The Extra in Extraordinary You…

Extraordinary You is an MBC drama starring Kim Hyeyoon, Kim Rowoon, and Lee Jaewook. The drama is an adaptation of a Daum Webtoon titled July Found by Chance. Extraordinary You follows the adventures of Eun Danoh, a girl who refuses to become the extra in another person’s story and seeks to become the main character in her own story.

Synopsis

Extraordinary You revolves around high school girl Eun Danoh (Kim Hyeyoon). She notices several gaps in her memory but soon discovers that she and her counterparts are part of a fictional world in a comic book titled Secret. As Danoh becomes aware of herself as a character in the story, she is disappointed to find out that she is not the main character, but an extra who is instrumental in bringing the main characters of Secret, Oh Namjoo (Kim Youngdae) and Yeo Jooda (Lee Naeun) together. Meanwhile, she is stuck in an unrequited love with her childhood crush Baek Kyung (Lee Jaewook).

Danoh also suffering from a severe heart condition and she finds out that she might soon die from it. She feels frustrated with her situation because the writer of the comic book determines her fate. She therefore decides to work on changing her story and live her life as she wishes. This proves impossible until Danoh meets another extra, an unnamed character referred to as Number 13 (Kim Rowoon) as per the school register. As an insignificant extra, Number 13 is able to act on his own without the writer’s interference and saves Danoh multiple times. Danoh gives him the name Haru, and the two end up having a special affection for each other. Danoh concludes that her affection for Baek Kyung is because of her character’s set-up by the writer. She and Haru hence work together to change the story and break up Danoh’s engagement to Baek Kyung.

Things become further complicated when the three discover that they are the former main characters in one of the writer’s prior works, a period comic book set in the Goryeo era titled Trumpet Creeper. How will their previous fate in Trumpet Creeper affect the outcome of their fate in Secret?

Review

Extraordinary You borrows references from classic dramas such as Boys over Flowers and The Heirs to create a fictional story that subtly mocks but also appreciates romance melodramas. The drama offers viewers the clichéd-rich-guy-meets-poor-girl love story with Namjoo and Jooda’s, while Danoh offers a unique twist since the drama is more focused on the extra characters rather than the main characters.

Danoh is stuck in an unrequited love with Baek Kyung whom she has been pursuing for 10 years. Her heart condition makes life even more miserable and her decision to take control of her own life sets the foundation of the story. It is admirable in the beginning to see her try her best, but this soon becomes redundant as it becomes apparent that changing the story is near impossible. There seems to be little development in the story and the drama writers counter this by introducing a parallel world with the Trumpet Creeper. This works out for the most part, as it continues to give the show something to talk about as well as keep viewers curious. In the end though, it does not offer much relevance to Danoh’s story in Secret.

Haru as the nameless Number 13 is a character cloaked in mystery and his introduction serves to help Danoh change her ill fate. He soon becomes an important character in Danoh’s story, since he is the only person able to act freely without the writer’s control. The contrast of his character being insignificant in Secret but becoming pivotal in the Danoh’s story is an intelligent and unique play by the writers, which is among the highlights of the drama.

Baek Kyung is Danoh’s fiancé who is forced to reciprocate Danoh’s affection by his abusive father to secure his business. He is rude and arrogant but his character helps give the drama a little chaos. Baek Kyung is the only character with a proper backstory, and we are therefore able to understand him as the story progresses. He is able to make his mark as Danoh’s fiancé especially when he starts to like her back.

The effects used to portray of the comic book stage and shadow (outside the comic book) is another winning point for the drama. Overall, Extraordinary You offers viewers a different twist in the telling of a typical romance drama. This manages to give the story a new and refreshing feel that makes it worth watching.

Extraordinary You helps us realize that we are the main characters in our own story and challenges us to find that extra factor that will make our life a little more than ordinary.