Curtain Call (2022) - Pilot Episode Review: "They were able to build the story"

The drama series "Curtain Call," which takes over the timeslot previously occupied by "The Law Cafe," aired their pilot episode last night, October 31, 2022. Curtain Call is KBS2's newest drama offering, and it follows a theater actor from a small troupe who is asked to play a role on a large stage.

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

The protagonist of the drama is Yoo Jae Heon, played by Kang Ha-Neul. Kang Ha-Neul, who also appeared in this year's korean drama series "Insider," as well as one of the 2019 award-winning drama series "When Camelia Blooms," will play a theater actor from a small troupe. Sung Dong-Il, who played Jung Sang-Cheol, asked him to act as the grandson of a wealthy grandmother who had three months to live and desperately wanted to see his grandson, who was still in North Korea.

In fact, the plot that can be found on the internet was mostly shown in the first and pilot episode. Everything that had been written on the internet about a man who was asked to play the grandson of an elderly woman was confirmed in this episode. This episode also established why that man ended up asking to play the role of the grandson. Since the drama ended on this scene, with a man asking Jae Hoon to play the role, it is unknown whether Jae Hoon will readily accept the role or on what terms he will accept it.

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

The series began in 1950 in Hanguk Dock and depicted people attempting to leave and escape the area. Ja Geum Soon's family is among those attempting to flee the North and travel south. However, his husband and son were unable to board the ship due to a large number of people attempting to board first. Every scene on the first episode was crucial since most of the scene in this episode lay down the details about the Ja Geum Soon's family history. It was also revealed in this episode that she was able to meet his son at an event where North Korean families who had fled to the South paid them a visit. She then met his son's child.

To summarize Ja Geum Soon's story, she fled the North but had to leave his husband and son behind. She started a new family in the South, but both his husband and her child died at a young age, leaving the grandchildren in her care. At a North-South family reunion, she met his son and grandson, and then she learned that his husband had died. His son refuses to leave his hometown, and Ja Geum Soom is prevented from leaving the South due to her grandchildren.

Ja Geum Soon became the woman behind the successful Nakwon Hotel Group, but she had an illness that caused the doctor to diagnose her with a three-month life expectancy. On the verge of his illness, his eldest grandson planned to liquidate the company because the Hotel would not make a lot of money for him, but his two siblings disagreed and refused to liquidate the company. The first episode hinted at the difficulties the family will face as the chairwoman grows weaker and weaker.

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

On a conversation of Ja Geum Soon and Jung Sang-Cheol, she said that she wanted to meet again his grandson before she died. Jung Sang-Cheol takes action and investigates where and what his grandson is doing in the north. He discovered that the grandson had become a piece of trash in the North, engaging in illegal activities. What the Chairwoman believes her grandson is doing is the opposite, so he devised a backup plan. He was able to see Yoo Jae Heon perform as a North Soldier in his theater, and he was amazed at how Jae-Heon did the accent. Then he asked if he wanted to play a part on a large stage. And so this where the first episode ends.

This pilot episode gave me a taste of what would happen in subsequent episodes. They were able to establish the chairwoman's story and what happened to her family first and foremost. Second, he was able to explain why Jae Hoon was asked to play the role of the grandson rather than find the real grandson. Because the Chairwoman only has a few months left, Sang-Cheol wants the best for her knowing that the real grandson isn't what she expected it to be and even if it means deceiving her so he device a plan so she can rest in peace.

The idea of having an actor from a smaller stage perform on a larger stage was appealing. The significance was there. Consider this: a small actor playing a large and complicated role was intriguing and exciting to watch. I would also like to see a simple person become involved in a highly socialized community or family. There are many good points in this drama; I just noticed that the phasing was a little slow for me.

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Image from Curtain Call Episode 1

Though they were able to establish the foundation and construct the story, you will be left wondering what will happen next. What effect will Jae Heon have on the grandchildren's "Succession or Liquidation" battle? What exactly is the Jae-Heon story? What will happen to the real grandson, and will he appear or not? And how will they conceal the truth behind the acting scheme they are planning? And, of course, the terms under which Jae Hoon and Sang Cheul will agree for Jae Hoon to play the role?

Have you begun to watch this drama? What are your opinions? Please leave a comment below.