The Trunk (2024)

short incomplete history

This drama deserved more episode and way more time. thats not a bad drama to watch, but dont deserve your time.

the drama is interesting, contrat marriage is always a must watch, but this is a mess somehow. I understand the main point being the tunk, but like, u just see it after 5 episodes. the drama is more dramatic, melacholic n suspicious, however it's a sacrifice understand whats exatcly happening n what the tunk is about.

All of characters are interesting, but they dont have time to be introduced. all of them dont have a proper history introduction, u need (most if time) conect the points alone to really understand whats is happening.

the drama is beautiful, the characters, the places, the houses, the clothes. Everything os beautiful. but, again, most of the times a lot of directors or producers use colors to create a scene where the history is told, but this drama feels just like a beautiful n shallow history.

im little upset because i love most osf the actors here n i love their actings. the saved the drama, but what makes a drama its the history, n not the acting.

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Interesting but could do better

Throughout watching the show, I couldn't stop feeling like i was just watching people's daily life and not a movie. Seeing people working, eating, crying and sleeping together which was quite strange since it is supposed to be a thriller/ mystery show.
Most of the story lines that intrigued me ended up being bland/ nonsensical when the truth was unravelled. I expected a lot from the ML's family drama but they didnt give much and i couldnt bring myself to actually feel hatred for the father in law.
The closure of female lead was just stupid. I couldnt understand how troubling her past was because i couldnt picture it. She became a shell of herself but we didn't get to see the process even if in recaps form.
The stalker thing was kind of interesting but would have been nice if we could get more of his perspective and see his psyco ways outside of the FL.
I liked the romance cos i am such a sucker for romance but it would have been nice to have it developped smoothly or atleast show it as love at first sight.
Also is it that easy to get over drugs? I'm not quite sure but it looked like he stopped using them after a few encounters with the FL.

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Love or Obsession?

The Trunk was a lot more than I expected it to be, and I mean that in a good way. Contract marriage plotlines aren't typically something I go for, but this one seemed interesting enough to get me to watch it, and the shorter length of it made it especially easy to watch. I didn't expect to get so hooked on it!

Han Jeongwon (Gong Yoo) is currently going through a divorce that he doesn't want, and he's so desperate to keep his wife that he will do whatever she wishes to convince her; however, she insists on signing him up for a one year-long contract marriage with a woman of her choosing, and tells him that if he makes in through, she'll take him back. Jeongwon agrees, believing it the only way to win back his now ex-wife. The contract marriage should be straightforward, but it's anything but. Between the anxious drug addict main character, a contract wife with too many secrets, a controlling and manipulative ex-wife, and the ex-wife's new boytoy, there's bound to be conflicts. Things escalate further when the characters are towing the line between falling in love and convincing themselves obsession is the same thing as love.

This show did a great job at portraying the relationships. What I thought was super interesting was the dual timelines: one starting at the beginning of the contract marriage, and one about 5 months into the contract where the police are investigating the found trunk in the lake. The back and forth allowed for some excellent foreshadowing and parallels, though it did feel like they could have tied it all together a bit better. I thought that the contract wife's storyline was super interesting, but I just wish it had been a little more worked into the show. I actually quite liked the ending of the show, though it wasn't what I had expected for this one. I would say that it's best if you watch not just for the romance, but more for the rich people drama. Overall I'd say it's worth the watch considering how much they manage to do with only 8 episodes.

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-10 for unnecessary scenes that thankfully I could easily skip...
-10 for the psycho ex..........
-5 for the stalker that yeah I wasn’t focusing but idk what he wanted...
-1 for the “marriage company” which actually had no real reason to exist
-1 for some age stuff


+10 for seo hyun jin
+2 for age appropriateness tho same aged was sketchy
+5 for cinematography

Overall it’d have been enough as a healing drama, even the mystery would’ve worked better if it had actual reason
Something like the movie of SYJ and KJW, Another way, two broken lost souls and thus, this should’ve been even shorter

Ml going through an abusive dad and a controlling wife that drugged him was enough
Like she could’ve just died, and he’d live mourning her and realize later how bad she was

Fl’s one ruined relationship was enough, the whole arranged marriage company was ridiculous like that PMY drama
The trunk, it had nothing in? Why was the stalker so stalkery
Atleast make it like little women and make it about a lot of money
And the ex literally sees him since childhood struggling and thinks Ill do that too

Lire davantage

Misleading Title ...

