Stream K-Dramas at OnDemandKorea

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Dating Agency: Cyrano" Episode 7

Everything about this drama is needlessly complicated. It probably seems like I write this every review, but that's because every week the writing manages to find another way to top itself. We find out what those mysterious men covered in black were doing spying on the restaurant- and the answer is simultaneously really stupid and strangely appropriate. At times I have to wonder whether this drama is really love manipulation so much as it is love espionage.

Advertisement

In nearly the same situation, we discover Seung-Pyo's secret motivation in addition to his confused emotional underpinnings. It's remarkable how all these characters can seem so calm and collected while in the midst of their schemes, and yet at any other time feel completely disorganized and not at all sure of what they're doing. It's understandable why Byeong-Hoon and Min-Young throw themselves into their work so fully, given that it is always at these moments that they feel their smartest.

The progress regarding the current client and his desired paramour is slow, mainly due to the difficulty of the overall task. Her feelings for him have evolved from annoyance to willingness to be in the same room as him for an extended period of time if it benefits her somehow. This may not seem like much but even in context it feels rather improbable. The character is just that mean and cold- the preview makes it seem like next episode we'll get a better idea as to why.

I have a lot of hope pinned on this next episode, mainly because there was relatively little characterization here. It's not that the acting is bad or errant in any way, just that it feels rather incomplete. Lots of emotions come up in this episode, but it feels like we're missing the resolution or context that will properly explain the degree of it. Byeong-Hoon and Min-Young are in this weird spot that doesn't quite feel like sexual tension, and yet it's hard to guess what else it could be.

One character does have a pretty complete emotional rounding, though I doubt I'll ever know the character's name or actress. She plays a shopgirl at a bakery who, throughout this episode's main setpiece, constantly displays an expression that clearly states "what's going on I'm not really sure this is all vaguely weird and suspicious somehow". That really is the only appropriate way to watch this drama. If ever at any point it seems implausible, just ask yourself what plausible explanation bystanders are supposed to come up with for what's going on.

Review by William Schwartz

"Dating Agency: Cyrano" is directed by Kang Kyeong-hoon, written by Shin Jae-won and features Lee Jong-hyuk, Choi Soo-young, Hong Jong-hyun and Jo Yoon-woo.

❎ Try Ad-free