‘Sensory Couple’ Delivers A Comedic Take On Neurological Conditions And Trauma

The appropriately titled drama, “Sensory Couple,” premiered on April 1. The series, which was originally referred to as “Girl Who Sees Smells,” bears an unusual title but the program provides scientific context for its name, within fifteen minutes of the first episode.

Shin Se Kyung portrays Choi Eun Sol, a high-school student who witnesses the murder of her parents. She sustains a traumatic brain injury while fleeing the murder and spends a lengthy amount of time in a coma. She emerges from the coma with synesthesia or the ability to visualize fragrances. She is able to visually construct a bouquet of roses, based upon their aroma and is repulsed by the cologne of her doctors and nurses.

JYJ’s Yoochun is Choi Mu Gak a police officer, who is an aspiring homicide detective. Traumatized by the murder of his sister, he slips into a coma. He emerges from the coma without the ability to taste, smell or feel pain. After he falls asleep during an initial encounter with a criminal, it becomes apparent that Mu Gak may also struggle with narcolepsy, a rare neurological condition which can result in instantaneous bouts of sleep.

Eun Sol aspires to become a comedienne but is a failure during her auditions. She is a member of a struggling improvisational comedy troupe but maintains dreams of acting on television.

An accidental meeting introduces Eun Sol to Mu Gak. By the second episode, Eun Sol recognizes Mu Gak as a potential partner for her comedy auditions and Mu Gak sees her potential as a police detective.

“Sensory Couple” premiered on April 1 to ratings of 5.6 percent, as reported by Nielsen Korea. While that is not a record-breaking figure, it reflects an increase from 4.3% that was reported for its predecessor, “Jekyll, Hyde and I. “Sensory Couple” airs on SBS on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the 9:55 p.m. time slot.