Synopsis

“Melting Me Softly” (“Melting”) is a story about a man and a woman who take part in a cryogenic freezing program in 1999, and wake up twenty years later.  Ma Dong Chan (Ji Chang Wook) is a popular entertainment television producer for the television broadcasting network, TBO.  He is the producer in charge of the television series, Infinite Experimental Paradise.  Go Mi Ran (Won Jin Ah) is a young jobseeker who bravely takes part in many of the most dangerous experiments on Infinite Experimental Paradise.  The show centers around experiments that advance humankind, including the Frozen Human Project, which seeks to test the validity of cryogenics by freezing two humans for 24 hours.  Unable to secure any participants, Dong Chan, passionate about the medical advancements that can be made with a successful completion of the experiment, personally volunteers as the male test subject.  After much persuasion, Dong Chan persuades Mi Ran to participate as the female test subject, and the two undergo cryogenic freezing.  They are only supposed to be frozen for 24 hours, but following the murder of Dr. Hwang (Seo Hyun Chul) – the doctor in charge of the Frozen Human Project – Dong Chan and Mi Ran are frozen for 20 years.  When they finally awaken in 2019, Dong Chan and Mi Ran discover a world that has moved on without them, as well as relationships and lives that have been shattered by their absence.  They learn that Dr. Hwang was not murdered, and they help him and his assistant, Professor Jo (Kim Wook), uncover the truth behind what happened on that fateful night twenty years ago.  Through it all, Dong Chan and Mi Ran rely on one another to navigate issues to which only another Frozen Human can relate, and they fall in love.     

The Part When Things Begin to Go Wrong

In 1999, two and a half hours before Dong Chan and Mi Ran are set to thaw, Dr. Hwang receives a mysterious phone call.  He kicks out Dong Chan’s filming crew – which includes Dong Chan’s Assistant Producer, Son Hyeon Gi (Lee Hong Ki), and photographer – and leaves in a hurry.  Unfortunately, Dr. Hwang is the only one who knows how to thaw the frozen humans – which would have been a major red flag for me! – and he dies when his car explodes shortly after leaving his laboratory.  When the experiment timer goes off in Dr. Hwang’s laboratory and the thawing of Dong Chan and Mi Ran begins, Professor Jo, in a panic, pulls the emergency switch and the thawing process is halted.  He disappears, along with Dong Chan and Mi Ran, still enclosed in their refrigeration capsules.

With the death of Dr. Hwang and the disappearance of everyone else involved in the Frozen Human Project, TBO decides to cover up the incident and deny any connection to the project.  Everyone associated with the program is promoted in exchange for their silence, including Dong Chan’s assistant, Hyeong Gi, and his girlfriend, Na Ha Yeong (Chae Seo Jin).  The police are never informed about the incident and there is never an investigation into the events of that night.  Dong Chan’s and Mi Ran’s families are told that they disappeared – with no explanation. 

Despite the risk to his own life, Professor Jo anonymously sends a letter to Mi Ran’s family.  The reveals that Mi Ran was a participant in the Frozen Human Project and that she is alive.  But it also warns that any investigation into her disappearance could result in her death.  Her parents decide to tell Mi Ran’s closest friends that she went to the United States to study abroad.  Twenty years later, Dr. Hwang – who was not killed in the car explosion but knocked into a coma – awakens.  He immediately unthaws Dong Chan and Mi Ran, injecting them with a protein needed for them to thaw safely. 

Lead Couple

Ma Dong Chan comes from a happy family.  His parents are happily married, and he has a younger sister, who is also happily married, and a brother, who is an amazing pianist.  Dong Chan follows his heart.  Though he is from a wealthy family, he does not believe that being raised by a poor family is a crime.  He is confident and straightforward, and lives his life without regrets.  He is also a smooth talker, and that skill allows him to convince everyone at the station, including his girlfriend, Ha Yeong, to get onboard with the Frozen Human Project, despite their misgivings.  But when he disappears, his family is destroyed.  He is the eldest son of the family and the impact of his absence is strongly felt by all.  They fall onto bad times and they lose their fortune, but they never give up looking for him. 

