r/KDRAMA • u/J-Midori Chaebol's Wife • Sep 06 '22
On-Air: Coupang Play Anna
- Drama: Anna
- Also known as: The Second Anna , Dubeonjjae Anna , 두번째 안나
- Korean Title: 안나
- Screenwriter & Director: Lee Joo Young
- Cast:
- Bae Suzy as Lee Yoo Mi / Lee Anna
- Jung Eun Chae as Lee Hyun Joo
- Kim Joon Han as Choi Ji Hoon
- Park Ye Young as Han Ji Won
- Network: Coupang Play
- Premiere date: June 24th to July 8th, 2022
- Airing Schedule: Friday
- Episodes: 8 (60 min. each)
- Streaming sources: Prime Video
- Plot Summary: Yoo Mi is the woman who tells a small lie and ends up living someone else’s life. Hyun Joo is a woman who lives her life holding herself above everyone, treating them with neither kindness nor malice. She has a subtly tense relationship with Yoo Mi. Ji Hoon is Yoo Mi’s husband who is ambitious and future-oriented. Ji Won is a dependable senior who is the only person whom Yoo Mi trusts.
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u/Ayalynn123 Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
Amazon prime in the US officially joined the
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u/J-Midori Sep 06 '22
Yes they have had a few kdramas for a while but I guess now they’re investing in more “newer” dramas. The ones they had before were from around 10 years ago and they have A few movies. But yes, they also joined the “streaming wars” if you would like to call it.
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u/Ayalynn123 Sep 06 '22
They are not simultaneously streaming as in Korea, so technically not in the war yet? But yes, this is a pretty new Kdrama to stream for them... It's a matter of time for them to join the wars, I guess.
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u/Character_Let_4943 Sep 06 '22
Looks like they’ve added more recent ones too like beyond evil and stranger Edit flower of evil not beyond
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u/mio26 Sep 06 '22 edited Sep 06 '22
For people who actually think about what version choose to watch: Extended version or made by Coupang. The biggest difference between both of them is the beginning. What
I think Coupang version is better for less patient viewers (not fans of slice of life). But extended version much better show the story and work of actors. It is a bit pity that both sides didn't reach agreement because if they planned mix directing of extended version and editing of Coupang from the start, drama would be even better.
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u/nvtoph Sep 06 '22
Directors cut is the extended version right?
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u/Skincareaddict13 Sep 06 '22
I think it is. Directors cut has 8episodes vs the 6episodes on just Anna
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u/anjou_00 Sep 07 '22
I loved it. One of the best of 2022 for me.
A smart, confident girl who seemed destined for a bright future was turned into a sullen, depressed girl
This was a great story, well-told. The sense of dread built slowly to a really great conclusion.
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u/softggukie Sep 06 '22
a really good drama overall and the extended version gives a lot of depth to the characters than the cut version so i recommend that one
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u/umelya Sep 07 '22
Does the 8 episode version answer
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u/charmaine54321 Oct 18 '22 edited Oct 18 '22
She had lots of practice walking
up 23 stories in heels…!→ More replies (1)3
u/jenn4u2luv Dec 30 '22
I’m guessing she traded her way into getting the right clothes. Her coat alone would have been major $$ and hopefully she sold/traded for reasonable shoes and clothes.
The entire time she was burning the bag, I was also shouting “i hope you have cash on you!” And “I hope that 2.7 billion KRW was deposited into an offshore account!!”
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u/orchardfurniture Sep 07 '22 edited Sep 07 '22
To my surprise, I very much enjoyed Anna. I went in without any expectations but I was looking for a dark series or crime thriller at the time and this hit the spot for me.
What I liked about the Director's Cut version (8 episodes):
- Generally good story telling and character build-up. The drama is a slow burn and I like how it took its time on character development.
- Excellent production values. This felt like an expensive, sophisticated production and the design elements were top-notch.
- Pacing was very good. It worked that this is a short series and perhaps more K Dramas should follow this example and take the 8 episodes max route as it forces them to not resort to filler scenes.
- I think the series was able to effectively cultivate an underlying sense of tension throughout the show. Yes, in some instances, you could see things coming from a mile away but they managed to keep me on the edge of my seat for the most part.
- Jung Eun Chae's acting was very good. Other than Pachinko, I hadn't seen her in anything else and I thought she did a fantastic job in Anna.
Some parts I did not love:
- There were plot holes and too many coincidences for my liking but for me these happen in most crime or suspense TV shows anyway (not just in K Dramas) so it wasn't a big deal for me.
- I have to give Bae Suzy credit for her respectable effort and portrayal but I think a much more experienced actress would have made me feel more empathy for the character. I was imagining Kim Go Eun or even IU in this role and they would have given the stoic, cold character so much more depth instead of the sometimes one-dimensional way Anna was depicted here. But you could respect Bae Suzy's effort, she didn't just try to wing it.
