Classic Kdrama 101: "Cinderella’s Sister"
What if Cinderella was just too nice and trusting and she needed to learn a lesson from her not so nice stepsister? That's the premise of the kdrama, "Cinderella's Sister."
This modern twist to the fairy tale takes place from the perspective of the stepsister, Eun Jo, played by Moon Geun Young. Eun Jo has had a difficult life and learned early on not to trust anyone, especially her mother. Song Kang Sook, played by Lee Mi Sook, uproots her daughter to follow her lovers, each more flawed than the next. Together mother and daughter live a desperate hardscrabble life.
Then their life unexpectedly changes. Song Kang Sook meets and marries Dae Sung, the head of a rice wine brewery, played by Kim Kap Soo. She only marries him for his money and pretends to care about him and his family. But Dae Sung genuinely loves her and warmly welcomes Eun Jo into the family. So does his daughter, Goo Hyo Sun, played by Seo Woo. Goo Hyo Sun has been treated like royalty since the day she was born. Her life has been the opposite of Eun Jo's. As a result Eun Jo resents Goo Hyo Sun's comfortable life. Never having to share her father's affections, Goo Hyo Sun resents Eun Jo's new place in his heart.
As the years pass Eun Jo assumes responsibility in the brewery. The gentle Chun Jung Myung, played by Hong Ki Hoon, helps her run the brewery and falls in love with her. Completing the love triangle is Han Jung Woo, played by OK Taecyeon in his first serious role. He's the adopted son of one of Song Kang Sook's ex-lovers and has always been devoted to Eun Jo.
The drama offers some great performances, notably by Moon Geun Young, as her character struggles to trust others, and by Kim Kap Soo as the trusting father who adopts her. If you love Moon Geun Young, this is definitely a drama to watch. If you are a fan of Ok Taecyeon, his first attempt at drama is also worth seeing.
The drama plays with the whole Cinderella notion of good sister and evil stepsister. The "bad stepsister" has a lot of good in her and the "good sister" has some less than desirable qualities. And Cinderella's sister, Eun Jo, has as many troubles to overcome in her life as Cinderella does.
Don't watch this drama if you are expecting Cinderella to get the prince, because that would not be nearly as interesting as what she does get at the end.
