Cast: Kim Soo Hyun , Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se , Park Kyu-young
Director: Park Shin Woo
Airing date: June 20, 2020 (Available on Netflix)
Episodes: 16
Its okay to not be okay has just started airing, and as of now, it seems like an interesting tale of psychologically challenging personalities. The show uses the Tim Burton style animated/gothic segments in between that magnifies the visual appeal of the drama. It gave me the fairytale feels with a dark and spooky twist where there is a cursed castle and a melancholic princess.
If anyone has watched the drama It’s okay that’s love starring Jo In-Sung and Gong Hyo jin then you can feel the same vibes, but in a different way.
Plot
The plot centres around a man and woman who have emotional and psychological scars that have altered the way they look at their lives. What will happen when they come together? How will these two emotionally scarred individuals find solace in each other? Will they be able to overcome their nightmarish past??
Characters
Seo ye Ji as Ko Mun Young
Ko Mun young is a popular children’s book author who has an antisocial personality disorder and cannot reciprocate or understand other emotions. Since childhood, she is programmed to believe that she is monstrous and everyone around her will spurn being with her. She writes children books that are mostly grotesque and cryptic, which is also a reflection of how she perceives her personality.
She is portrayed as a fearless mysterious woman who can sometimes don a spooky cape. It is hard to fathom what she’s thinking and what she plans to do next. Ko Moon young can do outlandish stuff without even an iota of guilt or remorse. She doesn’t even bat an eye when she scares a little kid or feels embarrassed when she walks into a men’s locker room or be scared to spend a night all alone in a cursed castle. The myriad of emotions that her character carries is still under wraps, but the audience gets a hint of her complex emotions here and there.
Seo Ye Ji looks inexplicably beautiful in this show, and it won’t be ̣new if you can’t stop swooning over her. She is one of the characters that piqued my interest in this drama even more.
Kim Soo Hyun as Moon Kang Tae
Moon Kang Tae is full of love, care and compassion the much-needed qualities to work as a health care worker in a psychiatric ward. These qualities are also a by-product of his personal life where he has the sole responsibility to take care of his autistic brother. His life is all about his brother and his job, which he changes after every ten months for unknown reasons. He always sports a calm demeanour even in the scariest situations.
Although he doesn’t talk much his sad eyes tell the tale of the broken man inside. He has an unsaid longing for love that he has never experienced, but he doesn’t want to get emotionally involved with anybody else in his already toiling life.
Oh Jung Se as Moon Sang Tae
Moon Sang Tae is autistic that makes it hard for him to understand and perceive situations around him. He can get easily rattled and throw a fit at uncertain times, making things hard for his brother. He loves dinosaurs, fear butterflies and is a crazy fan of Moon Young and her books. He loves to draw, and in his free time, he is doodling the characters from his favourite Mun Young books.
It will be interesting to see how he copes up with the situation when his brother and his only affection Moon Young get into a romantic relationship.
Oh Jung Se is a seasoned actor and no doubt his acting in this show is convincing to a point that you forget that he is just acting.
Park kyu young as Nam Joo Ri
She plays an old friend of Kang Tae who also nurses a crush over him. I am watching her for the third time after Romance is a bonus book and Just between lovers and for the first time she is playing a mature character rather than a frivolous one. As of now, I am neutral about her arc in the story but we can expect some jealousy and catfights as the show progresses.
The Setting
The story of the show centres around a Psychiatric hospital where Kang Tae works as a healthcare worker and Ko Moon Young takes literary classes. These two meet and then begins a series of coincidental encounters, making them entangled in each other lives.
It is a sensitive show which showcases the social stigma around people with mental disorders and how some incidents can change people and alter their mindset and intellect.
Its okay to not be okay has a beautiful background score and it very much resonated with the idea of the show. Also, it is one of the rare shows where I am not hitting the skip intro button on Netflix. 😍😍The opening credits are so intriguing that I always watch it.
