Designated Survivor 60 Days - EP1 recap and review
Designated Survivor 60 days is an adaptation of the US series, Designated Survivor. I became very hooked to this show after EP1 so I will recommended it to everyone including audiences that does not usually enjoy political dramas. Its very well written without being too dark, and most of the characters are very well acted, complex, have their own motivations and their minute interactions are cute, funny and sometimes swoon worthy moments weaved into the main arc.
On a larger scale, we are potentially witnessing the main lead's growth from a novice to a politician due to circumstances, and a mystery looming at large. The cast, the scriptwriter and the director has interweave these themes and arcs in such a way that they are synced with each other.
The Plot start out with the male lead, Park Mu Jin (Ji Jin Hee; Misty) who is driving his family to somewhere. He was nervous on the whole journey, but was evidently trying to pick up his courage to confess on something, only to be cowed by his wife's demeanor (Kim Gyu Ri). He seems to be covering up something, which makes his wife even more suspicious, but was stopped by him break suddenly when a car stopping in front of him, only to be bumped by another car.
The road is on a standstill, and everyone was shocked to see smokes coming out of the National Assembly. His wife kneels down. Her daughter who is visiting the Assembly seems to be trapped there as her teacher is not responding to his wife calls. Park Mu Jin runs to the assembly.
He watches firemen and medics rushing him by, and he tries to find his daughter among the chaos. The Assembly crumbles moments later.
The scene is then rewinded literally to one day back, giving us a glimpse of our major characters and what they are doing one day ago.
I find it interesting that instead of a straight line narrative, the first arc goes straight into the climax before the story gives us not one but flashbacks with multiple character narratives, which gives us a glimpse of future major characters' personalities and interactions with people around them.
Plot wise I like that it uses Park Mu Jin nervousness to convey the tension in screen before the bombing plot begins. The plot is full of tension and fast paced in the beginning before it slowed down to provide us insight to the main characters prior the bombing. I have heard a lot of good things about the scriptwriter of Sungkyunkwan Scandal (Kim Tae Hee) but have never watched any of her dramas. She has a good feel on how a plot structure should go, how plot and character arcs should intertwine with each other.
https://twitter.com/Joansallen/status/1152755111359180803
In terms of directing and cinematography, director Yoo Jong Sun (Descendant of the Sun, What's wrong with Secretary Kim) has done it again. He has a very good sense on how to mix the right colours. For example, look at how well done the Intro is, and close up shots on our characters' actions, and without making heavy scenes too dark ( a common mistake among Korean directors).
One of my favourite shots by him are on close up on Park Mu Jin shoes, which conveys his nervousness and his being uncomfortable as a politician
https://twitter.com/Joansallen/status/1152756326503555072
Ji Jin Hee did a very good job to convey his character within 1 Episode. A career academic in a highly successful university is appointed as a politician and one who is not used to his role. Frequently being mute to others and lost in his own thoughts, and seemingly has strong principles of his own. The director has presented multiple close ups of him being uncomfortable in his shoes, preferring sneakers to shoes when he has the opportunity to change it, and crawling under the desk to pick up trash bottles during a meeting. Ji Jin Hee portrays the awkwardness of the character pretty well.
His nervousness is noticeable even when he is fetching his family. He is aware that his son somehow gets into another fight again but was afraid to ask him. He seems to be afraid of his wife. These are not the signs of a fearless leader but rather the opposite. It will be interesting how he will handle a crisis so foreign to his own experience.
After the bombing, Ji Jin Hee display his utter bewilderment on the situation, his worrying about his daughter, the chaos after the bombing, and his realization that he has been elected as acting President, when the nation is in crisis.
Secretary Cha (Son Seok Kuu)
We are given in a glimpse into Secretary Cha (Son Seok Koo; Sense8 and Matrimonial Chaos) , one of the senior aides to the President. One thing I like about his portrayal is that we kept second guessing whether he has ulterior motives, perhaps due to the unusual mix in his character as being both loyal and realistic. He looks like he is about to give his friend a favour by getting the script of the President's speech, but his friend realises that he is fooling him. At the same time there are hints that he is willing to settle the trade with US if its up to him despite it will likely increase fine dust in Korea substantially. Son Seok Koo has shown that he could portray multiple layers of Secretary Cha, of him being serious, intelligent, quick witted professional, and at the same time, hiding a sarcastic, loyal and slightly hot headed personality behind him, while held his head straight post bombing and trying to guiding a clueless acting president around. Its not an easy role to portray, and he passes it with flying colours. I wont spoil more, but his character is one of the highlights in the drama.
We are also given a glimpse to Secretary Jeong (Choi Yoon Young), whom her major interactions are with Park Mu Jin and Secretary Cha. For Park Mu Jin, she has a very good understanding of her boss and seems to admire his honest and upright character and genuinely acts for his well being. She understood his nervousness well and take his side on most issues.
Secretary Han, President Yang
This is an interesting mix. President Yang (Kim Kap Soo; Chief of Staff) seems to be kind and genuinely taking care of his country and people. However, his ratings are falling badly, and yet he has not finished his task of helping his country, which causes him a lot of anxiety. Secretary Han, Chief of Secretary, seems to take a role of soothing him and try to achieving his plans.
However upon the bombing, Secretary Han, like Secretary Cha, is no slouch. Quickly changing plans, arranging remaining staff to be part of the Acting President's new staff. There are things about both of them haven't come to light yet, and both actors has excellent portrayal as villains before this and hence, the audience might need a few more EPs to decide what are they and their motivation.
Secretary Han, President Yang
This is an interesting mix. President Yang (Kim Kap Soo; Chief of Staff) seems to be kind and genuinely taking care of his country and people. However, his ratings are falling badly, and yet he has not finished his task of helping his country, which causes him a lot of anxiety. Secretary Han, Chief of Secretary, seems to take a role of soothing him and try to achieving his plans.
However upon the bombing, Secretary Han, like Secretary Cha, is no slouch. Quickly changing plans, arranging remaining staff to be part of the Acting President's new staff. There are things about both of them haven't come to light yet, and both actors has excellent portrayal as villains before this and hence, the audience might need a few more EPs to decide what are they and their motivation.
The opposition and the Police will definitely portray a big role in the future. The anti-terrorism detective, played by Kang Han Na as Han Na Kyung. Not much could be said right now, but the potential mystery/detective line to find out the bomber is intriguing.
SOUNDTRACK and SOUND MIXING
One of the underrated part of this drama is on soundtrack and soundmixing. TVN has a very good track record in doing soundtracks and soundmixing (see Signal and Confession), however I feel that from EP1 this is one hell of a soundtrack. For example pending doom style soundtrack avoids the cliche of booms and bangs but rather choose a variation of a single note.
That's it for now. I hope I could recap all episodes before the broadcast of EP7, and some BTS below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByZ9xhaHmIY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
A similar post is done on wordpress
