Meu Ahjussi (2018)

the feelings conveyed in this drama deeply touched my heart. we all have different experiences but we share similar feelings of and understand too well the emotions of human suffering, pain, loneliness.. this was a very comforting drama. i loved many scenes but one scene that comes to mind at the moment is the ending...when the waters calm and the storm clears. i also hope to reach that place where the sea sleeps.

love, empathy, vulnerability, resilience..

FL is an outstanding character; her resiliency is inspiring. i really appreciate ML's presence and the comfort he brought. their relationship remains very dear to my heart. i loved the way it developed and changed and grew. and tho the relationship wasn't necessarily a romantic kind of love, i personally accepted the hint of romance at the end.

also, i grew to...not love..but feel a bit affectionately towards the character that collected her debt (I'm bad with names lol). if only the adults around younger FL and him were kinder and more understanding, things could've been different. none of his actions were excusable and I'm not trying to romanticize his character but i feel sad that a lot of this could've been prevented. I'm glad the writers gave his heart some peace at the end.

thanks to the old cleaning guy and the grandma.....thanks for showing FL kindness and love. thanks to ML's friend who owns the bar, and thanks to the support system surrounding ML (tho i didn't quite like the whole aggressive masculine thing going on with the men..lol sigh)

i said i wouldn't write a lot but here i am lolll anyway,,, thank you to IU and Lee SunKyun for bringing their characters to life. their performance with the story gave me some comfort and kept me company. tbh I'm left speechless bc I'm so touched haha

*i would've given this drama 10 stars if not for the glorification of the drinking culture and i also didn't appreciate several aspects of the family/gender dynamics depicted. usually i can overlook these things but they hit closer to home so i couldn’t bear to give it the remaining 0.5 oops

**also, while I'm at it, here's a few things from the top of my head that i want to mention (these aren't reflected in my rating bc i can overlook all this in dramaland lol). i wish we were given more backstory to FL's "best friend". i wanted to like him more, i really did, but i couldn't bc i didn't know enough about him. i also wanted the writers to show more empathy towards ML's wife. i don't justify her cheating on him but i do empathize with the pain and loneliness she felt. honestly i skipped some of the scenes with the monk friend and i skipped most of the scenes with the celebrity friend and the ex-assistant director brother.

Leia Mais

Everything is the End of the World (until it isn't)

I had absolutely no expectations for My Mister. I went in pretty blind, just wanting another 'healing' show after finishing Hospital Playlist 2. The binge-watcher in me usually tends to struggle with slow burns, especially ones which deal with heavy topics. But, oh my god, did My Mister turn out to be the sweetest surprise of my life.

This show is perfect. There are no two ways about it. I'm not a very confrontational person, but I'm going to say it: if you disagree, you weren't paying attention. The writing is perfect. The acting is perfect. The OST, the cinematography, the pacing, the ending, the relationship between the main two. Everything adds something to the plot, to the characters; no second of screen time is wasted.

Watching this drama reminded me of the closing lines of one of my favourite poems, Night Walk by Franz Wright. It goes: "Walking home for a moment / you almost believe you could start again. / And an intense love rushes to your heart, / and hope. It's unendurable, unendurable."

You know that feeling when you're so happy, or in love, or whatever positive emotion you can imagine, that your heart literally hurts? Like it's momentarily caving under the sheer weight of the beauty of the moment? That's what this show feels like to me. I can imagine Ji Ahn and Dong Hoon walking home in the dark, with their coats and scarves and Ji Ahn's poor frost-bitten ankles, side by side, each thinking of these lines. It's unendurable. Unendurable.

Life is so goddamn unendurable sometimes, isn't it? It's painful and unfair; sometimes it's like the odds are completely stacked against you. Oh well, that's life, deal with it, right? But that's not true. Because sometimes life can show us these beautiful moments, these moments of love and hope that warm your heart so much it may feel like its on fire, that make you think, okay. Maybe there's a light at the end of this tunnel, somewhere. Maybe I can stop lamenting my unendurable life and start counting my unendurably beautiful moments and maybe, just maybe, life will turn out beautiful. And it does. It does for Dong Hoon. It does for Ji Ahn. And it will for you, too.

Thank you, My Mister, for showing us how painful and beautiful life can be, and how to endure it either way.

Leia Mais

I've come across this drama many times, and for some reason, I always put it off. Maybe I needed a good enough reason/review to watch it? Maybe I needed to be strapped down to a chair and held against my will just for the first episode, and then after, be given the choice to cotinine voluntarily? Who knows. But I did watch it. Willingly, if I may add. So here's what I'll say to you, WATCH IT ! To put it blankly, it's a weird one. A drama that will have your head FIGURATIVELY spinning with so many questions, comments (cough, cough), and emotions, but in the best non-nauseating way! All of the characters will leave an imprint in your existence, whether you forget it is up to you, but the two main characters will probably leave the most impactful influence. It's been two days since and I still think about Ji An and Dong Hoon and the other fabulous characters we were gracious enough to meet. If you want a quality drama that will leave you with a better understanding/sympathy for humanity and existence, give this one a try.