Should you watch it?
Yes, this show deserves your time, and you won’t be disappointed. A promising show that feels like a welcome change from the conventional storylines of romance and dramas.
You always come across a show that serves you a very simple story with nothing over the top stuff but still you kinda enjoy watching it. I will find you when the weather is fine felt like that to me.
Cast: Park Min young , Seo Kang Joon, Moon Jeong hee
Plot Summary: The story is about a woman who is a loner and has lost her emotional well-being. After getting tired of her city life, she decides to move back to her small hometown.
There she meets her old school friend who owns a bookstore. It tells the story of how she finally start enjoying the company of other people and start to look at things differently.
Things That I enjoyed:
The vibes of the show are soothing, and the visuals are a treat to watch. From the very first episode, I was in awe of the spectacular sceneries with snowy white landscapes coupled with a serene background score. The storyline of the show meanders around the activities of a routine life which is portrayed with a lot of heart and feel real to the core. The activities are a metaphor of the changing seasons as per the show’s title “I will find you when the weather is fine”.
The show highlights the importance of simple things in life like sipping your cup of morning coffee or getting ready to go to your workplace. We often take such things for granted but there are people who long for a simple routine life with no added drama. For instance, Hae-Won is directionless about her life when she resides in Seoul, but she finds peace in just taking care of the bookstore and starts to look forward to a new day to go for her part-time job. Then there is Jang Woo who is highly qualified, but he prefers a job in his small hometown instead of a lucrative high paying job in Seoul.
A major part of the story focuses on the repercussions of domestic violence. I appreciate how this drama subtly brought the mindset of the victims with a dialogue ” He doesn’t beat me all the time it just happens sometimes otherwise he is a good human and he loves me and my family”.
Several women facing domestic violence brush such atrocities thinking that it doesn’t happen all the time so it is fine. But domestic violence not just scars the victim’s mental and physical health but it leaves an everlasting impression on all the people in the family.
The thing is beating is NOT OK whether it happens once or a million times. Period.
The central characters of the show are weighed down by emotional baggage setting the mood of the show melancholic. Eun Seop’s sister and his friend Jang woo were the most amusing people on the show and brought comic relief to the sad and melancholic elements.
His sister was a super delight and she was another reason I kept going. She was an annoyingly interesting character and a complete cutie goofball. Jang Woo is written as a funny next-door boy who is intelligent but also a bit dense in social affairs.
Things that I didn’t enjoy much:
The show seems promising in the initial episodes with a bit of mystery about the past of our leads. But, as the story progresses, the show tends to become boring with unwanted elements thrown in just to reach the 16-episodes mark. The drama claims to be a healing drama but the execution is quite sloppy and wasn’t happy how it turned out in the end.
The male lead Seo Kang Joon doesn’t have many lines to say and I do understand such male leads but his character wasn’t fleshed out well. He remains the same till the end and I found his delivery flat.
The romantic scenes were usually pulled off by Park Min-young and she seemed clingy that I didn’t found appealing at all.
There are characters like Hae won’s mom who is an integral part of the story but she doesn’t get much screen time. I was interested to know what kind of a relationship she had with Hae Won. Was she loving or not?[spoiler ahead] Was it Ok for her to leave Hae Won behind with her sister and go to jail? I really couldn’t fathom her actions as a mother and I wanted her to answer Hae won about her action.
Characters
Park min young as Mok Hae Won
In recent years, park min young has started to experiment with the Rom-com genre and I tell you guys she is just spectacular in her roles. Be it what’s wrong with secretary Kim or her private life she nails her character with absolute finesse.
On top of that, she looks super pretty all the time. 😍😍😍
Coming to her character Hae won is a simple girl with very ordinary expectations or better say she has no expectations at all.
She is plagued with unanswered questions from her past and she is clueless about her future. Hae won comes back to her hometown for a break from her city life. She is just trying to find stability in her life and start afresh.
