From Schemes to Murder, Women in Drama Are Getting Stronger

In every successful drama there is a leading woman. Following Kim Hee-ae, who acted a dramatic wife in the recently ended jTBC drama "The World of the Married", the women in the latest contents of Watcha don't hesitate to kill.

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Women are getting stronger. They corner their opponents with all kinds of schemes and even commit murder from the beginning. The process of looking back on why they did so much becomes the basis of the drama's main narrative and story. Obedient and innocent women are no longer seen in most dramas.

- Why women's characters who stand up for themselves in drastic situations get support

In "The World of the Married", which had a lot of talk about provocative affairs, all events take place with the main character, Ji Seon-woo (Kim Hee-ae), at the center. Ji Seon-woo is devastated by her husband's affair, but she is not alone. This is a different aspect from most dramas dealing with affairs, where the female lead just ends up being betrayed and doing nothing about it. Ji Seon-woo finds it hard to accept her husband's actions, but soon finds a way to regain her reason and protect herself.

In particular, Ji Seon-woo gave viewers both a little bit of disapproval and exhilaration in that she tried to achieve her goal by any means. She did not hesitate to conspire to retrieve her property her husband hid from her and gain custody. She even has an affair with her husband's friend, who managed his property, and puts herself in an advantageous position in the custody dispute through the incident of domestic violence. It is unimaginable for an average person, but it was possible because it was a drama. And it has garnered public response with ratings of over 20 percent.

Lastly, after the husband, who she wanted so much to be separated from, returns, he is suspected of being the culprit in a murder case. In the process, Ji Seon-woo makes another hard choice; to have him cleared of murder charges for the sake of their son. The truth of the murder was buried and it resulted in betraying her helper. The reason why strong female characters who make extreme choices are so loved is simple. This is because she didn't act frustratingly, even though it might be hard enough to understand.

The main consumers of dramas are women between their 30s and 50s. The 'good woman' of drama, which had been a type aired many times before, no longer stimulates viewers' interest. Until now, even in dramas with 'dramatic' titles women were frustrating. Watching women's characters who fight back in a completely new way, you can feel the exhilaration even if you can't fully get in.

- Women solving problems with murder... will it work in Korea?

The new exclusive series "Why Women Kill" on Watcha Play is the climax of 'tough women'. "Why Women Kill" begins from three murder cases. It is a pleasant explanation of why murders took place in 1963, 1984 and 2019 at a mansion in Pasadena, the U.S. and why the women killed their husbands.

The main characters of "Why Women Kill" are completely different people living in different times. The only thing in common for the three is the husband. Beth Ann (Ginnifer Goodwin), a stay-at-home mom in 1963, is shocked when she finds out about her husband's affair, and Simone (Lucy Liu), a socialite in 1984 finds out her husband is gay. Taylor (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), a lawyer in 2019, is bisexual and had an open marriage with her husband, but she creates a subtle stream of tension at home as she brings her other lover in.

In particular, it is notable that "Why Women Kill" is also a foreign drama series, following the previous remake of "The World of the Married" based on the British BBC drama "Doctor Foster". It is expected to have a completely different charm from the storyline of Korean dramas that viewers are used to. The work is a 10-episode drama released on CBS All Access, a streaming service by CBS, and was exclusively released on the 27th under the name of Watcha Exclusive.

Will "Why Women Kill", a story about tough women who chose murder instead of divorce, be able to draw a good response in Korea? The industry's response is positive. As the "The World of the Married" has already received a heated response, it has proven to be a welcome topic to some extent. The production team of the globally popular drama "Desperate Housewives", Lucy Liu and Ginnifer Goodwin and others join forces to raise expectations. The phrase 'murder is cheaper than divorce' on the poster already seems enough to stimulate the interest of countless local viewers.