POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCE
FROM
LEE JOON GI
IN THE
MASTERPIECE
AGAIN MY LIFE
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  Lee Joon Gi, who portrays Prosecutor Kim Hee Woo, a
steamroller of energy, has delivered another stellar performance
in the unique high-octane SBS fantasy-legal-action masterpiece, Again My Life. The television series is helmed by maverick director Han Chul Soo and his co-director, Kim Yong Min and penned
by imaginative writers, J and Kim Yul. Lee Joon Gi’s outstanding multi-layered
performance in his role of the prosecutor who, after being resurrected, subsequently morphs into a young man half his age. It is absolutely amazing. If you look at the first photograph (above), an iconic image, you will be stunned to learn that PowerPoint agrees that Lee looks young - like a child. As they say, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. 
Lee Joon Gi is Director Han Chul Soo’s CASTING COUP: he is the
only actor that the filmmaker had in mind for the lead character in Again My
Life and the director is proud of his choice. Director Han, during the production presentation in April asserted with unshakeable conviction, ‘From the beginning,
and even now, the actor I’ve in mind is Lee Joon Gi.’ It is the greatest
compliment that any actor can have from his director. Lee Joon Gi proves him
right; his performance speaks for itself. He has delivered the greatest acting performance of all time. Compared
to other actors, Lee’s performance is the best in 2022.
The distinguishing marks of Again My Life include not only the
amazing performance of Lee Joon Gi and the other actors but also the
uniqueness, novelty and substance of the tale. One should also laud the
creativity and imagination of the maverick director and his assistant
director, and the cinematographer. It is impossible to give credit to every
member of the cast and crew. Again My Life is a unique tale about past life regression and age regression. Based on an
original novel, the drama is brilliantly reimagined by the directors and beautifully
interpreted by the cast particularly, the charismatic Lee Joon Gi who makes
his strong presence felt on the screen.
Again My Life, the fascinating 16-episode television series, a masterful tale of suspense is an ode to the courageous prosecutor, whose courage, skills and leadership displayed are, in large measure, responsible for the fall of society’s many enemies. Lee Joon Gi powerfully portrays Kim Hee Woo, an iconographic figure, a prosecutor who puts his life on the line to take down the powerful Cho Tae Sub, who grind the powerless under his heels. Victory eluded Kim Hee Woo in his attempt to bring down the evil Cho Tae Sub in his previous life. He was wracked by arrogance, rage and recklessness but feelings of utter failure and shock soon followed when he was defeated in a brutal fight. The bewildered Kim Hee Woo, who relied on the law alone, was shattered to his core. He suffered the consequences of his recklessness; The naïve prosecutor plummeted to his death with the help of the assassin.
But he is resurrected through the intervention of the Grim
Reaper. Upon resurrection, Kim Hee Woo’s misery is fully captured in a moment
when time freezes.
He is given a second chance to redeem himself. When Kim Hee Woo
returns to the past, the smart, intelligent and enlightened hero secretly fights the legal
and political powers and gives a voice to the victims of injustice.
Cho Tae Sub had, in Kim Hee Woo’s previous life, impressed upon him that justice is always in the hands of the powerful. Cho Tae Sub, the
all-powerful kingmaker, is the one who decides who to reward or who to
suppress and how he will distribute justice. It is quite useless for a person
to challenge him or his influential lackeys. Kim Hee Woo plots an ingenious scheme in meticulous detail to overturn the corrupt powers the second time around. He spends his new life preparing for his war against powerful criminals, defers his own dreams and sacrifices his personal desires in order to fulfil his promise made to the Grim Reaper who had resurrected him. On his return to the past, he succeeds with the help of many loyal and intelligent allies. All these boil down to one fact - that even with great
planning, the power of one person is limited but the power of a network of
allies is everything to bring down evil. The tale speaks of Kim Hee Woo
lighting a flare and passing it around to like-minded people who ensure that the
flare would not be extinguished. The moral of the tale catches the
imagination of the audience.
Again My Life, a tale on past life regression, makes use of the narration style and story within
a story plot device, which may not be new. But the tale, told from the
viewpoint of the lead character on a hypnotherapist‘s couch makes it
different. Kim Hee Woo seems to be narrating the stories of his previous
lives while under hypnosis.
