[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Suspicious Housekeeper" Episode 18

This episode of the Suspicious Housekeeper focused on the long arm of Park Bok-nyeo and she's influenced and helped the people around her. They, in turn, want to help her regain her smile and her happiness.

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Before she can focus on herself, Bok-nyeo achieves her end with Seo Ji-hoon and the process was both exciting and aggravating. The dialogue and tensions between Bok-nyeo and Ji-hoon were spot on, but the settings and the atmosphere was off. He sets a fire and it doesn't spread. They aren't sweating. There is no awareness of the fire at all. There is no coughing from smoke inhalation. In the end, however, the entire situation played out well enough to create intrigue; it just needed a lot more directorial finesse.

Seo Ji-hoon the character was great and was wonderfully portrayed by Song Jong-ho. He conveyed the complete lack of rational and depth of emotion required to depict Ji-hoon's psychopathy. What was lacking was tension in the directing. The moments of the crazed looks in Ji-hoon's eyes last a beat too long. The brooding moments are far too many and far too indulgent.

With Ji-hoon (hopefully) out of the picture, the story turns to family and healing Bok-nyeo. She's had her revenge and now she needs to learn to be happy again. She has helped everyone in the show. All the side stories I complained in previous reviews about are connected by the fact that Bok-nyeo intervened for the better. These people now want to help her in return and while it's a beautiful concept, it's awkward in its execution. It is difficult to make that many people seem sincere.

In the end, the decision comes down to Sang-chul and Bok-nyeo. Both of the them love the children and admire each other, but they don't have the romantic relationship necessary to keep a marriage going. The chemistry between the actors is wonderful, but it isn't fiery and if the story wants to push the romantic ending between the two it will be hard-going. Before romance, though, comes forgiveness. Can Bok-nyeo forgive herself? Sometimes forgiving oneself is the most difficult thing to do. Especially when someone like Bok-nyeo's mother-in-law is holding Bok-nyeo down. The only battle Bok-nyeo has left is the one against herself.

Written by Raine from Raine's Dichotomy