eating leftovers in garbage cans, to his total transformation into a powerful and shrewd businessman determined to avenge his mother and clear his name. I liked Lee Da Hae's performance too. Contrary to her bubbly, colorful personality in My Girl, her acting here was restrained and somber. The lingering sadness, subdued by this quiet and carefully-held dignity, was conveyed well without making her totally boring or mediocre. Also, if you saw A Gentleman's Dignity, Lee Jong-Hyuk would be a familiar face to you. In Green Rose, he was a debonair, suave and charming villain who brought hell to Jung-Hyun and surreptitiously robbed him his future. So imagine my surprise when he became this immature, womanizing middle-aged man in a frothy rom-com. It was a full 360 degree turn from Green Rose for sure but still refreshing to watch (see, this is what I like about Korean actors, they're so versatile).

2. The Journey.
So much injustice had been done to the main character that you can't help but share the feelings of despair, anger, hopelessness and sadness with him. You can't help but feel vindicated yourself too after seeing him regain what was rightfully his in the first place. This was a man who wanted nothing more than to make his mother proud and live a simple life with the woman he loved. For him to be framed for murder and arson and lose everything he held dear due to another man's quest for revenge was heartbreaking. And yet his poignant transformation due to the heavy trials he experienced and his ultimate victory was so worth watching. And the best part was, his heart remained good. The methods he used against some of his enemies weren't malicious but instead forced them to reflect on their lives and gave them the opportunity to change. His perseverance, in spite of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, made the victory all the more sweet.

3. The Romance.
I think the love story and romantic angst were the best things about this drama. The scenes of Jung-Hyun (Go Soo) and Soo-Ah's (Lee Da Hae) encounters in the latter half when he assumed a different identity were quite painful to watch because the longing they had for each other was apparent. I loved seeing how conflicted they both felt in their situation: Jung-Hyun wanting to disclose his secret to Soo-Ah but he can't, at least not until he is able to clear his name. Soo-Ah being drawn to Jung-Hyun but fighting it because one, it's impossible for a person to resurrect from the dead; and two, she's dating the bad guy already.

THE BAD
I only have one gripe about this drama and it's the unfolding of the "mystery" surrounding that fateful night which resulted in Lee Jung-Hyun's trial and conviction. I was hoping for a more complex backdrop of the events, a more exciting revelation because this mystery is practically the reason why viewers continue to watch Green Rose in the first place: to know what truly happened, who were the real culprits, how it happened and the motivation behind the crimes. Sorry, I was not sold on the answers the writers gave in the end. I would've appreciated it if it was more intelligently written. But I still love the drama.

The plot was kind of impossible to believe at times but I think what mattered most was the character growth Jung-Hyun had to undergo, from being a gullible, humble and simple office worker to a wealthy and powerful man without losing his sense of morality in the process. Most characters go berserk in their pursuit for vengeance(e.g. Mawang, Resurrection, just to name a few). Here, it was his love for his mother that sustained him when he hit rock bottom, especially during those times when finding persons necessary in the resolution of his case proved to be very difficult. It was this love that kept him sane.

I recommend Green Rose to anyone looking for a good romance revenge melodrama that does NOT end in tragedy. Okay, sure, it's a 2005 drama so the quality isn't as polished as revenge dramas of recent years. That's a given so you need to be more patient while watching. Furthermore, the series is quite slow in the beginning. But once the transformation of Jung-Hyun kicks off, everything becomes more engaging and exciting.

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