Drama Special Season 1: The Scary One, The Ghost and I (2010)

This is definitely one of my favorite drama specials. I've seen it at least four times now, and it just never seems to lose its charm.

The synopsis given here is a little misleading, in that it doesn't seem to be his fear of losing face that drives Duseop. Maybe there's a hint of that in the very beginning, but it soon turns to some pretty intense moments of introspection. The ghost, and his attempts to get rid of her, drive the story, but it's about much more than a fear of looking like a crazy person.

Tonally, this drama special is rather unique. It mixes funny and poignant, sometimes swinging wildly between them, and sometimes managing to do both at once. And it does it well. Lee Won Jong is fantastic here as the powerful yet psychically (and physically) wounded gangster Duseop. Park Ki Woong is reliably awesome as the diffident Yong Soo. An hour or so long drama special doesn't allow much time for character development, but both main characters are fleshed out nicely here, thanks to excellent writing and acting.

Director Kim Yong Soo (known for White Christmas, Equator Man, etc.) brings his trademark flair to the table. This drama special is an excellent example of how good his directing can be. The music is definitely non-traditional, but used very effectively in setting the mood. The screenplay is written by Park Yeon-seon, who later re-teamed with the same director for White Christmas. (If they ever work together again, I'm in, no matter what it is.)

I won't give away the ending, but I will say that it stays true to the tonal wackiness of the drama as a whole. And for me at least, it made me want to watch it again almost immediately.

So if you're a fan of the actors, or the director, or the writer, or are none of the above, but just want something interesting and different to watch for an hour of your life, try this.

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