[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Night Light" Episode 10

Moo-sam (played by Lee Jae-yong-I) is the new acting chairman of the Park family's conglomerate, and it is with her political maneuvering to make this possible that I-kyeong has finally managed to advance major substantative change in the high level corporate power dynamics of "Night Light". Moo-il (played by Jung Han-yong), the former chairman and Gun-woo's father, is down but not out. And it looks like I-kyeong is counting on it.

Advertisement

Moo-sam and Moo-il themselves are brothers, which is the way I-kyeong appears to be planning to tear the Park family's life work apart and replace it with...something. As usual the specifics of I-kyeong's plan are a bit of a mystery. But the direct consequences of her actions are undeniable. I-kyeong is sowing discontent and misery among all the people capable of opposing her, whittling down their strength to such a level that eventually ultimatums won't even be necessary. I-kyeong can just do what she wants.

And this legitimately bothers Se-jin. Once again I-kyeong's plan when it comes to Se-jin is unclear, especially considering how much time was built up "training" the younger woman. Surely it should not come as a surprise that the woman whose main stated talent is empathy would sympathize with Gun-woo's problems. While I-kyeong can push around the Park brothers, Se-jin is too essential to I-kyeong's own interests to be pushed to the side even temporarily.

To that end, we're dealing with a philosophical battle between I-kyeong and Se-jin. I-kyeong's thinking is fascinating in its own evil Buddhist way. Se-jin must eliminate all sense of emotional attachment in order to most effectively strike back. The problem with this is that Se-jin's sense of righteous grievance is much less than I-kyeong's, so it's more difficult to see why Se-jin should have such a large stake in what's happening. The good times she's had with I-kyeong so far are the main incentive.

And it is admittedly a fairly strong incentive. Even as Se-jin insists, not entirely convincingly, that I-kyeong is neither a monster or a villain, it's very difficult to interpret the powerful woman's actions in any other light. All we really have to go on is that we know it's physically possible to make I-kyeong smile. We see it this instead- and most significantly, I-kyeong's joy does not directly come as a result of her malicious politicking. That's about the main possible breath of hope Se-jin has to hold on to right now.

Review by William Schwartz

"Night Light" is directed by Lee Jae-dong, written by Han Ji-hoon and features Lee Yo-won, Jin Goo, UEE, Choi Il-hwa, Choe Min and Shim Yi-young.