Putting on a peculiar performance of reality, Curtain Call closes life’s stage with forgiveness and gratitude.
Redefining what’s considered a lie, a lifelong wish becomes granted as one lives with numbered days. Though having inconsistencies, this drama redeems itself with wholesome characters and comforting reconciliations perfect for unwinding.
- Main Cast: Kang Ha Neul | Ha Ji Won | Go Doo Shim
- Supporting Cast: Sung Dong Il | Jung Ji So | Noh Sang Hyun | Kwon Sang Woo | Ji Seung Hyun | Choi Dae Hoon
- Streaming Site: Prime Video
- Thrill/Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Rewatch Value:
- Kdramas of Similar Vibe: My Girl | Crash Landing On You | What Happens to My Family? | That Winter, The Wind Blows
Marcie Line watched Curtain Call on Prime Video
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 | 13 & 14 | Finale + Review |
Curtain Call Finale Highlights
“We can’t hide the truth forever.”
Confronting Dong-jae about Se-yeon, Jae-heon tells him that his character is easy to analyze. Rather than wanting Se-yeon, he makes Dong-jae realize he cannot let go of the only flaw he incurred.
As the chairwoman gains consciousness and requests to see Moon-seong, the siblings argue about which Moon-seong should appear. For the last time, Jae-heon shows up and confesses the performance they did. However, Chairwoman Ja tells him she knew all along.
Inviting her to watch their theatrical performance, Jae-heon encourages the chairwoman to also make her own curtain call in life. While he apologizes for lying, the chairwoman consoles him, appreciating their sincerity.
While the chairwoman stays at the hospital, Se-jun remains firm in selling the hotel. Jae-heon then relays Chairwoman Ja’s appreciation to Mr. Jeong and Yoon-hee.
Retelling his experience with Chairwoman Ja, Jae-heon takes Moon-seong around and requests him not to resent his own grandmother.
“Since the fact that you and I are families doesn’t change…Since a family bond is not something you can break.”
Moon-seong begins to warm up after spending time with Jae-heon and Se-gyu. Nearing the end of their contract with the rented theater, Jae-heon gets heated when asked if their performance will push through.
Chairwoman Ja wakes up and verbally appreciates her grandchildren and the people who stayed by her side. Going out of the hospital, she watches with her family the play Jae-heon prepared.
Joining hands with her husband Jong-mun, the chairwoman walks to the light. In her will, 10% of her shares are given to Mr. Jeong and Jeong-suk while the rest are equally to her four grandchildren.
However, Moon-seong’s shares are held by Mr. Jeong until he becomes a naturalized citizen of the South. Chairwoman Ja’s family finds their own happiness.
The hotel’s sale falls through and Dong-jae calls off his wedding with Se-yeon. Yoon-hee leaves for the US after confessing to Jae-heon, and Jae-heon pursues Se-yeon as his real self.
Curtain Call Quick Plot Recap
Separated from her family in North Korea, Ja Geum-soon (Go Doo Shim) built her success with her hotel and started from humble beginnings. As her days became numbered, her assistant Mr. Jeong Sang-cheol (Sung Dong Il) searches for her lost grandson.
Because of the rough life Ri Moon-seong (Noh Sang-hyun) lived, Mr. Jeong hires a small theater actor Yoo Jae-heon (Kang Ha Neul) to act as the chairwoman’s lost grandson.
Struggling to protect the hotel her grandmother established, Park Se-yeon (Ha Ji Won) welcomes her new cousin wholeheartedly, and later joins Mr. Jeong’s purpose.
Curtain Call Series Peak Points
Life as the Biggest Performance Stage
Though starting as an outrageous deceptive act, Mr. Jeong’s idea of using life as the greatest stage for Jae-heon deserves merit for its creativity. It surely is a one-of-a-kind plot where a drama contains a theatrical performance that depicts the reality inside the series.
From its conception to its execution, the route taken by Jae-heon and Mr. Jeong to confront the truth and confess a lie is unparalleled. Likewise, the deeper meaning of curtain call serves an inspiring purpose.
Heartwarming Family Story
Initially, Se-jun’s goal of selling the hotel is one of the conflicts in the story. However, despite defying his grandmother and Se-yeon, his brute character along with Moon-seong and Dong-jae contain softness inside.
Contrary to fast-paced and jam-packed stories, the plot of the drama exudes tranquillity pacing through the remaining days of Chairwoman Ja. There are minimally corrupted characters in it, and forgiveness persists instead of a messy war of succession and inheritance.
Curtain Call Series Musings
Upon first watching this drama, its outstanding set of cast members can be recognized. They all represent their characters well, be it in emotional or heartwarming scenes.
However, the drama lacks consistency and misses its potential to elaborate and explore the inner stories of its characters. From being firm in pursuing their own purposes throughout the series, Se-jun, Moon-seong, and Dong-jae suddenly become warm at the finale.
To reason with those changes, it may be possibly attributed to the drama’s direction of a heartwarming story. Completing its original intention of a wholesome and warm story, characters reconciling with each other by the end was necessary.
Radiating the vibe of older dramas that involve rich families, Curtain Call adds its uniqueness by keeping itself from overly stressful conflicts of descendants. Though it has that element, it chose a route where it was kept minimal.
With calm and pure energy, this drama promotes family values through its metaphor of concluding the stage called ‘life’ with a curtain call.
Watch Curtain Call on Prime Video.
Photos: KBS2
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