※This article was written after watching up to episode 5, which were provided to the media in advance, and contains spoilers.
[BizHankook] Seo Hyun-jin from 'Another Miss Oh' and Gong Yoo from 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God'—it’s truly an irresistible combination. Add to that director Kim Kyu-tae, known for 'That Winter, the Wind Blows,' 'It's Okay, That's Love,' and 'Our Blues.' This is 'The Trunk,' a mystery melodrama featuring the unique premise of a "fixed-term marriage." The anticipation for the Netflix series 'The Trunk,' released on November 29, couldn't be any higher.
'The Trunk' depicts a secret marriage service that begins to be revealed due to a trunk surfacing by a lake, and the strange marriage story of two men and women caught within it. Noh In-ji (Seo Hyun-jin) is an employee at NM (New Marriage), a fixed-term marriage matching agency, and she has just taken on her fifth marriage contract. Her partner is Han Jeong-won (Gong Yoo), a music producer consumed by anxiety and loneliness due to past trauma.
The peculiar thing is that the person who recommended the fixed-term marriage to Han Jeong-won was his ex-wife, Lee Seo-yeon (Jung Yoon-ha). To Han Jeong-won, who is still fixated on his ex-wife, Lee Seo-yeon threatened that if he didn't accept the one-year fixed-term marriage, she would never see him again, forcing him to accept this strange arrangement.
Of course, as one might expect, Noh In-ji and Han Jeong-won gradually become concerned with each other, and as they pay attention to one another, they grow closer. A woman who has been hurt by marriage and has chosen to be a wife as a job out of spite, and a man who had to watch the harrowing domestic violence in his parents' marriage and whose own marriage also remains a scar. It goes without saying that those bound by contract to live in the same space will eventually discover each other's wounds. If the story followed only this path, it could have been a simple melodrama or romantic comedy, but 'The Trunk' liberally splashes on the mystery.
With the surfacing of the patterned trunk at the lakeshore, a murder case is implied. Early on, the identity of the deceased is not revealed, which heightens curiosity. Furthermore, Lee Seo-yeon, who recommended the fixed-term marriage to Han Jeong-won, is also in a fixed-term marriage herself. The ex-wife, the ex-husband, the current wife, and the current husband—people who should never be in the same space—constantly run into each other, creating a strange atmosphere.
Beyond the unconventional material of fixed-term marriage and fake spouses, 'The Trunk' is riddled with elements that might be considered uncomfortable. From the mammonism that suggests marriage and spouses can be bought with money, to domestic violence, obsession and stalking, homosexuality and outing, gaslighting, and murder—all sorts of provocative elements are present, including high-level bed scenes. Of course, rather than just highlighting the provocative aspects, there is an effort to delicately handle the characters' emotional lines and present even the more "makjang" (absurdist/soap opera) elements with as much dignity as possible. The problem is that the narrative feels loosely connected.
The relationship between Noh In-ji and Han Jeong-won is good. The narrative of wounded individuals growing closer through a contract marriage is a staple of many webtoons and web novels, and is a familiar trope seen in many dramas and films. Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo, both excellent at nuanced emotional acting, express the characters—who share the scars of marriage—fluidly.
However, when Lee Seo-yeon and her fixed-term husband Yoon Ji-oh (Jo Yi-geon) are added to the mix, it becomes difficult to understand the narrative. While there are still lingering emotions and scars between Han Jeong-won and Lee Seo-yeon, it is hard to guess the hidden motives behind why Lee Seo-yeon goes to such lengths. Unlike the Seo Hyun-jin and Gong Yoo duo, the acting tone of Jung Yoon-ha and Jo Yi-geon stands out a bit too much, which occasionally breaks immersion. Likewise, the presence of the stalker Eom Tae-sung (Kim Dong-won) who chases Noh In-ji does add tension to the play, but the narrative surrounding him is thin, which is regrettable.
There is fun to be found in the scene-stealing supporting actors and special appearances, including Kwon Do-dam (Lee Jung-eun), who seems to hold the key to certain parts, and Noh In-ji’s friend (Jeon Hye-jin). Uhm Ji-won appears as the representative of NM, who orchestrates these secret fixed-term marriages, and Choi Young-joon plays the detective investigating the trunk murder case. Additionally, Lee Ki-woo, Jung Kyung-ho, and Cha Seung-won appear at unexpected moments.
Watching the remaining three episodes might resolve the scattered narrative, but based on the first five episodes, it feels a bit like this line from the show: "There's so much, but there's nothing." For reference, 'The Trunk' is based on the novel of the same name by author Kim Ryeo-ryeong, who wrote 'Punch' and 'Thread of Lies.' However, as there are quite a few adaptations, even those who have read the original work will find it interesting to watch.
Who is the writer Jung Soo-jin?
She has worked for various magazines, covering and writing about movies, travel, and pop culture. While she doesn't want to fall behind on trends, she has become an "old soul" who predicts the obvious clichés of the next scene while watching the latest dramas. Currently drifting through the vast world of OTT platforms, she is trying to regain her lost edge. Her current wish is for a unified OTT subscription plan.