behind the doors of hera palace— penthouse: war in life kdrama review
What does it look like to live in the "penthouse" of society? Very few individuals get the opportunity to experience this type of lifestyle. Through Penthouse: War in Life, viewers are invited into the world of the rich. As always, we quickly learn that this affluent community is plagued with jealousy, greed and dirty secrets.
Here are some reasons why I thoroughly enjoyed Penthouse: War in Life:
(2) Depiction of motherhood. Motherhood is the essence of this drama. Remember Su-ryeon's infamous advice to Yoon-hee? Protect your daughter yourself. You must protect your child at all costs. Mothers need to get evil to protect their children sometimes, no? The main setting itself, Hera Palace, is named after the Greek goddess of marriage and birth. Throughout the series, screenwriters explore the innate maternal instinct to protect and fend off trouble for their offspring. Bribing teachers, manipulating competition scores and covering up their child's misdemeanors, Hera Club mothers use their power and financial ability to ensure that their child are set up for nothing but success. Obviously, the mothers' acts reach a new degree when Shim Su-ryeon realizes that her birth daughter was innocently murdered at Hera Palace. She ruthlessly abducts the Hera Club adults and children so they confess their faults and experience the torture that her birth daughter had to endure. Poor Oh Yoon-hee fearlessly faced rich mothers and unjust committees to seek justice for her daughter. In the second season, Cheon Seo-jin descends into insanity trying to cover up her daughter's attempt to kill Ro-na. Although Sky Castle examines a similar theme, Penthouse's hyperbolic depiction of distorted motherhood takes viewers on an even crazier and thrilling roller coaster ride. Because the women are not bounded by aspects of reality (legal and financial burdens), Cheon Seo-jin, Oh Yoon-hee and Shim Su-ryeon go to the ends of the earth for their children...while we helplessly watch through the silver screen.
(3) Depiction of social class. With no surprises, I really appreciated how social class was discussed in this drama. Characters Oh Yoon-hee, Ro-na and Ha Yoon-cheol are working class citizens who were lucky enough to acquaint themselves with the upper class of Korea. However, these characters endure immense humiliation, showing the undeniable advantages that come with being born rich. The heartbreaking storyline of Ha Yoon-cheol highlights the limitations of hard work when his in-laws constantly judge him based on his parents' background. Furthermore, his love for Seo-jin and genuine care for his daughter is insufficient for his wife who simply craves for more money and status. As Yoon-hee and Yoon-cheol gear up for revenge in season 2, do you realize that they only return to Korea after the success of JohnBio (their company)? This gives them (hard and soft) power to avenge for Su-ryeon and get back at Seo-jin/Dan-tae respectively. Also, viewers cannot forget about the Hera Palace children, who verbally, emotionally and socially abuse Ro-na. Although Ro-na's innate gift of singing is evident, the working class child endures unfair scoring, taunting and ends up being drenched in red paint in the beginning of the second season. Without the financial "support" that other students receive, her journey to the Cheong A Arts Award stresses the inevitable perks that one's social status can bring. In many ways, Penthouse shows us that opportunities, power and support comes with wealth...and that tragically reflects the state of our current society.
(4) The manifestation of guilt. In a drama where there are more villains than heroes, it was awesome seeing the manifestation of guilt from the very beginning, as the Hera Palace adults and children attempt to conceal the truth. When haunting images of the dead, bloodstains and spontaneous text messages appear, characters are visibly traumatized. As picture frames are shattered and angry words are exchanged, we know that these characters are ultimately trapped by this sense of guilt. It was really interesting to see how the characters used different defense mechanisms to combat their anxiety. Seo-jin chooses to repress thoughts of her father's death by destroying his photos in the office. The Hera Club adults constantly verbalize the phrase "Min Seol-Ah committed suicide in her home" in attempt to deny and "re-establish" the truth. Eun-Byeol begs to undergo brainwave therapy to suppress her memories of Ro-na's incident and to avoid confronting her greed and impulsiveness. Through the actors' impeccable performance, the writers explored human's reaction to suppressing their moral compass and our natural desire to blame and deny. **I must also mention that the brilliant use of pathetic fallacy when it rained at the golf course. Along with the golf cart crash, it illustrated the unsettling mental state of the Hera children.
