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Siwan's DaeBeom in the series Summer Strike

Yim Siwan played the role of a reserved librarian in the series #SummerStrike.


Summer Strike is a serene slice-of-life series where the protagonist YeoReum (Summer, in Korean) decides to leave her work-life in Seoul and takes a break in a faraway small town Angok. She decides not to do anything for a year. DeaBeom (Siwan) is a math genius who has decided not to pursue his studies and instead lead a quiet life in Angok. While their love story is key in Summer Strike - the series has a lot more to offer.



Summer Strike is meant to be an easy watch with just enough drama to give it a graph. It is definitely worth watching once. There are many small things in the series that steal your heart.


The message of "living your life on your terms even if it means lacking ambition" is powerful, yet told very simply.


One's mental health is the most important thing in the world - and you need to do what works for you. Simple.

I do not agree with the way almost everyone outside of Angok is shown to have an ulterior motive. But it's a creative liberty that can be granted in order to keep the story simple.


Siwan made this series special. His portrayal of DaeBeom could not be replaced. Everyone else did a good job, but it could have been done just as well by another good actor. What Siwan brought to this role - only he could have done it.


Siwan (as always) has become DaeBeom - and it's not just about having long hair or the correct wardrobe. His eyes, his body language, his smile, his crying, even his running stance - everything is DaeBeom - you don't see Siwan, or SeonGyeom, or GeuRae.



Wish Siwan's role was a bit longer - where we could see his journey in more detail. But the fact that Siwan chose this role - while he is riding a high wave in his acting career with Unlocked, Run On, Tracer & Emergency Declaration - tells so much about him as a person. He chose to dedicate 6-8 months to a series where his screen time is only about 20%, he doesn't have long monologues - where the story's message is much bigger than any of the characters. He chose this message over heroism. That's what makes us love him even more.


In spite of the short screen time, Siwan makes you care deeply for DaeBeom. You light up when he smiles, you die when he cries. You are at peace just watching him.


It's incredible that both Ki SeonGyeom (Run On) and DaeBeom are intelligent introverts - yet Siwan has created two distinctly different personalities. DaeBeom is a pure simple soul, like an open book. His face gives away what's on his mind. SeonGyeom was like a black box - people closest to him didn't know what he was thinking.


Of course, there are many differences between the two characters - and that is credited to the writers of both scripts. But Siwan has given both these characters distinct personalities.


For example, Ki SeonGyeom looked straight into the eyes of anyone he was talking to - DaeBoem rarely made eye contact.



Ki Seon Gyeom was a trained national athlete. His every moment was measured. Almost as if he was very conscious of every muscle. Even the way he walked had a deliberateness to it.


DaeBeom has a very relaxed persona. His casual body language matched his casual attire. He has a kind of down-hill walk. His arms move in a much more relaxed way.

He is so casual that one may think that's how Siwan really is - but then you watch his other works and realise that he has a different mannerism for each of his characters. It is so natural that one forgets that Siwan is consciously adding those nuances in his performances.


Everyone else tries to be, Siwan simply is.

Even when they are sad or struggling - the expressions are distinctly different.


SoenGyeom was quite composed even when he allowed himself to cry freely and on the other hand, DaeBeom's entire body expressed the pain of his childhood trauma. Furthermore, both these are very different from Hyun-soo's distraught cry when he lost his mother in The Merciless. Or when in The Attorney Jin-woo breaks down in front of his mother. Or when Tracer's Hwang Dong-Ju has a cathartic release towards the end at his father's memorial. Or when Jang GeuRae realises that he's not alone. Same actor - same action/emotion - but each rendition distinctly different.


In just one scene below you can see how DaeBeom is distinctly different from SeonGyeom. This is also my favorite scene of the series. (Unfortunately the YouTube video of that scene is disabled. Here is my clip without sound.


Siwan's rendition of single line dialogues is impeccable. There's always a prequel and aftermath of that one line. Be it in Misaeng, Run On or Summer Strike. You can see him think up the line, deliver it in all honesty and then live with the feeling of having spoken that line.


Here, DaeBoem has never ever, ever, ever said this to anyone, let alone to a girl. In the previous scene, you can see that he's completely smitten by the way she's looking. So it's weighing on his mind. But he continues to have normal conversation about the movie. But it continues to weigh on his mind. So, finally as soon as there's some silence, he tells her softly, in most warm voice. And then he has this slightest of nod - almost telling himself, yes! I told her... I'm happy I told her.


Here's a beautiful and apt review of this series all the way from Australia! (It ends with my favourite scene!)



Watching Siwan play DaeBoem in Summer Strike heals you - he becomes your Angok - your get-away - a mini-vacation for your mind.

Could the series have been better? Yes in some ways.

Could DaeBeom be portrayed better in any way? Nope!



The only thing I missed was an OST from Siwan. Though this series does have some melodious tracks. Here's the beautiful song "Me - the Protagonist", with scenes from the series.


Here are some more stills of Siwan from the HanCinema.net.









1 Comment

Guest
Feb 27, 2023

Well said!

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