The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled 6/5/24
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Dive into the Intriguing World of 'The Kidnapping Day'
An In Depth Review of the Amazon Prime Korean Drama
Explore the twists and turns of this captivating series with our in-depth review. Explore the intricate plot, complex characters, and my personal insights. If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend my spoiler-free review. Click on the link below.
Plot Summary
Get a detailed overview of the storyline and key events that make ‘The Kidnapping Day’ a must-watch.
Character Analysis
Discover the motivations and personalities of the main characters, and how they drive the narrative forward.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Spoiler Alert!
Warning: This review contains spoilers. If you haven’t watched ‘The Kidnapping Day’ yet, proceed with caution.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
General Information
Air Date: September 13 – October 25, 2023
Episodes: 12
Watch on: Prime Video
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Starring: Yoon Kye Sang and Yuna
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Story Summary
A Riveting Tale of Crime and Mystery
‘The Kidnapping Day’ follows the story of a desperate father, Min-jun, who resorts to kidnapping to save his ailing daughter. But his plan is derailed when the parents of the girl he kidnapped end up murder victims. As Min-jun navigates through this chaotic situation, he uncovers dark secrets and unexpected twists. And as his “victim” becomes his skillful co-conspirator, he finds himself wanting to protect her at all costs. The emotional depth of the characters and the mystery of their intertwined fates will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Main Characters -Kim Myung Joon and Choi Ro Hee
Lead Characters' Stories
Kim Myung Joon
Kim Myung Joon’s life is turned upside down when he finds out his young daughter needs an expensive surgery to save her life. Myung Joon’s estranged wife shows up with a plan to kidnap the daughter of a rich family, Choi Ro Hee, and use the ransom for their daughter’s treatment.
But things go wrong from the very beginning, and when Ro Hee’s parents end up murdered the whole plan begins to unravel. And as he learns more about Ro Hee and all she has been through, the money is no longer his main objective. Now he is determined to protect the young girl and help her escape those who want to use her for their own agenda.
Choi Ro Hee
Choi Ro Hee is a young genius who has been used by her adopted father as a guinea pig for his studies of the human brain. But when her parents are murdered in their own home, Ro Hee runs for her own safety, and passes out right in front of Myung Joon’s car.
When she wakes up, she can’t remember anything about who she is. Myung Joon tries to convince her that she is his daughter, but she quickly realizes something about that doesn’t seem right. And as her memory slowly returns, she sees that her life is much safer with Myung Joon than it has ever been with those who are chasing her. Now she will change from the helpless victim to the mastermind of their plan to escape safely.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Character Analysis
Personalities and Motivations
Kim Myung Joon is a man torn between his moral compass and his paternal instincts. His motivations are rooted in a deep love for his daughter, which drives him to take extreme measures.
Throughout the series, Myung Joon’s character grapples with guilt, fear, and a relentless determination to protect his family. But he is also caring and accepting of Ro Hee. He sees her need for love and family, and willingly offers his affection. And this makes him a compelling and relatable protagonist.
Yoon Kye Sang played this role to perfection. He is clumsy and impulsive, but also kind-hearted to a fault. I loved him in this drama.
Choi Ro Hee, on the other hand, is portrayed as a sharp and resourceful young girl. Her calm demeanor and quick thinking in the face of danger reveal her inner strength and resilience.
Ro Hee’s motivations are driven by a desire to survive and understand her captor, leading to a nuanced portrayal of a child wise beyond her years. Her evolving relationship with Myung Joon adds layers to her character, making her a standout in the series.
Yuna is outstanding in this role. She portrays the mature, yet tender young genius with perfect balance. This actress is bound for many more great performances.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Secondary Characters
Key Supporting Roles
Park Sang Yoon
Park Sang Yoon is a detective with the violent crimes unit. He is a no-nonsense officer who works tirelessly and usually sleeps at the station. He is called in for the murder of Dr. Choi, and over time he ends up meeting with Myung Joon. In the end he works with Myung Joon and Ro Hee to get Ro Hee safely away from the villains.