Mi Ran is innocent and pure.  Her family is poor, but happy, and has everything they need.  Mi Ran’s only goal in life is to be a building owner so that she can take care of her parents and Special Needs brother, Nam Tae (Park Min Su).  Mi Ran does all of the difficult experiments on Infinite Experimental Paradise – even though they terrify her – because they pay a lot of money.  Dong Chan convinces her to participate in the Frozen Human experiment by telling her that the experiment could possibly lead to cures for people who cannot be cured by medicine.  Despite refusing every request to participate up until that point, the potential of being able to help her brother is enough to convince Mi Ran to say “yes.”  Mi Ran’s family, particularly her brother, are devastated by Mi Ran’s disappearance, but the mysterious letter (from Dr. Jo) helps them to keep the faith that Mi Ran will eventually return.  During her absence, Mi Ran’s family takes the money that Mi Ran left them from the experiments and invests it wisely, which enables them to live comfortably.  But even the betterment of their station in life is not enough to overcome their heartache over Mi Ran’s absence.

After Dong Chan and Mi Ran awaken to find that they had been frozen for 20 years, they begin to realize that they seem to be sharing a common destiny.  As the only two Frozen Humans on the planet, they share in a unique traumatic experience that no one else can understand.  Dong Chan feels sorry for talking Mi Ran into the experiment and feels a certain amount of responsibility for her.  He gives her an intern position at TBO, since she is unhirable at the age 44 with nothing to show for it – no degree, no job, and no family.  When they discover that their body temperatures cannot rise above 33 degrees Celsius, Dong Chan tracks Mi Ran’s whereabouts and monitors her body temperature.  When he admits to her that he is having a difficult time because of worrying about her, Mi Ran tells him that he is not responsible for what happened to her.  Mi Ran affirms that she is the one who said “yes” to participating, and therefore, she is the one responsible for her situation.  But still, he worries.  And over time – to both of their surprise – their relationship deepens. 

33 Degrees Celsius (91.4 Degrees Fahrenheit)

Dong Chan and Mi Ran struggle to adjust to life as Frozen Humans.  Unfortunately, the protein injection that Dr. Hwang administers turns out to not be enough to keep Dong Chan and Mi Ran’s body temperatures within the range of the average human.  If their body temperature goes over 31.5 degrees (Celsius), they are at risk of a heart attack; temperatures above 33 degrees (Celsius) lead to organ failure and eventually death.  They wear bracelets that monitor their temperatures, and they carry fever-reducing shots, but over time, their bodies develop a resistance to the shots.  Dong Chan is intensely sorry for putting Mi Ran’s life in danger, so he does his best to take care of her.  His concern for her builds from getting her a glass of ice water during a meeting and driving her home to avoid overheating, to monitoring her whereabouts and urging her to call him first should she need help.  When she grasps the situation – first that someone is out to kill Dr. Hwang, and then that same person is out to kill them, as well – she does not blame him, nor does she rail at him.  Instead, she begins to worry and care for him, as well, urging him to be careful.  

But with an increase in feelings for one another comes an added danger.  For whenever their hearts start pounding, their core body temperature increases.  The bracelets that they wear signal an advance warning, but Dong Chan and Mi Ran become increasingly aware that their feelings for one another cannot be acted upon.  One day, after swimming in the pool, Dong Chan realizes that his core body temperature does not rise in the water, even when his heart rate increases.  This small but important revelation leads to the infamous – and steamy! – “Shower Kiss” scene, a definite contender for Top 10 Kisses in a K-drama!

