'Confidence Man KR' announced the birth of a K-caper comedy that is explosively addictive, perfectly hitting viewers' dopamine levels. In particular, Park Min-young was embroiled in health concerns due to her overly thin frame at the production presentation but led the project with her lasting gravitas.
The first episode of the new weekend miniseries 'Confidence Man KR' on TV CHOSUN, which premiered on 6th, provided an exhilarating start with the perfect blend of actors' transformations, thrilling narratives, and tight endings, delivering ultimate catharsis.
In the first episode of 'Confidence Man KR', the 'team Confidence Man' Yoon Yi-rang (Park Min-young), James (Park Hee-soon), and Myung Gu-ho (Joo Jong-hyuk) perfectly deceived a con artist shaman, Baek Hwa (Song Ji-hyo), who robs the pockets of people in difficult circumstances, and planned to target the legendary loan shark Jeon Tae-soo (Jeong Woong-in), who is publicly the head of a public foundation, while pretending to be hunting.
The first episode began with a declaration from the leader of the 'team Confidence Man', Yoon Yi-rang, who said, "I invite you all into my world!" as she schemes to lure Baek Hwa into a private casino by exploiting the desperate heart of Ye-sol-mo (Lee Bong-ryeon), who sought Baek Hwa out due to worry for her daughter who suffers severe coughing during exams. Myung Gu-ho, appearing as Kim Deok-pil, broke down Baek Hwa's defenses with his natural charm, while James transformed into the 60s dealer Kwi-su to help Baek Hwa rig the game. Additionally, Yoon Yi-rang, posing as the casino owner Hopeless, made a big proposal to Baek Hwa, offering to bet 2 billion won instead of dealing. Kwi-su also provided Baek Hwa with a decisive hint, leading to Baek Hwa's all-in. However, as Baek Hwa was about to climb onto a mountain of money, an enraged Yoon Yi-rang drew a knife and caused chaos. When Myung Gu-ho, injured by Yoon Yi-rang's knife, began to spit blood, James, disguised as the police, loaded his gun, turning the scene into chaos. However, taking advantage of the confusion, Baek Hwa fled with a money bag and gasped in rage upon discovering that the bag was full of talismans instead of cash.
Yoon Yi-rang and James were delighted by the lavish recovery of cleaning costs, but Myung Gu-ho declared that he would no longer work with them and opted for a quiet life by the seaside. A month later, Yoon Yi-rang unexpectedly landed near Myung Gu-ho while paragliding and shared a witty exchange with him, saying, "It's like a very calm independent film meeting me, turning into a very varied and spectacular blockbuster." Just then, when Myung Gu-ho received a call that James had been injured, the two moved to the hospital. Yoon Yi-rang revealed that James had been attacked while trying to approach his next target, Jeon Tae-soo, alone. Angrily, Myung Gu-ho resolved, "I'll take care of it. I will avenge James."
Determined to take revenge, Yoon Yi-rang learned that Jeon Tae-soo was seeking ways to transfer as much cash abroad as possible due to a looming crisis that tax evasion documents from the Sand Foundation might be exposed, and she then devised a plan. With James' attempt to open the sea route failing, Yoon Yi-rang chose to take to the pathless sky. Utilizing her remarkable intelligence, Yoon Yi-rang quickly passed the stewardess examination and faced Jeon Tae-soo onboard Rising Airline's first class. Myung Gu-ho transformed into the illegitimate son of Rising Airline's president and drew Jeon Tae-soo's attention while subjecting Yoon Yi-rang to a water splash. At the Philippine airport, he shouted for Yoon Yi-rang to bring his suitcase, continuing to bow his head to impress Jeon Tae-soo. Later, after venting anger over a mistake made by a delivery person (Hyun Bong-sik), Jeon Tae-soo saw a trunk that had been swapped with Myung Gu-ho and filled with cash, revealing a knowing smile. Immediately after, Jeon Tae-soo brought the switched suitcase to Yoon Yi-rang and learned that Myung Gu-ho was the illegitimate child of Rising Airline. As he punched Myung Gu-ho, causing a nosebleed, he questioned him about how the cash-filled bag was taken abroad without any complications.
However, after seeing the 'illegitimate son of Rising Airline' footage shown by his subordinate, Jeon Tae-soo confirmed Myung Gu-ho's left shoulder and aimed a gun at him, delivering a chilling remark, "Who are you?" as the 'tense gun-aiming' ending heightened the sense of foreboding. Meanwhile, in the epilogue, Yoon Yi-rang, dressed as a yogurt delivery person, smiled as she handed money to Ye-sol-mo, who had been tricked by Baek Hwa into selling her store, saying, "Let's just say... it's a cleaning fee!"
Above all, 'Confidence Man KR' heralded the birth of a 'refreshing K-caper' with imaginative narratives and rapid developments presented by writers Hong Seung-hyun and Kim Da-hye. The triumphs of the three members of the 'Team Confidence Man' that specifically target bad guys stirred viewers' desire to support them, and the exhilarating euphoria that erupted from the Baek Hwa storyline in the first episode provided ultimate satisfaction, showcasing the essence of a 'stress-out drama'. Furthermore, the storyline featuring Jeon Tae-soo, which continues into the second episode, offered captivating immersion with a tension that had viewers on the edge of their seats.
The sensuous visual style created by director Nam Gi-hoon provided viewers with diverse viewing experiences, amplifying the colorful charm of 'Confidence Man KR'. Especially during the departure scene of the three main characters, the fantasy-like world was emphasized, raising expectations, while the villains' key scenes were depicted with dark tones and the protagonists' scenes were given bright tones, enhancing the overall appeal.
Lastly, prominent representatives of the acting world, Park Min-young, Park Hee-soon, and Joo Jong-hyuk, proved their worth through a 'character transformation show' that could only be seen in 'Confidence Man KR'. Park Min-young showcased the unpredictable, effervescent genius aspects of Yoon Yi-rang, the leader of the 'Team Confidence Man' with an IQ of 165, a top 1% brain, proving her perfect presence even in a comedy. Park Hee-soon, who took on the role of James, the mental backbone of 'Team Confidence Man', challenged the brightest and most transformative character of his career to date, embodying his role with remarkable depth. Joo Jong-hyuk, playing the youngest member Myung Gu-ho, displayed various traits, including justice, cuteness, and enthusiasm, showcasing his widened acting spectrum and achieving his career-best performance.
Viewers responded passionately with remarks like, "Dopamine explosion all throughout!" "This is a catharsis party!" "Park Min-young, Park Hee-soon, and Joo Jong-hyuk all fit their characters perfectly!" "Excellent actors, fabulous visual style, rapid development all at the top!" "Time flies! All my stress disappeared!" and "Toil is 'Confidence Man KR'!"
Meanwhile, 'Confidence Man KR' is being simultaneously released on TV CHOSUN and Coupang Play and is available in 240 countries and regions worldwide, excluding Korea, through Amazon Prime Video.
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