Seen from this perspective, there are at least three (3) layers
to the story. 1. Kim Hee Woo’s previous life (The Raging Bull Prosecutor) 2. Kim Hee Woo’s Return To The Past (The Story of Time Travel: The Intelligent, humorous
and witty Prosecutor) 3. The Present. The Prosecutor on the Therapist’s Couch who
tells the story under Hypnosis The lead character, who seems to be lying in the physiotherapist’s couch, narrates stories of his past lives – his Previous Life and his subsequent Return to the Past. Again My Life is a story within a story. The television series makes you think of a magnificently wrapped package with layers to peel off. It is similar to the removing of the top of the Russian Matryoshka doll. When you open the gift, a thrilling gift is looking you in the eye. There is yet another exciting gift inside it. Likewise, with the unfolding of the the Again My Life tale, stories redolent with danger and intrigue confront you.
KIM HEE WOO’S PREVIOUS LIFE
Upon being resurrected, the Grim Reaper reminds Kim Hee Woo of the past events of his life including the time when he was bullied in school. A fantastic giant screen appears in the sky. It is an example of a story within a
story. It seems like they are in an open air cinema and they are standing on a moving
stage.  Constantly bullied in school in his previous life, the young teenaged Kim Hee Woo
rebels against his kind and patient parents, whom he thinks are the cause of
all his problems. His working-class parents, with their low status in
society become the scapegoats for the resentful and spiteful boy.     But the tragedy of his parents' early deaths due to an accident greatly impacted him. The camera records Kim Hee Woo’s cathartic experience as portrayed with great emotion by Lee Joon Gi. Lee’s emoting shakes the audience up.
   Whilst the realization of his shortcomings comes too late, his eye-opening experiences shape his personality and character. The determined and resilient teenager rises to be a just-minded prosecutor who hunts the big bullies in society - the evil, corrupt and immoral politicians, business leaders and prosecutors who pervert the course of justice.
  Lee Joon Gi, an acting powerhouse and deft in his role, has shown extraordinary sensitivity in his performance in the television series. He fleshes out the character and devotedly crafts his portrayal of the hurtful, immature son one who is short on filial piety. Lee perfectly shows Kim Hee Woo’s raw and naked vulnerability when the enormity of his parent’s death hits him. It is an experience that is excruciating to relive when he returns to the Past. His frustration, resentment, anger and other harsh emotions dissolve but it is too late. He is filled with anguish, pain and regret instead. He cries piteously.
The tears of the viewers must have brimmed over on seeing tears rolling down Lee's cheeks.
In Episode 1, the confrontation between the idealistic prosecutor Kim Hee Woo and the vile Cho Tae Sub in the interrogation room is one of Lee’s impressive acting moments. The prosecutor foolishly calls the evil politician in for an interrogation. He has taken risks by stepping across the line and does not understand that by opposing the powerful man, he is putting his life on the line. The reckless prosecutor is too arrogant for his own good: Overconfident. Harsh and uncompromising. Antagonistic. Combative.
Kim Hee Woo foolishly assumes he has the upperhand. He runs smack against the most powerful, corrupt and evil politician. With his single-minded defiance, he openly mocks Cho Tae Sub. The bull-headed and self-destructive demeanour is skilfully portrayed by Lee Joon Gi. The flashing of his eyes. Or his fierce glare, like that of an owl, the winged predator. His voice drips with venom. His withering sarcasm, scathing tone and his arrogant smirks - dangerous and unwise, amount to sheer folly. Kim Hee Woo thinks he holds all the cards but his trump card, an important witness willing to testify against Cho Tae Sub, is murdered. It was the point of no return. He fails to realise the reality of life. He should have been quaking in his boots but his naivete blinds him. Despite it all, his opponent stayed calm. After all, Cho Tae Sub has been busy whipping up smokescreens to disguise his evil crimes.
The audience shudder; they are filled with a sense of dread as they watch the foolish antics of the foolhardy and naïve Kim Hee Woo. They suppress the urge to shout at their TV, to warn Lee Joon Gi, who portrays the courageous but misguided prosecutor. Kim Hee Woo naively believes that using the law alone and the courage of one's convictions are enough to bring Cho Tae Sub to justice. Evil, in fact, is difficult to topple. The prosecutor would have poohed-poohed the idea if not for the warning of Cho Tae Sub, ‘The role of a witness is carried out in the courtroom… But what if…’
The glaring fact is Kim Hee Woo’s naivete has blinded him from the reality of life. Those in the audience might have felt uncomfortable when the said witness is murdered.
