The successor of the strongest girl in the K-drama neighborhood is here, and she is stronger! Netflix premiered the first two episodes of the much anticipated K-drama Strong Girl Nam Soon, starring Lee Yoo Mi, Kim Jung Eun, Kim Hae Sook, Ong Seong Wu, and Byeon Woo Seok in lead roles.
The series is a spin-off of the 2017 K-drama Strong Woman Bong Soon that managed to sweep fans off their feet with action, comedy, suspense, and debatably one of the best K-drama romances. So, making a spin-off of a 10/10 K-drama was not something necessary or advisory.
It was also a risk as the spin-off must be equivalent to the original while also being more than it. However, considering the first two episodes, Strong Girl Nam Soon is the perfect spin-off that fans deserve. Read ahead to find out why we are gushing over the series to carry on the legacy of Do Bong Soon.
Strong Girl Nam Soon features double the fun and power
The K-drama Strong Girl Nam Soon follows Kang Nam Soon (pronounced as Gangnam Soon), the heir to a family of superhero matriarchs. Its opening sequence, which begins with plenty of drone shots in the vastness of Mongolia, establishes that Nam Soon is not your ordinary girl. She has super strength, an independent mind, and, most importantly, a kind and happy heart.
Unfortunately, she has lost her memories and her parents in this foreign land, but she hopes to reconnect with them in South Korea. Her arrival in the country is also extraordinary and packed with cheeky comedy. On the other hand, Nam Soon’s mother (best described as Mami) is trying to search for her while running an empire she established with street smartness. The unity of the two is bound to invite chaos and deliver entertainment.
One of the show’s highlights is the change in the approach towards the superstrength. None of the three women in Strong Girl Nam Soon tries to suppress or hide their powers. Instead, they embrace it with grace. The trio is not just women with power but also women in power, spearheading the nation’s protection from expanding drug nexus.
As the spin-off is delivering a double dose of power, comedy, and danger, we expect to get a double amount of romance as well. In the first two episodes, the future couple is still in their introductory stages, but Ong Seong Wu, as the Gangnam cop Hee-sik, is dashing.
Strong Girl Nam Soon: Performances, Cameos and Screenplay
This entertainment-packed spin-off of Strong Girl Bong Soon is driven by action sequences of Lee Yoo Mi and her Catwoman mother, Kim Jung Eun. The chirpy dramatics and comic timing of Lee Yoo Mi are also endearing. Her performance is so consistent that it makes one question if she is the same actor who played the mysterious breakthrough role of Ji Young in Ep 6 of Squid Game.
Another actor appearing in a completely new look is Byeon Woo Seok. Although he hardly appears in two scenes, it is easy to conclude that after making the audience’s heart flutter in K-movie 20th Century Girl, he will make the audience shiver (with attraction, fear, and anger) as the antagonist in Strong Girl Nam Soon.
As for the screenplay, it can be summarized as cheeky. The comic sequences are fitting for a Makjang drama, but they are delivered with just enough punch to serve as entertainment. This balance is essential to save the drama from becoming over-the-top, and thankfully, it is well delivered.
It will be interesting to see how these new changes are explored and if the suspense manages to keep a hold on the audience. Fans are also eager to see the cameos of the original strong girl, Park Bo Young, and her beau, Park Hyung Sik, in the series. The expectations are exceptionally high after the brief sequence featuring Kim Won Hae, who won hearts in the first season with his blood, sweat, and tears, literally.
Strong Girl Nam Soon is currently airing on JTBC, with new episodes every Saturday and Sunday. It is also simultaneously released on Netflix for global audiences. We are definitely in for a strong treat, and we can’t wait to see more. Happy Watching!
