The Trunk: Season 1 (2024)

The Trunk, Season 1 (Limited Series, 2024) unfolds as follows:

Noh In-ji, an employee at the secret marriage service NM (New Marriage), lives a lonely life despite entering into yearly contract marriages arranged by NM. Han Jeong-won, a man with a troubled past and a failed marriage to Seo Yeon, enters into a contract marriage with In-ji, hoping to find some stability. Their lives become intertwined with a mysterious trunk that washes ashore, triggering a series of events involving secrets, crime, and emotional turmoil.

Early in the series, Jeong-won struggles with his past, including an abusive father and his complicated relationship with his ex-wife Seo Yeon, who has remarried. Jeong-won's dependence on Seo Yeon is evident, but his contract marriage with In-ji begins to challenge his emotional state. In-ji, meanwhile, is emotionally fragile and often seeks escape through various means, including drugs and attempts at self-harm, reflecting her deep loneliness despite the contract marriage.

The discovery of the trunk leads to the revelation of a murder connected to NM. Eom Taesang, a dangerous figure linked to the secret marriage service, kills a security officer at NM and is subsequently committed to a mental health facility to avoid public scandal. After his release, Taesang resumes stalking In-ji, posing a serious threat to her safety.

In-ji confides in Jeong-won that Taesang is more dangerous to those around her than to herself. She expresses a desire to kill Taesang and attempts to do so but fails to open the trunk where presumably important evidence or weapons are kept. Taesang attacks In-ji, but she fights back fiercely. Jeong-won arrives during the confrontation, and together they manage to gain the upper hand over Taesang.

In-ji tries to shoot Taesang in the back as he flees, which is the gunshot heard in the opening scene of the series, but she misses. Taesang escapes by fleeing into a lake using a small boat. Yun Ji-oh, Seo-yeon's field husband and In-ji's co-worker, finds Taesang on the lake and stabs him through the heart with a fencing sword, delivering the killing blow. Ji-oh's motivations include dissatisfaction with his contract marriage to Seo-yeon and anger that Taesang escaped justice for the earlier murder.

Following Taesang's death, the series leaves the fate of In-ji and Jeong-won somewhat open, but their relationship has evolved through the shared trauma and confrontation with Taesang. The mysterious trunk and the secret marriage service NM remain central to the story's dark and complex exploration of love, power, and hidden secrets.

This detailed sequence covers the major plot points, character decisions, confrontations, and the resolution of the murder mystery that drives the narrative of The Trunk Season 1.

At the end of The Trunk Season 1, Tae-seong's murderer is arrested, removing the threat to the company NM. Jeong-won and In-ji end their contract marriage and divorce, but two years later, they unexpectedly meet again, hinting at a possible future reunion. Seo-yeon ends up with a suitable partner, and the story resolves all major conflicts without cliffhangers.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The finale opens with the resolution of the murder mystery: Tae-seong's killer is finally caught and arrested. This event lifts the immediate danger hanging over NM, the secretive contract marriage company, as the threat of exposure tied to Tae-seong's death disappears. In-ji still holds the trunk containing evidence of NM's existence, but with the murderer behind bars, the company's secret is safe for now.

Next, the focus shifts to the personal lives of the main characters. Jeong-won and In-ji, who have been bound by a contract marriage, decide to divorce. Their relationship, complicated and fraught with external pressures, comes to a close. Despite the separation, they part on terms that leave open the possibility of meeting again in the future, suggesting a lingering connection between them.

Seo-yeon, Jeong-won's ex-wife who had insisted on the contract marriage, finds a partner who is right for her, resolving her storyline on a positive note. The show emphasizes that while Seo-yeon and Jeong-won were once connected, In-ji is portrayed as Jeong-won's true soulmate, someone who understands him deeply through shared experiences and trauma.

Two years later, the narrative jumps forward. In-ji attends a screening of a horror movie that Jeong-won wrote and composed music for. Seeing his name in the credits, she encounters him face to face for the first time since their divorce. Their meeting is charged with unspoken meaning; Jeong-won tells her that if they meet again, it will mean they are destined to be together. This moment closes the series on a hopeful note, implying that their bond transcends the contract and that fate may bring them back together.

In terms of character fates:

• Jeong-won moves on from the contract marriage but remains emotionally connected to In-ji. He continues his creative work, as shown by the horror movie project.
• In-ji leaves the contract marriage behind but retains the trunk with NM's secrets. She and Jeong-won share a meaningful reunion two years later.
• Seo-yeon finds a new partner, ending her pursuit of Jeong-won and resolving her arc.
• Tae-seong's murderer is arrested, closing the criminal case central to the plot.

The ending ties up all major storylines, leaving the door open for future possibilities but concluding the season's conflicts and mysteries.

Yes, The Trunk Season 1 (2024) includes a post-credit scene. In this scene, In-Ji goes to the movies alone to see a horror film that Jeong-Won wrote and produced music for. She watches the film and sees Jeong-Won's name in the end credits, which is a poignant moment suggesting a subtle emotional connection or acknowledgment between them after their contract marriage ended.