And, there is no way Kim Hee Woo is getting away unscathed. To the audience’s horror, the cocky prosecutor is defeated in the fierce, brutal but thrilling fight against Cho Tae Sub’s assassin. The prosecutor is ruthlessly murdered. The audience must have felt wretched at the heart-rending predeath scene when a powerful combination of poisons is injected into his throat.
The audience weep and bleed for the pitiful Kim Hee Woo, a picture of powerlessness, impotence and utter desperation. Lee Joon Gi powerfully and movingly portrays the dying Kim Hee Woo. One's hair stand on end.
Kim Hee Woo time-travels back to the past and he remembers vividly the details of his previous life but the Grim Reaper, who has also time-travelled back to the past, has no inkling about his identity. She has completely forgotten him or about him.
The Grim Reaper remembers her previous life only at the end
of the story; she also awakens spiritually. The prosecutor, who morphs into a sort of genius, possesses extensive knowledge and confidently rises to the challenge
of bringing all the criminals to justice.
According to the Bible, when a person passes away, he goes either to Heaven or Hell. The helicopter pad on the rooftop of the highrise building with the letter H in Episode 1 and Episode 16 reminds one of Heaven or Hell.
EPISODE 1
EPISODE 16 In first and the last episodes of the fantasy-legal-action drama, there are images of a beautiful building with a horn top. The horn of the awesome building brings to mind the Horns of God or Salvation in the Bible. When God exalts the horn of someone, he is bringing victory to the oppressed. The horn is the symbol of authority, great power and victory.
EPISODE 1  EPISODE 16
In Episode 16, Kim Hee Woo, the righteous prosecutor, is highlighted against the background of the horn. It symbolises his triumph over the evil people that he has fought. But the truth is, evil will continue to persist until the end.
The television series also poses the question of The Purpose and Meaning of Life. Has Life meaning at all? Is there life after death? For Kim Hee Woo, his purpose in life is to be a morally upright prosecutor. His work is to remove criminals from society and change the future of the people whom he cherishes. He understands that he has to live differently from before but his job is primarily to bring down Cho Tae Sub. To do that, he has to destroy the extensive structure that supports him.
 
This time round, Kim Hee Woo is subservient, friendly, jovial and pays lip service to the corrupt prosecutors. He uses every subterfuge to ingratiate himself into their confidence. He avoids showing his true self and avoids telling the truth. His meteoric rise as a top-flight prosecutor is not surprising. Things are ratchetted up to a whole new level.
  The law student-junior prosecutor uses humour, wit and intelligence to deal with the wicked people that he associates with: his superiors, colleagues, thugs, assemblymen and business honchos. Sometimes, his interaction with them is hilarious.
Lee Joon Gi portrays the makeover intelligent, witty and suave prosecutor to the hilt. The actor’s superb performance, which is fascinating and scintillating, makes the viewing experience enjoyable and entertaining.
Lee Joon Gi – as a teenager (l) and as Kim Hee Woo (2022) EVEN MICROSOFT AGREES THAT HE LOOKS LIKE A CHILD    It must be reiterated that Lee Joon Gi is Director Han Chul Soo’s casting coup. Age Regression is emphasized in the amazing tale, Again My Life. And Lee Joon Gi has delivered AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE of an older man who has morphed into his younger self.
Han Chul Soo, the director, makes sure that the audience see the startling contrast in the very first episode.
The audience has barely little time to absorb the prosecutor's face before they see the face of the high school student in the mirror.
   The Illusion is convincing. Lee
has done something extraordinary and unique in Again My Life, which is
ground-breaking. His performance is like a breath of fresh air; it has set a precedent. Writers, critics and
the showbusiness industry suddenly sit up and take notice. Part of Lee’s appeal in the opening scene is Kim Hee Woo, the new prosecutor looks incredibly young at the oath-taking ceremony. It is remarkable and incredible that the 40-year-old Lee Joon Gi has morphed so easily into a person half his age. Lee not only looks younger than he normally does but he also acts young. Being able to portray a much younger person needs great acting skills. Lee Joon Gi's performance is to be lauded. To ensure that the viewers do not think that they are dreaming,
the camera encircles Kim Hee Woo as he recites the oath as a prosecutor. It must be emphasized that the
director makes sure you do not forget it is the 40-year-old Lee Joon Gi who
has morphed into his younger self.
