[HanCinema's Drama Review] "You Raise Me Up" Episode 1

Despite being billed as a comedy, the closest thing "You Raise Me Up" has to a joke is the bizarre opening setpiece, where a Jeju Guardian Statue is intimidated into deflation by a llama. The incomprehensible metaphor comes courtesy of Jennifer (played by Kim Seol-jin), the transgender shaman friend of Yong-sik (played by Yoon Si-yoon). Despite Jennifer not wanting her manhood, it's in much better shape than Yong-sik's battered psyche after years of failing civil service examinations.

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"You Raise Me Up" is shockingly bleak like that. Yong-sik is miserable and pathetic, yet not as bitter as you'd expect for a guy in his thirties who works hard all day in low wage jobs to just fail at achieving an actual career. There's distinct resignation in the way Yong-sik observes urologist Ruda (played by Ahn Hee-yeon) getting picked up by Ji-hyeok (played by Park Ki-woong), a psychiatrist who has money and is a bit of a jerk. Although Ruda also has money, and isn't a very good communicator.

Urologist is a bit of an odd career choice for a woman, by the way, given that it's the study of male anatomy. Nevertheless, Ruda tolerates her patients well enough, and seems charmingly oblivious to everything not directly related to her professional field. It's clear at a glance that Ruda can't possibly understand what life is like for Yong-sik as a chronic failure- which is ironic, given that Ruda and Yong-sik knew each other as teenagers, back when Yong-sik was incredibly cool.

In the present day Yong-sik's entire manner is just incredibly sad. He loves the color pink, but can't own up to it. He's ashamed to talk to anyone who knows who he is, or what he used to be. Jennifer is Yong-sik's only apparent friend. It's oddly appropriate that Jennifer too has a past life she'd rather not discuss. Still, she has more present day cheer than Yong-sik's chronic wallowing in self-pity.

It's impressive how Yoon Si-yoon is able to make Yong-sik seem sympathetic in spite of himself. The guy straddles an awkward line between humility and humiliation. But going forward "You Raise Me Up" has other awkward positions to unravel, such as the reality of how a romance with Ruda could only possibly work if Ruda herself is willing to treat Yong-sik as a fixer-upper. That's far from feminist messaging- even if Yong-sik is a nice guy in desperate need of someone, anyone, to take an interest in him.

Review by William Schwartz

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"You Raise Me Up" is directed by Kim Jang-han, written by Mo Ji-hye, and features Yoon Si-yoon, Ahn Hee-yeon, Park Ki-woong, Kim Seol-jin, Choi Dae-hoon, Kil Hae-yeon. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/08/31~Now airing, Tue on WAVVE.