Early Access: Lie After Lie E1 (Patreon)

E1. I must be in the mood for some intense, makjang-laced melo, because I am sucked in, and right away too.

With makjang, it's a little bit tricky, for me, because I like my makjang levels just so. Too makjang, and it becomes too much to deal with (this is why I'm not likely to watch Penthouse; it looks too intense and shouty). Not makjang enough, and I start to feel bored (like with Graceful Family). I like it if it's either (a) OTT and hammy (like in The Last Empress), or (b) intensely makjang enough to provide some nice shock value and suck me in, without being too much or too little. I know. I feel like Baby Bear and his porridge, ha.

My point is, I really like the makjang levels in this show.

I feel for Eun Soo, right away. It feels like she was innocently living her life and enjoying her work, until the VP finds himself charmed by her and sets about flirting with her. In what feels like the twinkling of an eye, she finds herself stuck in an abusive marriage, and when she discovers her pregnancy, she decides to run away, only to be tracked down by her violent husband. And then suddenly, she finds herself framed for his murder and thrown into jail, with her every effort to seek justice, mysteriously and efficiently blocked. This is just the sort of thing to grab my sympathies, and fast. I'm already rooting so hard, for Eun Soo, to find her way back to her daughter, who was literally forced out of her hands.

I'm also really happy to have Lee Yoo Ri back on my screen; I really loved her outing in Father Is Strange, and I'm expecting that this role will give her lots more room to shine.

This is my first time seeing Lee Il Hwa in a villainous sort of role, and I am quite riveted. I mean, before this, I kept thinking of her as the mom in the Reply dramas, and in those shows, she's always sweet, selfless and caring, and always dressed in very plain, humble clothes. Here, she's the complete opposite. She's coiffed, elegant and altogether glossy, AND, she's scheming, condescending and manipulative. And rich and powerful too. I love it. It's such a refreshing new look on her, and I'm quite thrilled at her intimidating aura.

It's been forever since I enjoyed Yeon Jung Hoon in Vampire Prosecutor, that I'm just quite pleased to have him back on my screen. So far, I like his character Ji Min. He's got a nose for the truth, which will make things interesting once Eun Soo actually enters his life. When and how will that nose for the truth help him to find the facts among the lies? I'm curious and eager to find out.