If you didn’t know, I’m going to tell you now, if Shin Hye-sun is in a show, I am going to watch it, which is why I pressed play on her latest Netflix release, The Art of Sarah.
The Art of Sarah, an 8-episode mystery thriller, opens with the discovery of a woman’s frozen body. Once at the morgue, the body is discovered to be Sarah Kim.
Episode 1: A Frozen Body and a Dior Blanket
And based on Episode 1, Sarah Kim might not be who she claims to be. The premier episode hints that Sarah might have been a scammer, a woman who lives on lies, mystery, and unmet promises. The audience is left to wonder, not just who killed Sarah Kim, but how many people wanted her head?
The first episode sets up the world the viewer will be part of: A world of money, power, and deception.
The scene where the body is discovered is a critical first moment. The woman who discovers the body is seated outside in a tent, waiting in line for the release of a designer bag. She is wrapped in a Dior blanket, and you can’t help but wonder: if she has money, why does she need to wait outside in the dead of winter? Why is having this bag so important to her identity?
That is the world that the writers are painting for us: a world of money, prestige, clout-chasing, and a place where the wrong handbag can make or break you. This is the world of Sarah Kim.
Enter Sarah Kim: Cash, Hermes, and Questions
When we first meet her alive, Sarah is disheveled, dragging her rickety suitcase through a store that sells Hermes bags. She has flummoxed the staff, who clearly don’t want her there but are simultaneously trying to provide customer service. To their surprise, she makes a large purchase – several bags, all in cash. And that is what’sin the suitcase: wads of cash.
Suspect No.1? CEO Jeong Yeo-jin
We also meet Jeong Yeo-jin, the CEO of the cosmetics company Nox – and possibly Sarah’s first victim. Yeo-jin is the one who identifies the body as Sarah’s, initially presenting herself as a close friend. We learn, however, that they were not on good terms before Sarah’s death. Though she hadn’t seen Sarah for a few days, she failed to report her missing.
Could this woman be the murderer?
The Art of Mystery
The key to a good mystery thriller is a show that keeps us not only guessing but asking questions, and this first episode delivers. Where did Sarah get this money? Who killed her? But most of all, who is the person underneath the Sarah Kim persona?
Will I continue with the show? Absolutely.
I love stories of real-life scammers. I’m always fascinated by their boldness and their ability to play on people’s desire to be loved, seen, and to feel important. A fictionalized version is just as compelling. Plus, Shin Hye-sun’s portrayal of Sarah Kim is compelling; even though I know she is lying, I can’t help but believe her myself.
First Impression Meter: 🔥 Hooked
