Image source: https://www.viki.com/tv/38899c-reborn-rich
''Reborn Rich' aired in 2022 with Song Joong Ki playing the main lead. It is adapted from a web novel of the same name. Song Joong Ki has been gracing the screens for quite a long time and it is after 'Descendants of the Sun' that he garnered the current popularity and public image. Needless to say, he is one of the faces I look for in all dramas.
Reborn Rich narrates the story of Yoon Hyun Woo (played by Song Joong Ki), who works for the Chaebol* family 'Soonyang Group'. As an employee, he is everything the corporate world desires; punctual, loyal and obedient. He works with the principle of not questioning orders and carrying them out with utmost diligence. He gets wrongly accused of embezzling a huge sum of money while trying to cover up a tax evasion scheme of Soonyang Group, following which the same people murder him. He is reincarnated as Jin Do Jun (also played by Song Joong Ki), the youngest member of the Soonyang family. As he starts living as Do Jun, with the memory of what happened to Hyun Woo, he vows to avenge himself and unravel the truth behind his wrongful death.
The story is set with the rich backdrop of historical events, mainly the Asian Financial Crisis. We constantly get references to these events, which makes the drama well-grounded in the socio-political makeup of South Korea in those days. The events are believable and use real footages to build the story. The actors play their roles to the T, which makes this drama absolutely engaging. Among the lot, my favorites were Chairman Jin Yang-Cheol (played by Lee Sung-Min) and Lee Pil-Ok the wife of the Chairman (played by Kim Hyun).
**Some spoilers ahead
Certain parts that did not work for me were Song Joong-Ki's acting as a young college student. It looked quite forceful, and I felt like he was trying really hard to look young. It is high time we let him play roles that suit his age and free him off his sneaker era. The young college-boy charm no longer worked for me here. Another force-fit was the casual nature in which he narrated (read prophesised) events that will take place in the future in this new life (as he has already seen them as Hyun Woo), and how the surrounding people believe him with no questions asked. Even after numerous such happenings, no one is creeped out? I would definitely have double checked on this guy. Well, that’s just me I guess.
Episodes 1-15 were an absolute delight to watch. The last episode definitely owes us a lot of explanation.
If you like thrillers, Reborn Rich will not disappoint. However, if you are more of the K-Drama Rom-Com lover, I would suggest you skip this one.
On my K-Drama meter, I would give Reborn Rich an 8/10.
In India you can watch this drama on Viki Rakuten.
(Do let me know in the comments if my review helped you make a decision on this one.)
*Chaebol- refers to a large family-owned business conglomerate of South Korea.
Comments
Post a Comment