Seo Hye Eun
Seo Hye Eun is Myung Joon’s estranged wife. It is her idea to kidnap Ro Hee in the first place. But we soon find out that choosing Ro Hee is no coincidence, and Hye Eun’s motives are based on an important secret from her past.
Jayden
Jayden is the main villain, although he is really just a lackey for a much bigger villain hidden away in Singapore. Originally Jayden comes to Korea to take Ro Hee back, but he soon becomes convinced all they really need is the research. But that mission proves more difficult than he at first imagined.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Highlights
What I Loved About 'The Kidnapping Day'
The highlight of this drama is the interaction between Myung Joon and Ro Hee. From Myung Joon’s clumsy mistakes to Ro Hee’s sassy observations, neither overplays their parts. Their interactions are at times humorous and at other’s touching, but they are always a joy to watch.
Although I hated Hye Eun’s character, the part was amazingly complex and well-written. By the end, it is clear that she has never learned to love because she has never known love. And that behind her very adult exterior is just a child’s heart trapped in her trauma, seeking love and approval.
For me, one of the great things about this drama is how unexpected the plot is. It’s both intricate and interesting. I never would have predicted that what started as a crime drama about kidnapping would turn out to have such varied themes. There is dark humor, heartwarming ideas of family and love, complicated medical research, gangsters, and revenge. And the drama manages to balance all of them smoothly so the switch in scene or tone never felt jarring.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Three Points I Didn't Like
Park Sang Yoon was an interesting character that could have used more personal development. He is billed as a main character, but he really didn’t have any storyline of his own besides a vague mention of causing trouble at work and being a workaholic. I think a little more depth into his private life and what has motivated him to reach this point would have been nice.
It was sad to me that Dr. Mo watched everything that happened to Ro Hee and didn’t seem to learn anything from it. In the end, she is still insistent that the research go on for the sake of her daughter. She doesn’t seem to take into account the cost of the test subjects or even her own daughter’s well-being or happiness.
I would have liked to see a bit more closure between Hye Eun and Park Cheol Won. Cheol Won’s debt was obviously paid long ago, but his parental affection for her is the only positive thing she really has in her life. And while Hye Eun deserved to be punished for all she did, she deserved a bit of love and happiness too.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Conclusion of 'The Kidnapping Day'
How the Drama Ends
The final episodes of ‘The Kidnapping Day’ are quite well done. I don’t know if you can call it a happy ending, but it’s at least close enough. Jayden’s boss decides he is done and sends a willing hitman to kill him in jail. Ro Hee, Myung Joon, and Detective Park work together to get a confession out of Hye Eun, so she can be punished for her crimes. Then Myung Joon turns himself in. At his trial, Ro Hee speaks in Myung Joon’s defense and delivers a beautiful speech about what he taught her about freedom.
In the end, we see Myung Joon in jail, although we can assume his sentence is fairly light. He seems content when Ro Hee and Taek Hyun visit him. Ro Hee and Hee Ae are living together, under the care of Taek Hyun, and going to an international school. They have become sisters while they wait for Myung Joon to come home to their family.
The disturbing end scene shows Dr. Mo going to Singapore after Ro Hee gives her a note with an address on it. During the tour of a special school there, they go into a classroom with a girl working on a white board. When she turns around, we see that she looks exactly like Ro Hee. Is she a clone? Or Ro Hee’s long lost twin? We may never know. But suffice it to say that Dr. Choi’s work is being continued.
The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
Final Impressions
Overall Rating
‘The Kidnapping Day is a masterful surprise of a drama. Rather than being the crimal thriller that I expected, it is an action drama with some medical sci-fi thrown in. But it is not the gritty, action-heavy kind of drama that its name implies. Instead, the heart of the drama revolves around a complex story and touching character development. This fabulous 12 year old actress recently won the Best New Actress award for this role. And it is well-deserved.
This drama is rated 16+ for some violence, language, and sexual content, although I didn’t find it to be overly gory. But the themes are ethically challenging and mature. The drama weaves elements of suspense, emotion, and moral dilemmas, making it a compelling watch from start to finish. The relationship between the leads is the highlight of this one. I give “The Kidnapping Day” a 9 out of 10 ramen.
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The Kidnapping Day: Fully Unravelled
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