The television drama is unique in that the same actor acts as Kim Hee Woo, a prosecutor in his late thirties and Kim Hee Woo, a 20-year-old high school student. Lee Joon Gi performs his role to perfection. So far, no television series has successfully and effectively showcased such an incredible transformation using the same actor.  The 40-year-old Lee Joon Gi seems to have walked out of a webtoon. Portraying Kim Hee Woo, a multi-dimensional web character seems to have come easily to Lee, who not only has the good looks of the web character but can actually slip into the skin of the character.
The aging process is shown as the young high school student turns into a young prosecutor who journeys through life and eventually becoming a mature prosecutor. Kim Hee Woo not only mentally and psychologically but also physically reverts to a younger age. It must be highlighted that Lee Joon Gi showcases the remarkable multi-level skills that are required to portray the multi-intelligent, witty, humorous and multi-layered character from youth to maturity. Lee, who morphs into the young Hee Woo, exhibits childish, childlike and youthful behaviours. Lee Joon Gi’s Transformation, specifically, Physical & Psychologically is also an acting performance. The series demand that the 40-year-old to successfully portray a young man half his age which he has done successfully. Lee Joon Gi is the only actor who can look or act like a 20-year-old High School student or a young university student. There is a certain childlike playfulness in his amazing portrayal of a teenager-cum-young man. His preternaturally presence on screen, with the illusion of youthfulness in the early episodes, is convincing and complete. None can deny that Lee's physical, mental and psychological regression on screen from an adult prosecutor to a young, high school student is staggering. The ground-breaking Again My Life, with the compelling presence of such a uniquely fresh character, is an astonishing achievement. Lee Joon Gi has been singled out for praise for his performance by critics and writers.
  Images of Lee Joon Gi as a 20-year-old high
school student in Again My Life have been compared to Lee's images in various contemporary television series: Two Weeks (2013), Lawless Lawyer (2018) and Flower of Evil (2020). No wonder Lee Joon Gi has been lauded as ‘The Actor With A Thousand Faces’.       One cannot stress enough that younger actors with baby faces who take up similar roles and act as a younger version of
themselves cannot rightfully claim that they can be compared positively to Lee Joon Gi. 1. They are younger than him. 2. They have baby faces. Lee is versatile; he can also showcase a masculine and manly look, which an actor with a baby face cannot.
The transformation of a character from young to old is not as difficult as the transformation from an older version of oneself to a younger version, which is nearly impossible. But, Lee Joon Gi has done both.         
What is new is the fantasy-legal-action drama, Again My Life, uses a series of physical martial arts fights that run from the beginning of the television series till the end to demonstrate the relentless, never-ending struggle between the forces of Good and the forces of Evil. Even though Cho Tae Sub and his fiercely devoted and equally cold-hearted lackey, Kim Jin Woo, takes the cowardly way out and committed suicide, evil still exists. When the dust settles a little, the shocked viewers are told that new villains with a twisted ideology have replaced those who have been vanquished. The struggles of Kim Hee Woo are mainly the fights against crimes and injustice. Episode 1 starts with a quotation on Justice and the last episode, Episode 16 ends with another one. Pablo Victoria laments that 'a person cannot survive in a country without justice.' Kim Hee Woo warns that 'a country without justice will not be able to survive in the end.'  In the 16-episode tale, there are as many as sixteen (16) physical fights or action scenes, which are brilliantly showcased by Lee Joon Gi to the amazement of the global audiences. Lee Joon Gi’s superb martial arts performance takes one’s breath away. It is a television show with better action and martial arts fights than most movies or other TV shows.
