My Name (2021)

September 3, 2023

Our Take: A gritty, fast-paced tale of revenge.

My Name is an intensely raw and violent story of a woman's journey for vengeance as she navigates the darkest corners of Seoul's criminal underbelly. In high school, Yoon Ji Woo (Han So Hee) witnesses her father, Yoon Dong Hoon (Yoon Kyung Ho), get brutally murdered through the peephole of her apartment. Despite resenting her father for his gang affiliation and the social isolation it causes her, she becomes consumed by guilt over his death and decides to seek justice for him.

Her visceral desire for revenge leads her to Dongcheon, the city's biggest organized crime ring led by Choi Mu Jin (Park Hee Soon). Her father previously worked at Dongcheon and was Mu Jin's closest friend. Seeing her grit and desperation, Mu Jin takes Ji Woo under his wing and sends her undercover as a police officer. She assumes the alias Oh Hye Jin and gets assigned to work in the drug investigation unit at the Inchang Metropolitan Police Station.  

When she joins the police force, she gets partnered up with Jeon Pil Do (Ahn Bo Hyun), a righteous police detective who is a stickler for rules. Their team is led by Cha Gi Ho (Kim Sang Ho), an old enemy of Mu Jin who vows to take down Dongcheon before he retires. As Ji Woo continues her quest for revenge, she slowly learns the truth of what happened to her father. 

The narrative itself is not groundbreaking by any means, but the execution is dark, suspenseful, and brutally violent — a fitting depiction of the grim underworld Ji Woo lives in. The writers elevate the classic revenge and betrayal plot by creating an intense storyline with incredible cast performances and plenty of fight scenes, ranging from hand-to-hand combat to fights involving dangerous weapons to face-offs between different gangs. 

The brutality and cruelty of the criminal underworld are always front and center, and there is an abundance of bloodshed. The technical execution and cinematography also capture the settings very well, with the color palettes of reds, purples, and blues accenting the darkness in Ji Woo's life and surroundings. 

My Name is not for the faint of heart. There is no comedic relief or humor to break the tension and brutality. Instead, the writers opt for moments of quiet and poignancy dispersed throughout the show. 

One of the show's greatest strengths comes from the standout performances of the main cast, particularly Han So Hee. Because My Name is a primarily character-driven story, its success or failure largely depends on the leads and how well they can breathe life into their characters. In this case, Han So Hee embodies Yoon Ji Woo's broken and tormented persona flawlessly. 

While Ji Woo doesn't have the best relationship with her father, and he's certainly not a hero in her eyes, she is filled with agony and grief at his death. At a young age, she becomes laser-focused on discovering the truth behind his death and hunting down his killer. Despite being an outcast, her sheer willpower enables her to survive in a brutal and unforgiving environment. She doesn't let anyone keep her from her pursuit of retribution and quickly becomes a seasoned fighter with sharp moves.

Ji Woo's single-minded determination to pursue justice for her father deprives her of all joy in her life. She rarely smiles, has no friends or family, and lives in an empty apartment with nothing except her workout equipment. Her life is dark and empty, and she doesn't partake in anything that distracts her from her goal.  

By her side is Choi Moo Jin. As the mafia leader of Dongcheon, he's classy, charismatic, and has a strong presence. He serves as both a mentor figure and antagonist for Ji Woo. On one hand, he trains her to become a powerful and cunning fighter, promising to protect her with the full force of his organization and telling her tales of his adventures with her father. On the other hand, he hides his motives and isn't afraid to brutally punish those who cross him, even if it's Ji Woo. 

Contrasting them and their dysfunctional relationship is Jeon Pil Do. He's more laid back and easygoing but still hardworking and naturally charming. As he spends more time with Ji Woo, he helps her become more vulnerable and open, giving her a glimpse of life outside of revenge. 

In the end, Ji Woo successfully avenges her father, but it's not exactly the happy ending she envisioned. While she finally gets what she wants, she has to sacrifice everything to accomplish her goal. Her journey begs the question — is revenge worth it? Has she finally found peace? What kind of life will she live now that she's fulfilled her life's purpose? 

Plotwise, there were times when the pacing didn't flow together coherently. Many of the subplots within each episode fell short or lacked depth. While Yoon Ji Woo excels at fighting, her character development and relationships with other characters are not fully fleshed out. The twist at the end also felt anti-climatic and predictable, which didn't bring a sense of completion overall. 

Final Thoughts

My Name is an action thriller boasting a highly talented cast and intense choreographed fights. It's graphic and raw, shedding light on the corruption and violence in South Korean society while exploring the complex psychology of revenge. Overall, My Name is entertaining, but the build-up and plot don't quite live up to the hype.