In the heart of Seoul, amidst the bustling city life, "Who Is She!" Season 1 Episode 1: "Decades of Emptiness" unfolds, painting a vivid portrait of a family bound by dreams, duty, and the relentless passage of time. The episode introduces us to the central character, Oh Mal-soon, a woman whose life has been a relentless cycle of hard work and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of a family struggling to find harmony amidst their individual aspirations.
The episode kicks off with a moment of panic for Mal-soon, who rushes into a restroom, a brief glimpse into the turmoil that her life is about to become. We are then taken into the life of her son-in-law, Choi Min-seok, whose entrepreneurial ventures have once again failed, forcing the family to move back in with Mal-soon. The tension between Mal-soon and her daughter, Ban Ji-sook, is palpable, a strained relationship that has been the silent undercurrent in their lives.
Meanwhile, Mal-soon's granddaughter, Choi Ha-na, is caught in the crossfire of her family's expectations and her own dreams. She sneaks out to practice her music, a passion that her family seems to view as a distraction from her studies. This conflict sets the stage for the generational divide that is a central theme of the series.
The narrative then shifts to the world of entertainment, introducing CEO Daniel Han, who is launching a new girl group at UNIS' fiesta. His plan to step back once the group is successful is thrown into disarray when the group's center, Emily, goes missing. This subplot adds a layer of mystery and urgency to the episode, hinting at the challenges that lie ahead for Daniel and UNIS.
Mal-soon's life is a tapestry of resilience and determination. She has single-handedly sustained her family by running a popular soup restaurant, which she is now preparing to hand over to a pair of brothers. Her insistence on maintaining the high standards of her establishment is a testament to her character's integrity and her commitment to excellence.
In a poignant moment, Mal-soon meets her only friend, Park Gab-young, and they attend workshops for senior citizens, a reflection of the loneliness that has been Mal-soon's companion. This is followed by Mal-soon's audacious decision to attend an audition at UNIS, a moment that ties into her long-standing rivalry with Kim Ae-sim, a famous singer and now the chairwoman of UNIS. The audition scene is a heart-wrenching display of Mal-soon's vulnerability and her unyielding spirit, as she falters when she fails to hit the high notes, only to be mocked by Ae-sim, who dismisses her dreams with a cruel reminder that not everyone is destined to be a star.
The episode reaches its emotional climax when Mal-soon returns home to find Ha-na declaring her intention to forgo university. Mal-soon's attempt to support her granddaughter is met with Ji-sook's explosive anger, leading to Mal-soon being asked to leave the house. With a heavy heart, she gathers her belongings and walks out, only to be offered a seat in a taxi by a kind driver.
As the episode draws to a close, Mal-soon falls asleep in the taxi, only to wake up in a photography studio with the same driver, who now poses as a photographer. In a twist of fate, an antique camera captures her image, and when she opens her eyes, she is shocked to find herself transformed into her 21-year-old self. This magical moment marks the beginning of a new chapter in Mal-soon's life, a chance to rewrite her story and pursue the dreams she had long ago set aside.
"Decades of Emptiness" is a powerful opening to "Who Is She!" that delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, the cost of pursuing dreams, and the resilience of the human spirit. It sets the stage for a series that promises to explore the transformative power of dreams and the courage it takes to chase them, no matter the age.