Big Mouth

Presentation

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Analysis

Synopsis

Park Chang Ho is a lawyer with a low winning rate. Because he talks a lot, his nickname is Big Mouth. One day, he gets involved in a murder case. Over night, he becomes Big Mouse, a genius criminal. His wife, Ko Mi Ho, tries to clear his name.

My Opinion (No Spoilers)

An excellent drama! I hadn’t been this involved in a plot since Mouse to be honest. Actors’ performance is on top, the intrigue is smoothly weaved and the action full of twists. I really loved it.

Not to mention the awesome direction of Oh Choong Hwan – who also did Start-Up, Hotel Del Luna, While You were Sleeping, Doctors, Man from the Stars and The Birth of a Family – and the brilliant scenario adapted by Jang Young Chul and Jung Kyung Soon – both worked on Vagabond, Monster, Empress Ki, The Incarnation of Money and History of a Salaryman.

I highly recommend that drama!

Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

Characters:

Park Chang Ho (Lee Jong Suk) is a hardworking, but unsuccessful lawyer. He loses almost every case he works on, yet he still appreciates defending people against scammers, corrupt individuals, thieves… injustice in general. He is kind, devoted and righteous; though he doesn’t seem to take things seriously at first. Indeed, he gives off the impression that he’s a dummy, easy to manipulate and sway with money. Even with his wife, Chang Ho appears quite immature and childish, willing to bet their savings on an impulse.
This behavior (and wrong first impression) is the reason why the third-rate lawyer gets involved in a case bigger than himself, or at least bigger than his current social status and power within society. After all, he is a nobody dealing with wealthy people’s affairs.

Park Chang Ho’s journey really starts when he gets arrested and framed as the mastermind criminal Big Mouse. In order to survive, the cornered man reveals all of his potential. He turns into a brilliant chess player, full of wit, resources and tricks up his sleeve. He becomes more and more confident and daring against his numerous enemies, not fearing to fight on the same grounds.
By the end of the drama, the fearful mouse has turned into a powerful predator. He has learned the hard way that sometimes it takes evil to take down another evil. Chang Ho has also matured a lot thanks (or should I say because of) his near-death experiences, losses and defeats.

What I loved about that character is his evolution and development. Park Chang Ho goes from being an insignificant lawyer to the respected new Big Mouse, who ruthlessly crushed Choi Do Ha. He has somehow proven his worth battle after battle, as well as has showed how dangerous he can be/is. However, Chang Ho doesn’t lose his humanity in the process. He doesn’t get blinded by greed or power. Instead, he chooses to honor the promise he made to his wife: ‘To be a good Big Mouse‘.

Ko Mi Ho (Im YoonA) is Chang Ho’s wife. She works as a nurse, which is already proof of her devotion and kindness towards others (qualities that unfortunately turn against her at the end). She can also be quite determined and stubborn. She has worked hard to support her husband during his studies and acts as the head of the family, worrying about money for example. Though she bickers a lot with Chang Ho, sulks and gets mad at him for being immature, she deeply loves him. She has a complete trust in her husband, no matter what comes to sway her. She doesn’t care about what other people say, she’d rather make an opinion for herself.

Moreover, Mi Ho share’s Chang Ho’s strong sense of justice. She is willing to point fingers, if it means protecting innocent lives. Naturally, her reckless behavior puts her in danger too. For example, she saves a prisoner from a collapsing underground building, exposing herself to radioactive water.

In a sense, Mi Ho’s choices have always been in the interest of the greater good, but more importantly of her husband. At the end, she sacrifices herself to support Chang Ho’s cause and to take down Do Ha. Finally, she is the only reason why Chang Ho is able to stay on the right track.

As a couple: Park Chang Ho and Ko Mi Ho have known each other since high school. Since then, they never left each other’s side. They got married and moved in together right after. Their compatibility is like no other. No matter the hardships, they always went through them as a united couple. They are each other’s pillar, support and comfort source. Of course, they argue over some trivial matters like any other couple. Nonetheless, they prove that they are end game when Chang Ho’s gets embroiled in the murder case. Many relationships would’ve probably exploded with such a hurdle. But Mi Ho has blind trust and faith in Chang Ho, as does he. Therefore, they get stronger together instead of exploding.

