Tving original "Dear X"'s destructive ending continues to leave an unprecedented aftertaste.
The recently released Tving original series "Dear X" (written by Choi Ja-won and Ban Ji-woon, directed by Lee Eung-bok and Park So-hyun) has continued to show undiminished, blazing popularity since the release of episodes 11 and 12 (final episode) on the 4th. It completed an intense and shocking destructive melodrama suspense that provoked worldwide viewers' desire to rewatch multiple times. To prove this, it ranked first for six consecutive weeks in new paid subscriber contribution among Tving original series. Its popularity continues not only domestically but also overseas. It reached as high as No. 1 on Rakuten Viki in the United States, No. 2 on STARZPLAY, and No. 4 on Disney+ Japan.
"Dear X" drew attention with unpredictable developments that repeatedly delivered shocks and twists each episode. Baek A-jin (Kim Yoo-jung) wore a mask and trampled others to reach the highest place, and her relentless actions provided a razor-edge tension and overwhelming immersion that made it impossible to look away. Above all, Kim Yoo-jung received raves for redefining another signature role with her portrayal of "Baek A-jin." She showed a wide range of emotional acting that embedded Baek A-jin's emptiness and madness, desire and obsession, fear and chaos beneath her beautiful appearance. Here are the ending highlight scenes that, due to Kim Yoo-jung's passionate performance, drove viewers into overidentification.
# offering a sacrifice to unlock the shackle! bloodied face in the rain, manic laughter and tears (episode 3)
In episodes 1-4 released in the first week, Baek A-jin's past that was like hell was portrayed, giving credibility to the character's backstory about why she so desperately tried to reach the top. At the center was her father, Baek Seon-gyu (Bae Soo-bin). Because of an irresponsible father who constantly appeared owing gambling debts, she failed to enter college, the only escape from hell. From that day, Baek A-jin designed a gambling table for revenge and used Choi Jung-ho (Kim Ji-hoon) as a sacrifice to unlock the shackle named Baek Seon-gyu. After cutting such a persistent bitter tie, Baek A-jin caused goosebumps by showing a manic laugh with a face covered in blood in the rain.
# the truth and sincerity revealed too late, the hope in hell that Baek A-jin let go (episode 8)
During her relationship with Heo In-gang (Hwang In-yeop), Baek A-jin received family love she had never felt before. In particular, the sincerity of Heo In-gang's maternal grandmother Hong Kyung-suk (Park Seung-tae) was gradually opening Baek A-jin's heart. But after learning that Baek A-jin had approached intentionally, Hong Kyung-suk suffered an unexpected fall to her death. Yoon Joon-seo (Kim Young-dae) suspected that Baek A-jin would be the culprit. However, near the end of episode 8, the scene where Baek A-jin confesses to Hwang Ji-seon (Kim Yu-mi) that she was scared to be fooled by his childhood kindness intercuts with images of her praying in front of Hong Kyung-suk's emergency room to save him, which made viewers' hearts ache. His cool voice and hot tears saying, "But now I know for sure. You must not take hope in hell lightly," hinted at his long loneliness and sorrow.
# Shim Seong-hee, breaks into Baek A-jin's home and stabs with a weapon → Baek A-jin vs. Shim Seong-hee bloody ending (episode 10)
The feud between Baek A-jin and Shim Seong-hee (Kim Yi-kyung) was long and stubborn. Shim Seong-hee believed Baek A-jin had completely ruined her life during their school days, and when public sentiment toward her worsened after Heo In-gang's death, she suddenly appeared and drew attention. But Shim Seong-hee was no match for Baek A-jin. When she said she still wanted an apology, Baek A-jin did not even blink. Their long feud seemed to end with her marriage to Moon Do-hyuk (Hong Jong-hyun), but Shim Seong-hee broke into Baek A-jin's mansion, pointed a knife and exploded in rage. Saying she could not accept the happiness of the man who drove her to misery, she spat out words that were both a curse and a warning: "Is your marriage a blessing or a disaster?" After a struggle with Shim Seong-hee, Baek A-jin made her cut her own face with the knife, creating a bloody ending. It heightened tension by hinting at the misfortune to come to Baek A-jin.
# Baek A-jin's glamorous fall, and her end standing once again at the edge of a cliff (episode 12)
Baek A-jin ultimately met a glamorous fall from the top. Yoon Joon-seo, who knew that the higher Baek A-jin rose the more dangerous it would be, chose her destruction as the way to save others. At the most glorious moment when Baek A-jin stepped onto the awards stage, a documentary exposing her past and the truth was released to the world. Baek A-jin seemed to accept that she now truly must stop and that she had no choice but to stop. But in the final scene of "Dear X," Baek A-jin's eyes standing at the edge of the cliff shone once again. She delivered a strong final aftertaste until the end, stimulating curiosity about Baek A-jin's movements shrouded in mystery.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by Tving.
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