My Name: Blinded by revenge

Released on Netflix in October of 2021, My Name is an action-packed crime thriller. It was written by Kim Ba-da and directed by Kim Jin-min. Han So-hee, the star of the show, is pending a nomination for "Best Actress" from the Baeksang Arts Awards. My Name was also ranked number seven in New Musical Express's "The 10 best Korean dramas of 2021" list.

The plot follows Yoon Ji-woo, who plots revenge against the person who murdered her father, Yoon Dong-hoon. She does so through a powerful organized crime boss, Choi Mu-jin, who runs Dongcheon, a drug ring. Ji-woo enters the police force under the alias Oh Hye-jin, to carry out her revenge. Chaos ensues from here.

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Here are the main characters to keep track of:

Yoon Ji-woo (actual name) [OR] Oh Hye-jin (alias)

Yoon Dong-hoon

Ji-woo's father

Choi Mu-jin

powerful organized crime boss, leader of Dongcheon

Jeon Pil-do

detective of narcotics unit, Hye-jin's partner

Cha Gi-ho

leader of the narcotics unit, vows to take down Dongcheon

[you may recognize him from Kingdom]

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I binged all eight episodes in one day. The episodes run from 45 to 58 minutes, with the last episode being the longest. This is one of the small amount of shows (shows specifically not movies) that kept my attention the entire way through. Although the plot may be predictable for some, the other qualities that make this series good will keep you hooked.

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The acting itself is amazing. It's no wonder that Han So-hee is nominated for "Best Actress." Her level of acting in the very first episode sets the tone for the rest of the story. She is one of the few actresses I've seen who expresses emotions realistically. When she cries, there are actual tears flowing, and the emotional pain that she displays is palpable.

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From the dingy look of the police station and the Dongcheon headquarters, to the bright lights of Korea's nightlife, the color scheme used in this series brings it to life. I can only wonder if the color scheme was specifically chosen to represent the qualities of the characters they surround. The dinginess of both the crime headquarters as well as the police station lumps them into the same group. There is corruption in both of these places and the similar vibe of both places highlights this issue. While the headquarters of the organized crime group is drab, the legitimate business that Mu-jin runs is sleek with different shades of brown and black. Mu-jin, the leader of the drug ring stays in his clean office, while the people who work for him stay in their dull rooms. The bright colors of the Korean nightlife also bring out a different mood. There is a particular fight scene that is lit with dark but still colorful lighting, giving it a fast-paced, retro feel.

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My Name earns a 5 out of 5 zombie heads from me. This is probably the shortest review I will ever write, there's not much more I can say about the series except I strongly recommend it. The plot (though maybe predictable for some), the acting, the color scheme, and so much more make this series shine. I 100% would never have noticed a zombie apocalypse right outside of my room while watching this series. I was on the edge of my seat and totally immersed the entire time, I never wanted the series to end.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_(TV_series)