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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Life" Episode 8

Jin-woo is finally pushed to some necessary limits, as his brother's involvement drags him to the spotlight of this battle. At the same time, a worrying twist has surfaced regarding Seon-woo, and I am hoping that the creators will not do what I fear. Seung-hyo is starting to see the value of this hospital's work among the organizational filth and personal ambitions of its top brass, but will his master allow him to achieve something for all?

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I nearly cheered when Jin-woo (Lee Dong-wook) stepped up and took responsibility for his true thoughts, physical harm and blackmail aside. Given his hallucinations and the reasons behind them, it is no mystery that Seon-woo (Lee Kyu-hyung) is his one sole motivator when it comes to speaking out versus keeping it all in, but I hope that he will be as willing to shoulder some of the burden for Kyeong-moon (Yoo Jae-myung) as well.

The reason behind the good doctor's familiarity with Seon-woo's case worries me, however. Using marginalized groups for "pity porn" or to prop up a conventional hero's suffering is a major pet peeve of mine, and I sincerely hope that they are not setting Seon-woo up for heart-related problems and death. He has been a great, rare example of portraying the challenges of disability while being a complete, nuanced character, rather than a stereotype of his health.

Speaking of scary possibilities, the romantic baiting is not out of the picture yet, but my hope is that reporter Choi Seo-hyeon (Choi Yu-hwa) is a sign of the drama opting for more natural relationships, rather than engaging in further love geometry tropes. Whatever may be happening between No-eul (Won Jin-ah) and Seung-hyo (Cho Seung-woo) is fine within the current context, especially since No-eul is, so far, not being sacrificed as a character for it.

The same can be said for Seung-hyo, who at the very least has a trusted contact to guide him through his business's realities in a way everyone else's rejection would not allow him to experience. The president is still balancing between numbers and ethics, between Hwajeong's threats and the hospital's needs. I love his recent hint of respect for Jin-woo, because his dislike for the reactionary members of the staff clouds his judgement as well.

Moving forward, I hope to see the lovely, but full of baggage, relationship between Jin-woo and Seon-woo develop and mature away from all the guilt and regrets holding it back. I hope to see Seung-hyo dive into the hospital's needs from a more humane point of view. Most of all, I hope to see Lee Soo-yeon-I explore the other fields and doctors more. Reactionary queen Se-hwa (Moon So-ri) could be next, because she has more potential than constant eye-rolling.

"Life" is directed by Hong Jong-chan and Lim Hyeon-wook , written by Lee Soo-yeon-I, and features Lee Dong-wook, Cho Seung-woo, Won Jin-ah and Yoo Jae-myung.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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