Watch if: You like spy and superhero films with in-depth character growth, reminiscent of X-men and Jessica Jones.
Skip if: You’re not up for lots of violence, gore, and blood.
A memorable scene that I feel encapsulates the heart of this series is one where Jang Ju Won aka The Monster (played by the exceptional Ryu Seung Ryong) explains to Hwang Ji Hee his love for wu xia (martial arts) novels. He tells her that at the core of all the fighting is usually a love story, to which she smirks. But this accurately sums up what Moving is to me.
I’m not sure if there are Western counterparts of the superhero genre that focus on familial ties or the parent-child relationship, but this show manages to deeply capture the distinctive set of values that Asians hold towards family, marriage, and parenthood.
The real-life founding motto of South Korea’s most secretive agency, the NIS (National Intelligence Service) is “We work in the shadows to protect the sunlit land” and this was highlighted a few times throughout the show. Ironically, our former black ops agents in the show are continuously MOVING and hiding in the shadows, to protect themselves and their families from being exploited by their government.
The first five episodes follow three teenagers with hidden superpowers and deftly detoured into the backstories of their parents. I read online that many were thrown off by this transition from the relatively light-hearted “fun to watch” present-day timeline to when their parents were active agents, and I can understand why – it does get darker and heavier as the story unfolds.
I adjusted my expectations in case the pacing slowed, but never felt the dullness or lull that some people did, although it gets emotionally intense and overwhelming at times. The stories of the adults are unpacked in such a detailed and thoughtful way that made my watch more enjoyable, and I suspect it would be for anyone who likes to do character study. The show adopted a non-linear way of storytelling, using flashbacks to build suspense and move the plot.
The Romance
Perhaps it’s how the couples connected under extreme circumstances that made their love seem more precious. Maybe it’s their similar experiences of violence and betrayal, or how they were so earnest and vulnerable with each other very quickly. Maybe it’s the way these normally calculated and serious agents turn bashful in the presence of a special person. Or maybe it’s how the show fleshed out their increasing intimacy with such painstaking care that made me feel like this show romanced harder than many other romance dramas I’ve watched.
Lee Jung Ha steals the show as the endearing and guileless Bong Seok experiencing friendship and love for the first time amidst all other growing-up pains. He’s so sweetly innocent that I look forward to his scenes, especially those with Hee Soo.
A character I find interesting is the mysterious Lee Gang Hoon (played by Kim Do Hoon). I like how he’s so determined and perceptive throughout the show. He rarely allows his emotions to get the better of him, choosing to hold back and focus on the future rather than the present.
Painstakingly Conceived Characters and Their Duality
Incidentally, the most heart-wrenching scenes happened with the strongest men in the show. Jang Juwon – what a character. Invincible and undefeatable in gang fights, yet tragically helpless in an episode where he gets lost trying to find his way back to his motel. Of course, his sobbing in that scene signalled a deeper sense of loss he was experiencing at that moment – a loss of direction, identity, and purpose.
Even more heartbreaking was a scene where Juwon wept and wailed uncontrollably while mustering the strength to put on mourning clothes to attend a funeral.
Ryu Seung Ryong masterfully inhabited this role – whether as a doggedly determined gangster, loyal partner to Kim Doo Shik, dutiful husband, or tender loving father.
Lee Mi Hyun (acted by Han Hyo Joo) played a stoic and unruffled agent, but was equally convincing as a protective, somewhat worn out, and slightly fretful Asian mom. I loved how they made her look so ordinary with her messy hair and “real” skin. Nevertheless, her competence and ability to think fast on her feet shone through in her fight scenes and we can’t help but remember that she was a top black ops agent during her time in NIS.
I like that all these characters are elaborately painted, which helped me understand the present-day dangers more acutely, the reason for the establishment, and provided context for why the families had to keep moving.
Unsurprisingly, the North Korean superhumans are also political tools wrestling with the orders given to them. In questioning the motivations of their leaders, we recognise that they, too, have families they care for and ultimately yearn for peace. The dive into their personal histories adds depth to the conflict and helps us understand why they’re fighting in the first place.
Towards the end, all the various threads and storylines (that sometimes felt like detours) culminate in an epic showdown. It was clear we were looking at victims of war, but I thought it was poignant to see the children (especially Lee Gang Hoon) gritting their teeth and fighting doggedly through their pain to help the significant adults in their lives. Ironically, it felt like a new generation of superheroes was awakened, a mission the NK soldiers came to stop.
Overall, the stacked cast, immaculate writing, and sensitive direction make Moving one of the most compelling kdramas I’ve seen in years!