 Throughout the drama, Kim Hee Woo, who personifies Good,
is constantly fighting against Evil, which is portrayed by the heinous
Cho Tae Sub (and his villainous lackeys). Evil forces are constantly
aligned against good people. In some fights, Kim Hee Woo fights for survival. The fights to death are: Fierce. Furious. Ferocious. Brutal. Some are thrilling and humorous. Some fighters are only spoiling for a fight like the school bullies. The drama talks about heroes and their courage, the outstanding
component of heroism. It has to be highlighted that a martial arts fight is also part of
an acting performance, particularly when the action and fights are an essential
part of the story. Lee’s prowess in martial arts and athletic pursuits (Taekwondo, Taekkyeon, Hapkido, Muai Thai, Parkour, Systema and Brazilian Jiu jitsu) is well known. His skills, which have been honed from young, has stood him in good stead in his television series and films. It must be pointed out that Lee Joon Gi does his own stunts. There is enormous excitement as the
television series whirls you through the realistic action and martial arts
fight scenes. An excellent fighter, Lee’s martial arts performances rivet the
attention of every viewer and hold it. Lee is at his fighting and
electrifying best in Again My Life. EPISODE 1
Though there are so many martial arts and action scenes in Again My Life, the most searing and galvanic scene is the fight at the rooftop of a tall skyscraper, from where Kim Hee Woo is thrown. An iconic scene. It is an astounding acting performance from Lee Joon Gi. Unforgettable. Just before the fateful moment, there is a slump in the prosecutor’s shoulders. There are convulsive jerks, and shakiness in his body. His confused face contorts into an ugly expression of pain much to the horror of the audience. He lays dying on the floor, making a final gurgling, gasping sound that is dreadful to watch. The tension hangs in the air. Watching him, the audience weeps for him. Lee Joon Gi’s moving portrayal of Kim Hee Woo and his dying moments reduce the audience to tears. The Episode 1 fight which is ends in Kim Hee Woo being thrown off the skyscraper, is the most spectacular and moving fight scene.
 EPISODE 1      EPISODE 1         EPISODE 1   https://twitter.com/i/status/1513477605546242048 https://twitter.com/i/status/1512486694192238593
EPISODE 2    EPISODE 2   EPISODE 3 In his fights, Kim Hee Woo is not always confident. In one fighting scene in a dream, he is fighting again with the undefeatable Dr. K, Cho Tae Sub’s assassin. He wakes up with a sinking feeling of disaster. His fear and anxiety attack gains momentum. Fear warps his judgement, freezes his reflexes, and breeds mistakes. And, he is defeated.
 Thus, when the new day dawns, he returns to the martial arts academy of his Martial Arts master, Kang Soon Jae, whom he had trained under in his previous life, to hone his fighting skills. He spars with his sifu and later, he spars with his mentee, Lee Yeon Suk.
EPISODE 4    EPISODE 5         EPISODE 13
 EPISODE 15    EPISODE 16
  Lee Joon Gi exercises HIS COMIC CHOPS in many scenes in Again My Life. Lee peppers the television series with lots of hilarious moments. The funny moments occur in situations which are deemed to be very serious, tense or dangerous. But, when Kim Hee Woo laughs or smirks, it is very funny and hilarious indeed. Sometimes, there’s a smile and then, it escalates into laughter. The laughter is so genuine - that’s because it’s instantaneous.   The dramatic verbal confrontation between Kim Hee Woo, the hero and Cho Tae Sub, the unredeemable villain in the piece, in Episode 15 is the most hilarious scene. It is a wow moment when Kim Hee Woo puts Cho Tae Sub in his place. The situation highlights the intelligence, wit and humour of Kim Hee Woo who has learnt his lesson the hard way not to be too serious and strident. Unlike his previous life when he overestimated himself, this time round, his sureness that he holds all cards in his hands puts him in great humour. He could confidently direct the conversation his way. Cho Tae Sub tries to bluff his way through. It is so ridiculous that it triggers Kim Hee Woo’s raucous laughter.
Kim Hee Woo’s plans have successfully fallen into place and his strategies are working effectively to his advantage. Now that Kim Hee Woo is fully confident of winning the war against Cho Tae Sub, he suspects the latter is planning to punish him through his assistant. He is worried about the welfare and safety of his assistant, Park Sang Man.
When Cho Tae Sub tells him that he is doing what he does for the people, Kim Hee Woo sneers at him for lying and declares a war. It will end with punishment for his crimes. Cho Tae Sub arrogantly demands that Kim Hee Woo kneel before him. Kim Hee Woo turns his nose at his nemesis. His face clearly wears a sheen of contempt and disdain. Sarcasm creeps into his voice. Cho Tae Sub has underestimated his rival. The politician has profound disrespect for others, including rivals. He thinks of them as fair game to be toyed with or to be killed whenever he chooses.