After meeting Eun Seop things start to change for her and she starts to look at the world differently.
Highlights of her character development [spoilers ahead]:
1.) Starting working at the Good night book store: She decided to work at Eun Seop store out of boredom and gradually she starts to fall for him. I loved how she used to wait for the mornings to dress up and go to the bookstore.
2.) Becoming a part of the Bookclub: When she joins the book club she starts to enjoy other people company. The club has members of all age groups and she starts to interact with them. She also participates in various book club activities with full enthusiasm.
3.) Worried about Eun Seop: Hae won has become cold and her emotions are dying a silent death but when Eun Seop goes missing in the mountains she cries inconsolably and prays for his well-being.
4.) She learns to forgive: Hae won had a troubled childhood and she was certainly not at her best self during all those years. Her soul is scarred because of her childhood friend’s betrayal and she is not ready to forgive her. But, gradually she let go off her past and embraces the people with all her heart.
It was quite generous of Hae Won that when she comes to know about her Aunt initially she is not ready to accept her but eventually, she asks her to stay.
There were a few parts where I really felt that Hae Won crossed the lines especially when she read Eun Seop’s diary. She might love him but trespassing somebody’s private diary isn’t cool. Her character development was rather slow and it was mostly about her all the time. When she starts to date Eun Seop I didn’t like how she decided on her own to leave. I felt he was also a part of her life now and it would have been better if she has confided in him and shared her plans.
Her character is not very likeable and till the end, I wasn’t really very happy on how she reacted to various situations.
Seo Kang Jun as Lim Eun Seop
Eun Seop’s character felt boring to me. He was shown as a character who is quiet but is warm at heart. But I couldn’t get those feels and I wasn’t empathetic about his past nor I was able to connect with his troubled childhood memories. It didn’t tug my emotions at all and I was quite neutral about everything around him. So, I do not have much to say about him.
Seo Kang Jun was more like eye candy to me rather than adding some substance as the main lead. I wanted to know how he decided to open a book store?? Why he called Hae Won Irene?? When he disappeared for 3 years to take care of his ailing mother where was he?? His uncle appeared from nowhere and wanted to take him because he doesn’t deserve to live like normal people. Why? His backstory felt incomplete and I was eager for more details.
Chemistry of the leads:
Park Min-young is known to have an inexplicable charm when it comes to chemistry with her co-stars. I have seen her in various shows like in secretary Kim or Her private life and the chemistry had my heart pounding. But this show didn’t check the romantic notes right. The Loveline in the show was not at all power-packed and it didn’t give me the feels. Whenever they were together I didn’t see any sparks fly. It was always the girl doing all the lovey-dovey stuff that didn’t please me much.
My final thoughts:
A soothing and a calming drama that touches the topic of self-healing, true meaning of happiness and the trauma of domestic violence. The show is ingenious when it comes to visual appeal.
When the weather is fine is slow-paced and doesn’t serve you with any offhand twists and turns. Most of the episodes portray the simple day-to-day activities of a town that changes throughout the show run. At times, these scenes feel a bit repetitive and add no dimension to the storyline. The chemistry of the leads was okay-ish and was nothing to rave about.
The concept of bringing Eun Seop’s thoughts through the blog posting was interesting and I did wait for it at the end of the show, but his character was dull rather than intriguing. Park min young was fine and her delivery of Hae won was pretty good that made her character more believable and human-like.
The side stories were left with loose ends, and I had a few unanswered questions by the end. The humour in the show is shouldered by two characters Hwi and Jang woo who brought a bit of life to the show dreary stretch.
If you do not watch this drama then you are not missing on anything but the show is a soothing and a feel-good watch that will surely make you wonder the true meaning of happiness. Watch it if you are like me and have a soft corner for the actors. Like for me, it was Park min young.
Korean dramas enthusiasts can’t function without getting some K-drama goodness into their mundane daily lives. I am a Korean drama lover for the past few years, and I have this weird habit where when I am about to finish one drama, I am already searching for the next one to devour.
