Netflix seems to never miss a beat when it comes to producing quality dramas that will suck you into your screen. The Art of Sarah is a glamorous mystery thriller that explores a lavish life, none could have imagined being built on scandalous crimes.
Starring Shin Hye Sun as Sarah Kim, the series delves into the life of a radical woman who miraculously hits the scene as a wealthy socialite. Sarah Kim is a calculative, seductive, and clever character who moves around like an elegant queen on a chessboard. Every move is purposefully directed and leads to outcomes in her favor. Shin Hye Sun truly brings these qualities to life as she dances between the two distinct personalities and identities Sarah Kim has crafted for herself in order to scam and fool the wealthy and elite.
The plot mirrors the famous story of Anna Delvey in Inventing Anna, but it adds a creepy murder twist to keep fans engaged and on their toes. In the series, Sarah Kim appears with loads of money in a mysterious briefcase she strategically uses to get close to the people she needs and desires to aid in building her empire. She first appears quite disheveled, messy, and ludicrous as she barges into a high-end store, riffles through bags, and demands to purchase them all. However, soon after, she pulls a 180 and is eloquent, refined, and beguiling.
Shin Hye Sun effortlessly performs as the characters’ personas quite well and maintains a fun facade of appearing powerful rather than devious. Sarah Kim doesn’t express much emotion unless she’s using it as a ploy to get what she needs, and it emphasizes her cunning nature and Shin Hye Sun’s ability to reflect that. As one person said when discussing their encounter with Sarah, “She won over my trust with just a mere three dollars.” There are many moments that make you want a life like Sarah’s.
For the first few episodes, Lee Jun Hyuk (detective Park Mu Gyeong) makes a strong impression as a stern detective but loses screen time as the series transitions between past events and current ones to bridge together the complex web of fraud Sarah weaved. Although he has more involvement in later episodes, it feels like clues are merely given to him rather than him solving them. With his existence feeling like a plot device, viewers are strapped in for the ride as the story unfolds. It keeps us absorbed but leaves little awe in the work Lee Jun Hyuk’s character should be doing. He has suspicions and hunches, but doesn’t seem to be solving the mystery in thought-provoking ways as other series trendfully do.
The scoring is very well done. It is easy to notice how well the instrumentals blend into every scenario without distracting from the dialogue. It has moments of intentional silence that work as a cue for viewers to pay extra close attention. Netflix always shells out money, so of course, the cinematography is well done, and the numerous transitions between characters and stories feel smooth. The story is a quality slow-burning and never jumps to the next climax without meticulously covering the last.
>> Shin Hye Sun and Lee Jun Hyuk Face Truth and Desire in Netflix Thriller ‘The Art of Sarah’ Teaser
If you’re in the mood for a capricious story with sensational plot twists, lavish settings, and sinister schemes, The Art of Sarah is a noteworthy watch. The cinematography is well-done, the casting is excellent (including the new faces), and the story is thrilling despite its slow and steady pace. We want to know just how Sarah Kim dies…or fakes it. It pokes fun at the life of consumerism and just how anyone can fake it till they make it. (8/10)
In the meantime, watch Shin Hye Sun in High School King on Amasian TV for free.
