Top star Jun Ji-hyun thought it would be a romance with Gang Dong-won, but the melodrama is just an accessory; in reality, it has turned into a globally scaled blockbuster espionage film. It's 'Polaris,' a story that makes one curious about the identity of the metaphor and the hidden secrets.
The Disney+ original series 'Polaris' (written by Jeong Seok-kyung, directed by Kim Hee-won and Heo Myeong-haeng) depicts the story of Moon Joo (Jun Ji-hyun), who has built an international reputation as a United Nations (UN) ambassador, facing a huge truth threatening the Korean Peninsula alongside a nationality-unknown special agent named Sanho (Gang Dong-won) while tracking the forces behind the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. It is by acclaimed writer Jeong Seok-kyung, known for the dramas 'Mother' and 'Little Women,' generating high expectations among drama fans.
'Polaris' marks a work that features top stars Gang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun, who have been beloved as symbols of handsome men and beautiful women since their debut. The romance between these two top actors, beloved not only in Korea but also overseas, saw 'Polaris' rising as a highly anticipated project from the planning stage. The saying that "looks are plausible" has a significant impact on viewers' emotional lines, attributing the chemistry of the lead characters in Korean dramas.
In the three episodes of 'Polaris' which were pre-released to the media, the meeting between Gang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun is akin to the identity of the work itself. The momentary emotions of Moon Joo and Sanho, who meet for the first time, take up a considerable part of the plausibility. The magnetic appeal of the actors makes it hard to look away; Sanho's care for Moon Joo and her attraction to him are naturally convincing. Since 'he' is a special agent, he follows despite his unknown nationality, and 'she,' Jun Ji-hyun, is a UN ambassador, drawing attention once again regardless of political issues.
That said, the melodrama between Gang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun is not all there is to 'Polaris.' Rather, the romance is considered a secondary element within the buildup process of the story. Moon Joo unexpectedly finds herself at the center of the presidential election crisis on the Korean Peninsula when her husband, the presidential candidate Jang Joon-ik (Park Hae-joon), is shot. She quickly rises as a prominent candidate, revered as a figure akin to Joan of Arc on a mission to protect her husband.
Various characters surround Moon Joo. From her mother-in-law, Lim Ok-seon (Lee Mi-sook), who aspires to become a kingmaker and is the head of the largest comprehensive shipping company in the country, to her secretary Yeo Mi-ji (Lee Sang-hee), who has supported Moon Joo since her ambassador days, and the bodyguard Park Chang-hee (Joo Jong-hyuk), who protects Moon Joo after Jang Joon-ik, as well as the prosecutor Jang Joon-sang (Oh Jung-se), who, feeling inferior to his brother, keeps an eye on his sister-in-law Moon Joo. Additionally, there are the inscrutable current president Chae Gyeong-sin (Kim Hae-sook), National Intelligence Service Director Yoo Un-hak (Yoo Jae-myung), and Anderson (John Cho) from the White House, who holds secrets.
Furthermore, veteran actors like Park In-hwan, Choi Jong-won, and Jeong Yeong-sook, who evoke moments of powerful performances just by appearing, fill various scenes of 'Polaris,' enhancing the scale. What was thought to be a romance between Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won unfolds instead as a mysterious espionage thriller centered around the presidential election crisis on the Korean Peninsula, thus forming the core of 'Polaris.'
The direction by directors Kim Hee-won and Heo Myeong-haeng elevates the series 'Polaris' to new heights. Director Kim Hee-won, known for his sensuous visuals in works like 'Money Flower,' 'The Crowned Clown,' 'Vincenzo,' and 'Queen of Tears,' and director Heo Myeong-haeng, who captivated 10 million viewers with the 'Crime City' series, come together to add spectacle to the grand-scale work. Not only in the first episode, but also throughout the entire production, the church sequence that etches the first meeting of Moon Joo and Sanho, along with every intense action sequence where Sanho saves Moon Joo, evokes emotions that transcend protective instincts and trust in a companion.
Despite such scale, the work is merely a nine-part series. Compared to the growing trend of shorter productions, the length cannot be deemed short; however, it does seem a bit tight to mix the romance of top actors Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, whom one would not want to overlook in any scene, with the international situation appearing from domestic politics surrounding the presidential election to the White House. Above all, since each of the elements appears sufficient to stand as a single work, there are concerns whether enough detail can be packed into the nine episodes. However, it adds to the confidence that the writer Jeong Seok-kyung, who penned the script, has previously collaborated with director Park Chan-wook on films like 'The Housemaid,' 'I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK,' 'Thirst,' 'The Handmaiden,' and 'Decision to Leave.'
In 'Polaris,' the emotional connection between Moon Joo and Sanho grows as Moon Joo faces repeated physical crises following the presidential candidate's assassination attempt and Sanho comes to her rescue. Although she has served as a UN ambassador, Moon Joo is swept into political events almost reluctantly. She may seem fragile, but she possesses a stronger mental fortitude than anyone. Sanho, although an ace in an international mercenary company, is an emotional drifter in Korea, where he lacks even a single relative. The meeting of Moon Joo, physically delicate but emotionally strong, and Sanho, physically formidable yet emotionally fragile, organically connects as they pursue the great truth of 'Polaris.' Naturally, the expected romance between Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won adds to the spectacle. Will the unparalleled anticipation still remain fulfilled by the final episode? 'Polaris' aims to catch two hares—one a blockbuster and the other a melodrama.
First released on Sept. 10, total of 9 episodes.
[Photo] Provided by Disney+.
[OSEN]