Ko Hyun-jung announced her glamorous return.
Indeed, it was Ko Hyun-jung. The SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Mantis: Original Sin' quickly captured the hearts of viewers. The rating for the first episode, which aired on 5th, recorded 7.3% in the metropolitan area and 7.1% nationwide, ranking first during the same time slot and among mini-series aired on Friday.
Amid this, Ko Hyun-jung's return to the home theater drew cheers. Following the meeting of Ko Hyun-jung and genre work master director Byun Young-joo, attention was focused on the intriguing theme of a serial killer mother and her detective son collaborating in an investigation. Ko Hyun-jung perfectly portrayed an unprecedented character, leaving a strong impact and meeting expectations.
'The Mantis: Original Sin' is a high-density crime thriller where over 20 years after the brutal serial killer 'The Mantis' was captured, copycat crimes occur, and a detective who has hated 'The Mantis' for his whole life collaborates unexpectedly with his mother, who is 'The Mantis', to solve the case. In the drama, Ko Hyun-jung plays Jeong Yi-shin, a serial killer 'The Mantis' who brutally killed five men and is the mother of Cha Su-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon).
'The Mantis: Original Sin' episode one opened with the beginning of crimes imitating the serial killer, The Mantis, from 23 years ago. Jeong Yi-shin, known as The Mantis, was serving time in a solitary cell, listening to music and brewing coffee for a somewhat special stay, but she was a figure presumed to have died while serving her sentence.
Choi Joong-ho (played by Jo Sung-ha), who handled The Mantis case in the past, noticed that the current murder case is a copycat crime and sought help from Jeong Yi-shin to catch the culprit. He also persuaded her son, Cha Su-yeol, under the condition that she would only speak through him outside the prison.
Eventually, after 23 years, Jeong Yi-shin faced her son, showing a relaxed appearance as she asked him about his child, but when the conversation turned to murder, she became visibly excited, creating a chilling atmosphere. She provoked Cha Su-yeol, who mocked her, saying, "I like the smell of blood. Isn't that the smell you made when you were born?" raising the tension immediately.
Meanwhile, while reminiscing about her own murderous acts at the crime scene, Jeong Yi-shin gave hints about the culprit, through which Cha Su-yeol discovered that the offender had mimicked The Mantis's crimes by reviewing trial records and investigation materials. Thus, the collaboration between Jeong Yi-shin and Cha Su-yeol officially began, heightening expectations for the narrative they would create.
From the onset, Ko Hyun-jung captivated viewers. Her eyes, full of undisclosed intentions, brimmed with excitement every time she spoke of murder, and her constantly changing expressions overwhelmed the audience in and of themselves. Ko Hyun-jung delivered chilling lines with a fluid rhythm, maintaining tension until the end and refreshingly portraying a character never seen before with her fierce acting skills.
Especially, every time her face, which delicately depicted subtle emotions, was close-up, the immersion intensified, and her unique charm made it impossible to take one's eyes off the screen. The ending, dominated by a chilling smile, confirmed Ko Hyun-jung's overwhelming power.
With a perfect character transformation, Ko Hyun-jung displayed a strong presence from the first episode. With just one episode, her chilling performance granted 'The Mantis: Original Sin' a clear color and allure, already enchanting viewers. Interest is rising in her anticipated performances to come.
Meanwhile, the second episode of SBS 'The Mantis: Original Sin', featuring Ko Hyun-jung, will air today (6th) at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SBS 'The Mantis: Original Sin' broadcast capture.
[OSEN]