My Holo Love

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

​Someday, Han So Yeon is mysteriously given a pair of glasses. When she tries them on, she discovers a hologram called Holo. She falls in love with it. Meanwhile, Holo’s creator Ko Nan Do is being chased by other companies, who want to acquire the technology. To protect So Yeon, he tries to retrieve the glasses by becoming her neighbor. 

​My Opinion (No Spoilers)

An interesting and pleasant drama, nothing more. If you don’t like dramas about AI, don’t go there, but the drama is a good combination of action and romance, sometimes punctuated by some incoherent scenes. Still, 12 episodes only! You decide!

​Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

I think I am going to separate that analysis into two distinct parts, because My Holo Love really left me with some mixed feelings. Therefore, I prefer exposing and introducing step by step, the moments that were interesting and well-done and those that were less good. 

What I liked: Let’s start with some positivity!

The final use of the hologram: When Ko Nan Do (Yoon Hyun Min) developed his technology, he decided that its purpose would be to accompany lonely people in their everyday life. The idea is actually good, since you wish to bring some comfort to people who live in solitude. Moreover, considering Nan Do’s past and childhood, having a hologram friend saved him from feeling like a total outcast. The concept is easy to understand and is turned toward others. There is a sense of benevolence and altruism. Yet, the problem of that AI is that, instead of being a part of people’s life, it rapidly became its pillar. Indeed, when Han So Yeon (Go Sung Hee) tries the hologram for the first time, she discovers that Holo is a friend but also a partner. Plus, he can do absolutely everything she wants. In that matter, why bother creating social relationships, when an AI replace friends, family and lovers. 

This aberrant use of the hologram really scared me at first. Yet, the second part of the drama really emphasized the importance on human beings over AI, in terms of sociability.

Despite the fact that I was disappointed at first, the final use of the technology really made me change my mind. Instead of creating an AI, from which you become very dependent, Nan Do preferred focusing of bringing people together through his glasses. Thus, the hologram becomes the person you want to communicate with. I found that twist quite clever, since it sets aside the potential threats of having an overpowering AI, progressively becoming human. Instead it focuses on the real purpose of these advanced technology, that is a real topic, especially in these times and days: it should be used to facilitate people’s relationships and day-to-day life. The final presentation in the drama made by So Yeon and Nan Do is the perfect depiction of the real goal of AI and sheds light on the bright side of these technologies. 

Characters’ compatibility: Another good point in the drama was the compatibility between the main characters So Yeon and Nan Do. Indeed, they share many common points: they are lonely, don’t bound easily with people, become friend with and AI, have led difficult pasts. Nan Do lost his mother, when he was still a child and So Yeon has had face blindness, since a traumatic event in her childhood. 

The second part of the drama focuses on these common points, bringing both characters together. They are able to recognize the other’s wounds and empathize a lot. Interestingly, these two, who were incapable of socially bind, managed to acquired that capacity thanks to the intervention of Holo. The final purpose of the Holo is thus fulfilled, bringing people together. By the way, the fact that Holo was a significant milestone in their relationship, probably inspired So Yeon in the transformation of the AI. 

The action: I think we can literally split the drama into two parts. The first 6 episodes is more of a romance and the second part has much more action. The romance is still present, but it is less cheesy, in my opinion. 

The action gives some more rhythm to the story. The fact that Magic Mirror’s Chairman wants to get his hands on the technology creates some dynamism. Because of him, Nan Do and So Yeon have to flee numerous times and are very close to being killed also. There are a lot of ups and downs in that part; as well as many revelations. The Chairman killed Nan Do’s mother because he wanted the technology, he is the one who traumatized So Yeon, since she witnessed the whole murder scene. Moreover, he is quite powerful and has a lot of connections, which enable him to become a fierce opponent.  

What I disliked: Now, there were some real troubles in the drama in my opinion, that annoyed me a lot and made me so mad!

Indecisive characters: The very first part of the drama illustrates the romance between So Yeon and Holo. Once she discovers that the creator is actually human and has the exact same face, she does nothing. She wants to stay with the AI instead of opening up to Nan Do. Same thing for Nan Do. He has obvious feelings for So Yeon, but doesn’t express them, because she likes the AI. He spends some time (too much time!) wondering if he should retrieve the glasses, giving some chances to the Chairman to steal his technology; he is not sure whether he should tell her about his identity or even his feelings. This indecisiveness created very long and boring scenes in the drama. I had the impression we were running in circles, without real solution. Fortunately, they started living together afterwards!

The other most indecisive character is the Chairman’s son Baek Chan Sung (Hwang Chan Sung). He is like this little child, afraid of his father and incapable of rebelling against him. Even though he knows that his father is clearly doing some illegal stuff, he helps him. Then he decides that it is too much of a burden on his conscience and tries to turn his back on his father. He helps Go Yoo Jin (Choi Yeo Jin), Nan Do’s sister; but then his father confronts him with a new ultimatum and he goes back to obeying him. So many back and forth for almost nothing!

Being in love with an AI: What saved the drama for me, was the fact that Nan Do is actually a human being. He is Holo’s creator and therefore they share the same face. They are also friends and have a compatible personality, which makes it easier for So Yeon to fall for Nan Do. Had there been no human being at all, I think I never would’ve started the drama in the first place. Indeed, romances with AI, robots or anything else has to stop! Absolute Boyfriend and Are You Human Too? were obvious disasters, considering the fact that both characters have no future whatsoever. Plus, they have also a whole lot of other technical problems. The only kind of romance with AI that I accept is that that includes human beings such as in Where Stars Land, I am Not a Robot and My Holo Love. 

I couldn’t understand So Yeon’s stubbornness either. She was definitely infatuated with Holo but why continue, when you have a real human in front of you? Why pursuing an impossible love when the real one is in front of you? I can understand the fact that Holo is So Yeon and Nan Do’s friend, so they don’t want to lose him entirely, but to the point that you replace your partner with him? Hell no! 

Incoherence of the story: Unfortunately, the drama also suffered from incoherence: the police officer opened the door to the Chairman’s evil plan, and can we talk about the last episode please? I truly believe the drama constantly emphasized how great of a technology Holo is (he can hack all systems!), yet while undermining and underestimating his efficiency, especially at crucial moments. At the end for instance, Nan Do decides to go back to his old lab to confront the chairman. He spends his time running, escaping and using crazy methods just to get to him. Why not just ask your AI to shut down everything, open all doors, do a livestream directly to expose the Chairman. Of course, for the story they needed to show us how human Holo was and they eventually do all that at the end of the episode; but I still lost at 30 minutes venting out my anger because they were not using their own weapons. Also, we need to do a little focus on the Chairman. The man has a cane! Instead of waiting for him and his men to stop you, take his cane and break it, he won’t be able to walk at all. It was so incoherent not to see these elements arriving sooner in the intrigue. Chan Sung eventually does that, but he has a three-second awakening and changes his mind so fast that I didn’t find it credible and legit at all. 

Suddenly, after being severely beaten up by his dad, he rebels for good and becomes the hero of the day. I mean, coherence please?

Unforgiving betrayal: My last point probably and I know some might disagree. I have to say the final wedding scene was really cute and ended the drama on a positive and happy note. For that I agree. What disturbs me more is how fast Yoo Jin forgives Chan Sung and marries him, after he has betrayed her at least three times. And big times! I am not sure myself I would’ve forgiven at all! 

Anyway, My Holo Love is nice to watch and has some good points (Go Sung Hee for example, I really love that actress); but some parts can quickly become either redundant or annoying. If you want to jump in that story, the choice is yours!