Search: WWW

 

Search: WWW is a drama that packs some seriously awesome women!

The heart of Search: WWW is three powerful and badass business women. Which is awesome. I love that there are more dramas out with a feminist leaning and strong, complicated female characters. 

The main protagonist of this drama is Bae Ta-Mi, who works for the search engine company, Unicon. She works there with her frenemy, Song Ga Gyeong. The two of them used to be close and on the same page about what the purpose of search engines should be and how the freedom the internet provides should be handled. However, the last several years have been spent in conflict, mostly due to Ga Gyeong's alliances with her husband and mother-in-law. 

Unicon has a rival company, aiming to replace them at the number 1 spot, Barro. Cha Hyeon/Scarlett works for Barro, and has links to Ga Gyeong from her past. They went to school together and it seems like there may be some tension between them, due to their past. (Lesbi-Friends? I could only wish).

When things turn to shit and scandal rocks Bae Ta-Mi, she turns the tables and eventually goes to work for Barro. This turns her into Ga Gyeong's official enemy. From here, the two women use whatever weapons they have to manipulate the others, all while trying to figure out what they want their lives to be about. 

Ga Gyeong has a complicated relationship with her husband. It's an arranged marriage, with her owing the debt, but he has real feelings for her (somewhat pity but definite respect). His mother is a whole different story. She sees Ga Gyeong as her dog, but kicked enough times, that dog learns to bite. 

Scarlett is a fantastic character - definitely my favorite! She wanted to go to the Olympics before she hurt her shoulder helping Ga Gyeong in high school, but athleticism is still a huge part of her life. That, and copious amounts of violence. She was charged with assault after beating the shit out of some guy who groped her in the elevator. (I'm a fan). She has a strong moral compass and always tries to follow her instinct on what is right. Plus, she's a HUGE fan of dramas, which makes me love her even more. There's a crazy drama she is watching and she despises the actor in it who plays this horrible bully who beats up an old woman. Well, one day, Scarlett sees a man being chased and assumes he must have done something bad, so she debates minding her own business before taking that dude out. She has him pinned to the ground and is smacking him for being naughty when she realizes that it's the actor from the show and they were filming a scene. So his cute little ass ends up in the hospital because of her. She feels horrible so hangs out with him, only to find out that he's an unknown and very sweet actor who doesn't have representation. So she decides to act as his manager. This dude is so freaking precious like a sweet baby angel who definitely needs Scarlett to protect him. I love it. Their side story romance was way more exciting for me and more enjoyable than the main couple.

Speaking of which...

At the very beginning of the show, Ta Mi meets and sleeps with Park Morgan, only to find him the next day at Unicon. He is the CEO of his own company where he makes soundtracks for games, etc. She thinks that everything is going to end as a one-night-stand, but he has other ideas. They keep running into each other, and they play this infuriating game where he says he likes her and she keeps dumping him telling him that they are only going to break up anyways. She really loses it when she finds out that he is 10 years younger than her (a fact that doesn't bother him in the least). Ta Mi seriously made me crazy with her self-sabotaging ways, until he finally decides to just walk away. Of course she runs after him! She hates that he sees right through her and she doesn't want to hurt, but he manages to convince her enough that everything ends but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Although their relationship progresses in a way that is not usual for most dramas, it still packs the emotional punch that makes you cheer when they FINALLY kiss again. Park Morgan is one smooth dude, and he's super cute to boot. (Definitely a catch). Overall though, their love story was way more stressful than I felt it needed to be. It was like they just needed to inject some tension but stressful relationship bullshit in between the stress these women already have with trying to run the two most popular search engine companies while their families and the government is trying to control their shit. It's already a lot to take on. At least there's a good ending. 

The ending did make me do some cheering and fist-pumping so there's that. If you are looking for a more mature show about some very career-centered kickass ladies, then this is the show for you!