Leia Mais

Wholesome. Comforting. Heartbreaking.

This drama will forever hold a very special place in my heart. Some will argue that it's slow paced, but I believe that's what the drama needed. The range of emotions portrayed in this will take you places.. The heart-breaking back stories and the hardships that are so real and rawly portrayed was beautiful to me.
I never thought I'd enjoy watching a bunch of ajjussi's living a very mundane life after failing to meet society's expectations, but to my surprise it was so heartwarming, cozy and... comforting?
The dialogues were so well written, the soundtrack was perfect (I'll probably always feel a pang in my heart whenever I listen to it) and the acting!! You just see what the characters are going through without them having to say anything, and you feel it deep deep down.
I loved this drama so much. I just finished it and so my thoughts are all over the place (as you can see from how disorganized this review is) and I've never bothered to write a review before because everyone else pretty sums up how I feel about every other drama I love. This one is no exception either, but I really wanted to leave a review here because this drama... well I don't know if it took something from me or added more to me.. I just love it.
It's been so long since a drama made me cry and cheer so hard for the characters. And just how relatable their feelings were is beyond me.
I don't care if I'm the only one in the world who loves it or feels this way about it. All I care for is that such a drama exists.

I didn't give the rewatch value a 10 only because some things are so precious when you watch them for the first time that a second watch won't be as awesome (I wish it would be though)

Leia Mais

It's a story of emotions and real life story

I would say the story is a bit overrated because when I first watch the first few episodes I don't know what I'm even watching or expecting but as I watch further, I realized why so many people loved it. The story consists of real emotions that you can easily relate to and emotions that people don't usually talk about.

I love how IU's versatility was once again proven in this series. The complexity of her character brought out more of her talents as well as the male lead. I really feel like everyone performed well and it can be shown on the chemistry and the way they deliver the right emotions.

I'm glad that I decided to finish this series though I started confused, I got to love how it turned out. I really recommend this as it has a lot of meaningful life lessons. Fighting!

Leia Mais

"Just hang in there."

This series tells the story of a midlife crisis: career challenges (career stagnation, office politics, threats of being fired), finding another love; all of which stem from the background of each character. The series also talks about how the "good" character faces problems in his life.

Each character of the character has many layers of past stories, which are patiently peeled off in each curve of the scene. Many stories are told not in straightforward dialogue, but through pictures, the expressions of the characters.

The two main characters of this drama: Park Dong-hoon and Lee Ji-an - who have a boss-subordinate relationship in an office - are the people who are pressed by their various problems. The situation forces them to be in opposing positions. But Dong-hoon is attracted to Ji-an's "kindness" and vice versa. At the end of the day, these two people were strengthening each other, supporting each other in a unique way - and I found it beautiful.

I was attracted by the character Dong-hoon, a building construction engineer who is honest in his work and life principles, not talk too much, but his words have deep meaning. He is trapped in dirty office politics, and he who is considered the weakest politically is the figure who is most easily sacrificed.

The warmth of Dong-hoon's closest community relationships: his mother and two brothers (who also have their own problems), and his fellow villagers help strengthen Dong-hoon (and ultimately Ji-an). The scene of Ji-an's grandmother's mourning ceremony in the last episode was touching.

This is not a romantic romance series even though it tells a lot about love. This is also not a dark series even though it tells a lot about the tough challenges of life.

"Even if you're having hardships in life, just hang in there. It's no big deal".

Hugye!

Leia Mais

You haven't really watched a KDrama until you watch this.

I've seen the high score of this drama and I was really sceptical. I don't like real dramas, but this...IS GOOD!!!
The story, the acting, the directing and the music and everything else....oh my... it's is like you are part of that story. And the end was as it should be. Everything is so natural that it makes you fill like is your story/life too.
You need a few boxes of tissues...but you'll be OK.
I watched quite a few KDramas and I always hated that they brought the story to an end in the last 3 minutes, but this one it leaves you building the end and what is to come the way you want it. It gives you a "path" but that path can split into more, leaving you crying and smiling, thinking "That's the way it should be".
Watch it and you will not be sorry.

Leia Mais

A Masterpiece, but a few complaints on the characters

This is my first time writing a review and I created an account just for this as well. I was having such a huge k-drama burnout but this drama really helped me get back to it. This is literally such a masterpiece, at first I read the summary and it sounded so boring but after reading a few reviews, I decided to give it a watch and it did not disappoint me at all! I have never cried this much and been this invested in a drama.

However, I have a few small complaints that doesn't matter much but I just wanna rent about it a little. I feel like they could have added more character development and backstory to many side characters. Personally I actually felt pretty bad for the characters that were perceived on the "mean" side in the drama.


