The finale of JTBC’s weekend drama A Hundred Memories proved that few actresses can convey emotional depth like Kim Da-mi. Her character’s journey, meticulously built over ten episodes, culminated in a performance that was both tender and transformative—the perfect closure to a story about love, loss, and resilience.
In the final episode aired on October 12, Go Young-rye (Kim Da-mi) faces one of her life’s greatest setbacks. Dismissed unfairly from her job at a beauty salon under the orders of Mi-sook (Seo Jae-hee), the powerful chairwoman of Daeyang Group, Young-rye finds herself betrayed by people she once trusted, including her close friend Seo Jong-hee (Shin Ye-eun).
Despite heartbreak and confusion, Young-rye refuses to crumble. With quiet determination, she vows to start anew, relying only on her own strength. Kim Da-mi’s nuanced acting balancing heartbreak with courage brought authenticity to a woman rediscovering her dignity.
As Young-rye navigates her challenges, she also learns of Jung-hyun ’s (Kim Jung-hyun) long-hidden affection for her. Known as her steadfast “guardian angel,” Jung-hyun has supported her silently through life’s storms. Upon realizing his feelings, Young-rye responds with compassion rather than rejection—an emotional maturity that Kim Da-mi portrays with exquisite restraint.
Even in moments of discomfort, her character’s empathy shines, proving Kim’s mastery in expressing delicate, human emotions without excess.
The emotional peak arrives when Han Jae-pil (Heo Nam-jun) confesses his love to Young-rye. The moment, charged with sincerity, is not a sudden twist but the reward of countless shared memories and unspoken feelings.
Through tearful eyes, Young-rye listens as years of affection unfold into words. Her tears glimmer not from surprise but from release—a culmination of love long suppressed. Kim Da-mi captures that stillness and catharsis with breathtaking precision, turning a simple confession into an unforgettable dramatic crescendo.
Viewers and critics alike praised Kim Da-mi for leading the drama’s emotional rhythm. Rather than portraying love as sweet fantasy, she renders it as something complex marked by longing, sacrifice, and growth. Her subtle gestures and gaze transitions deepen the story’s resonance, allowing audiences to feel rather than merely watch.
At its core, A Hundred Memories is a story about finding meaning in endurance and Kim Da-mi’s portrayal anchors that theme. As Young-rye and Jae-pil’s hearts finally align, the scene feels earned, not orchestrated.
With this finale, Kim Da-mi once again proves why she is among the most compelling actresses of her generation—one capable of turning quiet pain into cinematic poetry.
Sources: naver
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