K-drama Strong Girl Nam-soon was directed by Ki Jung-sik and written by Baek Mi-kyeong, who was also behind the series Strong Girl Bong-soon, leading fans to wonder about the connection between the two shows.
Let’s get into details and discuss the connection between the two shows.
Is Strong Girl Nam Soon Related to Bong Soon?
“Strong Girl Nam-soon is related to Strong Girl Nam-soon in three ways:
- They are connected through their supernatural abilities.
- Gang Nam-soon is Bong Soon’s sixth cousin
- Strong Girl Nam Soon and Strong Girl Bong Soon are part of the same fictional universe, the “Strong Girl Universe.” Thus, they share some common themes and elements, such as the idea of superhuman women and the setting of Gangnam, Seoul.
In “Strong Girl Bong-soon,” the main character, Do Bong-soon, is born with superhuman strength, passed down through the women in her family.
“Strong Girl Nam-soon” takes the same route, and the main character, Gang Nam-soon, is Bong-soon’s sixth cousin. She possesses this extraordinary strength, too, inherited from her family, just like Bong-soon.
The connection between the two series goes beyond their abilities. The spin-off, “Strong Girl Nam-soon,” explores Nam-soon’s journey as she searches for her parents in South Korea. Along the way, she becomes involved in a drug case, and this storyline intertwines with the investigations led by Detective Gang Hee-sik.
While the focus shifts to Nam-soon’s story, the thematic link to Bong-soon’s family heritage and their shared superhuman strength remains central, emphasizing the connection between the two strong girls from different generations within the same family lineage.
Why did Strong Girl Nam-soon fail to attract viewers?
While the series’ plot was extraordinarily fresh and didn’t follow the concept like Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, so many aspects were missing in this series, making it just a one-time watch.
Besides comparing it to the original one, even the concepts that Kdramas usually have are also not present in Strong Girl Nam-Soon. While it’s not a terrible drama to stream, it isn’t the best one to watch. Here are some reasons why this series let many viewers down.
General Criticisms included:
- Too Much Focus on Geum-ju
- Hee-sik and Nam-soon’s Romance Didn’t Have Much Spark
- Death of Shi-o Felt Rushed
- Joong-gan and Jun-hee Romance Was Unnecessary
- Nam-soon Acted Too Childlike
- What is Strong Girl Nam-soon about?
- Is Strong Girl Nam-soon a spin-off or a sequel?
Without getting into the semantics of the situation too much, you could argue that the show is a spin-off from the original 2017 series, but in some regards, it could also be considered a sequel.
However, if you are a fan of this material or loved the first series, you will undoubtedly be interested.
Of course, there is a sprawling canvas on display and a large ensemble cast to try and keep track of, but in the end, whatever the connections are between the two shows, it will be filled with comedy and action set pieces.
About Strong Girl Nam-soon
Strong Girl Nam-soon is a 2023 South Korean television series starring Lee Yoo-mi in the title role, along with Kim Jung-eun, Kim Hae-sook, Ong Seong-wu, and Byeon Woo-Seok. The series serves as a spin-off to the 2017 series Strong Girl Bong-soon. It aired on JTBC from October 7 to November 26, 2023, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST) time slot. It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.
The series received audience acclaim, with its final episode recording 10.42% in nationwide ratings.
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