Who is Irene?

Miss Mermaid, Mermaid Lady or popularly known in the Philippines as "Irene" is a South Korean drama that has 246 episodes (yeah! you read it right). It was aired on GMA between the years 2004 -2005. Probably, this was the longest Korean drama ever shown in GMA (aside from Betty La Fea).

This is a story of a daughter in revenge against her father who had abandoned her mother, brother and herself a long time ago. Her mother has gone blind due to the shock of her brother's sudden death whereas her father has remarried with a famous actress and never paid any attention to their poverty and sorrow. Just like Hamlet moaning in remembrance of his father's bitter tragedy, our heroine, Ah Ri-young (Jang Seo-hee), plots a cunning revenge against her father, father's current wife and the daughter. Ah Ri-young is a famous TV drama writer and she is one of the most powerful people when it comes to drama casting. She writes a TV series and intentionally invites his father's new wife to star in her drama, acting as a vicious woman who snatches another man's wife, the hidden past of the glittering actress. At the same time, Ah Ri-young approaches her step sister's fiancé also out of calculated purpose. (Source: koreanchinovela.proboards.com)

I remember my mom used to eat lunch before 11:00 a.m. because she wants to start the drama on time. She mentioned this one to me and she thought that this drama consists of 16 or 20 episodes. My Mom used to update me every day regarding the progress of the story. I wasn't able to binge- watch the drama because I was in school (probably I was in 3rd year college). But as far as I remember, this was a story of revenge and women empowerment. Although she has an ulterior motive, she is still a loving daughter and wife.

As expected, Jang Seo-hee won several awards including Daesang (Grand Prize), Top Excellence award, Actress in a Serial Drama, Viewer's Choice, Actress of the year and Journalist's Choice, Actress of the Year in MBC Drama Awards.

If you feel like watching Korean family drama, I suggest watching this. Every character is related to Irene. Every character gives justice and highlights this drama.