(5) New perspective on the villainess. Instead of framing Cheon Seo-jin as a "purely evil" adulteress and mother, the writers offer room for viewers to sympathize with her character. Her sad background story reminds us of the impact of one's upbringing on an individual. Behind Seo-jin's desperate desire to be director of Cheong A, we realize that she was raised seeing her father cheat the system and question her ability. As a child and adult, she has and still is desperately trying to win her dad's approval. Perhaps, that is why she asserts control on her child... I was shocked when she went on her knees begging her father. In that scene, we saw Seo-jin's powerful and manipulative persona disappear... and her helpless spirit remain. Although the "crazy rich life" comes with its perks, this served as a reminder that the pressure being in a wealthy family is often hidden and burdensome.
(1) Women of Hera Palace. In an entertainment industry that is dominated by men, actresses Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon and Eugene are trailblazers, showcasing women's ability to spearhead a drama. In Penthouse, the leading female characters are multi-dimensional and strong. Each female lead has a distinct speaking pace, tone and style. Even though all their characters are manipulative, they conspire and take action in very different ways. While dramatic Seo-jin is an impulsive antagonist who seek revenge and order immediately, softspoken Su-ryeon contrastingly crafts her plan of revenge in a detailed, thoughtful manner. If you ever (re)watch the drama, pay close attention to the leading ladies' intricate costume designs. While Seo-jin wears dark red and black tight-fitted clothes to reflect her uptight and antagonistic role, Su-ryeon dresses in light-coloured and free-flowing outfits, which represents her elegant and dignified personality. With Yoon-hee, viewers witness a drastic change—from earth-toned trench coats to power suits—as she rises in power and status. Just like her character, she switches between dark and light-coloured suits as she navigates between the world of "evil" and "good." Each leading character and actress' ability to get the job done blatantly problematizes the traditional gender stereotypes. I hope the success of this drama opens the door to more k-dramas with a female leading cast.
(3) Depiction of social class. With no surprises, I really appreciated how social class was discussed in this drama. Characters Oh Yoon-hee, Ro-na and Ha Yoon-cheol are working class citizens who were lucky enough to acquaint themselves with the upper class of Korea. However, these characters endure immense humiliation, showing the undeniable advantages that come with being born rich. The heartbreaking storyline of Ha Yoon-cheol highlights the limitations of hard work when his in-laws constantly judge him based on his parents' background. Furthermore, his love for Seo-jin and genuine care for his daughter is insufficient for his wife who simply craves for more money and status. As Yoon-hee and Yoon-cheol gear up for revenge in season 2, do you realize that they only return to Korea after the success of JohnBio (their company)? This gives them (hard and soft) power to avenge for Su-ryeon and get back at Seo-jin/Dan-tae respectively. Also, viewers cannot forget about the Hera Palace children, who verbally, emotionally and socially abuse Ro-na. Although Ro-na's innate gift of singing is evident, the working class child endures unfair scoring, taunting and ends up being drenched in red paint in the beginning of the second season. Without the financial "support" that other students receive, her journey to the Cheong A Arts Award stresses the inevitable perks that one's social status can bring. In many ways, Penthouse shows us that opportunities, power and support comes with wealth...and that tragically reflects the state of our current society. 
(4) The manifestation of guilt. In a drama where there are more villains than heroes, it was awesome seeing the manifestation of guilt from the very beginning, as the Hera Palace adults and children attempt to conceal the truth. When haunting images of the dead, bloodstains and spontaneous text messages appear, characters are visibly traumatized. As picture frames are shattered and angry words are exchanged, we know that these characters are ultimately trapped by this sense of guilt. It was really interesting to see how the characters used different defense mechanisms to combat their anxiety. Seo-jin chooses to repress thoughts of her father's death by destroying his photos in the office. The Hera Club adults constantly verbalize the phrase "Min Seol-Ah committed suicide in her home" in attempt to deny and "re-establish" the truth. Eun-Byeol begs to undergo brainwave therapy to suppress her memories of Ro-na's incident and to avoid confronting her greed and impulsiveness. Through the actors' impeccable performance, the writers explored human's reaction to suppressing their moral compass and our natural desire to blame and deny. **I must also mention that the brilliant use of pathetic fallacy when it rained at the golf course. Along with the golf cart crash, it illustrated the unsettling mental state of the Hera children. 
I am extremely glad that these characters get to develop over the span of multiple seasons. I cannot wait to see how the character have (not) evolved after the finale of season 2. I have seen comments about how individuals think the drama is illogical, but isn't that what television is about?
Looking forward to more shattered glass,
dramatic slaps and jaw-breaking revelations in season 3,
~cho
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