The prosecutor cheekily asks if he kneels, would the politician forgive him and wipe his slate clean. The older man balks at his impertinent line of questioning. Anticipating his answer, Kim Hee Woo smiles at his own joke. Tickled by Cho Tae Sub’s displeased expression, the prosecutor’s face suddenly crinkles up and there is a sudden explosion of loud, raucous laughter. Scorn with derision is written all over on Kim Hee Woo’s face. The battle of wits ends on a serious note.
The viewers, who must have howled with laughter at the situation, are full of admiration for Lee Joon Gi’s powerhouse performance. Deft at acting, Lee appears very much at ease in the scene. Kim Hee Woo dominates the scene and sets the tone for the battle of wits. He wins us over by letting the audience experience his wit, exuberance, and humour. What stuns is Lee Joon Gi's loud organic laughter. The tickled audience laughs with him.
The prosecutor firmly declares that, unlike the criminal, he is not so forgiving. To put it mildly, Cho Tae Sub, is badly shaken by the confident and articulate prosecutor. The politician seems more and more vulnerable as they battle it out. A canny and savvy tactician, Kim Hee Woo turns grim and serious. He launches into his promise to catch the evil man. The camera records Lee Joon Gi’s every nuance, the tiny movements of his eyes, the intensity of his eyes, and one is awed by his remarkable performance. Lee conveys verbally and physically all nuances of drama and comedy. The audience could see his facial and body language. The eye energy he projects reflects the intensity of his feelings.
                                  Another of Lee Joon Gi’s hilarious scenes is the one when he breaks into an illegal casino without a warrant. He is threatened by the ruffled local thug leader. ‘Do you know why our local shrimps are so plump and tasty?’ The prosecutor feigns hard of hearing. With a faintly mocking smile painted on his face, he pretended to lean forward as if to listen carefully to the town bully. Then, Kim Hee Woo’s lips curve downward in contempt. His disdainful eyes do the talking too. Kim Hee Woo’s insolence infuriates the gangster. ‘Because they feed on human corpses.’ When the thug asks whether the prosecutor wants to be thrown into the prawn farm, Kim Hee Woo’s face light up. Looking provocatively at local gangster, he sneers at his threat. Then, he turns serious and delivers a threat, much to the gangster’s annoyance. When an army of thugs appears, the prosecutor jokes, ‘My goodness. You have a lot of manpower here!’ It tickles one’s funny bones. It is so funny that viewers must have laughed out loud. Lee Joon Gi’s good at whipping up the humour in his funny scenes; he’s hilarious, he’s a natural comedian. His humour is infectious. Everyone must have dissolved into fits of laughter.
 There is another scene that is humorous. Lee Joon Gi seems to excel at smirking. He has different ways of doing it. When he smirks, one can imagine the smiles on the faces of the audience. Kim Hee Woo prosecutes the vile senior prosecutor, Jang Il Hyun, who finally gets his just desserts at his trial for his crimes. Suspenseful. Kim Hee Woo deals coldly with Jang, whom he sends to prison. He puts on an unemotional face at the sentencing. He glances unemotionally at his former colleague as Jang is led away. Jang Il Hyun rages and snarls. Kim Hee Woo smiles with self-satisfaction. He smirks. A smirk of triumph tinged probably with suppressed madness.
Such is the power of Lee Joon Gi’s performance that one is amazed at his interpretation of the character’s intelligence and sense of humour.
  Kim Hee Woo, the top prosecutor is a valuable asset if he could be tamed but he is far too dangerous and therefore, he has to be taken down. Cho Tae Sub has assigned Jung Se Yeon, a lobbyist, to seduce Kim Hee Woo in order to put him on a leash and render him powerless. The lady in question, a femme fatale, is confident that she would be able achieve her goal of trapping and wrapping the upright prosecutor round her little finger.
The image of the Prized Stallion pops into the minds of millions of female viewers. Kim Hee Woo. A Prized Stallion. We are not talking about a horse, mind you. We're talking about animal magnetism. Kim Hee Woo is equated with a stallion because he is a very masculine and sexually attractive man. Study the smouldering sexuality of Lee Joon Gi which is on display in the television series.
