Recently, KBS 2TV dramas have been struggling to achieve significant results in terms of viewership. Nevertheless, the public broadcaster continues to fulfill its role by consistently introducing new works. Unfortunately, as the ratings slump has prolonged, casting top-tier actors, so-called "guaranteed hits," has become increasingly difficult. While this poses a challenge to the production environment, it paradoxically offers viewers a chance to discover new faces.
This situation has become a valuable stage of opportunity for rookie actors. Just as KBS discovered numerous new stars in the past through series like "School" and other youth dramas, its current lineup is serving as a gateway for actors with fresh appeal. Although their public recognition may be somewhat low, it provides a chance for promising newcomers or actors known for supporting roles to step into the lead, injecting new vitality into the television landscape.
"My Girlfriend is a G-Man" is a production born from this challenging trend at KBS. Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name, the drama's title doesn't immediately give away its plot. However, after watching just one episode, you'll find yourself nodding in appreciation of how intuitively and wittily the title captures the core concept of the work. It is, in short, a perfect title for its story.
At the center of the drama is Kim Ji-eun (played by Arin of Oh My Girl), an ordinary woman in her twenties preparing for employment in a tough world. She has a sweet boyfriend, Park Yoon-jae (played by Yoon San-ha of Astro). One peaceful day, Ji-eun experiences a bizarre incident: she inexplicably transforms into a man overnight without any warning or reason. Unlike other works in this genre that often provide clues about the cause of such a transformation, this drama kicks off its absurd comedy by simply stating it happened "out of the blue."
Her older sister, Kim Ji-hye (played by Choi Yoon-ra), with whom she lives, is naturally horrified to wake up and find a strange man where her lovely sister should be. A successful couple manager at a matchmaking company, she mistakes the man in her bathroom for an intruder, leading to utter chaos. However, she soon spots a familiar tattoo on the man's shoulder—one that matches her own—and reluctantly comes to accept the unbelievable reality.
The matching tattoos, which the sisters got on their shoulders as a symbol of their bond, become the sole proof of identity in this surreal situation. The male version of Kim Ji-eun, now named Kim Ji-hoon, is depicted as a "top-tier man" with such striking good looks that he gets scouted on the street. This adds a fantastical element to the chaotic situation of a sudden gender swap, doubling the drama's entertainment value.
Just after convincing her family, a bigger challenge remains: revealing her new identity to her boyfriend, Park Yoon-jae. As expected, Yoon-jae is initially in disbelief and thrown into confusion. However, through shared memories and various circumstances, he eventually accepts that the man standing before him is his girlfriend. A scene where the male Ji-eun, as "Kim Ji-hoon," comes breathtakingly close to kissing Yoon-jae hints that their relationship is entering a completely new phase.
Such a bold scene could be perceived as venturing into the BL (Boys' Love) genre, which is rare for a public broadcast drama and carries the potential for controversy. The fact that it airs on KBS, a relatively conservative public network, makes this aspect even more interesting. However, the drama cleverly sidesteps genre-related controversy by continuously cross-cutting between Kim Ji-eun and Kim Ji-hoon's forms and having her unpredictably revert to her original female body.
Lead actress Arin is also currently starring in another drama, "S-Line," which airs in a similar time slot. In it, she showcases a performance that is 180 degrees different from her comedic and lovely character here. Through these roles, she is proving that she has shed the "idol-turned-actor" label and has firmly established herself as a lead actress. The rest of the cast, including her co-star Yoon San-ha, fills the screen with their own fresh charm.
"My Girlfriend is a G-Man" is a work brimming with an intriguing premise and the vibrant energy of its new cast. Unfortunately, it failed to capture a wide audience, recording disappointingly low ratings of 1.7% and 1.1%. This painful outcome starkly reflects the current reality facing KBS dramas. However, it is through such bold attempts that new stars are discovered and the diversity of the drama landscape can be secured, giving these efforts a significance of their own.
댓글
댓글 쓰기