K-Drama Review: The Girl Who Sees Scents

Richa Singh, New Delhi

Supersensory abilities! Yes, we have all in our lives at least once wanted to own supernatural powers. It would be amazing to be able to do something with just a blink of an eye or with a wave of a hand. According to the stories, there are various supernatural powers that start with something as simple as moving things and then being able to teleport. But is it really that amazing or is it more challenging to be a supernatural human?

It is said that with every power comes great responsibility and a person with a sense of control will be able to use it wisely. It all depends on how you choose to use it and whether you will let that power take control or you will take control of it and be the best you can be.

Cast

One such story which is written by Lee Hee-myung and directed by Baek Soo-chan and Oh Choong-hwan is based on a webtoon with the same name ‘A Girl Who Sees Smells’ by Seo Soo-kyung, aka Man Chwi. It aired in the year 2015, starring Park Yoo-chun, Shin Se-kyung, Namgoong Min, and Yoon Jin-seo, and aired for16 episodes.

Plot

The story begins with the murder of Choi Eun-seol’s (Shin Se-kyung) parents. Right before she was supposed to arrive home from school the killer, kills both her parents and upon seeing the killer distracted, Eun-seol runs away from there. Unfortunately, she gets into a car accident while on the run. Her parents are found with a barcode carved on their wrists which explains the name of the killer as the ‘Barcode Killer.’

She is admitted to the hospital wherein Choi Moo-gak (Park Yoo-chun) who is visiting his younger sister (Kim So-hyun) with the same name as Choi Eun-seol, is being treated for mild injuries after a bus accident. But when he returns to her bed he finds her throat slit and realizes her death. 

After 193 days, when Choi Eun-seol (Shin Se-kyung) wakes up from the coma she realizes that her left eye has turned green without any scientific explanation and she now has the ability to not only smell but also see the smells/scents around her. She has no memory of her life and is left confused.

She starts to live as Oh Cho-rim, a completely new identity given to her by the investigating officer of her parents’ murder under the witness protection program as she is the sole witness of her parents’ attack. The girl has now started her new life and after 6 months since the incident, she is seen working for a comedy theatre company with a desire to be a popular comedian.

She is daydreaming about how she is popular and doing a talk show and while she is enjoying her imagination, Cho Moo-gakis on a stakeout to capture a thief named Kang Sang-mun for a special promotion to the Violent Crimes Unit with a purpose. There he stays up for three nights straight just to catch him and works for five days as a patrol officer.

By the 4th episode, there is another body found which Lt. YeomMi, a criminal profiler, suspects to be a copycat killer’s work. The killer according to Lt. Yeom Mi is proficient with knives and could be a chef or a surgeon whose skill is cutting with precision. By the end of the 8th episode, Moo-gak is attacked by the killer and the police set up a trap for him; the killer finds out the hidden message realizing a fact about the witness.

Why You Should Watch?

The actors portray the characters brilliantly. The story has a mix of all the elements- thrill, romance, pain, and the passion for catching the killer without losing the purpose. I specifically liked the character of Moo-gak played by Park Yoo-chun who sets up his goal and does everything to reach it and never gives up. Also, this drama tells us about one of the reasons or psychology behind the killers’ activities; one which says that it is not always their past experiences, but sometimes just an instinct to kill.

I would like to end by stating that this drama is a complete package of thriller, romance and special abilities developed for unexplained reasons. It is recommended to watch and share with us the experience and the journey of identifying the killer, and how fascinating it could be if you had a special power just like Choi Eun-seol.