The Trunk is a Netflix original mystery melodrama that delves into themes of human loneliness and love through the unique relationship of two individuals entangled in a temporary marriage service. Despite its exploration of the complexities of human relationships, its heavy-handed approach and controversial elements have led to mixed reviews.
1. Extremely Dysfunctional Characters
The Trunk is a mystery drama that revolves around temporary marriages, exploring themes of love, obsession, and loneliness. However, its overly heavy and distorted character portrayals have made it difficult for some viewers to connect with the story.
트렁크 4화까지 봤는데
본 후기-(개인적으로) 영 불호는 아님
-근데 호도 아냐 너무 잔잔하거나 지루함
-(결혼등등)계약조건으로 엮이는 남여 특유의 텐션이 있음
-근데 주요 캐릭터들이 전체적으로 정상적인 관계가 아니라서 흠나뤼함
-남주의 변화를 중점으로 보면 재밌는거 같기두?
-잘모르겠… pic.twitter.com/PncG42qCPw— 잡담하는 온단 (@0dan79) November 29, 2024
Here are some reactions from viewers on X (formerly Twitter): “I’ve watched up to episode 4 of The Trunk. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great either. It feels too slow or boring at times. There’s an interesting tension between the leads because of the contract, but the characters are so unusual that it becomes confusing. Watching the male lead’s growth is intriguing, but I’m still on the fence.”
트렁크 3화까지 봣는데
난 노인지가 제일 버석하고 무서운 줄 알앗는데
노인지가 제일 정상같아 보임
사람들이 다들 수상하고… 이상하고…
특히 한정원 이서연 이 엑스부부는 진짜
끼리끼리미친사람들이에… 병원상담진짜필요해보이심— 心 (@1ofmyfaves) November 29, 2024
Another viewer shared, “I’ve seen up to episode 3, and at first, I thought No In Ji was the craziest, but now she actually seems like the most normal. Everyone else is just strange and suspicious—especially Han Jeong Won and Lee Seo Yeon. They seem like a crazy couple that desperately needs therapy.”
트렁크 진짜 골때리네 ㅋㅋ 정상캐가 (?) 하나도 없는 느낌 근데 현실에 저런 사람들이 없나? 생각하면 또 있을 법도 함
— 클쓰Y (@cyang737) November 29, 2024
One more user commented, “The Trunk is seriously something else. It feels like there isn’t a single normal character. But then I think, aren’t there people like this in real life? Maybe it’s not that far-fetched.”
2. Excessive Nudity for New Actors
Concerns have been raised that the nudity and explicit love scenes in the show are so excessive that they pull viewers out of the story. For instance, the early love scenes between Lee Seo Yeon and Yoon Ji Oh have been described as particularly intense and somewhat out of place.
In contrast, the scenes between Noh In Ji and Han Jeong Won (played by Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin) are far more toned down, which has left audiences wondering why there’s such a big gap. The clear difference in how rookie actors and top stars are treated in these scenes has not gone unnoticed by viewers.
>> Gong Yoo Reveals What Really Tested Him While Filming ‘The Trunk’ And It Wasn’t the Sex Scenes
3. The Implied Theme of Prostitution in the Contract Marriage Setting
The plot’s premise of two unrelated individuals being forced into a contract marriage and sharing a living space has sparked controversy, along with the early dialogue that reminded viewers of prostitution. In Episode 1, the male protagonist makes a comment treating sexual relations as part of the “services” expected in the contract marriage, which has already sparked debates in various online communities.
On the online forum “Theqoo,” viewers wrote: “It’s a contract, but sexual relations are included? That’s prostitution,” and “In a contract marriage, the couple typically pretends to be married without being intimate. If sex is involved, isn’t that prostitution?”
Another comment read, “Even when reading the original novel, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy, wondering, ‘How is this different from prostitution?’” while another user remarked, “Prostitution doesn’t have to be forced to be considered prostitution. There are people who do it voluntarily to make money. By that logic, are voluntary cases not prostitution just because they’re willing participants?”
One more viewer added, “The contract explicitly states that sexual relations are to be decided by mutual agreement. How is this any different? They even have a physical relationship. Gong Yoo’s character can’t decide whether he’s interested in Seo Hyun Jin or just wants to sleep with her. Seo Hyun Jin’s emotions don’t even seem that deep either.”
Some also criticized the drama more broadly, saying: “The characters aren’t appealing, and the story isn’t fresh enough to make me curious or drawn in,” and “I’m really curious what drew the actors to this script. The premise is over-the-top, and the show isn’t compelling enough to overcome that.”
On the other hand, some netizens offered more positive takes: “Even if it’s prostitution, if it leads to true love and a happy ending, then… maybe it’s fine? It feels like an old-school romance novel concept. I’m not watching, though,” and “It’s clear the show isn’t endorsing prostitution or the idea of contract marriages. I didn’t care for the explicit scenes either, but the melodramatic, wintery vibe kept me watching until this morning. I’d recommend it.”
Others shared, “It gets better as it goes on. Episode 1 was the weakest, but the chemistry between the leads improves over time,” and “Gong Yoo’s acting has leveled up. His somber, dark tone fits so well.”
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