Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel (also titled Kaingwa Abel) is a Korean drama that falls under many categories: action, romance, suspense, melodrama. So Ji Sub, Shin Hyun Joon, Han Ji Min, and Chae Jung Ahn make up the main cast, but there are many other lovable actors starring in the drama. The show originally aired on SBS TV Korea (Seoul Broadcasting System) between February 18, 2009 and April 23, 2009 and is 20 episodes long.

PLOT

Lee Cho In (So Ji Sub) is a successful doctor at Bosung University Medical Center's emergency department whereas his brother Lee Son Woo (Shin Hyun Joon) is a brilliant neurosurgeon. The story starts with Son Woo being jealous of the attention Cho In receives from their father and the anger their mother feels over the favoritism going on. Add into the mix Kim Seo Yeon (Chae Jung Ahn) - who grew up with the two of them but turned to Cho In after the disappearance of Son Woo, where she stays even after his return - and we have ourselves a party. It is because of these things that Cho In is seen as having the perfect life that includes all Son Woo ever wanted. Oh Kang Ho (So Ji Sub) and Oh Young Ji (Han Ji Min) add further drama that is sure to have any viewer on the edge of their set. The two are defectors of North Korea - a plot point that I personally cannot verify as accurate or not, but that I found to be believable. However, once they get to Seoul things are shaken up even more.
Being that the medical field is at the center of everything, there is quite a bit of blood, so this probably is not a drama for anyone who is squeamish. It is unclear whether or not the medical aspects of this drama are factual or not, but they certainly come across as such. Because the plot relies heavily on the idea of not knowing certain details, not much can be revealed without needing a spoiler alert.
A fun fact for those who do not know the story of Cain and Abel: they are sons of Adam and Eve. According to the story Cain was the first child of Eve, and the first human to commit the act of murder. Eve's second son was Abel, the first human to die. Despite the story of these two brothers being found in the Christian Bible, Muslim Quran, and Jewish Torah there are no solid details as to why Cain killed Abel. Many speculate that it was out of anger and jealousy - just as with what fueled the plot for Cain and Abel.

OVERALL

The story itself struck me as slightly slow and scattered in the first episode, but things quickly gathered together and progressed in a way that really draws in the viewer. The characters and settings that were introduced kept things new and exciting without being overwhelming or hard to follow. I especially loved Young Ji because I was able to relate to her actions and personality; it seemed to me that she needed to be reassured of things because of what she had been through. She was flawed, but not in ways I found to be cliché. Sun Woo is definitely a worthy rival of the great Cho In, and I sometimes found myself cheering for him. Though Seo Yeon is listed as a main role, I ended up feeling disappointed at the lack of development she got as a main role. Kim Hyun Joo (Ha Yoo Mi) might have had better development than Seo Yeon.
Overall I found this really addicting (as in, this is my fastest finish) and I enjoyed the fact that it was inspired by a classic story (but not obviously so.) I think there could have been more detail and accuracy in the legal aspects of things. The time jump also would have made for an amazing second season, but doesn't completely ruin things. Despite these small details I think the show is worth watching and even re-watching - if not for the plot, then for the phenomenal acting by everyone involved.

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