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South Korean drama Thirty-Nine tells the story of three friends aged 39 as they navigate love, friendships, life and unexpected loss. The trio has known each other since they were 18 and their bond has only grown stronger with time. The three ladies are Cha Mi Jo, Jeong Chan Young and Jang Joo Hee, played by Son Ye Jin, Jeon Mi Do and Kim Ji Hyun, respectively.

Cha Mi Jo is demure and loving, Jeong Chan Young is bratty and blunt and Jang Joo Hee is timid and cute. The trio complement and understand each other, and have chosen to stay single. The drama began airing on February 16, 2022 and was simultaneously premiered on Netflix. We have known Son Ye Jin from dramas like Crash Landing on You and Something in the Rain and she is called Nation’s First Love for a reason. Jeon Mi Do shot to fame as the loving neurosurgeon on Hospital Playlist. Kim Ji Hyun is mainly a stage actress, with occasional supporting roles in dramas like Hometown Cha Cha Cha.

The drama is set in modern day, with occasional flashbacks to give more contexts when needed. The first episode begins with Cha Mi Jo’s (Son Ye Jin) narration about losing one of the three friends. Since her narration was a voice over, the audience was in the dark as to which friend it would be. The scene is then cut to the three friends, and the episode fills up with their banter and charm. We are also introduced to the three male leads in the drama, namely Kim Jin Seok (played by Lee Moo Saeng), Kim Seon Woo (played by Yeon Woo Jin) and Park Hyun Jun (played by Kim Tae Hwan). Each male lead is paired or shown to be soon paired opposite one of the three friends. There’s apprehension, there’s past hurt and there’s awkwardness, but the romance aspect is quite maturely handled. The trio has no secrets and is not shy to talk about any topic between them. They are each other’s hard critics and biggest cheerleaders.

Cha Mi Jo had been going on and on about taking a one-year sabbatical and go to the US to rejuvenate, and the chances of her being that one friend seemed stronger initially. It is later revealed that Mi Jo has been experiencing panic attacks, and that is why she is planning for a long break. Her friends are unaware of this yet. As episode two came to a conclusion, it is revealed that the friend who would leave them is Jeong Chan Young (Jeon Mi Do). In episode two, the three of them go to a hospital for full medical checkup. It is after that checkup that Mi Jo comes to know about Chan Young’s disease which has progressed to stage four, and has slim chances of survival.

The scenes are more of close-ups, to capture their emotions clearly. The warm tones on the screen seep into the viewers’ experience as they immerse themselves into the story for eighty to ninety minutes. Delicate topics like adoption and terminal illness are handled with care and maturity, which makes the story further emotional.

The story is compelling and viewers would find it relatable in terms of enduring hardships in life while remaining with your best friends. The friendship between Mi Jo, Chan Young and Joo Hee is refreshing to see on-screen especially between women ready to enter their 40s. Seeing three modern independent women enjoying their lives, without worrying about the societal pressures is a good change. What makes the story special is that it does not add a rose-tinted glass over the women’s narratives. They are vulnerable, sensitive, humorous and lively without being shown as a damsel in distress.

The sprinkle of tragedy darkens the mood, as it makes one wonder how would the characters, especially Mi Jo and Joo Hee move on in their lives. The intensity of the drama increased gradually. Where episode one opened to fun and brighter notes of initial meetings and ‘butterflies-in-stomach’, episode two carried more heavy notes, with progress in a relationship and news of death. Seeing the teaser of episode three, it would be safe to say that the drama goes up a notch with the heavy tone. Perhaps Mi Jo will cancel her US vacation, and spend time with her friends. Only time will tell how the story will actually pan out. Keep those tissues handy!

 

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