The overall story, once it gets interesting, is good,
Gong Yoo and the female lead are excellent. Worth watching? Yes! ... once

First, "The Trunk" is a red herring. It has little actual relevance to the plot.
It's supposed to be so valuable - worth billions, yet every main character seems to have one.

Best scene - the fake wife thumping the real wife. Full marks for satisfaction!!
Worth watching just for this.

Finally, while the story was unique and well thought out, the amount of effort put into the ending was very disappointing ... AFTER EVERYTHING THEY GO THROUGH ... the writers give us a vague ending?
I'm sorry, but it wasn't cute, and it didn't cut it. Very underwhelming ending. Thoroughly lame.

Lire davantage

Poorly executed.

The story could've been good, like the overall story had something that was kind of good, but so poorly written overall. Everything feels too long and there is some stuff that doesn't make a lot of sense. On the last episode you'll be pressing that +10 seconds button. A ton.

Acting was good and the music were simple but really liked it.
Other than that ... Quite ... bland ?
I wouldn't recommand it, but it gave me a good laugh from time to time cause of some unexpected scene I guess, so if you've got nothing to watch, and you're bored, you could watch that and kill time.

Lire davantage

Not Your Typical Kdrama

I enjoyed this show immensely. The story was fresh, the production was beautiful, and the ending was satisfying. I can only think that all the negative reviews are from people that were just looking for a different kind of show.
I felt that chemistry abounded between the main leads. It was made very clear that the desire was not for passion but for contentment.
I'll admit that I didn't understand why Ji-O loved Seo Yeon, but I believed he did. The side characters built a contrasting world convincingly.
I won't forget these characters. I was left feeling peaceful.

Lire davantage

Sleek, beautiful, noir. Loved it.

This drama is not going to suit everyone's taste. But for a nordic sucker for a noir atmosphere and grown up, complex and flawed characters this was a total dreamboat and a bag of chips.
No work is flawless, its just a question if it matters to me or not. In this case I did not give one f***k and enjoyed every exquisite minute of gorgeous cinematography, intrigue and deliciously dysfunctional everything.
The 8 episode format is perfect so at no point did I feel frustrated with a banal side plot or unnecessary complications or pointless montages/scenes.
The OST was to me tasteful and understated, but very powerful and gave me goosebumps every now and then. Nothing unnecessary, just perfect and the power of silence has it's own life in this sound world.
I could feel that this is based on a book, theres a literary and disciplined feel in the visual language. I was overall pleasantly surprised and satisfied that this did not slip into cliché. As much as I love a good cliché it would have subtracted from this lovely gem.
Thank you Trunk!

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A Slow-Burn Journey Through Healing and Romance

I keep my reviews concise and spoiler-free, focusing on the key points. I also watch every episode without fast-forwarding to provide a fair perspective.

This drama is a slow-burn experience, deeply atmospheric and intentionally paced, which may not appeal to everyone. Its genre leans heavily on mood and introspection rather than fast-paced thrills.

The visuals and OST are excellent, with the soundtrack predominantly instrumental, perfectly complementing the drama’s somber tone. The darker, muted visual style enhances the story's weight, even in daylight scenes. Despite its slow pace, the show is packed with hints, questions, and layers of trauma and conflict that immediately draw you in if you're willing to adjust to the rhythm.

At its heart, the drama is a poignant exploration of depression and healing, focusing on deeply broken characters navigating their way through a toxic environment, self-sabotage, and the possibility of redemption. The darker themes are balanced by sweet, tender moments during the romantic parts, giving the story a sense of hope amidst the gloom.