This scene serves as a quiet, reflective coda to the series, emphasizing the unresolved but hopeful nature of their relationship. It hints that despite their separation, there remains a bond or destiny linking them, as Jeong-Won had told In-Ji that if they meet again, it means they are meant to be together.

The mysterious trunk that washes up on shore is a central plot device that triggers the unraveling of the contract marriage between Noh In-ji and Han Jeong-won. It is linked to a murder and secrets involving the matchmaking service NM, and its discovery sets off a series of events that deeply affect the characters' lives and relationships.

Han Jeong-won enters the contract marriage reluctantly, hoping it will help him win back his ex-wife Seo-yeon. Noh In-ji, a stoic woman working for the contract marriage company NM, is her latest contract husband. Their relationship starts with animosity and cold pragmatism but is charged with complex emotions including confusion, curiosity, and underlying tension. Over time, they navigate their forced arrangement amid external threats and personal traumas.

Eom Taesang is a dangerous stalker who has been harassing Noh In-ji even before she joined NM. He is responsible for killing a security officer at NM and is a major threat to In-ji and those around her. After being committed to a mental health facility, he is released and resumes stalking In-ji, leading to violent confrontations. His presence drives much of the suspense and conflict in the series.

Noh In-ji was set to marry Do-Ha, the CEO of an electronics company, but the engagement was ruined when a post by In-ji's mother revealed Do-Ha's bisexuality without In-ji's knowledge. Do-Ha disappears just before the wedding, leading In-ji to cancel the wedding. This traumatic event hardens her emotionally and influences her decision to become a contract wife for NM, shaping her cold and pragmatic demeanor throughout the series.

Eom Taesang is ultimately killed by Yun Ji-oh, Seo-yeon's field husband and In-ji's co-worker. After Taesang escapes an attempted shooting by In-ji, he flees into a lake where Ji-oh finds him and stabs him through the heart with a fencing sword. Ji-oh's motives include dissatisfaction with his own contract marriage and anger that Taesang got away with murder, making his act both personal and protective of In-ji.

The Trunk (2024, "Limited Series") is not considered family friendly and is rated TV-MA in the United States, with similar mature ratings internationally (e.g., MA15+ in Australia, M18 in Singapore). The series is a psychological thriller with strong romantic and mystery elements, and it contains several scenes and themes that may be upsetting or inappropriate for children or sensitive viewers.

Potentially Objectionable or Upsetting Content

Sex & Nudity: There is a moderate level of sexual content, including at least one scene with female nudity. While not gratuitous, these moments are explicit enough to warrant the mature rating.

Violence & Gore: The series features moderate violence, including psychological mind games, betrayals, and murder. Some scenes depict tense confrontations and the aftermath of violent acts, which could be disturbing for younger or sensitive audiences.

Profanity: Language is moderate, with occasional strong language that reflects the intense emotional states of the characters.

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: Substance use is depicted as severe, with a main character struggling with insomnia and pill dependency. Scenes show the character taking medication, and the emotional toll of addiction is a recurring theme.

Frightening & Intense Scenes: While generally mild, there are moments of psychological tension, suspense, and mystery that could be unsettling, especially as characters navigate deception, danger, and emotional turmoil. The atmosphere is often charged with uncertainty and dread, particularly around the central mystery of the trunk.

Themes: The show explores dark themes such as psychological manipulation, the fragility of relationships, and the consequences of secrets and lies. Characters experience significant emotional distress, including grief, guilt, and anxiety, which are portrayed with depth and realism.

Scene-by-Scene Highlights (Non-Spoiler)

• Opening Sequence: The series begins with a visually striking but ominous shot of a trunk submerged in water, immediately establishing a tone of mystery and potential danger.
• Character Introductions: Early episodes delve into the internal struggles of the protagonists, including one character's reliance on medication to cope with insomnia and emotional pain, depicted through close-ups of pill bottles and tense, sleepless nights.
• Interpersonal Dynamics: Scenes between the central couple are charged with unresolved tension, mistrust, and emotional vulnerability, sometimes escalating into heated arguments or cold silences.
• Mystery Elements: The discovery and investigation of the trunk's contents lead to moments of suspense, with characters often shown in states of fear, confusion, or paranoia as they piece together the truth.
• Flashbacks and Interrogations: Non-linear storytelling includes flash-forwards to police interrogations, where characters are visibly distressed and under psychological pressure, heightening the sense of unease.

Emotional and Psychological Depth

Characters are portrayed with complex motivations--driven by love, guilt, fear, and a desire for redemption. Their emotional journeys are central to the narrative, with the camera often lingering on facial expressions and body language to convey inner turmoil. The series does not shy away from showing the psychological impact of its events, making it a challenging but compelling watch for mature audiences.

Summary

The Trunk (2024) is best suited for adult viewers due to its mature themes, explicit content, and intense emotional and psychological scenes. Parents and sensitive viewers should be aware of the depictions of nudity, drug use, violence, and strong language, as well as the overall tense and sometimes unsettling atmosphere.