REVIEW: ‘Frankly Speaking’ Episodes 1-2

It’s always best to make a good impression. These actions go a long way, whether doing a kind deed or keeping the peace. However, it can also lead a person to be taken advantage of. What if this person started saying what’s on their mind?  Well, you have the gist of the latest Netflix Kdrama, Frankly Speaking. In Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2, we meet the person in question, announcer Song Ki-Baek (Ko Kyoung-Po).

Over the course of Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2, we learn who Song Ki-Baek is. In the first episode, we see him before a climactic accident. His goal is to become the lead news anchor for JBC. In his mind, the only way he feels he can do this is by biting his tongue and going above and beyond for everyone. This opens him up to employees constantly taking advantage of him, including his clout-chasing boss, Kim Sam-Jin (Jo Han-Chul).

However, Ki-Baek isn’t innocent in the persona he’s crafted. It’s early on in the series, but Frankly Speaking, Episodes 1-2 reveal how good of a liar he is. In the first episode, he’s a yes-man. Ki-Baek tells people what they want to hear rather than sharing how he really feels. Sure, this builds up the image of likability, but eventually, that image is set to crack.

Speaking of image, in the first episode, we learn that many of the employees in JBC believe he’s from a wealthy family. Ki-Baek has never denied this. Rather than making waves, he lies by omission. In Frankly Speaking Episode 2, we learn his family is anything but wealthy. Ki-Baek is the primary earner of the home. To maintain the facade of wealth, he’s been couch surfing at a friend’s place. But, like all lies, this rich boy image will crumble.

It could be argued that the catalyst for Ki-Baek’s psychological predicament is the TV variety show writer On Woo-Joo (Kang Han-Na). In Frankly Speaking Episode 1, it begins before Ki-Baek meets the enthusiastic hard worker. An affair gone wrong disrupts a news broadcast, resulting in a hilarious physical comedy moment for actor Ko Kyoung-Po. This moment shows us how hard Frankly Speaking will lean into its comedy.

From this pivotal moment onward, Ki-Baek’s life gradually collapses into itself. His meme-able face draws the attention of Woo-Joo. Even if her first impression of him was awful and full of embarrassing fart moments, she can’t help but admit that he might draw attention to her show. What she doesn’t anticipate is that he is going to wreck her life just as much as she will wreck his.

Against his wishes, Ki-Baek gets recruited to participate in Woo-Joo’s variety show, Men on the Run. However, no one can anticipate that he will butt heads with beloved idol, PN (Jang Won-Hyuk). At first, PN seems sweet, but it is all a ruse. He is verbally and physically abusive, and everyone allows it. Ki-Baek overhears his mistreatment of his staff. Lying at first, he pretends he never heard what PN said. But he sure takes it out on PN on the dodgeball court.

Ki-Baek’s aggression is a focal point in Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2. His restraint on the court in Episode 1 hints at what he’s been repressing. But his behavior towards PN draws too much attention. Woo-Joo leads Ki-Baek away to a restricted high-voltage area, where the two have a heated discussion. One poorly placed hand, however, leads to a medical incident that Woo-Joo frankly doesn’t freak out enough about.

Ki-Baek, embracing the philosophy of walking it off, pretends the electrical shock didn’t phase him. However, something has changed within him. Something’s not the same. To quote Elphaba, his electronically charged brain has decided he’s through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game. Evacuating to an open field, PN has a tantrum and even strikes an employee in the process. At that point, Ki-Baek (and frankly, myself) are done with this idol.

In arguably one of my favorite confrontations witnessed, Ki-Baek verbally lays into PN. Just as he’s about to lay a big open-handed smack across the boy’s face, Woo-Joo just has to tackle him. Not understanding quite what’s happening, Ki-Baek rightfully freaks out. While this ends Episode 1, Frankly Speaking Episode 2 deals with Ki-Baek trying to figure out why he’s being so bluntly honest. And there are plenty of repercussions for his behavior.

News of the altercation spreads quickly in Frankly Speaking Episode 2. Woo-Joo’s show gets canceled, forcing her to start from the ground up on a new project. Ki-Baek is on thin ice. His boss has been torn apart by the higher-ups for his behavior, and he removes Ki-Baek from consideration as the lead news anchor. There is too much attention on him.

The thing is, Ki-Baek is the center of attention in Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2. If he doesn’t draw attention by being the cool, likable guy, he is now drawing attention for his blunt and rude behavior. And everyone around JBC is now noticing this. After witnessing Ki-Baek’s outburst in his boss’s office, Woo-Joo finally realizes something is wrong. She begs him to get treated, and eventually, she is able to get him into an office. For a brief time, Ki-Baek is almost fixed.

Unfortunately, with brain damage, nothing is ever truly fixed. At least, not that quickly. Ki-Baek is forced by his boss to host the Brand Awards, which results in a comedy of errors showcase. If there’s one thing Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2 highlights, it’s how committed actor Ko Kyoung-Po is in his physical acting. When Ki-Baek’s head gets knocked out of balance yet again, the internal struggle plays out in Ko’s body language and facial expressions brilliantly.

Ultimately, it results in Ki-Baek making a fool of and, by default, JBC. His boss suspends him, and with little recourse, Ki-Baek is left to try to figure out what to do with his time. He travels out of town with his friend and colleague, Yoon Ji-Hoo (Ko Kyu-Pil), where he accidentally runs into Woo-Joo again. This time, she mistakes him climbing on the rocks with a suicide attempt. Episode 2 ends with them dramatically falling off the rocks.

Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2 wastes no time establishing the dilemma and hilarity of its main character, Song Ki-Baek. Ko Kyoung-Po is positively hilarious, finding the right moments to contort his face or play with different pitch levels to illustrate his character’s internal thoughts. The contrast between who he pretends to be versus who he really is is distinct and paints a clear picture to the audience in order to execute maximum cringe and laughs.

On Woo-Joo is much more straightforward as a character, with actress Kang Han-Na being set up as more the straight man to Ki-Baek’s over-the-top antics. She plays the character with a bluntness that is still softened, but she knows the social rules of her industry. At least enough to properly chastise Ki-Baek for his behavior. While the love triangle that has been advertised is yet to come into play fully, here’s hoping Kang’s Woo-Joo doesn’t fall into the background.

As for the third player in the future triangle, there’s Kim Jeong-Heon (Joo Jong-Hyuk). Nicknamed the Nation’s Son-in-Law, he’s beloved by all and a chronic workaholic just like our other two main characters. In Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2, we get hints and straight-up flashbacks hinting at Jeong-Heon’s former relationship with Woo-Joo. If Woo-Joo refocuses her energies on Ki-Baek, will this perfect Son-in-Law of Korea crack? It remains to be seen. As of now, actor Joo Jong-Hyuk injects the role with enough charisma to forgive the barebones we get in these episodes.

Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-2 is already running hard and fast in its comedy, creating something light and silly but also incredibly relatable for viewers. While there’s a lot of cheese, enough to at least trigger some lactose intolerance to flare up, it may be forgivable for some. As long as you keep your eyes on Ki-Baek, though, you can forgive anything.

Frankly Speaking Episodes 1-6 are now available on Netflix, with new episodes premiering on Wednesdays and Thursdays.