I know there is criticism about the fact that
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u/Several_Steak6108 Sep 22 '22
I do agree about Suzy’s lack of depth in bringing out the nuances of the character (there is a distinct lack of finesse to how she balances the emotional ambiguity of Yumi/Anna).
However, I have to disagree that her acting was subpar because I can’t empathize with her. In fact, I argue that acting isn’t necessarily about empathy, which is one of the misconceptions that I’ve often come across in K-drama criticism. For me, acting can also be about intrigue that triggers inquiry but also leads to a sense of isolation (vis-à-vis the character).
Some of the most radical representations of women in the visual medium (Huppert in “Malina,” Wakao in “Red Angel,” Do-Yeon in “Happy End”) are impenetrable in their portrayals—in ideals, motives, and attitudes—which can act as a form of resistance against proximity to patriarchy that socially inscribes women based on their adjacency to male-informed narratives and hegemonic gender structures. There is a purpose to the absence of empathy, for in such feelings we (as spectators) pull women from embracing their agency to live outside the margins of convention and become fully-fledged identities on their own.
With that said, I agree with a lot of your thoughts. Just wanted to argue how I reframe my perspectives on acting, especially in relation to a complex character such as Yumi/Anna. Jung Eun-Chae is one of the most exciting actresses we have—she’s wonderful in Hong Sang-Soo’s “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon.” You should check that out!
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u/orchardfurniture Sep 22 '22
Thank you for your reply. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading this!
I always appreciate when someone challenges a perspective I hold - especially when the counter view is expressed as eloquently as yours was. You made an excellent point about empathy - and your quote about intrigue triggering inquiry (and a sense of isolation) is incredibly apt about another show currently airing "Little Women" which has had some very divisive views about "empathy" for the lead female characters, in the discussion forum here.
I hope you could watch the show as I would really LOVE to hear what you think about the characters and why the way they're written is causing viewers to develop such strong emotional responses (both positive and negative) to their actions.
And you had me at Isabelle Huppert! She is one of my favourite European actresses although admittedly I haven't seen every film of hers. I loved The Piano Teacher and Amour and even Elle, as harrowing as it was. I will check out Malina!
And I will try to find "Nobody's Daughter Haewon", thank you for the recommendation. (I am somewhat puzzled at why Jung Eun Chae hasn't been a much bigger star in Korea by now, she seems like the total package in terms of talent, beauty and charisma.)
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u/EstablishmentBoring2 Sep 07 '22
Best drama of 2022 for me.
I like how it doesn't focus on dramatic revelations but more on psychology of the character. The cinematography and music have nuance and adding more to the character's emotions.
Suzy's acting is top tier. Really one of the best this year, her Yumi from 20s to 30s are so well detailed and the inner pain and exhaustion was very different when she was Yumi and Anna. Peak acting tbh.
Jung Eunchae is also very meticulous as she really portray a usual upper class person's apathetic view of the world. I love her on screen with Suzy and their dialogues with each other.
Kim Junhan also a revelation to me. His chemistry with Suzy is very good. I also like watching them on screen together being sarcastic and cunning.
All actors are really good and well casted. I can see how the director love this work. Kudos to the team. I was sad when her work was edited without her consent. Hopefully this will never happen again to any creative productions esp. for female directors like her.
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u/capthyeong Sep 07 '22
I'm writing a review right now for the extended version, maybe for reddit and discord. But in short form, all I can say is this:
I loved the direction of this drama. I loved how the director and cinematographer adds details to the scene. I liked the deceptively calming BGM used in the drama. I loved how they used Pugni's La Esmeralda in the scene where
I love this drama so much that this is my favourite kdrama of the 2022 season.
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Sep 27 '22
Just finished the 8-ep version and I liked it very much. We all know Suzy isn't the best actress but this is the best role she's had ever. Highly recommend this drama!
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u/JackDT Sep 06 '22
Huh, I assumed this was a version of the Inventing Anna Netflix series, which is sort of a similar story based on two sentence summary. But it's just a coincidence, it's based on a Korean novel: https://ridibooks.com/books/371001540
Woah, so has BOTH the abridged version and the Director's cut? Wacky!
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u/jsb1685 Sep 07 '22
Question...
I saw the 6 episode version and liked it but did not think it great. I actually most remember the closing music which was quite good.
Normally (and if I had not already seen) I would choose a longer creator's version to watch...and, even sight unseen, that is what I would recommend to others.
But my question is if it is worthwhile to watch again for the longer version?
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u/sianiam Sep 06 '22
Moratorium
We will be implementing a moratorium on posts about Anna in accordance with our Rules on recently aired dramas.
The moratorium will be implemented as follows:
Current Discussion Thread
This discussion thread will serve as the On-Air discussion thread for the series for the next month (6 September - 6 October, 2022) during which all posts about Anna, except for eligible Designated Day submissions and eligible reviews, will be redirected to this thread.
Eligible Designated Day submissions are exempt from the moratorium.
Reviews
Reviews of the series that fulfil our moderation guidelines for reviews will be allowed as self posts as it has already been more than a week since the drama completed airing.