“Even if my feelings for you make me insignificant and weak, you are my fate that I cannot defy.”
SBS’s My Demon (2023-24) tells the story of a chaebol heiress who is everyone’s enemy and a demon who is superior to humans in every way. One day, the pitiless demon loses his powers and to recover it, he needs to work with the icy heiress who holds the key to his powers and his heart.
Having seen sixteen full episodes, here are some key points and insights about the drama:
Chemistry
If there’s one element that stands out and exudes superiority above all from this drama, it’s the undeniably electrifying onscreen chemistry between Song Kang and Kim You-jung. Notably, they are perfectly cast to portray Jeong Guwon and Do Dohee with the leads’ oozing visuals and talents combined, even making the brilliantly written tango scene iconic.
In fact, they give off that kind of magnetic pairing vibe that Hyun Bin and Son Yejin emanated as the power couple in tvN’s Crash Landing On You (2019-2020), whose chemistry goes beyond camera, radiating heart-fluttering moments behind-the-scenes that just sweep you off your feet.
Similarly, Song Kang and Kim You-jung are just as irresistible and swoonworthy as a drama pair who will surely be remembered for a long time in the world of Korean dramas. Sometimes, you can’t help but ship them to become partners in real life. Aigoo.
Narrative/Plotline
My Demon (2023-24) is a fantasy-romance drama about a demon and a human being with its love story revolving around the topic of “fate” and struggling to change that cursed fate with a different choice to make. These two people faced a tragic past hundreds of years ago and reunited in the present time as different people but meeting the same dark fate.
Due to a gravely sinful act done by a young master in the past, he becomes an immortal demon named Jeong Guwon (Song Kang) living a coldhearted life for 200+ years with a cross tattoo on his wrist that emits special powers. He goes after desperate human beings granting their earthly desires in exchange for eternal condemnation in hell. But his world suddenly turns upside down upon meeting a chaebol heiress named Do Dohee (Kim You-jung) whose life is in danger being surrounded by threats and unknown enemies who want her dead.
Their fate begins to reconnect during a mistaken blind date that went terrible, followed by a terrifying night when Do Dohee (Kim You-jung) encountered an unknown murderer and Jeong Guwon (Song Kang), searching for a desperate soul, comes rushing to save her. Unexpectedly, the powerful cross tattoo transfers to Do Dohee’s (Kim You-jung) wrist, and they come up with a plan to help each other with their pressing issues. Jeong Guwon (Song Kang) becomes her personal bodyguard turned husband in contract with two missions to accomplish: to hunt the chaebol heiress’ mysterious enemy and regain his precious tattoo.
The plotline is a completely engrossing journey that blends romance, mystery, humor, thrill, and twists with side characters that add fun to the show. Song Kang and Kim You-jung make you feel invested in their characters, anticipating how they will face the repeated cycle or twist of fate in the present time. The turn of stories is fast-paced and the development of romance between the pitiless demon and icy heiress is tastefully done, enough to make viewers squeal during romantic scenes and feel sad during sudden heartbreaking parts.
Every episode consistently ends with a cliffhanger, giving that sense of anticipation, altogether with the unexpected plot twists from beginning to the finale.
Theme/Message
While Song Kang plays the demon, he is presented as neither good or bad in the drama. He helps people in desperate need without attaching self to anyone and disciplines anyone who commits a crime with his supernatural powers.
What’s being more portrayed as evil in nature are the human beings who carry a selfish desire to gain power, recognition, and position by murdering others who hinder the plans. In particular, the most villain character in the drama who abhors the presence of Do Dohee (Kim You-jung) and the high favor she gets from Madam Ju (Kim Hae-sook) to run the family’s company. He appears more evilish than the immortal demon role of Song Kang, telling us how humanity fails in morality. (I won’t mention the name of the villain character and actor to avoid spoilers.)
Isn’t it funny that the demon has more wisdom about how the human being thinks, works, and acts foolishly in all aspects of life? Jeong Guwon (Song Kang) as the demon addresses the fact that everyone has a demon in his heart that ultimately stems from human desires, saying, “By nature, humans surpass demons when it comes to selfishness.”
He also mentioned how humans can do more inhumane things than any other creature, which seems realistic because the present days scream lawlessness, showing heightened chaos across the world, created by humans themselves.
Another mysterious but interesting character in the drama who has so much to partake about life matters is the homeless woman who turns out to be Jeong Guwon’s (Song Kang) go-to advice when crises arise. She talks about fate she calls a roulette wheel, how humans tend to blame fate when life goes wrong, and how it wouldn’t be called a misfortune if it were preventable, illuminating the fact that life overall is a myriad of choices of a person’s making.
