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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Heard It Through the Grapevine" Episode 9

"Heard It Through the Grapevine" is tackling social issues and injustices rather than attempting to break out of its mold. Each episode or pair of episodes takes on a new vice of Jung-ho's and Yeon-hee's. Luckily, this episode also highlighted the young married couple a little as well.

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We got to see In-sang and Beom begin to dream about their future in a manner that is quite farsighted. They want to educate themselves and raise their son together while doing it. They don't want to put their lives on hold to raise their son or to grow up and find a place in the world. It contrasts greatly with the tight, stuffy dream of In-sang's parents - make a place and name for themselves without embarrassing anyone. What is so amusing about Jung-ho and Yeon-hee is that they are more embarrassing than their children. They have panic attacks over everything while the kids take each obstacle in stride.

In this episode, Jung-ho deals with aging and his image of himself as a man while Yeon-hee feels inadequate as a wife. It focused on gender roles. Jung-ho and the men at his firm discriminate against an excellent lawyer who just happens to be a new mother. At the same time, he's pushing Beom to prepare for the GED and to take the law exam in a year. Again, the hypocrisy is overwhelming as it has been in nearly every episode.

I really enjoyed the direct comparison of how In-sang and Beom are with their small family and what Jung-ho and Yeon-hee imagine they should be. When the younger couple takes photographs of the family, they are relaxed and natural. When Jung-ho and Yeon-hee take socially relevant photographs, they are stiff and uncomfortable. The same comparison is made between In-sang's and Beom's parents -  his are overbearing and self-important while hers are loving, but insecure. I'd like to see more dialogue addressing that social gap that doesn't end up in a comical fistfight.

I'm still holding out for In-sang and Beom to have the same presence as they did in the beginning. They are merely puppets to show off the idiocy of his parents. Give me more than that.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Heard It Through the Grapevine" is directed by Ahn Pan-seok, written by Jeong Seong-joo, and features Lee Joon, Go Ah-sung, Yu Jun-sang, and Yoo Ho-jeong.

 

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