The Trunk review: Is the Netflix series worth watching?

Netflix aired the South Korean limited series titled The Trunk featuring Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin on November 29, 2024. It tells the tale of a lonely man Han Jeong-won (portrayed by Gong Yoo) and his wife Noh In-ji (depicted by Seo Hyun-jin) who meet through a contract marriage.

Noh In-ji is an employee at NM, an agency that provides clients with spouses for a year's tenure through a contract. Noh In-ji meets her fifth client Han Jeong-won, a person living a depressed life with a heartbreaking past. Different from Noh In-ji’s other husbands, Han Jeong-won appears different to her as she is introduced to him by Lee Seo-yeon's (Jung Yun-ha) suggestion.

Notably, Lee Seo-yeon is Han Jeong-won's ex-wife who he dearly misses and wants to get back with. The Netflix adaptation of the novel The Trunk published in 2015, penned by author Kim Ryeo-ryeong, is a psychological drama. The show is worth watching because of its compelling storytelling and the actor's splendid performances.

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The Trunk review: Gong Yoo in a light while Seo Hyun-jin steals the show with her unpredictable moves

The Trunk warns the viewers that the characters lack sanity and indeed proves it from the very beginning of the story. Featuring Goblin star Gong Yoo and Dr. Romantic actress Seo Hyun-jin, the drama has received its fair share of hype. Given the main lead's performance in the show, viewers will be mind-blown.

Actress Seo Hyun-jin immerses herself in Noh In-ji, an unpredictable character with a mysterious aura that draws attention throughout the series. Noh In-ji's character is tenacious and heroic for her own good.

Meanwhile, Eom Tae-seong, a man from Noh In-ji's past aka her stalker, also keeps the viewers on their toes. Actor Kim Dong-won leaves no room for mistakes in portraying his psychotic nature.

Actor Gong Yoo displays a new side of him as Han Jeong-won and seamlessly portrays complex emotions through his performance. Jung Yun-ha, who essays the role of Han Jeong-won’s ex-wife Lee Seo-yeon, along with other actors like Lee Jung-eun, Jo Yi-geon, and more have also played their parts well.

Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun-jin's synergy as strangers who bond through their past wounds and struggles will keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. This is layered with the gradual progress in their relationship, which makes the show even more engaging to watch.

The series offers a web of complicated relationships between the characters while exploring the themes of dystopian capitalist business like “contract marriages”, which many viewers may enjoy. Topping it with the remarkable cinematography, in particular Han Jeong-won’s house which gives off the old vintage home vibe with an eerie and excruciating atmosphere.

However, on the other hand, The Trunk claims to be a thriller without providing much on the genre. For instance, if it is not for the title of the show, the murder mystery is easily forgettable. Furthermore, the non-linear format of the plot may put off some viewers, but it is not as disappointing as Netflix's previous thriller drama The Frog.

Final Verdict: The Netflix series allows the viewers to explore the future of the characters with an open ending and it may seem like a drawback, but the showmakers have wrapped it up pretty well. For those who enjoyed watching shows like Eve, The World of the Married, and more, The Trunk is definitely a good watch. One can expect less of a thriller and more of psychology and drama.

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The Trunk starring Gong Yoo, Seo Hyun-jin, Lee Jung-eun, Jung Yun-ha, and many more is available on Netflix for streaming.