Age

One element of “Melting” that plays better in a Korean drama than an American drama is the element of age.  Though Dong Chan and Mi Ran were frozen at the ages of 32 and 24, respectively, they awaken after 20 years.  Therefore, according to their birth years, Dong Chan is 52-years-old and Mi Ran is 44.  While this dynamic would still play as funny in an American drama, it is all the more entertaining in a traditionally Confucian society like South Korea where social interactions “emphasize respect for one's elders.”  Comedy ensues when people attempt to address Dong Chan based on his physical age/appearance versus his biological age.  Though Mi Ran does not seem to mind being addressed as a young 24-year-old – which would most likely hold true for the female lead in an American drama – Dong Chan bristles when not addressed with the appropriate amount of respect his biological age commands.  This is evident at TBO, when he demands to be addressed as a superior by his former assistant.  This is also true whenever he encounters anyone in public, like the thugs hired to tail him. 

You can also see the importance of age in the familial interactions between Dong Chan and his siblings.  Dong Chan is the firstborn and eldest son of his family, which traditionally demands a great deal of respect in a Korean family.  When Dong Chan awakens in 2019, he struggles in his interactions with his dongsaengs (younger siblings).  It is apparent that Dong Chan’s dongsaengs suffered greatly in his absence without the support of an older male in the family, especially after their father’s passing.  His sister has a string of divorces and drinks too much.  His brother, despite marrying well and having a family, has given up on his passion of playing the piano.  Dong Chan reminds his siblings that they are precious to him, and they both begin to respect themselves again.

But “Melting” poses the question, does age translate into confidence?  Are you born with it or do you earn it through life experience?  Mi Ran is a fierce competitor on Infinite Experimental Paradise, but she is bothered by Ha Yeong because she feels inferior around such an accomplished woman who possesses a history with Dong Chan.  When Mi Ran misunderstands a moment that she witnesses between Dong Chan and Ha Yeong, she goes to her friends for advice.  She tells them that they should be wiser because they have lived longer and have experienced more, but they assure her that life experience does not translate into knowledge.  Conversely, Dong Chan exudes confidence.  But he, too, shows signs of insecurity when he sees Mi Ran with Hwang Ji Hun (Choi Bo Min), Mi Ran’s classmate and fellow intern at TBO.  But his sister his sister holds that since he has not lived as long as she has, there is much about life he has not experienced and does not understand.  “Melting” leaves this question unanswered.

Na Ha Yeong

In 1999, Ha Yeong is adamantly opposed to her boyfriend participating in the experiment.  She is devastated by Dong Chan’s disappearance, but TBO orders her to remain silence in exchange for a news anchor role.  Twenty years later, she has worked her way up to News Director.  Though she would like to rekindle her relationship with Dong Chan, he feels betrayed that she remained silent and never looked for him.  She was admittedly in a powerless position.  Dong Chan later learns that she did try to wrangle support to open an investigation and he finally apologizes to her for not staying by her side for 20 years.  Ultimately, Ha Yeong admits that she exchanged him for success, and she tells him not to forgive her.   

There are many opportunities for Ha Yeong to become the villain of the story, even siding with those intent on murdering Dr. Hwang in exchange for putting Mi Ran back in capsule.  But she does redeem herself.  Unlike the higher ups at TBO who want to bury everything again when the truth comes out about the Frozen Human Project, Ha Yeong wants to chart a different path.  True to her noble belief that it is the duty of the news is to report facts, she aids in revealing the truth behind the culprits.  Mi Ran is grateful to Ha Yeong for reporting the truth and the women share a moment of mutual understanding.  Ha Yeong tells Mi Ran to take care of Dong Chan, and Mi Ran bows respectfully.  When Mi Ran is placed back into the refrigeration capsule after being stabbed saving Dong Chan’s life, Ha Yeong genuinely worries about and prays for Mi Ran’s recovery.

