Kim Hee-seon proved her presence as a 'legendary return' from the start of her internship.
TV CHOSUN Monday-Tuesday miniseries "No Next Life" (written by Shin I-won, directed by Kim Jung-min, produced by TM Group·Firstman Studio·Megaphone) episode 4 depicted Jo Na-jung (Kim Hee-seon) seizing an opportunity amid a sudden accident and being urgently put in as the live broadcast main show host for the first time in six years.
Na-jung entered the home shopping job she had dreamed of, but it was not easy from the start. In particular, Yena (Ko Won-hee), the junior she had the worst relationship with, was assigned as her mentor and continued obvious checks. Then Na-jung reached out to Yena first, saying, "Please guide me. I've missed a lot in the six years." The expression change from a face full of dream-filled anticipation to one of embarrassment vividly showed a facet of the realistic difficulties that mothers reentering the workforce face in society.
Kim Hee-seon's acting peak was revealed in the company dinner scene. Na-jung, who joined late because of an excessive workload, had to cater to her superiors' tastes without getting a single piece of meat. Finding solace with a snack while shaking a tambourine evoked poignant empathy. Na-jung's dark, anxious eyes contrasting with the bright song lyrics, the anxious expression as she rushed to the sons left in the care of a neighbor sister, the hurried late dinner she ate, and the tears of apology and frustration that finally broke out at the comfort—every scene detailed the hardships of a mother returning to work.
Reality was difficult, but Na-jung did not miss the opportunity that came to her. Then Yena was stung by a bee, causing a broadcast crisis, and under the executive director's orders Na-jung stood alone as the main live broadcaster for the first time in six years. Her nervousness lasted only a moment; after a deep breath she instantly returned to the look of a professional. It was professionalism itself. It was a perfect performance with no sense of gap.
In particular, after the broadcast, when she received the executive director's call on the bus where everyone was asleep and quietly shed tears of joy alone, Kim Hee-seon's acting moved viewers.
Kim Hee-seon captured the acting details that connect every expression to the narrative of Na-jung, a 'mom forty,' perfectly. With a career performance infused with her life experience, Kim Hee-seon drew deep empathy from returning mothers and working mothers among viewers. Jo Na-jung, who showed her presence from the first day of the internship, prompts viewers' support for what growth and challenges she will show next.
"No Next Life" airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 p.m. on TV CHOSUN and is also streaming on Netflix.
[OSEN]