[HanCinema's News] "My Perfect Stranger" Develops Small, Loyal Following

The KBS drama "My Perfect Stranger" has not gathered a great deal of attention since its premiere on May 1st. The science fiction melodrama stars Kim Dong-wook and Jin Ki-joo, both reliable leads, as modern-day people sent back to 1987 in apparent connection to a serial murder case. "My Perfect Stranger" is unusual in that it is an original television idea. It is not based on a webtoon or novel, and has had to sell itself entirely on the strength of its own premise.

Advertisement

That "My Perfect Stranger" was able to premiere with ratings of 4.5% is testament to the strength of this premise. And while the time slip story hasn't been a huge hit, the fact that the drama has maintained 4.5% ratings through its fourteenth episode on June 13th is testament to how its existing audience has gotten what it was promised. Even in high concept webtoons, time travel stories that are also deductive mysteries are not often seen.

But appropriately enough, "My Perfect Stranger" does not dwell too much on that concept. Much of the story is nuanced and sentimental, with a strong focus on familial stories. Director Kang Soo-yeon-II was drawn to "My Perfect Stranger" by its depictions of mothers. Kang Soo-yeon-II said at the drama's first press conference that this was a story about becoming a friend with the mother who died when you were young. This sentiment is explicitly vocalized by Jin Ki-joo's character in the script.

"My Perfect Stranger" also deals with the democratization movement of South Korea in 1987, dealing with the pain and sacrifice of that era. In the second half, a plot twist about the heroine's father reveals that their family had an unfortunate role in the Gwangju Uprising. "My Perfect Stranger" utilizes these themes to tell a story about wrongdoing, regret, and coping of strong relevance to survivors of such unfortunate historical events.

Written by William Schwartz

___________

"My Perfect Stranger" is directed by Kang Soo-yeon-II, Lee Woong-hee, written by Baek So-yeon, and features Kim Dong-wook, Jin Ki-joo, Seo Ji-hye-I, Park Soo-young, Kim Jung-young, Hong Na-hyun. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2023/05/01~Now airing, Mon, Tue 21:50 on KBS.