Warning: spoilers for episodes 11-12 ahead!
CEO Jang Hyun Cheol’s justified demise
Jang Hyun Cheol did not start out as an evil man. His intentions were initially in the right place—he wanted to take revenge on the people who killed his sister. However, somewhere along the way, he became the very person he hated the most: someone who harmed innocent individuals for his own gain.
Even though Soo Hyun did not actively harm Yun Hee (Nam Kyu Hee), we can assume that Jang Hyun Cheol believed she played a much bigger role in the incident that led to Yun Hee’s death. It is plausible that he assumed the CEO of the company had agreed with the investors to arrange the meeting with the trainees. This assumption is natural and makes Jang Hyun Cheol’s hatred toward Soo Hyun somewhat justifiable.
However, the moment he stopped being an avenging brother and became a villain was when he showed no remorse in dragging an innocent teenager, Yoo Jin Woo (Ryeoun), into his schemes. Not only was he ready to ruin Jin Woo’s reputation by framing him as an avid nightclub goer just to help Ha Na (Yuju) win the “Star Rise” competition, but he also intended to pin the blame for the drug dealings that happened at his nightclub, Muse, on him. All of this just to hurt Soo Hyun in the process.
But if he had taken a moment to think clearly, he would have realized that Yoo Jin Woo was also a victim of the same industry that destroyed Yun Hee. Jin Woo was not so different from Jang Hyun Cheol’s sister and did not deserve the suffering he endured. That’s why his imprisonment at the end was the only fitting conclusion for him.
Kang Soo Hyun’s long-awaited character development
Throughout most of the drama, Soo Hyun had only one goal: to buy her son, Shim Jin Woo, a factory so he could become the CEO and live comfortably. To achieve this, she purchased Yoo Jin Woo’s contract after he was fired from Pandora Entertainment, trained him, sent him to “Star Rise,” and sold his exclusive contract to TA Entertainment—even though Yoo Jin Woo did not want to leave her or her family.
However, in the last episodes, she undergoes a complete shift, which does not feel out of character because even when Soo Hyun is shown signing the papers to hand over Yoo Jin Woo to TA Entertainment in the earlier episodes, she looks hesitant. When Yoo Jin Woo breaks down in front of her, she is visibly distraught but proceeds with the deal anyway.
In the later episodes, she finally does the right thing by selling the factory to get Yoo Jin Woo back. Not only that, but she also helps him debut and showcase his talent to the world. In the end, she transfers Yoo Jin Woo’s contract to an even bigger company, not for money, as she doesn’t take a single penny, but simply to give her protégé the best chance at success.
A happy ending for everyone
If there was one side character who stole the show with minimal screen time, it was Shim Jin Woo (Lee Jin Woo). From the premiere episode, he studied diligently and kept his head down to avoid trouble. However, in the past few episodes, he has shown significant character growth—especially when he fights off his bullies on his own. In recent episodes, he even tells his mother to sell the factory to get his friend back. While the old Shim Jin Woo was indifferent to the factory, the new Shim Jin Woo actually enjoyed working there and had his entire career planned out. But he still let go of the factory for a friend. In the end, Shim Jin Woo, who was always shown drawing on his tablet, becomes an art teacher—a fitting job for someone so creative. I wouldn’t mind seeing a spin-off of his journey to becoming an art teacher and achieving his dreams.
Next is Shim Joon Seok (Yoon Sang Hyun). While there is nothing wrong with being a stay-at-home husband—many men choose this path because they genuinely want to—Shim Joon Seok did not give up his career simply because he wanted to. He did it because Shim Jin Woo had been in an accident, and Soo Hyun, as the CEO of Pandora Entertainment, could not take time off work. What started as a temporary arrangement turned into a decade, and Joon Seok found himself stuck in a cycle of housework, grocery shopping, and caring for the home. In the process, he forgot how to make music, and this loss ate away at him. Thankfully, in the last episodes, inspiration strikes when he sees Yoo Jin Woo smiling with his friends. This moment reignites his passion, and he produces a song that lands in the domestic top 100, opening a world of new opportunities for Yoo Jin Woo. Plus, he also becomes the CEO of Pandora Entertainment, returning to the company he once helped establish.
Next is Yun Ji Yeong (Kim Ji Woo), the third member of our main trio. Ji Yeong was in the trainee system at Pandora Entertainment for years, spending her entire childhood practicing to become an idol. But in the end, she couldn’t achieve that dream. However, she realized that maybe being an idol isn’t for everyone. She focused on studying diligently and eventually returned to Pandora Entertainment—not as a trainee but as a subordinate to Shim Joon Seok. Hopefully, with her former experience, she will be able to help trainees more than an ordinary employee who has never been a trainee.
In comparison to Yoo Jin Woo, Shim Jin Woo, and even Yun Ji Yeong, Chris’s (Lee Ki Taek’s) and Ha Na’s endings may not seem extraordinary at first. Unlike the others, they do not become CEOs or land their dream jobs. Instead, they settle into a simple, normal life. But for people like them, who have been through hell and back, a normal life is the best kind of happy ending.
Lastly, we have Yoo Jin Woo. From the very beginning of “Namib,” it was evident that Yoo Jin Woo would find success by the end of the drama—he is the main character, after all. However, actually seeing him achieve his dreams is euphoric. From being a kid who was too scared to stand out and be taken advantage of to becoming an idol who performs for the world and brings joy to others, Yoo Jin Woo’s journey is one that will inspire many creatives around the world.
With each week bringing us song covers and performances, watching “Namib” was a delight for both K-drama fans and K-pop stans alike. The only thing that could have made the story more tightly knit was either omitting the plot of Soo Hyun’s mother altogether—since it served no real purpose to the main story—or exploring it further to give viewers a reason to care about her more. Still, the show, from start to finish, was a drama that did justice to the youth and music genres.
Start watching “Namib”:
Hello Soompiers! Did you enjoy the finale of “Namib”? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching: “Love Scout,” “Motel California,” and “Study Group.”
Looking forward to: “Reborn,” “Weak Hero Class 2,” and “The Witch.”
