Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Lee Mi Jin (Jeong Eun Ji), who has been challenging the civil servant exam for the eighth year, feels like today might be her lucky day. Breezing through on her bicycle, she arrives at the interview. She embodies the optimism of someone who believes she can rise up even after failing seven times. However, her positive mindset crumbles spectacularly in front of the interviewers who favor a younger candidate who has the same name. Mi Jin’s spirits shrink to the point where she even falls victim to a fraudster loitering boldly around the exam center.
Approaching thirty, job-seeker Mi Jin perceives the changing seasons only through the small window of her room. Her friendships have dwindled, and her family’s expectations weigh heavier on her by the day. Waking up after a night of resenting the world, she finds herself in the body of a 50-year-old woman (Lee Jung Eun). Unaware of her true identity, Mi Jin’s parents report her to the police for home intrusion. From then on, without understanding why, Mi Jin lives as a 50-year-old by day and as a 20-year-old by night.
The new JTBC drama Miss Night and Day, where the protagonist wakes up as a different person, reminds viewers of The Beauty Inside. However, unlike The Beauty Inside, where the protagonist wakes up with a different face each time, Mi Jin must adapt daily to the older version of herself she finds in the mirror. The first thing Mi Jin does is borrow the name of her missing aunt to apply for senior jobs as Im Soon, making her ironically the youngest among senior job seekers. Im Soon, with the vitality, flexibility, and passion of a 20-year-old, tops the interview and secures the job. Ironically, the employment that eluded her in her 20s is achieved instantly in her 50s.
Jeong Eun Ji, who showcased brash and refreshing style through characters like Sung Si Won in tvN’s Reply 1997 and Kang Ji Gu in TVING’s Work Later, Drink Now, continues this legacy in her latest role. Despite being demoralized by repeated failures to secure a job, Mi Jin exhibits a bold spirit by relentlessly hurling insults at a scam caller. This performance also marks another notable collaboration with veteran actress Lee Jung Eun, known for seamlessly blending humor, chill, and humanity across films and dramas. While Jeong Eun-ji and Lee Eun Ji may not share physical similarities, they both portray women dealing with similar personalities and life struggles, bringing depth and relatability to their roles.
Prosecutor Gye Ji Woong (Choi Jin Hyuk), who becomes “hyper-focused, hyper-intense, and hyper-sensitive” as soon as he starts working, connects the different generations of Lee Mi Jin. Their relationship begins when he catches the scammer who targeted Mi Jin, and it further entwines when senior intern Im Soon starts cleaning his office. Enigmatic elements like a mysterious cat that lingers around a grieving Mi Jin and people who keep vanishing without a trace, adding layers of intrigue yet to be unveiled. In Miss Night and Day, spiced with romantic comedy, how Lee Mi Jin, Im Soon, and Gye Ji Woong navigate their intertwined fates is highly anticipated. (6/10)
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
