This famous line from “Gossip Girl” has become a commonly used phrase in various works, including Korean ones. Its popularity may stem from the intriguing image of a woman declaring herself as “crazy”. Anyone who has watched “Gossip Girl”, where upper-class high school students engage in intense drama, would understand the lesson this line imparts: one crazy woman in a group is enough.
However, in the drama “The Frog“, there seems to be no shortage of crazy women. From a female serial killer who enjoys murder, to a policewoman who gets excited at crime scenes, to a woman driven mad by traumatic experiences—this show is full of characters who seem to have lost a few screws. Amidst all these extreme characters, there is one who appears to be a standard, normal woman. She has a respectable job, a happy family and is even pregnant. But somehow, this ordinary woman becomes the only one who can stand up to the killer. So, what exactly is happening in “The Frog”?
A Pregnant Woman Who Shows “True Madness”
“The Frog” is a thriller that unfolds as Jeon Yeong-ha (played by Kim Yoon-seok), who runs a pension deep in the forest, encounters the mysterious killer Yoo Seong-a (played by Go Min-si). The story shifts between past and present in a way that leaves even viewers confused, as viewers struggle to keep up with the unclear motives of the characters. Many viewers commented, “I have no idea what’s going on halfway through the series.”
Moreover, the character Seong-a, who is supposed to overshadow others with her overwhelming madness, turns out to be quite dull. Initially perceived as a character who kills people out of blind impulse, she turns out to be a privileged “gold spoon” who sells her artwork through her father’s connections and hires top-notch lawyers with her wealth after committing murder. This setup makes the people around her seem more like victims of her privileged tantrums rather than being overwhelmed by a truly madwoman.
Interestingly, it is Jeon Eui-seon (played by Roh Yoon-seo), who stands as Seong-a’s opposite, that truly captivates viewers. From her first appearance, Eui-seon is portrayed as a very ordinary and harmless person. She is a pharmacist and a pregnant woman, who enjoys a peaceful family life, visiting her father’s pension with her in-laws. It is Eui-seon who unknowingly invites Seong-a, failing to sense her madness, to the pension. Once there, Seong-a engages in a fierce territorial battle with Yeong-ha, killing people and trying to take over the pension.
Yet, the one who ultimately subdues Seong-a is neither Yeong-ha, the police nor Seong-a’s father—it is Eui-seon. When Eui-seon, worried about her father’s lack of contact, heads to the pension, she ends up alone with Seong-a. Despite Seong-a’s taunts, Eui-seon remains unfazed, even when Seong-a reveals, “Your father and I are accomplices in murder.” Instead, Eui-seon sarcastically responds “Interesting” and adds, “I’m a pharmacist. How about I give you some medicine and refer you to a psychiatrist?“
Though Seong-a, with her cunning strength, tries to overpower Eui-seon—who is pregnant—Eui-seon reads Seong-a’s moves and perfectly counters her. If not for Seong-a’s final underhanded tactic, Eui-seon would have completely triumphed in that scene.
Unlike the gentle and kind image typically associated with pregnant women in media, Eui-seon is portrayed as a strong character capable of facing off against a killer. This unconventional character resonated with viewers, sparking significant reactions. Comments such as “I’ve never seen a pregnant character used this way before“, “A pregnant woman stronger than a killer” and “If Seong-a represents ‘fake madness’, then Eui-seon is ‘true madness’” flooded in.
Source: Daum