Professor Jo

Professor Jo Beom is the unsung hero of the story.  He assists Dr. Hwang during the experiment and when things go awry, his quick thinking saves Dong Chan and Mi Ran’s lives.  Aware of the threat against them and Dr. Hwang, he keeps their whereabouts a secret, spreading the rumor that Dr. Hwang has been killed.  He sends anonymous letters to Mi Ran’s parents so that they know that Mi Ran is still alive.  He keeps watch over Dr. Hwang during his coma.  And when Dong Chan and Mi Ran’s cells begin to spontaneously mutate, he figures out the solution from a cryptic clue from a kidnapped Dr. Hwang.

When Does Love Start?

“Melting” asks the question, when does love start?  In K-dramas, love is often at first sight, but that is not the case for Dong Chan and Mi Ran.  The start of love can often be difficult to pinpoint.  The same can be said for the end of love, as well, illustrated in the relationship between Mi Ran’s friend, Oh Young Sun (Seo Jung Yeon), and Mi Ran’s former boyfriend, Hwang Byeong Sim (Shim Hyung Tak).  A common Korean trope is the idea of fate.  At the beginning of “Melting,” Mi Ran sees a fortune teller who tells her that her future will be cold, but after 20 years, she will meet the man she is fated to be with.  Dong Chan comes to believe that it was their fate to be by one another’s side.  When Mi Ran is frozen a second time – this time alone – Dong Chan refuses to move on without her.  When she awakens, Dong Chan resumes his life, desiring to marry immediately.  But poor Mi Ran has been 24 for 23 years, and she wishes to go abroad and train, hoping to (finally) move forward in her career.  Neither wants to part, but neither wants the other to have to sacrifice their career for the other.  The voice of reason comes from Dong Chan’s niece, Ma Seo Yoon (Oh Ah Rin), who tells him to “uncomplicate things.”  Dong Chan has always wanted to start a successful YouTube channel, so Seo Yoon recommends that he follow Mi Ran abroad while she studies and put their journey on YouTube. 

The final scene of “Melting” is Dong Chan and Mi Ran in Seattle, Washington, recording for their YouTube channel in between Mi Ran’s studies.  Beaming with happiness, Dong Chan delivers the message of the series, urging viewers to “live while enjoying the warmth of those around you.”  The two formally Frozen Humans – whose body temperatures have now been restored to normal, thanks to Dr. Hwang and Professor Jo – are overjoyed by life.  “Melting” concludes with the message that doing what you love with who you love is the key to happiness. 

Final verdict: WATCH   

“Melting Me Softly” is a WATCH.  Ji Chong Wook, who plays Ma Dong Chan, is a channel favorite!  He is an amazing actor and easy on the eyes.  We are most familiar with his action roles (such as “Healer” and “K2”), so it was quite a treat to see him in this decidedly different role.  Known as one of the Kings of Kisses in K-dramas, he did not disappoint us, giving us the epic “Shower Kiss.”  The “Melting” is full of heartbreaking moments that tug on the heartstrings, but the K-drama never errs on the side of melodrama.  “Melting” employs the use of a time jump – twice – but the time jumps are relevant to the storyline and handled exceptionally well.  One element that is somewhat lacking in “Melting” is the story.  There are multiple loose ends – or ends that are resolved quickly – that leave the viewer scratching their hands.  For example, we learn that Dr. Hwang’s mentor was murdered, but there is no connection to the “Melting” storyline.  Did this storyline exist purely for misdirection?  Also, TBO tracks the origin of the article that leaks Mi Ran’s involvement in the Frozen Human Project to her friend’s café, but after the friend denies any involvement, the storyline just disappears.   And Terry Kim (Yoon Joo Man), the man who stabs Mi Ran, poses as a large threat to the lead characters for many episodes, yet his storyline is wrapped up in a single phone call.  Overall, despite its storyline flaws, “Melting” is an intriguing K-drama that takes a look at how love changes over time.  “Melting Me Softly” is a great K-drama to watch during the hot summer months!    

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So there it is, our review of “Melting Me Softly.”  What did you think?!  Thank you for joining us on this journey. 

Have a favorite K-drama you think we should review?  Comment down below!!  We look forward to seeing you back again soon!

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