Kim Go-eun and Park Ji-hyun's 'Two Sisters', A 40-Year Gripping Foe-mance: 'My Eun-jung, or Sang-yeon'

Admiration, love, jealousy, hate. The Netflix original series 'Two Sisters' meticulously portrays a relationship too complex for simple words, spanning 40 years. Starring Kim Go-eun and Park Ji-hyun, the drama follows the intertwined lives of Ryu Eun-jung (Kim Go-eun) and Cheon Sang-yeon (Park Ji-hyun) from their teenage years to their forties, exploring their enduring bond filled with affection and resentment. The full 15-episode series was released on the 12th.

The story begins when Sang-yeon transfers into Eun-jung's class in their youth. Eun-jung envies Sang-yeon's perfect life – a good family, beauty, and academic success. Sang-yeon, in turn, is drawn to Eun-jung's outgoing nature and many friends. They form a friendship, but a tragedy strikes when Sang-yeon's older brother, Cheon Sang-hak, who was Eun-jung's first love, dies. This event fractures their relationship, leading to Sang-yeon's disappearance and Eun-jung gradually forgetting them.

Reuniting in college as young adults, the two initially seem to bridge the gap in their friendship. However, as adults, their bond can no longer be sustained by mere friendship alone. They experience the passage of time and a sense of longing. In their thirties, they coincidentally meet again during their careers. The admiration of their teenage years has long vanished. Eun-jung cannot forgive Sang-yeon for betraying her, and their relationship ends. Now in their forties, Eun-jung, diagnosed with terminal cancer, is asked by Sang-yeon, whom she despises the most, to accompany her to Switzerland for assisted suicide. Will Eun-jung join Sang-yeon for her final moments?

Despite its long narrative arc, 'Two Sisters' offers profound empathy to viewers. It realistically depicts the complex emotions of adolescence, when friendship felt like everything, and how relationships evolve based on individual circumstances in society. This resonates deeply, prompting viewers to recall their own 'Eun-jung' or 'Sang-yeon'. Kim Go-eun's exceptional ability to evoke empathy immerses the audience, making them feel Eun-jung's love and hate for Sang-yeon. Park Ji-hyun is a true revelation, masterfully embodying Sang-yeon's complex past, her venomous betrayal, and her serene acceptance of death. The story, though centered on Eun-jung's perspective, gains conviction through Park Ji-hyun's portrayal of Sang-yeon's journey. The narrative culminates with the two characters finally facing each other's true selves and sharing their deepest truths, a journey that took a lifetime for both the characters and the audience.

Kim Go-eun has showcased a wide acting spectrum in various works like the tvN drama 'Guardian: The Lonely and Great God' and the film 'Sunset in My Hometown'. Her ability to completely immerse herself in characters has left a deep impression on the audience. She is set to return to the big screen with the upcoming films 'Wonderland' and 'What Do You Need?'. Her recent role in the drama 'Little Women' further solidified her acting prowess.