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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Black" Episode 7

I never thought a series like "Black" would give me too much to think about, but we are already at the half-way mark and I could easily write three times the length of episode reviews I usually do in order to convey all of my thoughts on the drama's packed plot. We have reached a turning point in Black's humanity and things are about to get even more complicated.

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The inevitable discovery of human emotion has hit our titular character like a ton of bricks and while I find the turn sudden, it is nice to see it happen over victims, rather than through a romance which is barely out the door. The victims' story is a highly moving one and it also reinforces the fact that every character given any sort of focus is important to the story. "Black" knows how to make you pay attention.

Black tending to a dying man's justiceSeung-cheol and his friend being warned by Ha-ram

The explanation of Black (Song Seung-heon) becoming more human may not be enough for me to see why this particular case affects him and his choice making so deeply, but a direct connection to the Moojin collapse would explain a lot. The creators show us one of the victims as a wavy-haired rapper reminiscent of 416 (Lee Kyu-bok), so I have to assume that most of the central Reapers were present in the events of the past as humans or otherwise. We know 007 (Jo Jae-yun) lies about his Joseon living, after all.

Coming back to Black, we have several possibilities. We have no confirmation of Park Seung-cheol's (Lee Joon-seo) body yet, but he could be another child or an adult character we have not seen yet, carrying Black's original Reaper form (Kim Tae-woo). Perhaps his palpitations are less about Soo-wan (Lee El) and more about the actual organ. "Moo-gang's" miraculous return would not have been believed if his scar was an autopsy one after all, and we know he took medicine. Perhaps maybe-Joon at the bottom of the ocean is the doing of our detective's mother and the reason for her loyalty to Royeol.

Seung-cheon's mother taking on a great burdenSeung-cheol's parents thanking Black

The series has been doing very well in building the mystery, but with as elaborate a set up, it needs to start providing more answers and eventually address a lot. I can already see all of the connections or at least possible connections and this means that closure is already doable. The episode also scores a personal cookie point with me due to its twist of a strong woman character in Seung-cheol's mother.

As for the romance, it will be happening and Man-soo provides the triangle, assuming he is cleared of whatever went on in his room. Just as I said I like Tiffany (Oh Cho-hee), too. I suppose I cannot become too attached to characters in a series where even the original male lead is expendable. "Black" does viewers' idealistic tendencies no favors and I like that. I sincerely hope it holds onto me until the end.

"Black" is directed by Kim Hong-seon-I, written by Choi Ran-I and features Song Seung-heon, Go Ara, Lee El and Kim Dong-jun.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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