Falling For Innocence – Review

And one more character to add on my list of favorites characters ever! Kang Min-Ho (Jung Kyung Ho) please step forward! Like I haven’t been busy lately trying to get over my love (is that even possible?) for Seo Jung Hoo/Healer/Park Bong Soo. 

Life’s full of surprises and in this case Falling For Innocence happened to be a good one. I started the drama with a bright red alarm ringing in my head: “girl you’re about to start a melo, be prepared for the worst”. It’s not that I hate melos, I just don’t like them! One melo once in a while, when the cast and/or the story are appealing (Nice Guy to name only one) I’m fine, but just don’t ask me to watch two melo back to back! It’s beyond me. 

The melo alarm was still ringing when I finished the first two episodes, but too late I was already hooked! So melo or not melo, that wasn’t really the question anymore. The question was more how much will I like the drama? I’m happy to report that I enjoyed Falling For Innocence a lot. I liked the characters, the development (even if some things were predictable) and the connexions. It’s not the most original drama nor the most exceptional one but it has an undeniable and addictive char

Ma Dong Wook/ Kim Soon Jung 

He’s the ‘nice guy’ by excellence, and ‘nice’ here isn’t only an excuse because Ma Dong Wook (Jin Goo) is really the kind of character you can only love. He wants everyone around him to be happy. Devoted and involved he’s someone who, maybe idealistically, dreams of a fair world. And if he can lend a hand to bring justice, count on him to do whatever he takes, even if that means making harrowing sacrifices! That’s probably why he became a cop. He doesn’t count his hours in service and is already ready to help anyone. His temperament can sometimes play him some tricks but hey you can’t bring justice to the world being shy and accommodating. In order to shut Kang Min-Ho’s mouth, he’ll use his punches which will bring him problems. But he doesn’t really care, as long as justice (or at least his perception of it) is done, he’s fine. He’s a devoted cop but also a devoted son to an amazing father Ma Tae Suk (Ahn Suk Hwan) and devoted boyfriend to an already conquered Kim Soon Jung (Kim So Yeon). They’ve known each other since elementary school and their friendship turned into love somewhere along the way. They both never knew love with someone else. 

They’re engaged, happy, surround by people who only wish the best for them, what could possibly go wrong? The future is bright and long for the two but when Ma Dong Wook is found dead on a cold road, victim of what seems to be a hit-and-run, everything falls into pieces: the bright future, the happiness, the plans, all the projects. 

Lee Joon Hee/ Kim Soon Jung

Lee Joon Hee (Yoon Hyun Min) grew up together with Ma Dong Wook and Kim Soon Jung. Inseparable, they’re friends beyond words. Of course, to complicate things, Lee Joon Hee is in love with Kim Soon Jung, he’s always been. One girl two guys, classic case scenario. We’re dealing with a kdrama after all. Lee Joon Hee fell in love with Soon Jung way before Ma Dong Wook fell for her. It’s not a sudden fancy, he has profound and sincere feelings for this inaccessible girl. If Soon Jung is inaccessible, it’s not solely because she’s with Ma Dong Wook, it’s because Joon Hee grew up with this crazy idea that his modest roots and his poverty were the biggest obstacles of his life. He could literally change things, he could be someone important, he could be successful and won Soon Jung over only with the right social status and with power. And his fixed idea leaded him to the vilest limits. He never considered another way of living, he convinced himself that the moment he’ll become influent, things will change for the better. Sweet illusions.

But the day Ma Dong Wook, died, he saw his death like a sign sent from heaven. Everything was finally falling into place. He struggled to have a decent job and life was suddenly offering him a chance to eventually confess to Kim Soon Jung. But you can’t force anyone to love you back, my dear! Soon Jung never saw Joon Hee as a man, he’s always been a friend, someone solid she could rely on. It must have been awful for her, to see her friend, her closest friend transforming into a dreadful son of a bitch. What Joon Hee never really understood is that Ma Dong Wook won Soon Jung’s heart exactly because he was himself, he never tried to be someone else! But blinded by the idea of being powerful and his desire to magically erase his poor background, he forgot to be himself and to see what really matters in life. I can’t imagine what he went through all these years, seeing the woman he loves with his friend, getting engaged and being radiant without him. No doubt that nourished his madness. 