(Spoiler - just my personal rent about this)
I honestly wanted to get to know the wife, the CEO and the mean guy who kept beating IU's character more (sorry i'm extremely bad with names). I feel like the more I watched the more I pitied the wife more. So many people are gonna disagree with me here and im so sorry to say this, but I kinda understand why she was having an affair, the main lead guy is also kinda at fault. I mean he wasn't that great of a husband either and barely talks to his wife. They kept talking about how trash the CEO was, and maybe that's just from my own perspective on things, but I didn't really see anything super wrong or bad with him. He just seemed like an adult who hasn't grown up mentally yet, like a kid's mind in an adult world. Lastly, the "abuser" ill call him. His story actually made me really sad honestly, he never learnt how to express his feelings, mostly because of his abusive dad, so he just kinda grew up like the only adult he saw, his dad. Idk he just made me really sad the more the drama went on. Anyways, I think they could've added more story or told more backstory on them.

Maybe that's just me for another thing, but I think they could've made this drama even more focused on the normal daily life of everyone (aka more backstory of side characters) instead of focusing so much on the plot of bringing down the main guy.

This makes it seem like I hated the drama now that i'm reading this again haha. Other than my small complaints, this was a really wholesome drama, much different from the typical format, and I will definitely rewatch this when im in my 30's and maybe I'd have different opinions, reactions and feelings about it than now :)

Leia Mais

A MUST WATCH

One of the best dramas EVER (not just for a Korean drama, but of any drama from any country or in any language).
The drama brilliantly presents life and the human condition in a story that is universally resonant.
It is both “quiet” and appropriately “emotional”. It is understated in a deeply heartfelt way.
It’s beautifully written, acted, and directed.
To say I HIGHLY recommend this drama is sincerely an understatement or I can simply say: WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WHAT
WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT!!!

Leia Mais

My Mister is about life. The sad and harsh truth which is life.

The message My Mister wants to tell is that even though life is this difficult, everyone can succeed and find a way to be truly happy in life. The perfect MC for this is Ji-An who lives a life which probably couldn't be any more difficult and cruel. We follow her steps into what is called "life" and uncover many lessons to be learned.

Another masterpiece, and ranked No. 1 on MDL, by director Kim Won Suk, who already followed his principle about life-telling stories in Misaeng (2014) and who is the director for the 2nd highest ranked drama show on MDL - Signal. He clearcly does his job right and I will be looking forward to future works of his. IU and also Lee Sun Kyun are doing wonderful jobs acting in My Mister and several of the supporting actors and actresses are doing an utmost, perfect job and are fitting right into this setting and story. My eye personally stuck to two here: Song Sae Byuk as the youngest of the three brothers aswell as Oh Na Ra as the bar owner Jung Hee. Both of these characters go through each their own struggle themselves and they are very charming. I don't know what I could add to other reviews here, but IU and Lee Sun Kyun are perfect in this drama and no one could have fitted the roles better than they did. They make a very charming and real relationship in front of the camera and give this story the kind of meaning it deserves. This might easily be the best acting IU has done so far and I hope she will continue her road of success - she truly deserves it.

More in-depth review: https://youtu.be/GChUsqdgKpE

Leia Mais

t’s dark, it’s intense, it’s depressed – I like it. First I thought this will be an ordinary drama. And I was a bit sceptical and hesitant to watch it because I thought the age gap between main characters is bigger than in usual dramas. But it doesn't make this drama unpleasant to watch.

What I can say for sure is that this in this drama a lot has been thought on a is very good cinematofraphy. Because DETAILS. Every frame is art – it’s beautiful, “movie - like” and aesthetic.

The story is refreshing because there aren’t so many dramas like this.

Best part in this drama is ability to have thoughts and emotions exchanged without much actually being spoken. Body language and facial expressions are showed amazing.
But I got heart eyes for Lee Ji An who is played by IU already, since the episode one. And let me tell you, I think this is the best work she has done in her acting career. Also, her character in this drama isn’t the usual one she is given to work with. Which was refreshing.

I can put my hand on my heart and say that IU’s character is one of the most strongest female leads I have ever seen in a K- drama world.

Lee Sun Gyun as Park Dong Hoon really has a talent. The way how he showed how “broken” his family life and his character is broken is amazing. And what I love the most is that these things he has been through or is going through is said in drama but the audience its self has to notice it or pay attention to these small details.

Note: What has stuck to me the most in this drama is how bare or raw it is. Producers really went all out to show poverty, the infidelity, corporate wars, hard work / job life, bonding of opposite gender with a big year age gap.

Leia Mais

My Mister touches your heart in every possible way. As you watch another episode, it enchains you and makes you a part of the Trio.
In this drama, there are 3 brothers whose lifes are in trouble. They face the hardship of life, but try to overcome with their obedience and love for one another. However, they are also alone and abandoned in a way. These aspects are combined with a spectacularly portrayed character Lee Ji An who is another desperate with a darker past and seemingly hopeless future.
This drama is a masterpiece. It is not like a drama, it is so much more like life itself, characters are real people and audience is an invisible visitor for this lovely neighbourhood.
In the earlier episodes, you should get to used to the characters but it makes itself familiar quickly, so you don't have to wait for many episodes.The story is unique and makes you wonder what will happen next. Characters are perfectly depicted by the actors which makes the drama magnificient. No more words, watch and see!

Leia Mais