The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, with their interactions feeling grounded and mature. The romance is handled differently from most dramas, offering a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of relationships. However, the story misses opportunities to delve deeper into certain side characters, who could have added more depth to the narrative.

While some of the story arcs build strong initial intrigue, their resolutions may feel a bit less impactful than anticipated. Similarly, the thriller and investigation elements are underwhelming, failing to deliver the tension or complexity they seem to promise. They could have been either improved or omitted entirely to focus more on the characters' emotional journeys.

The drama’s brevity might leave you wanting more, and its pacing and tone might have worked just as well, if not better, as a film. Nonetheless, it remains a compelling and beautifully crafted story for viewers who appreciate mature, introspective storytelling.

If you’re open to slower-paced dramas with strong visuals and a focus on emotional healing, this one is well worth the watch. Just don’t expect a gripping thriller, it’s more about the journey than the destination.

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psychological drama

This series has decidedly strange and particular Plot. It makes us reflect on how toxic relationships exist and shows the perspective of those who see marriage as a pure employment contract.
With slow scenes, nude scenes and many strange situations. Half the time you ask yourself "why"... and you find yourself at high sea.
There is this obsessed control freak woman (no words) who claims to have everyone at her feet and treats them like slaves and pulls strings as if they were puppets.
She will find bread for her teeth with the new bride.
I honestly didn't understand the end. Both sad but divided? With everything they have experienced...

Lire davantage

Slow Paced, Dragged Out

I was really looking forward to this drama as it was Gong Yoo’s comeback drama (save his minimal parts in Squid Game), and I literally didn’t know anyone else in the cast and it seemed like it would be kind of a psychological thriller given the title and the description of the drama.

However, I think it’s a little misleading because where they do find this trunk, it took them a long time to get to it and even when they did they like didn’t care about it lol and I think that’s saying something bc they found the trunk and the body and were trying to piece together this crime alongside all of this backstory and lore with the characters, but it was kind of confusing because is it happening in real time are we watching a flashback, idk I just don’t think they did that good of a job differentiating the timelines as well as not making the trunk the focus of this story as the title would have you think.

The drama’s production was outstanding tho, the production quality and the angles that they shot at were so good and the color saturation was very dark and dull-toned which really gave like an indie-feeling to it and not your typical kdrama production.

This drama is VERY slow paced and I have to admit I did doze off quite a few times throughout it. It definitely felt long but I’m so glad it was only 8 episodes because any longer and I probably wouldn’t have finished it lol. There really wasn’t any action which I feel like is what made it seem slower than it was. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it being a contract marriage and why, and I felt very confused for at least half of the drama because there was just so much going on and not enough elaboration really on any of it. Although I do like how you find Jeongwon and Inji slowly open up to each other about their trauma and you can tell that very quickly into their fake marriage that this one was different for Inji.

The psycho ex-wife was a little over the top, every time she came on she pissed me off and I’m like WHAT NOW!? Jeongwon and Inji really had such great chemistry with each other and I honestly liked how they went about with the ending. It’s not your typical love story BY FAR, I love that they were able to open about their trauma, work through it and just learned how to be and live by themselves after getting out such toxic relationships instead of just jumping into the next one. If it’s meant to be it’s meant to be and I loved the idea of if they met by chance at least twice, then it was meant to be and I love how the color of the drama became so bright and fun once they started living their own lives, it was really refreshing compared to the dark and slow ominous feeling of the rest of the drama.

Where this drama has its downsides, it has some equally good upsides. I was a little disappointed but I think the acting really made up for it, I mean have you ever seen a bad Gong Yoo drama? I don’t think I would recommend it, unless you like Gong Yoo lol and I definitely wouldn’t rewatch it. It really had nothing to do with the trunk and everything to do about psychological/verbal abuse which I don’t think is something you normally see in kdramas. Soyeon hiding the cameras in that fucking chandelier just like his father did with his mother was absolutely diabolical. What a psycho.

But overall, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. It would be a good drama to watch if you’re feeling a little lowkey/mellow.

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