Some many times, I screamed to Joon Hee to get over Soon Jung, to find himself another girl, but once the mind is settle on something, don’t even try to change it. It’s hard, I know. I didn’t really pity Joon Hoon and whenever I was trying to understand him, he was going even further in the evil deeds. It was like a challenge he had to win all the time! You were terrible Joon Hee, that’s probably why I hated you so much (despite your beautiful smile). 

Kang Min-Ho/ Kim Soon Jung

Is it possible to have a more despicable character than Kang Min-Ho in the first couple of episodes? Give me one second…don’t think so! Selfish, wicked, eat up by his ferocious hate, obsessed by his desire to get revenge, he has neither time nor energy for sympathy. Emotionless, he has no empathy, no regrets or no feelings at all if you ask me. He grew up being someone resentful and arrogant. As he said himself, he won’t be a fool, for anyone, like his deceased father could have been. He’s going forward on an automatic pilot, only motivated by his vengeance.

And he shows no mercy: those who have, directly or indirectly participate in his father’s downfall, twenty years ago, deserve not only to die, but to suffer before dying! He lost both his parents when he was around ten, that doesn’t really help a child to grow happily, especially when those premature deaths are, according to Kang Min-Ho, attributable to some specific people. And one of these people, these traitors (the most important one, I’d say) is no other than his own uncle, Kang Hyun Chul (Park Young Kyu). 

I swear family isn’t what it used to be! The uncle betrayed Min-Ho’s father and stole his company away. He also disinherited his nephew and sister-in-law in the process. Not pretty at all. But karma is a bitch samchun, what goes around comes around. What you did came back like a boomerang to destroy you and the company you falsely stole. Hard, but somehow that’s the universe’s justice. For the icy and determinate Min-Ho, no justice of the universe, he has his own vision of justice: there’s people to fire, a company to bankrupt, reputations to ruin and an uncle to see suffer. If Kang Min-Ho is in a hurry it’s because of his genetic disease. He only has few months to go and many things to achieve before passing away. That late father, Kang Min-Ho always considered as weak and partially responsible of the family’s downfall because of his weakness, surely legated him a weak heart but not a weak mind. Kang Min-Ho walks on anyone who tries to stop him. With the help of Golden Partners, for whom he works, Kang Min-Ho takes the control of Hermia and once in place, will slowly start his plan of destruction. Kang Min-Ho never mixes business and pleasure but if he can’t destroy Hermia while torturing the daughter of one his uncle’s accomplice, why hesitate? That’s how Kim Soon Jung will become his secretary or more precisely his scapegoat.

The two are not only related by the events that happen twenty years ago, their bonds will grow even stronger when Kang Min-ho and Ma Dong Wook’s paths will met. The first has no respect for anyone and he’ll go to the factory (that belongs to Hermia) where Ma Dong Wook’s father works and will throw up his hate to the employees. It’s more than a sanguine like Ma Dong Wook can take and the encounter will eventually end at the police station. How could Kang Min-Ho be more a nuisance to Kim Soon Jung? Of course by suing Ma Dong Wook! He’ll will make a deal with Soon Jung: do everything I ask and I will withdraw my complaint against your boyfriend. Merciless, remember? Kim Soon Jun will then find herself torn between her desire to protect Ma Dong Wook and her violent envy to tell Min-ho to go to hell! Her professionalism and mostly her love will made her choose the sacrifice. It’s in those tense conditions that Soon Jung will witness the almost end of Kang Min-Ho when he’ll collapse in front of her at the exact moment of Ma Dong Wook will die. Talk about interlaced fates! Yes, Kang Min-Ho, the detestable will receive the heart of Ma Dong Wook! 

