Light Shop (2024) 조명가게
Directed by Kim Hee-won, starring Ju Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young, Lee Jung-eun and Kim Min-ha.
Watched 31 January - 15 February 2025 — 8 episodes (DISNEY+)
*When I started watching this series, I didn't expect it to be so eerie. At one point it just felt like full-blown horror, and I thought it was the eeriest and creepiest K-drama I'd seen to date. But the tone changed and it became thought-provoking with poignant moments.
*This show is a slow-burn. It thrives on atmosphere and builds the suspense well. There is gorgeous and moody photography, especially the scenes set at the bus stop, with the girl waiting on the bench. There's suitable music to complement the mood.
*I don't like scary or horror just for the sake of horror. Even though the show intrigued me right away, I wanted everything to make sense and have meaning. I was waiting for all storylines and the various characters to come together, to develop into a coherent story (which it eventually did).
*Nice to see the familiar faces of Ju Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young and Lee Jung-eun, and also Kim Min-ha from Pachinko.
*What becomes clear is that the bus accident ties everyone together and the series revolves around the seriously injured victims at the ICU. These ICU patients all lost someone dear to them and balance between life and death. At the end of the day it's the willpower to live that pulls the patient through. I like the concept of the light shop where the patients go and choose their own life light bulb.
*Unfortunately I didn't feel an emotional connection with the characters. The closest thing to becoming emotionally involved with a character was the section where Ju Ji-hoon tries to save his little girl, and the scene in the light shop with the reveal of Lee Jung-eun being his daughter.
*This series reminded me a bit of The Sixth Sense because of the ability to see dead people and it isn't immediately clear who is alive or dead. Park Bo-young (as the ICU nurse) had a near-death experience herself and therefore can see dead people too.
*Undoubtedly not everything adds up here but ultimately it's a well-made show, especially in terms of production values. Due to lack of emotional engagement, it didn't completely win me over but I enjoyed it.
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