Kim Hee Woo has plans of his own. His secret smiles do not escape the notice of the viewers. He does not easily succumb to the charms of shady women with the likes of Jung Se Yeon.  The prosecutor is playful. Horny men might drool over such a femme fatale but Kim Hee Woo is all business. He shows the viewers how he deals with her; he lays out his strategy with careful deliberation. He toys with her emotions. She purrs, 'Are we dating?' He responds in a sexy drawl, 'Wrong again.'  Lee Joon Gi adds a touch of spice to the scene as he interacts with her. Lee showcases his smouldering sexuality to the delight and enjoyment of the audience. The actor’s sexy eye energy makes them wonder if Kim Hee Woo would be her victim.  Lee Joon Gi has undeniable magnetism and charisma. The scene sends the audience into a frenzy. Lee’s screen persona keeps the ladies swooning. His male gaze is intense. It is a delightfully sensual scene which draws a parallel between the prosecutor and the lobbyist. A homme fatale to parallel the femme fatale. The relationship couldn’t be spelled out clearly at first. But, soon the knife is drawn. But, it is no surprise that Kim Hee Woo’s moral ethics does not desert him in such an exciting moment. The roles of the hunter and the prey are suddenly switched. One feels a chill when Kim Hee Woo turns cold. His stare is merciless. Scary. The prosecutor gives the criminal a dressing down; he tells her the truth and delivers it deliberately. Zestful and entertainingly. The camera continues to pay attention to him.
To Kim Hee Woo, friends are important but love is a no-no. Love or romance is not on the agenda of the reincarnated prosecutor with a mission to accomplish. Kim Hee Ah, the heiress of the Chungha conglomerate, is not very modest about her interest in him. She tries in so many ways to convey her love for him. In almost all the scenes between Kim Hee Woo and Kim Hee Ah, except for those in the final episodes, the prosecutor always gives the heiress the cold shoulder. He has many admirers but he denies them a place in his heart. But deep in his heart, the prosecutor treats the beautiful heiress as a Faberge egg, someone precious whom he secretly loves, wants to protect and die for.
Their love story is quite a complicated one. Kim Hee Ah’s love is seemingly unrequited. Kim Hee Woo, always in a state of resistance, has relentlessly reined in his feelings. Their relationship remains platonic. Romance and love are inconceivable. Practical and pragmatic, Kim Hee Woo refuses to allow earthly things to distract him from his paramount goal of bringing down Cho Tae Sub and his clique of evil people.
In one of the scenes, the sweet and gentle Kim Hee Ah expresses her love for him and reveals that her worldly desires include him. Her eyes are soft and misty. She is a woman out to win his heart. Even though Kim Hee Woo has a soft spot for her, he refuses to show nor acknowledge it. The way they gaze at each other is heartbreaking. The cold prosecutor sits in stony silence. He is impassive while she tries hard not to betray her disappointment. He does not smile in her presence. His whole life is a secret and he couldn't reveal himself. But, his eyes are tinged with sadness. Embarrassed for baring her soul, she leaves. He hesitates. Finally, it dawns on him that he might lose her. He rushes forward and holds her hands. Then, he buys her a cuddly toy bear. It is the decent thing to do, even if he would not put her in his orbit of love.
 Lee Joon Gi and Kim Ji Eun's moving performance wins the audience's approval and praise. Kim Hee Woo and Kim Hee Ah's heart-wrenching interaction, which is full of emotional
tension, makes every heart ache. It is painful for the viewers to
watch them. Luckily, Kim Hee Woo has a change of heart and their love has a happy ending.   It is quite clear that the director and writers of Again My Life want the audience to believe in the power of human intelligence. When the human mind is adequately disciplined and harnessed, a person can do great things.
The unique television series brings into focus the lead character, Kim Hee Woo’s Almost Perfect or Near-Perfect scores on the the multiple intelligences scale. The intelligences refer to Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The show implies that The Almost Perfect Man or near perfect man, Kim Hee Woo is able to hone his 8 intelligences in the various development stages of his character and personality. Verbal-Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Logical Mathematical, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, Existential and Visual-Spatial. The only intelligence he does not have is Musical. The prosecutor hones his skills and makes use of his various intelligences, his wit and humour to win the war against evil and the evil doers.
The images below are self-explanatory.  
