“Dopamine Rush from the Start..” 'This' New K-Drama Is Taking Viewers on a Rollercoaster

KBS 2TV’s new Wed-Thu drama Who Is She (directed by Park Yong-soon, written by Heo Seung-min) has captured viewers’ hearts with its bold storytelling and fresh concepts. Premiering on December 18, the first episode recorded a nationwide rating of 3.9%, positioning the show as a promising new series in the Wed-Thu slot. It outperformed its predecessors, Perfect Family (2.6%) and Face Me (3.3%), further raising expectations.

The drama begins with the story of Oh Mal-soon, a 70-year-old grandmother who dreams of becoming a singer. Played by Kim Hae-sook, Mal-soon decides to participate in a singing competition despite her daughter Ban Ji-sook (Seo Young-hee) strongly opposing the idea. Mal-soon’s son-in-law Choi Min-seok (In Gyo-jin) and granddaughter Choi Ha-na (Chae Won-bin) find themselves caught in the tension between the mother and daughter.

The plot thickens when Mal-soon’s encounter with a former acquaintance, Kim Ae-shim (Cha Hwa-yeon), leads to a disastrous performance of “Man in the Yellow Shirt.” Supporting her granddaughter Ha-na’s decision to quit college causes a heated argument with Ji-sook, prompting Mal-soon to leave home. Ji-sook’s emotionally charged remark, “You didn’t raise me this way; you were strict and unyielding,” intensifies the drama’s tension.

Mal-soon’s life takes an unexpected turn after she rides a mysterious taxi and visits a photo studio to take her portrait. Suddenly, she transforms into her 20-year-old self, played by Jung Ji-so. The young Mal-soon buys new clothes, uploads photos on social media, and catches the eye of Daniel Han (Jung Jin-young), a producer at Eunice Entertainment.

In an intriguing twist, Mal-soon meets her granddaughter Ha-na at the Royal Salon, where she once worked as a young woman, and introduces herself as “a friend’s granddaughter.” This encounter sets the stage for a new chapter in their relationship.

The episode ends with a shocking scene where Mal-soon confronts Daniel at Eunice Entertainment, asking, “What if I’m not who I claim to be? What if I’m not Emily, the person you’re looking for?” The emergence of a completely different Mal-soon leaves viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode.

Based on the 2014 hit movie Miss Granny by Hwang Dong-hyuk, Who Is She distinguishes itself with unique elements. It explores the intricate dynamics of three generations of women, incorporates a missing trainee who looks identical to young Mal-soon, and introduces an idol group, adding layers of mystery and excitement. The dual portrayal of young Mal-soon (Jung Ji-so) and older Mal-soon (Kim Hae-sook) creates a distinctive narrative not found in the original film.

A key highlight is Jung Jin-young, who played the grandson in Miss Granny, taking on the role of Daniel Han, a romantic interest for the 20-year-old Mal-soon. At the press conference on December 12, Jung Jin-young shared, “It’s been 10 years since Miss Granny premiered. When I was approached for this drama, I felt honored and excited to expand on what wasn’t shown in the original film.” The movie Miss Granny was a box office hit, attracting 8.66 million viewers in 2014.

The drama also features a new theme song for each episode, adding to its musical appeal. The chemistry among the cast, particularly the seamless synchronization between Kim Hae-sook and Jung Ji-so, has earned widespread praise. The actors’ stellar performances further enhance the show’s immersive quality.

Who Is She, which has generated a buzz from its very first episode, will air its third episode on Wednesday, December 25, at 9:50 PM.