It was strange, funny and moving to see Kang Min-Ho changing gradually. He started to have Ma Dong Wook’s habits (lollipops, the watch), start to uncontrollably revolve around Kim Soon Jung, be sensitive whenever she’s hurt or attacked and will slowly letting go of the hate and anger. Ma Dong Wook’s influence on Kang Min-Ho was not only strong, it was a chance.  

Kang Min-Ho/ Oh Woo Shik

It was almost a couple on their own! Oh Woo Shik (Lee Shi-Un) is Kang Min-Ho’s personal secretary. Well, he’s not only his secretary, he’s also his friend, the only one probably. Going after revenge doesn’t really leave place for a social life. Their connexion is at the same time odd and amusing! It’s a mix of co-workers, friends and brothers. Kang Min-Ho authorises Oh Woo Shik to go beyond limits and to say things he wouldn’t never let anyone else say. He trusts him hundred percent and could entrust his life to him. He’s the only one of Golden Partners that followed him when things went a bit complicated for Kang Min-Ho (not like he asked anyone else to come along though). 

I laughed out loud some many times when they were together. **Spoilers** That scene with the talismans after the heart’s transplant and the one with the sleeve technique cracked me up. I’m still laughing hard now. Seriously they were epic! Haha **End of spoilers**

Their bromance was my second favorite relation in the drama. They almost stole the medal though. Oh Woo Shik doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of but Kang Min-Ho was beyond cuteness while fighting and falling for Soon Jung, therefore I can’t let him lose. But hats down for that pair because they were incredibly awesome together!  

Kang Min-Ho/ Ma Tae Suk

The first has the heart of the latter’s son, that helps creating bonds you would say. Possibly. But their funny, sweet relation started way before the truth was revealed about the heart transplant. Maybe like Ma Tae Suk said, a father knows this kind of things. That’s surely why they were both inexplicably attracted to each other. I really liked Ma Tae Suk’s character. He was warm, understanding and comforting and all I know is I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter relationship between a father and son (of substitution). The scenes we had with these two were so touching and tender I wish we had a whole episode on them! Ma Tae Suk wasn’t only Ma Dong Wook’s father, he was also a father to the orphan Kim Soon Jung and he became a father to Kang Min-Ho. I was particularly moved to see Ma Tae Suk pushing Soon Jung to let go of Ma Dong Wook’s souvenir to be happy again. He put her happiness before anything else and it takes a pure heart to do so. 

Oh Woo Shik/ Na Ok Hyun

I didn’t see those two coming but gosh how much I laughed with them. I liked their characters separately so the moment they were put together it was like a mini comical explosion for me. Oh Wook Shik is a funny romantic and scary chick while Na Ok Hyun (Jo Eun Ji) is a boyish cop who fears nothing! Expect funny moments with two opposite characters like them. They were cute and I loved seeing their feeling evolve.

I enjoyed the first two episodes much more than expected. Don’t really know why, but I found refreshing seeing the hateful Kang Min-Ho during those episodes. One more episode of him being despicable wouldn’t have been a problem for me. Don’t know why neither I was prepared to see tears and tears (and even more tears) after the transplant. Surely my melo alarm was still ringing as strong as ever and I was like preparing myself for the worse. But then I had the surprise to see something I wasn’t waiting for at all. I discovered a tough, warm and sincere drama. Though because of the legal and financial aspects and company matters; warm because of the heartfelt characters; sincere because of the love depicted and the good or bad consequences of it.  

Of course there were tears, there were clichés, there were déjà vu scenes, but that didn’t put the drama at a disadvantage. At least for me. The developments and the connexion between the characters was smooth and not abrasive or abusive. No crazy twists out of nowhere (‘I have your fiancé’s heart, it’s best to scarify myself and live a miserable life far away from you and your painful souvenirs’; ‘Your uncle isn’t your uncle. He’s your real father from another mother’, etc.). A heart transplant is already a big deal, no need to add some last minute crazy surprises. The drama was coherent but again sprinkled with predictable moves. That said that I haven’t found the latter quite insurmountable or heavy. 

