Like Dr. House once said, “Everybody Lies”. All of us, to an extent, have had to lie. Be it to keep face in public, manage a tricky situation or simply to conceal the truth. If we go by lexical terms, lying would simply mean not speaking the truth. We all have within us a filter which enables us to use our verbal intelligence and navigate our paths artfully. But what happens when this filter is turned off? We have come across fictional stories like Liar Liar where the lead is unable to lie after a freak accident. The results are borderline catastrophic for such an individual. Professional and personal life become difficult to navigate. What if you cannot even say “I am okay” when you are in fact, not feeling okay? Well, the lead of the latest comedy K-drama Frankly Speaking has a story to tell. Starring Go Kyung Pyo, Kang Han Na and Joo Jung Hyuk, the hilarious comedy delves into the funny aspects of those who simply can’t lie to save their lives.
Frankly Speaking Review: Go Kyung Pyo, Kang Han Na and Joo Jung Hyuk star explore hilarious consequences when a news anchor’s honesty curse creates chaos
Frankly Speaking follows Song Ki Baek (played by Go Kyung Pyo), an afternoon session news anchor who aspires to appear on the prime time news. He is loved by his colleagues for his polite and helpful nature. He also had a reputation that he hails from an affluent family, and that his family has quite the connection in society. But that is far from the truth.
Working with the same channel, comes On Woo Joo (played by Kang Han Na), a reality TV show writer. In an attempt to save her current show from going off air, she enlists Song’s help. But things do not go as planned and she has to start again. Then we also see Kim Jung Heon (played by Joo Jung Hyuk), a reality TV star, fondly dubbed as “the nation’s son-in-law”. He is loved by mothers and adorned by eligible single women. On and Kim share a history which we come to know in episode two of Frankly Speaking.
The first two episodes of Frankly Speaking premiered on May 1st and 2nd respectively! In these episodes, the premise of the show is quite clear. Our leads want to rise up in their careers. Their paths crossed unexpectedly but now they have become a part and parcel of each other’s work life at least. There is a possibility of romance between the leads, but so far the chemistry is strictly professional. There were some rom-com like moments but those were comic at best. Perhaps it would also serve best if there is no romantic arc for these characters. This professional friendship suits them better.
For a person working in the media, being diplomatic should be like second skin. One cannot afford to misspeak for it could cost them their career. Song’s utter confusion to understand his situation and his attempts to save face each time add in to the curiosity to keep on watching. He has his secrets which hold the power to shatter the image he has built at work. We have seen Go Kyung Pyo play comic roles before. This role of his sits in line with his past roles, except the character development has begun well in advance.
It is a predictable comedy drama, with a classic sprinkle of exaggeration and over-the-top internal monologues. Go is funny as always. The sheer shock and dilemma that his character Song Ki Baek goes through each time he opens his mouth is anything but comical to watch. The poor guy tries again and again to speak with a filter but his mouth has other plans. Seeing Kang Han Na in a role that is not negative is quite refreshing to see. On Woo Joo is an ambitious young woman without a trace of malice in her (so far so good). The character is not someone unseen before on screen but Kang’s portrayal of a damsel in distress is definitely something new to see.
The characters are more or less flat so far. The male lead shows signs of character development but the rest seem to have a straight path carved for them. One can expect Joo Jung Hyuk’s character Kim Jung Heon to have a redemption arc in terms of making amends with On Woo Joo. But other than that, the lead and the supporting characters do not show much scope of development.
Clocking in at around less than 60 minutes, each episode of Frankly Speaking might feel longer than necessary. While some might enjoy the extended format, the story unfolds at a leisurely pace that can drag at times. This is especially true when considering the lack of sound effects to punch up the comedic moments. The drama does a good job portraying the characters’ frustrations and the looming consequences of Song Ki Baek’s inability to filter his thoughts. However, if you’re looking for a show with surprising twists and turns, Frankly Speaking might not be it. The plot is fairly predictable, with the exception of how Song’s unfiltered outbursts play out.
While familiar tropes and character archetypes aren’t inherently bad, they can feel repetitive. Here, it’s like watching a well-worn simulation with a new cast. If you miss an episode or two, you likely won’t be missing crucial plot points. Even short clips online probably won’t spoil the story. In short, Frankly Speaking is a predictable drama with occasional flashes of emotional depth. While some viewers might enjoy the extended format and focus on character emotions, others might find the pacing slow and the plot uninspired.
Did you watch Frankly Speaking? What do you think of this K-drama? Tell us in the comments as you gear up for third episode on May 8th.
Watch the trailer for ‘Frankly Speaking’ here:
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