She also talks about the reality of life’s happiness, how good times are excruciatingly short, how happiness can be poisonous sometimes, and how it can only be meaningful if life involves misfortune, saying, “Happiness has no meaning without misfortune. Humans wouldn’t appreciate happiness if they had it all the time.”
She’s basically shedding light that life is not all about happiness nor life must be happy all the time but that life is guaranteed to be a rollercoaster of highs and lows, of ups and downs, and what matters is how we face various circumstances with the tool of wisdom and endurance. The choices we make in life determine the outcome of either victory or tragedy. So, we must choose well.
It is interesting to note that the drama also tackled the summoning of love as unknowingly summoning of hell — that the person you love becomes your personal hell — that the person you trust sometimes becomes the hell that puts your life in danger, drawing more troubles in the process. That’s the kind of love struggle Jeong Guwon (Song Kang) and Do Dohee (Kim You-jung) are dealing with when they decided to love each other, a tragic fate that they are bound to whether in the past or present. At the same time, it’s a test of genuine love whether two people remain and still choose one another despite the hatred or hell it brings.
“Caught in the crossfire of hatred and misfortune, we ceaselessly hurt each other and destroy each other’s souls. However, despite all that, our lives and this world continue. Perhaps that’s because there are more people who save each other with their love and trust.”
Having reflected from all the events that connect them between the past and present, Jeong Guwon (Song Kang) makes a choice to protect his woman by abandoning self, however dismal. What matters to him in the end is changing the tragic past and making sure that Do Dohee (Kim You-jung) is alive and safe, even if it means he will completely lose his powers, immortality, and humanity overall.
Finale
Finally, it won’t be a happy ending without the intervention of the female deity who heard the cries of the broken Do Dohee (Kim You-jung). I came to ponder upon this part, thinking about how it looks like in real life. Of course, the drama’s female deity is none compared to the Sovereign God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, mighty to save, and whose character abounds in grace and mercies.
While Do Dohee (Kim You-jung) made a deal to grant her plea, we earthly beings can come to the throne of grace as we are with all our flaws and helplessness. No condition is required for the Almighty One to hear us out because He isn’t difficult to approach. All He needs is a broken heart that seeks Him and comes to Him persistently for miracles to happen, not only during Christmas season. In fact, His gift of grace is the very reason why we celebrate Christmas. It’s never about our own happiness, but our sense of gratitude towards the goodness of God in our life.
My Demon (2023-24) reflects upon the reality of loving and hating the same person, that despite the flaws and incompetencies you hate about that person, and the relational differences and hurdles you need to deal with all the time, you continue to love because true love surpasses the negatives. This kind of love requires hard work and commitment because the nature of humanity is imperfect. That’s why we need the supernatural help all the time that only comes from the quality of time we spend with the Almighty God. The truth is, if there’s someone who perfectly loves us for all that we are, flaws and all, that’s God alone. Even the drama’s immortal being Jeong Guwon (Song Kang) struggles to live this way with his woman. And that’s just realistically human.
Comparison/Similarities
Meanwhile, I’ve read an article that talks about how netizens pointed out the similarity of the demon’s vanishment of the goblin’s disappearance in another popular drama. How do you expect an immortal being to drop out of sight? And besides, it’s clearly stated in the narrative that the demon who resembles fire and hell, who cannot kill the living or bring the dead back to life, perishes or slowly fades away through spontaneous combustion upon breaking the rules.
Others also compare it with fantasy dramas such as Goblin (2016) and Doom At Your Service (2021). In my opinion, it’s good if a drama gives you that sense of nostalgia but I’d say My Demon (2023-24) is a fresh take with its new immortal character and astonishing pair, Song Kang and Kim You-jung who both created a whole new kind of irresistible onscreen chemistry that’s worth swooning.
Conclusion
SBS’s My Demon (2023-24) is a romance drama that leaves you spellbound with its heart-fluttering couple, unexpected twists, and excellent production in its entirety, including the breathtaking cinematography, stunning costumes, VFX, and musical score.
The elements of fate, past connection, reincarnation, curse, immortality, love triangle, chaebol family issues, contractual marriage, and salvation are nothing new but Song Kang and Kim You-jung made the love story enthralling overall. To add, the harmonious blend of fantasy, romance, humor, mystery, and thrill. It’s not fully solid in terms of screenplay and direction, but it’s definitely one of the most captivating romance dramas that you shouldn’t miss binge-watching.
A review by Myra Bansale for KORB Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Screenwriter: Choi Ah-il | Director: Kim Jang-han | Original network: SBS | Available on: Netflix | Images: SBS Drama
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