Moreover, they are equals and partners in crime. For instance, Mi Ho investigates the hospital in the outside world, while Chang Ho tries to uncover Big Mouse’s identity in prison; when Mi Ho thinks her husband has been killed, she accuses Choi Do Ha of being a murderer, while Chang Ho kills Do Ha for having indirectly killed his wife.

Last but not least, I honestly loved Lee Jong Suk and Im YoonA’s chemistry on screen. I think it played a huge part in portraying such a strong bond in the drama. So thumbs up to them both!

Chang Ho and his allies: In his quest for truth and justice, Park Chang Ho can count on 2 other great allies (apart from his wife of course). First, there is his father-in-law Go Gi Kwang (Lee Ki Young). He used to work in the legal field, so he is well aware of its processes, corruption and connections to other high spheres (like politics, pharmaceuticals…). Mi Ho’s father is a kindhearted man, like his daughter. He is not afraid of going out of his way to support Chang Ho, whom he wholly trusts. Finally, he is cold-headed in tough situations, which allows him to be remain calm and rational in the face of hardships.

Chang Ho’s second main ally is his attorney peer Kim Soon Tae (Oh Eui Sik). Although he appears to be righteous and blameless, Soon Tae actually hides a secret. He is Big Mouse’s right-hand man, who acts on stage and in the shadows. Still, he is a positive character, who is willing to mobilize his extended network in order to protect his friend. Indeed, he is the reason why Chang Ho is still alive in the first place. Had he not asked Big Mouse to save his friend’s life, Chang Ho would probably be dead.

I thought that Soon Tae was a good character, even if he is ambiguous. Yes, he works for Big Mouse, but he is also a loyal man whether it’d be towards the criminal who saved him or his best friend. Not to mention his enormous role in Chang Ho’s victory.

Chang Ho and his prison mates: On his first day in prison, Park Chang Ho is isolated and suspicious of every cellmate. He’s been betrayed in the outside world, framed and sent to jail – that is to say a dangerous place for a defenseless lawyer.

Though he is on his own at first, Chang Ho progressively climbs the ladder and gains authority. By the time he is released, he’s actually become the ‘King of prison’, obeyed and respected by other prisoners.

His experience in prison allows him to befriend some crucial allies, though they didn’t necessarily all get off to the right start. That’s the case with Chairman Yang (Song Kyung Cheol) for example. He is the current leader in Gucheon Penitentiary and sides with the evil wealthy trio. Indeed, if Chairman Yang protects them from other inmates, they pay him handsomely and offer other nice benefits. Though most may think that the gang leader can easily be swayed by the sight of money, it’s totally not the case. Chairman Yang is sharp when it comes to recognizing Chang Ho’s potential and the benefits he’d get by joining his side. Moreover, he turns out to be quite an alright man, who’s at heart the protection of his crew. Chairman Yang lives by certain rules and values, he would never deny in exchange of money.

In the end, he and his men become Chang Ho’s armed force. If I were to make an analogy, I would say that Chang Ho is the head of the body, while Chairman Yang’s group represent the arms and legs.

Apart from Chairman Yang, Chang Ho bumps head to head with another powerful figure in prison: Warden Park Yoon Gab (Jung Jae Sung). He is the epitome of the antagonistic character. He only cares about money and the assertion of his power in his kingdom (the penitentiary). Warden Park is law, he’s the one who makes the rules. Therefore, he can decide to give benefits to inmates, while he sends other innocent to solitary confinement.

I would say that he is Chang Ho’s strongest opponent in prison. Most of the time, Park Yoon Gab is the reason why Chang Ho is being persecuted by others. The warden doesn’t like, and more importantly, doesn’t trust him at all. And it’s understandable once you know who Yoon Gab really is. In Big Mouse’s organization, he is the number three. This means that he knows the identity of his leader. Knowing that, he can only despise and hate Park Chang Ho for impersonating Big Mouse.

If there is but one quality we can attribute to this vicious man, it’s his loyalty. Warden Park considers Big Mouse his savior. Thus, he has decided to serve him for life. He’d never betray him and is willing to sacrifice his life in exchange for his. I believe that this blind loyalty is the reason why Yoon Gab sides with Chang Ho mid-drama. Indeed, Big Mouse has chosen him as his ally (and later on as his successor). So, Yoon Gab accepts to honor Big Mouse’s last will by following Chang Ho’s lead, the same way he’s obeyed the former criminal. Of course, this doesn’t mean he is not swayed at some point. There is a time in the drama when Park Yoon Gab refuses Chang Ho as the new leader, but he eventually comes around.