I am a sucker for good shows no matter whether they are old, currently on air or just ended. There are shows that I watch then I forget but some stay with me for a long time. Then there are shows that are etched in my memory like forever, and I come back to them from time to time. And I feel these dramas are a constant that can never be replaced.
So, if you are like me and would like to check out some good Korean dramas, then here is my list.
1.) My Ahjussi
Cast: Lee Sun Kyun and IU
Year of Release: 2018
Genre: Drama
My Ahjussi is the story of two broken people coming from starkly different backgrounds. It showcases the importance of humanity, selfless love, kindness and hope. You will be amazed to see how well the characters are written and more than that the acting is just top-notch. It starts Lee Sun Kyun and IU in leading roles and take my word you will not be disappointed.
I watched My Ahjussi during my early years of Kdrama journey and to be honest I was so so impressed with it. This show might be a bit heavy for people who are just starting their drama journey but this is actually a gem that shouldn’t be missed.
2.) Still 17/ Thirty But seventeen
Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Yang Se Jong
Year of release: 2018
Genre: Romantic comedy
Still 17 is a show with all the heartwarming and cosy feels. It is a story of two people whose life came to a standstill due to a road accident when they were 17-year-old. It follows the story of these two people of how they overcome their past and finally pull back their broken souls. Shin Hye Sun shines in the story and lights up the screen with her unique acting chops. With some more interesting characters, it is a show that is definitely worth your time. It will leave you with all the happy and feel-good feels. Although the premise of the story might seem saddening the way it is presented is comical and at the same time, touching.
3.) Healer:
Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Park min Young, Yoo Ji Tae
Year of Release: 2014
Genre: Thriller, Romance, Action
Healer is a power-packed show that serves you with the right amount of romance, action, thriller and bits of humour in between. The plot is centred around a group of five friends who used to run a broadcasting station decades ago and operated as whistleblowers. Their lives met an unfortunate fate, and now years later, some people want to know the truth behind their unfateful end. A famous journalist, a reporter and a night messenger come together to unlock the mystery. The show is an exciting watch and keeps you on the edge of your seat. A full entertainment package that you will definitely enjoy with a bag of popcorn. The killer looks of Ji Chang Wook is definitely a bonus. 🙂
4.) Misaeng:
Cast: Im Si Wan, Lee Sung Min, Kang So Ra
Year of Release: 2014
Genre: Workplace drama
Misaeng is a show about the daily struggles of people working in corporate offices. The fierce competition amongst the peers for “that” promotion or the office politics favouring the undeserving it covers it all. Although the show is about the Korean corporate culture, it resonates with most of the working class all around the world. You know there is a phrase known as an underrated gem, and I feel Misaeng is that one show. It was quite popular amongst the office workers during its run, but it is not a much-talked drama in general. But, guys, you got to watch it to know how good it is.
5.) Romance is a bonus book
Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Lee Na young
Year of release: 2018
Genre: Romance, Drama
Romance is a bonus book is a muted romance with the main premise highlighting the struggles of women. The show revolves around a divorced single mother who is trying to start her professional career after a hiatus of seven years. The story traces her journey where she redefines her existence and in the process, find love and her lost self. The story will definitely tug your heartstrings, and women of all tiers will relate to her story. I simply loved it, and I am sure you will too.
6.) WeighLifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Cast: Lee Sung Kyung, Nam Joo Hyuk
Year of Release: 2016
Genre: Romance, Sports, comedy
It is a sports drama based on the life of gold medalist weightlifter Jang Mi-Ran. Lee Sung Kyung is in the lead role of Kim Bok Joo a leading weightlifting champion. It is a cute and heartwarming drama that will surely make you smile. The show also put forward the good and bad of the sports industry and the hard work athletes put in to prove their excellence. Lee sung Kyung is super cute and you will unquestionably love her to bits. Watch this lighthearted drama for instant mood uplift.