Some would say the drama gave a big place to the legal and financial matters: fusions, stock market, cash flow, limited liability, etc. Honestly it’s all Chinese for me, but I managed to apprehend those notions. At each critical situation, the drama carefully took the time to make us understand the situation: what was at stake, the risks for each parties and the importance of wining or lose. I actually liked all these company skulduggeries, the games of power and influence. 

The verbal, strategic, legal fights between Kang Min-Ho and Lee Joon Hee were something else. It was violent, furious and relentless! They were fighting over the company of course but also for Kim Soon Jung and all that she was representing for each of them. Those financial conflicts brought something else to Falling For Innocence. It wasn’t plainly a guy receiving a heart and changing all he’s ever been in the name of love. Don’t get me wrong, the drama was clearly about that but it was also about Kang Min-Ho fighting for the company he was aiming to reduce into ashes, for the people he wanted to fire in the first place, to change his image and his perception of life. The drama took the time to combine all these aspects. So yes there were financial and legal matters, but they were mandatory for me.  And let’s admit it devilish scheming in dramas are always enjoyable when they’re well done!    

The two leads weren’t only cute together, they were full of sweetness. I liked the progressive and hilarious madness of Kang Min-Ho and the subtle changes that was operating inside Soon Jung. They both changed. Well Min-Ho changed way more than Kim Soon Jung but still, she wasn’t the secretary she was in the beginning. If Kim Soon Jung taught Kang Min-Ho to fight till the end for what’s right (like Ma Dong Wook would have done), to stand for his beliefs and to keep going no matter what people say, she learned to let go. There were terrible moments (and it was so well portrayed in the drama) where both fought till reaching their limits but got up again to keep fighting. Those human moments where just right. Yes, just right. The financial problems were also there to justify the two being constantly together but also to carry water to the windmill. I mean it’s at the contact of each other that they both changed. 

Overall feeling

Two additional episodes and honestly I wouldn't have mind. I haven’t had enough of Kang Min-Ho yet. I’m sure there’s more the screenwriter could have come with just to make us spend extra time with Kang Min-Ho! I want more of him doing crazy stuff, being lovey dovey with Soon Jung, experiencing other techniques of seduction with secretary Oh Woo Shik, fighting with Na Ok Hyun a.k.a Wendy or quarrelling with Ma Te Suk!! There’s basically not much people I disliked in the cast. Each of them had a special and attractive thing. I wasn’t sitting in my couch waiting only for the leads’ scenes. I was as much excited to see the rest of the cast, to see how far Joon Hee would go and how things would end. The scenario wasn’t something original or new but I liked the writing and the human touch brought to the characters. The whole thing worked. It’s like most of the characters were moving (in different directions naturally. Heloooo Joon Hee, where are you going?), learning and evolving. That’s where the drama won me over, beside many other aspects (the cinematography and the OST that were beautiful).

I remember having started the drama with low expectations. I was mainly there for Jung Kyung Ho and for the unmissable reunion of him and his real life buddy Yoon Hyun Min (after Heartless City no way on earth to miss that!). I’ve always loved Kim So Yeon so there were no good reasons to overlook the drama. Thank God, sometimes I have common sense and I go against my own apprehensions. I would have blame myself hundred times if I’d miss the drama. It was literally 16 hours of pleasure, of tears, of laugh and tension, perfectly mixed.  

Kang Min-Ho realized the best that was inside of him because of Kim Soon Jung and he gave her a chance to let go of her sadness to love again. Both learned to be happy despite their tragic past, despite all the rocks that were on the road, despite the conflicts and the fights. It was literally a new heart for Kang Min-ho but definitely a new start for him, for Kim Soon Jung, for Hermia and all the employees. 

Falling For Innocence isn’t only about a guy being transplanted, it’s about choices: choose to change because life gives you a chance to, choose the to do what’s right, choose to put others before oneself and mostly choose love over anything else.