Jerry (Kwak Dong Yeon) is Chang Ho’s first ally in prison. He owes his name to the cartoon ‘Tom and Jerry’, associating the fictitious mouse with the real-life criminal. In one word, Jerry is Big Mouse’s greatest fan!
The cellmate gives off the impression that he is simple-minded, though he is far from being stupid. He knows from the beginning Chang Ho is not the genius scammer, but is ordered to check up on him regularly. Over time, Jerry ends up really appreciating Chang Ho, providing the lawyer with his full trust, loyalty and support.

I personally really loved that character. He embodies at the same time Chang Ho’s little brother, right-hand man and best soldier, even willing to sacrifice himself to help.

Coming up to Chang Ho’s last, and most powerful, ally in prison: No Park (Yang Hyung Wook). Though he doesn’t seem like it, the room leader is far from being the kind and harmless man he pretends to be. Turns out he is THE real Big Mouse, who’s been pulling the strings in the shadows. However, No Park is no vicious criminal, like the enemies he’s up against. He is a reasonable leader, who had to make some drastic decisions when cornered.

I kind of empathized with No Park to be honest. Though he’s responsible for many of Chang Ho’s sufferings, his story made it hard for me to totally resent him. Indeed, his daughter was a reporter investigating the NF9 (a dangerous chemical developed by Chairman Kang). As she was getting too close to the truth, she got murdered. Hence, No Park’s desire to avenge her. To destroy his enemies, he had no other solution but to get to their level (in terms of network, but also in terms of ruthlessness). This background humanized the character, depicting him more as a grieving father than a bloodthirsty criminal.

Choi Do Ha (Kim Joo Hun) is the main antagonist of the drama, even if the first episodes don’t make him appear as such. The closer Park Chang Ho and Ko Mi Ho get to the truth, the more Do Ha reveals his real face. He is a two-sided character, capable of putting on a show and playing the victim on the one side, before smirking and killing other people on the other side.

Do Ha’s grandfather used to work for Chairman Kang, but died because he warned the latter about the dangers of NF9. After his death, the current mayor endorsed the identity of Do Ha (a boy of his age who had drowned). After that, he only dreamed of getting his revenge, crushing the Chairman and becoming the most powerful man of high-rank circles. Of course, he is willing to do quite anything to achieve that: Lies, betrayals, murders… There’s no limit to his ambition and greed.

At some point, I even realized that he was playing with his wife’s feelings. From the beginning he used her as both a pawn and a weapon against his opponents. By the end of the drama, he even locks her up in a psychiatric hospital because she has uncovered all of his bad deeds.

I guess Do Ha would have succeeded if he hadn’t involved Chang Ho. He thought he was a useless and stupid lawyer, yet he turned out to be his greatest opponent and his executioner. In a way, Do Ha is responsible for his own demise. But I am certainly not going to cry for that!

Hyun Joo Hee (Ok Ja Yeon) is the most complex character of the drama. I think I spent most of the episodes wondering if I appreciated her or not. On the outside, she seems cold and scornful. She is married to Choi Do Ha, is favored by the Chairman and is even the head of Gucheon Hospital, where suspicious – and illegal – activities take place. That being said, it’s only normal to associate her with the bad characters. However, there’s more that meets the eyes. Joo Hee is actually unaware of many crucial elements regarding her hospital and husband. She willingly turns a blind eye to the secret lab present in her facility, but feels guilt and remorse upon discovering that it is used to test a new drug on prisoners. Moreover, she betrays her husband at the end and decides to side with Chang Ho when she uncovers the truth about all of his misdeeds and his real personality.

Though she pretends to be strong and heartless, Joo Hee is in fact kind and in love. She just trusted the wrong person. Her endless love for Do Ha blinds her too, as she is unable to see who he really is. She forgives him, again and again and lets him manipulate her. Worse, she blames it on her cowardice in order to defend him.