7.) Fight for my way
Cast: Park Seo Jun, Kim Ji won
Year of Release: 2017
Genre: Romance, Friendship, Comedy, Drama
A sweet fluffy Rom-Com that is lighthearted and feels like a slice of life show. Fight for my way is a story of four friends trying to make it big in their lives. It is a drama that will feel relatable to many of us for its portrayal of ordinary young people. Park Seo Jun and Kim Ji won together are a delight to watch, and their chemistry is on fire.
8.) Coffee Prince
Cast: Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun Hye , Lee Sun Kyun
Year of release: 2007
Genre: Romance, Drama
An old classic that you will enjoy even in 2020. The amazing thing about this show is that it doesn’t feel old at all. The concept is pretty unusual that involves the case of mistaken identity/gender. A man pretends to be gay and hires a guy to play his lover. Unknowingly that this person is actually a girl disguised as a boy. A series of misunderstanding and confusion follows, creating a super fun show.
9.) Crash Landing on you
Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin
Year of release: 2019
Genre: Romance, Drama
This show is a love story of a South Korean heiress and a North Korean military officer. The South Korea and North Korea conflict has always been a talk of the town, and this show captures the conflict of both the nations very tenderly. The tongue in cheek humour about the stark differences between the lifestyle of the two countries is quite amusing. The romance is all fluffy and sweet with delectable chemistry makes the show a delightful watch.
Park Seo Jin plays a different character compared to her past roles, and she is super entertaining in this one. Hyun Bin is hot as ever and will surely make the girls drool.
10.) Itaewon Class
Cast: Park Seo Jun, Kim Da Mi, Kwon Na Ra
Genre: Business, Drama
Year of release: 2020
Itaewon Class is a business revenge drama that stars Park Seo Jun and Kim Da Mi in the lead role. The show is based on a webtoon of the same name. I am not a sucker of business or revenge dramas, but IC felt different to me. I believe this is one of the best works of Park Seo Jun till date. The show is also different in terms of the female lead, which is unconventional and not at all the good girl next door types. The drama is slightly heavy, so watch it when you are not in a mood of something light-hearted and funny.
So, guys, this is my list of some of the favourites K dramas. I might have definitely missed some of the other good shows but as of now let’s end it here.
Do not forget to share your favourite dramas and what you like about them.
Not often you come across a show that sucks you right in just after a few minutes of its first episode. Guys, Itaewon class, was one such show for me. I started Itaewon Class with zero expectations, and I loved it to bits.
PlotSummary: It is a revenge saga that tells the story of an underdog Park Sae-ro-Yi who is too good to be true. His life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with the son of a business tycoon during his school years. A series of unfortunate events follow and he ends up in jail.
After a long rigorous physical and emotional hustle, he starts a bar-restaurant DanBam in the city of Itaewon. The series focuses on the ups and downs that come his way while he moves ahead to achieve his dream and avenge the people who destroyed his family.
Characters:
Park Seo Jun as Park se-ro-yi
Park Seo Jun makes this show a fascinating watch. I have never doubted Park Seo jun’s acting prowess, but with each show, he just gets better.
He is not the typical hotshot swoon-worthy character, but his ordinary demeanor with that atypical bowl haircut made my heart flutter. It takes a sheer amount of hard work to make an ordinary character so likable.
Itaewon class is much different compared to his past works. He plays a naive, socially inept ordinary man who is strong-headed, hardworking, and has an extraordinary grit. He is fearless, determined, and a man of few words.
If he makes a goal he is bound to make it happen no matter how long it takes. And he knows pretty well that he “can” make it happen. [spoiler] For instance, when he reveals that he plans to open a franchise of DanBam he left everyone dumbfounded but he said it with utmost ease and conviction. How cool is that?
