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| Cha Joo-young in Climax / Photo: KT Studio Genie |
[Sports Today reporter Lim Si-ryeong] Actress Cha Joo-young delivered a quietly powerful performance, subtly charting her character’s shifting psychology.
ENA’s Monday–Tuesday drama Climax, which aired on March 30, centers on Lee Yang‑mi (Cha Joo‑young) as she adjusts her strategy. Previously, Lee had been maneuvering to corner Bang Tae‑seop (Ju Ji‑hoon) and Chu Sang‑ah (Ha Ji‑won).
Lee then encounters an unforeseen complication. Through Kwon Jong‑wook (Oh Jung‑se), she learns that Kwon Se‑myung (Kim Hong‑pa) is connected to the O Gwang‑jae (Seo Hyun‑woo) case, which Choi Ji‑ho (Oh Seung‑hoon) exposed. The possibility that Kwon Se‑myung could be O Gwang‑jae’s true killer knocks the wind out of her.
Searching for Kwon Se‑myung, Lee notices him speaking with Bang Tae‑seop. When Kwon suddenly collapses, she rushes over — and his razor‑sharp words drain the color from her face, silencing everyone in the room.
But Lee is far from helpless. Her fear flickers briefly; when she studies the unconscious Kwon, a sudden, cold gleam of ambition flashes across her face. She immediately orders Choi Ji‑ho to take action, leaving viewers to wonder what her next move will be.
Cha Joo‑young convincingly embodied the character’s emotional turbulence, pulling the audience fully into Lee’s perspective. She transitions deftly from a dismissive edge while confronting Kwon Jong‑wook to being unsettled by an unexpected turn of events.
Her precise shifts between terror and ruthless ambition in front of Kwon Se‑myung intensify the episode’s tension. With solid technique and range, Cha Joo‑young continues to captivate viewers week after week.
Meanwhile, the ENA drama Climax, starring Cha Joo‑young, airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. It’s also available on KT Genie TV and Disney+.
[Sports Today reporter Lim Si-ryeong ent@stoo.com]
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