Ko Mi Ho’s reveal concerning her sickness is a turning point in Joo Hee’s development. Thanks to Park Chang Ho and his wife’s warnings, Joo Hee finally gets out of her bubble. Her late wake-up call immediately puts her in danger. Indeed, Choi Do Ha locks her up in a psychiatric ward to shut her up. Fortunately for Joo Hee, she is rescued later on by the people she despised the most: Gong Ji Hoon and his wife.

The evil circle: Apart from Choi Do Ha, some other villains are present throughout the drama. I think we can categorize them into 3 groups:

First, there is Chairman Kang Sung Geun (Jeon Kuk Hwan), also known as the elder. He is the most powerful of all the villains during most of the drama. He embodies the older generation to whom Gucheon owes its prestige and success. Like others, the Chairman was involved in some bad business such as the development of NF9, the murder of Do Ha’s grandfather and many other mysterious cases.

Thanks to his reputation, he leads the younger generation with an iron hand. Most villains like Gong Ji Hoon or Choi Do Ha suck up to him in order to earn the old man’s shares in various thriving businesses.

Though the Chairman appears to be unbreakable, he is taken down by his most trusted and beloved soldier: Choi Do Ha. Indeed, Chang Ho discovers Do Ha’s real identity and informs the Chairman about it. Refusing to give Do Ha more power than he already has, the Chairman intends on pushing him away. That’s when the mayor decides to kill the Chairman and to tamper with his will.

Second, there is Gong Ji Hoon (Yang Kyung Won). He is the exact opposite of Choi Do Ha in terms of characters development/evolution. At first, he is the main villain of the story, pressuring Chang Ho to give him his money back. Yet he gradually becomes the lawyer’s ally, while Choi Do Ha turns into the enemy. Indeed, there is one person that Gong Ji Hoon hates more than Big Mouse, and that is the mayor. Both are in constant competition to win the Chairman – and his shares – over. But Gong Ji Hoon’s actions never seem to be up to par with Do Ha’s.

Gong Ji Hoon may act irrationally, be impulsive and a bad chess player, but he is far from being stupid. He knows that siding with Chang Ho is key if he wants to surpass Do Ha. And that’s exactly what happens. His patience paid off.

Third, we have the 3 minions Jung Chae Bong (Kim Jung Hyun), Han Jae Ho (Lee Yoo Joon) and Lee Du Geun (Oh Ryoong). They are followers and only side with the most powerful player. They only care about their own benefits and interests. They are loyal to money and easily scared. These 3 individuals are also responsible for the tests run on prisoners and the cancer plague among them. They have no ethics, no empathy if not for themselves only. Fortunately, they receive as much as they gave in prison at the end; that is to say hatred, violence and disdain.

The plot: For this part, I won’t go too deep into details. There are many great twists in the drama and I would need more than just one review to explain all of them. So, I am just going to walk you through the most important parts of the intrigue.

The main question: The whole drama revolves around that one and only question: Is Park Chang Ho Big Mouse?

As you have probably seen or will see, the answer to that question differs depending on the episodes you watch. That’s because this simple interrogation is the red thread of the story. The entire intrigue is based on the ambiguity of the answer. Sometimes, Chang Ho is Big Mouse, sometimes he’s not. And that’s what makes the drama incredibly dynamic! The more you wonder about Chang Ho’s identity, the more involved you are in the story until the very end. You have to wait until the last minutes of episode 16 before actually getting THE answer to that central question.

I thought that this construction of the intrigue was brilliant. Not only because it allowed for the screenwriters to develop Chang Ho’s character, but also because this technique held the suspense for everyone.

The 3-part journey: Now that we know the core of the plot, it’s time to focus a bit on the mechanics. To me, the drama is split into 3 distinctive parts:

1. Chang Ho is framed and sent to prison. At that moment, we doubt his identity. At times, it seems obvious to believe he is the criminal. But some new elements arise and contradict this certainty. Chang Ho is entangled in Big Mouse’s web, while chasing after the real one. This push-and-pull dynamic gives rhythm to Chang Ho’s stay in jail.

Meanwhile, Gong Ji Hoon is after his money and Do Ha acts as an ally in the search for Seo Jae Young’s paper.

2. Right before Chang Ho is released from prison, he uncovers Big Mouse identity. He makes a plan with No Park (the real Big Mouse) to take down Do Ha and the Chairman in the outside world.