My favorite instances:
1.) When Soo-Ah invites him to stay over for a night he refuses her saying that: He is not rich enough as she has already said that she likes men who are rich. I mean he is the perfect epitome of chivalry. He knows his boundaries and he won’t cross it no matter what. *claps*
2. When he moved into the alley for the new building he helped other business owners to improve their businesses. It was so generous and smart of Sae Ro yi to help other people with their businesses and bring that alley to life.
3: Sae ro Yi treated Geun Soo with utmost care and sensitivity. Even though for me Geun Soo was a big-time disappointment. His actions were not at all justified but still, Sae ro yi never gave him a cold shoulder.
4: The episode where Sae ro Yi met his father in his unconscious state after getting critically injured was dripping with emotions and my heart cried buckets. I guess this was the turning point for Sae ro Yi as he has finally realized what is important to him. He started as a loner and was socially awkward with nobody on his side. And for the past fifteen years, he never had a peaceful sleep.
But, now he has people he cares about and who reciprocate his love.
The conversation with his father was so so heart touching and heartbreaking at the same time. 💔💔
The viewers got a glimpse of what it would have been like if his father was still alive. He would have told him about his new friends and how he was no more alone. He finally wants to live his life not for the revenge but for himself and be happy.
The most important part was when his father asks him to come with him he says he does not want to go. I bawled my eyes out when he said a final goodbye to his father. He has finally got closure of his father’s death and now he is ready to live. He bids farewell to his father with a closing statement that he has to go on a “Date“.
When he gets back to his senses he cries inconsolably. So, finally, he breaks down and cries his heart out that he hasn’t done in years. All his pain and emotions that have bottled up inside him have now busted.
One of the important scenes for me in the entire show was when he has to save Yi-Seo and for that, he ends up kneeling down in front of Jang Dae hee. To be honest, when this scene happened I kept praying please please do not kneel down. You just can’t kneel in front of Jangga.
And , when he did my heart literally sank. But, after giving it an afterthought I was able to relate to why he did that.
In his dream, it was apparent that Sae ro Yi is happy in his current life. He is seen telling his father about his friends with whom he can drink. He is not a loner any more and not someone he used to be in the past.
Now, one thing that I liked here was that the writer didn’t introduce Yi-Seo when Sae-ro-Yi is talking about his friends. He thinks about her but not as a friend but something more. I guess that is where Sae-ro Yi finally knows what he wants to do with his life.
His love confession for Yi- Seo was so heartfelt and pure. He has been denying the fact that he is in love with her for the past so many years. But, finally, he has realized that he just can’t live without her. And, for him, his people are more important than his pride and self-respect.
Kim Da-Mi as Yi-seo
She plays a young sociopath with a high intellect and who is incredibly good at what she does. She is stone cold and quite insensitive when it comes to feeling or expressing emotions. She is a flawed character and quite unconventional for a female lead but her role is instrumental in paving the way for Sae-ro-Yi success.
She is sassy and a total badass whom I found hard to love but eventually I liked her for she is the kind of person that Sae-ro yi needs given his too good to be true character.
I enjoyed her character trajectory in the show where due to Sae Ro Yi she became a bit softer and started feeling for other’s emotions. It also became evident with time that she is also vulnerable and has a soft side to her.
She falls in love with Sae ro Yi and vows to be on his side and help him become the man he wants to be. Yi-Seo might come as an insensitive human at several points but when it comes to Sae ro yi then she is a completely different person. Her love for Sae Ro Yi knows no bounds neither she shies away from expressing how her heart feels for this guy.
I really enjoyed her whenever she expressed her love for Sae ro Yi. Over the years she has made peace with the fact that Sae ro Yi won’t love her back but it doesn’t stop her from loving him with the same fervour.
Key highlights where I liked her:
1.) The first time when we came across Yi-Seo’s love for Sae ro yi was when she found scars on his hand. She felt the pain that Sae ro Yi has gone through all these years. She couldn’t bring herself to believe that he had already been through so much.
2.) Once she decided to be on sae ro yi side she does it wholeheartedly. She is not intimidated easily no matter how powerful her opponent is. I loved how she was a total badass and made Geun Won commit his crimes.
