#rr subtext

Another drama that gave me role reversal subtext was Memorist. I think with the rise of m/f buddy-cops where the women are actually competent, there tends to be more rr-leaning. Especially if she's in the 'aloof pro' role of the dynamic.

This FL is like that. She's a total hardass who constantly holds ML back by a metaphorical leash. She's the cool professional, good at her job and detached, while he's the newbie, flashy one, highly sensitive and reckless by extension.

The Old Woman with the Knife

파과 • Korean Movie 2025

RR Rating: Fairly RR (subtext). RR Tags: Assassin FL, Doctor SML. Physically Strong FL, Badass FL, Weak SML, Protective FL, Cold FL, Aloof FL, Gentle SML, Nurturing SML, Caretaker SML | Girlboss x Malewife, Strong FL x Weak SML, Older FL x Younger SML, Protector FL x Protected SML, Cold FL x Warm SML.

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

An elderly assassin must protect her lifesaver young vet and his daughter after they end up as targets of dangerous people in her complicated life.

Heavy romantic subtext but no confirmation. For an action movie this had a surprising amount of RR. Cold and aloof seasoned assassin who ends up saved by a pookie widower single dad and now needs to protect him from people trying to kill him? I mean, I for one am very impressed, Korea

Review (n/a)

While watching Nobody Knows, I kept feeling like FL and ML had RR energy. She's a slightly more refined embodiment of the deadbeat detective trope: depressed, aloof, and highly skilled. Meanwhile, he's a kind and gentle teacher trying to do what's best for his students.

It's so refreshing to find a mystery/thriller where the woman is the one who can kick ass and the man just can't. At all. He's weak asf like the average guy would be. But he's helpful in other ways, like he's still smart and emotionally supportive.

She's also the true MC and he's definitely her sidekick, which again, super refreshing! (even in the picture, she is in black, he's in white... c'mon!)

Also, does it help that they're about the same height but she appears taller than him at times? Yes, yes it does.