      
  
   
 THE CONCLUSION So, the question at the end of the tale is, ‘Did Kim Hee Woo achieve his goal of bringing down Cho Tae Sub and his evil lackeys?’ The prosecutor did lock up some bad hats. Cho Tae Sub’s sidekick, Kim Jin Woo committed suicide. It is assumed that Cho Tae Sub’s suicide is linked to his disappearance. Kim Hee Woo had promised the Grim Reaper that he would bring down Cho Tae Sub, and Kim Hee Woo fulfilled his promise.
 In conformance to one of the main themes of the tale – the
never-ending struggle between good and evil, the drama emphasizes that even if evil people are brought
down, others will spring up to replace them.    It is just impossible to get rid of all evil. Imagine cutting off the arms of the starfish - it will regrow an entire body from just a single arm!
The television series might be a fantasy but the issues discussed in it are realistic. Kim Hee Woo voices this truth. ‘Trash that I must get rid of still remains.’ The second question is, ‘Did the upright Kim Hee Woo become a monster or a worse monster than Cho Tae Sub? The Grim Reaper warns, ‘You can’t catch the devil unless you
become an even worse monster.’
As the audience sees it, Kim Hee Woo has not become a monster.
He may have used some tricks to achieve his goals but
he has not descended into evil to achieve them. After all, he is an upright,
honourable and trustworthy prosecutor. THEMES There are many themes in the television series. The Purpose of Life The Perpetual Struggle Between The Forces of Good and The
Forces of Evil Intellectual Property Theft (IP Theft) (The Robbing of People or Companies of Their Ideas,
Inventions and Creative Expressions) The Never-ending Cycle of Corruption, Collusion and Conspiracy The Responsibility and Accountability of Political, Legal, Media, Banking and Showbusiness Leaders Lies, Misinformation and Disinformation: The Biased and Prejudiced Media Justice Crime and Punishment The Bullying Culture The Human Condition The Frailties of Youth Filial Piety The Importance of the Family The Importance of a University Education Multiple Intelligences True Friends and the Importance of a Network of Allies Physical Fitness The Importance of Planning, Preparation and Strategizing Man’s Capacity to Shape His Destiny and The Future Again My Life begins with a quotation on justice by Pablo Victoria and ends with another quotation on justice. Is there really justice in this world? In the finale, Kim Hee Woo breaks into a smirk that is tinged with cynicism. It speaks volumes.
 To sum up, the weight of the future of his country is put on Kim Hee Woo's shoulders again. Kim Hee Woo realises that the cycle of evil is never-ending. A new criminal head has replaced Cho Tae Sub. Kim Hee Woo must be excited at the prospect of launching a new war against criminals. His body language speaks volumes. The very cool and suave Kim Hee Woo is found to be smirking about the cruel reality of life.
Some viewers are blithely unaware
that there is hope.   There is hope since Kim Hee Woo’s figure is shot against the building with the horned top in the background at the end of the story. It must be
emphasized that the horn of the
awesome building symbolises the power of the believer. There will great power
and victory for the oppressed.   
 In the persistent minds of viewers, Lee Joon Gi has pulled off
a magical feat in the ground-breaking fantasy-legal-action television series,
a work of vivid imagination, startling originality and creative genius. He
has made Kim Hee Woo an iconic figure. It is difficult to deny Lee Joon Gi
the status of a performing giant in the industry. The intensity of Lee’s portrayal in the masterpiece, Again My Life, moves millions of viewers. Lee’s acting performance is the best performance in 2022. He is in a league of his own. Lee Joon Gi can act, and do so amazingly. He can pull off great dramatic performances - in tragic and comedic scenes. He can morph into his younger self and he looks so good. He can do action and martial arts, and perform action and martial arts stunts perfectly and naturally. No actor can be compared with him. Lee Joon Gi has solidified his reputation as a world-class actor. It goes without saying that global actor Lee Joon Gi should be handsomely rewarded for his powerhouse acting. There are also many good actors, including the main and supporting actors in the drama.  Director Han Chul Soo has also established himself as a world class director with Again My Life, a beautifully, thematically and dramatically constructed landmark television series. The intelligent fantasy-legal-action television series, which has witty comedy and stupendous action in huge doses, and tragedy and romance in smaller doses, is a major groundbreaking drama in the history of television industry. Again My Life is a must-watch for legal thriller-fantasy-action aficionados.      https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeAGaUHsIJW/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://www.instagram.com/actor_jg/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c3a7c9ea-e34a-46ba-9a90-28d418e44d7c        Posted: 11.10.22 |
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