3.) When she finally stands up for Toni after he wasn’t granted entry in the pub for being black. Initially, it did feel that she is insensitive about the entire situation but later it is revealed that she is actually trying to find Toni’s father.
4.) One thing that the show serves best was the Yi-Seo and Soo-ah face-offs. Yi-Seo would always show Soo-Ah her place and let her know that she doesn’t deserve Sae ro Yi. She was quite clear to tell Soo-Ah about how her loving Sae Ro yi is different from her love for him.
5.) During the cooking competition, the way she consoled Hyun Yi to be strong was so heartwarming. She addresses her as Unnie and she actually means it. It also showed that to some extent even Yi-Seo has changed and her heart has softened a bit.
7.) When she was in the hospital due to overworking her words really shook me hard. It was a bit poignant as the viewers get to see that she wants to be the best for Sae Ro Yi and be on his side all the time. Even if it was in the form of work.
A special mention for her interesting haircut and her outfits that I felt were just bang on.
Kwon Na Ra as Soo-ah
She was a meh character for me. I did like her at the beginning and thought she would become a pillar of strength for Sae ro Yi. But, when she started working for Jangga .co I started disliking her to the core. She cherished Sae Ro Yi’s father as her own and he has helped her so much to grow but still, she ended up at Jangga.
She is hardworking and pretty good at her job and if she had tried she could be working at some other place. Soo-Ah isn’t a headstrong character like Sae Ro Yi and Yi-Seo as such she becomes a victim of her vulnerabilities. But, I was happy to see her being able to do something substantial at the end.
There were parts where I sincerely hated her :
1.) The first one where she contemplated calling the police when she spotted underaged people at DanBam. I was literally stumped when she even thought of doing it.
2.) Secondly, when she asked Sae ro yi to leave everything and live with her happily. I mean come on how could he even think of doing that when he has gone through so much because of Jangga.
3.) I also felt she always took Sae-ro-Yi for granted and she always thought he is going nowhere no matter what she does. I mean he had loved her for years and she can’t even think of doing something good for him.
I understand that she was always tussling between her job duties and her debts towards Sae ro yi and his father but for the whole time, she was working for Jangga. She did become a whistleblower at the end that played a major role in the downfall of Jangga but for the entire course Sae ro yi was struggling and she didn’t do much about it.
She didn’t have a happy life either as she was busy making money all those years.
At the end of the show, she did try to cover up for the deeds that made me have a slight soft corner for her but still I wasn’t a big fan of her.
Yoo Jae myung as Jang dae-hee
Ah ha! I just luvvveedd luvveedddd him as the bad man. He was the bad guy and he executed it with the perfect amount of hatred, shrewdness, and rivalry. I have seen him in the previous show Reply 1994 but I never noticed him that much. But, in this show, he shines as the antagonist that I simply loved to hate.
He was one of the characters that really intrigued my interest in the show. Whenever he appeared on screen I felt like smashing my screen and killing this guy. And when you feel this way then certainly the actor on screen is doing a fantabulous job isn’t it? For me, he was superbly good.
Jang-dae -hee is not just shrewd but he is intelligent and has incredible business acumen. Even Sae ro yi read his autobiography to help him climb the ladder of success. Sae ro yi wanted to bring Jangga down but somewhere he wanted to become a powerful businessman like him. He was always two steps ahead of his competitors and it wasn’t easy to defeat him.
Instances where Jang Dae hee came out to be the “Daddy” in his field :
1.) When he turned the tables by letting his son go to jail. It was so surprising how he could let his son go to jail even though he loved him dearly.
2.) He orchestrated the entire investment plan for DanBam and made the future of DanBam quite uncertain.
3.) He was well aware of Kang Min Ja actions and he was smart enough to keep tabs on her.