3. Chang Ho is forced to become the new Big Mouse after No Park’s murder. He is helped by Gong Ji Hoon and later on Joo Hee to destroy Do Ha, who is eventually killed at the end.

Atmosphere: Without the shadow of a doubt, Big Mouth is an intense action drama! It’s energetic, with a lot of (unexpected) twists to keep you entertain throughout the whole story. A high-speed thriller that you will all love!

Numerous twists: Talking about twists, I think there’s no way I can talk about Big Mouth without mentioning its most iconic twists and cliffhangers. Among my favorite, I would quote the following ones that really shook me to my core:

– Gong Ji Hoon vs. Park Chang Ho: The list of Big Mouse’s allies. Park Chang Ho pretends to be the criminal. He is supposed to give the names of his allies, so he asked Do Ha for help. But the latter gives him the wrong ones. Still, Chang Ho is able to name the right people thanks to a tarot card he received from Big Mouse in prison.

– Jerry is not dead, he’s in the hospital: I never would’ve gotten that, if the nice side-kick had died!

– No Park is the actual Big Mouse

– Kim Soon Tae (Chang Ho’s lawyer friend) is the number 2 in Big Mouse’s organization: He is the reason Chang Ho is still alive and the reason why the latter becomes the new Big Mouse.

– The psychopath prisoner was framed: Ko Mi Ho discovers that one of the inmates, Tak Kwang Yeon (Yoo Tae Joo), accepted to take the fall for a series of murders in order to pay for his mother’s surgery. Because of that, he became estranged with his siblings and suffered in prison. He died in the hospital after having been exposed to radiation like Mi Ho. The real psychopath is Chairman Kang’s son, whom he sent to Texas and never wished to see again. I was super saddened by this prisoner’s death. He really sacrificed himself for everyone and ended up dying a pitiful death.

– Ko Mi Ho is sick: like last-stage cancer!

– Do Ha’s death: Nothing was more satisfying than seeing the mayor fall for his own tricks. All along he crushed people and considered them pathetic losers. He always thought himself to be more clever than the lot. That’s why he didn’t see his end coming. And what an end! Choi Do Ha regularly goes to the swimming pool to gather his thoughts while doing apnea. Chang Ho chooses to use Do Ha’s beloved place against him. The shelter becomes his tomb, as he drinks the contaminated water in the swimming pool. It is the same that killed Mi Ho. The moment Do Ha entered the water, he was condemned to a certain death. A miserable death in the end for the man who thought he was invincible.

The ending: Many of you may be dissatisfied with the ending due to Ko Mi Ho’s sudden death. I totally understand, I was also quite saddened by it. Still, I considered this event as a necessary evil to complete Park Chang Ho’s journey and transformation into Big Mouse. Had his wife survived, Chang Ho would’ve been torn between complying with his promise to No Park and his desire to get back to a normal life. In any case, I think the latter option wouldn’t have been possible anyway. He was already too deeply entangled with the secret organization.

That’s why Mi Ho had to die. She was the only remnant of his past life. With her gone, Chang Ho can turn a new leaf and start a new chapter of his life as Big Mouse. Of course, he carries his past with him through the promise he makes to Mi Ho. He intends on becoming good, a ‘kind and righteous Big Mouse’.

Mi Ho’s last words play a big difference in Chang Ho’s positioning as the new leader. Contrary to No Park, he doesn’t let grief and sadness take control of his actions. Instead, he remains rational, using his position to do good deeds (as showed in the last episode) and to fight corrupt systems and people. Park Chang Ho may have changed over the course of his journey, but he’s still himself (human and kind) thanks to Mi Ho’s promise.

Not to mention that Mi Ho’s death allows Chang Ho to completely defeat Choi Do Ha. As a victim of radiation, she sheds light on the affair and inflicts the final blow to the mayor.

Themes: Some interesting topics are tackled in the drama among which:
– Domestic abuse with doctor Han and Han Hye Jin (Hong Ji Hee)
– Prison life
– The misdeeds of pharmaceutical companies, that put profit before health, as well as their consequences on people
– Corruption and injustice

OSTs: I will finish this review with the most emblematic part of Big Mouth: The music. In case you didn’t know, the main OST is based on Schubert’s famous music ‘Der Erlkönig‘. I highly recommend you listen to the original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-MqNftE0BY