When he had limited lines to say his actions and eyes conveyed dozens of emotions. His character arc from a shrewd impudent businessman to a needy submissive was quite impressive. I mean I felt bad for him at the end when he knelt in front of Sae ro Yi although I shouldn’t. After all, he was paying for his bad deeds.
Ahn bo hyun as Jang GeunWon
He nailed his performance as the bad guy. I did hate him, but I also pitied him in various instances. If one sees his journey from where it started, it is quite evident that his father played a significant role in ruining his life. He was a rich brat who had no sense of justice, but it was his father who further blacked out his sense of judgment. And In the end, his father, who was responsible for his rotten character, sends him to jail.
Sae ro Yi and Jang Geun won are shown two contrasting characters who have similar family dynamics. Both are brought up single-handedly by their fathers. And the kind of relationship they both share with their dad is the main focal point of the show. Sae Ro Yi becomes a successful man even when he started with nothing while Geun Won loses everything, even when he had money, power, and an influential father.
I liked how the show conveyed the importance of values, principles, and hope.
DanBam community and the social stigma:
Another major highlight of this show was that it touched the sensitive topics of racial discrimination, illegitimacy, and transgenders. In conventional society, acceptance for such people is pretty hard. But, here it emphasized that talent and capabilities are beyond such barriers. The team of DanBam had people coming from such groups and all of them were accepted and respected for who they are.
My final Thoughts:
Itaewon Class is all about finding yourself and deciding your priorities. It is an interesting watch that I would highly highly recommend. The last few episodes are cliche but since it is based on webtoon I won’t complain much about it. The show is full of heart, emotions, and hope. I wasn’t a big fan of the OTP and the romantic line between Yi -Seo and Sae ro Yi but still, it was a pleasant watch. The ending is quite satisfying and you will be left with wanting more.
My score: 8.8/10
Rewatch value: I can watch it again for the love of Park Seo jun.
Crushing over the Male leads chaebols: If you are a K-drama junkie then you can’t ignore the drool-worthy “CHAEBOLS”. The dapper, handsome male lead dressed in a Tuxedo with a picture-perfect hairdo make your heart skip a beat. The swoon-worthy looks make you wonder where I can get such a perfect guy? Should I book my tickets to Seoul? 😀
Favourite hotties on the list : Lee Min-ho, Jang Hyuk, and Ji Chang Wook
2. Using the Korean honorifics: If you called your beau “Oppa” or your sister, Unni/Noona then trust us, you are not alone. We love to say Oppa saranghae. Yes, it sounds crazy, but this is what a die hard Kdrama fan does.
3. Going gaga over K-beauty: Beauty bloggers swear by the Korean skincare regime. So, how could a Kdrama fangirl not start ordering her very own K-beauty products? I swear I did start using sheet masks fascinated by the Korean female leads.
4. The OST on repeat: I think we all have been there where we are so intrigued by a show that we love everything about it. Even when our favorite drama is over, we can’t get over the lovely OST. Going to the gym “OST playing” going for a run “OST playing” preparing for exams OST playing. Yeah yeah we are the crazy lot.
5.) Watching our favorite scenes: When we watch a show, we do not watch it like ordinary people. We watch it with all our heart and soul. We get so much invested in the journey of our OTP that we can’t get enough of them. Thus, the solution? Watching the scenes again and again until we get another drool-worthy OTP.
6.) Getting excited about anything Korean: We get so engrossed with our Korean dramaland that it is no surprise that whenever anything Korean pops up be it on the news or a Korean travelogue or Korean food items we get overly excited. Don’t we? I was like a little happy kid beaming with joy when Parasite won the Oscar and everyone around was interested to watch this movie. 😛
7.) Recommending Korean show like a Pro: We can’t help but suggest Korean shows to our friends and family. And our happiness knows no bounds when we find people who love Korean dramas just the way we do.
I come to an end of my daily dose of the Kdrama spice for you. Till then, Happy fangirling. If you have anything to add, then do not forget to add in the comment section.
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