Meu Ahjussi (2018)

There are great dramas, then there is "My Ahjussi"

After finishing “My Ahjussi” (My Mister/나의 아저씨, 2018), I’m certain there are no words that can possibly do it justice, but I owe it to this absolute precious gift of a drama to at least try. First of all, I hesitate to even refer to My Ahjussi as a K-drama because it doesn’t feel like one; it’s more like a movie in 16 parts. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen and I agree with the K-drama sunbaes who say there may never be anything like it ever again. It’s that rare of a gem.

It took me a while to build up the courage to revisit this — I watched just three episodes a few months ago and paused — because I thought it might be too depressing. I’m glad I listened to my friends who said that despite its heaviness, it’s actually uplifting and satisfying. They were absolutely right: in my eyes, My Ahjussi is THE definition of a healing drama. Its message is simple, clear, and beautiful: that kindness has the transformative power to heal even the most wounded among us, that relationships are precious and amazing, that love in any form–even in ways that are hard to label or define—can help us get through the struggles of life.

Every aspect of this wonderful story came together beautifully to deliver that message: the thoughtful direction, the lighting which is a character on its own, the delicate OST, the insightful script, and the powerful, career-defining performances from its leads and supporting cast.

Lee Sun-kyun inhabited the character of Park Dong-hoon, a kind, upright, and compassionate structural engineer who quietly bears the burden of middle-age, with dignity and strength. Although he may be extraordinarily kind, he is no pushover and will not hesitate to defend those who need defending.

Lee Ji-eun (IU) is breathtaking as Lee Ji-an, a cold, hard, and cynical young girl who carries the weight of a “30,000 year old soul” in her diminutive frame. A temporary office worker at the same company as Dong-hoon, life’s unjust cruelty towards her keeps forcing her hand, driving her to cunningly manipulate people and situations in order to survive, regardless of who gets hurt.

I also grew attached to Dong-hoon’s family, especially his two brothers whose constant misfortune burdens their mother, and his tightly knit neighborhood community. All the characters are sad and broken in their own way, but the middle-aged antics and drama of his brothers and the rest of the Hugye ahjussis and ahjummas, their habit of ruminating over their troubles over soju, provide levity and comic relief. It never feels like you’re laughing at them, but with them.

I think what sets My Ahjussi apart from the rest is its realism, rawness, the melancholy that runs through it, its “flawless depiction of the human condition”-- in the words of Paulo Coelho. For those who are interested in Korean culture, look up “han” and “jeong” — two uniquely Korean concepts that are perfectly embodied here.

My only problem with My Ahjussi is that I’m afraid it’s going to ruin everything I watch from now on. I’m just going to have to keep reminding myself that it would be unfair to judge other shows by the impossibly high standards this has set — otherwise I won’t be able to enjoy anything else.

One of my greatest simple pleasures from the past months is getting personal messages from friends who’ve enjoyed the dramas they watched upon my recommendation. Because it brings me so much joy to share my happiness, I've made it my personal mission to get as many people as possible to watch this masterpiece, my new favorite show (not just Korean, but of any origin).

Leia Mais

ENGROSSING

This drama is a wonder due to its exceptional writing and direction.
It's not your normal drama but so much engrossed and focus on each element, which takes over your attention slow and steady.
The depth of each character is enigmatic as they reveal it slowly which makes it more exciting.
The drama is slow and gets dragged towards the 2nd half, particularly the last 4 episodes.

What makes this drama distinctive is the realism with which it tackles human nature, difficulties, relationships b/w people, corporate hierarchy and how a family plays part in your living.
That misery brings misery and your company matters.
The side character story was pure BS as I didn't like the brother's struggle at all.
It was pure incompetency but still, the characters are characters and the focus was to highlight the what-if situation

The ending is on a positive footnote which is overwhelming.
The most important aspect that many would ignore is the relationship b/w the Husband and Wife that improves as the drama progresses coz initially many people think that in these types of dramas you'll encounter a typical love story which is not the case.
This drama also represents what unrequited love feels like, how it goes and how it ends as well .

Overall, they could've made it 12 episodes and been done with it.
Hence it's an 8.5/10

PS: To me, Lee Ji Ah stole the limelight with her acting skills instead of IU despite having a side role.

SPOILER POST THIS SO DON'T READ :









This drama had such a great ending, I'm glad they didn't show and forced a sh*8ty love story b/w Ji an and Dong Hoon and shifted their focus to progressing the relationship b/w Yoon Hee and Dong Hoon which was wonderful to watch and as real as it could get.
How the affair happened and whatever reasons were given felt so genuine that for the first time you could understand why She did what she did and how both of them were equally responsible for it.
Brilliant writing I must say.

Leia Mais

The Best Drama I've Seen So Far

I normally don't write reviews, but now I'm compelled to because of how amazing and breathtaking this drama was.
I'm glad I watched this drama after all this time. I found this drama awhile ago, but I never watched, it probably wouldn't have suited my tastes when I was younger. But, when I started watching it recently I was hooked. I binged watched it in a few days.

This is by far the most realistic show I've ever watched. Each character you can feel their emotions perfectly that's how good the writing and acting is. I never related to the main leads in a drama as much as I did in this one.

If I had to describe it briefly, it's about humans and their emotions.

The music is also fantastic, my favorite song from the OST being There's a Rainbow. With the rewatch value, I can see myself watching this again sometime which is huge for me since I rarely ever rewatch dramas.

I recommend that everyone gives this drama a chance. It's truly brilliant.

Leia Mais

It took me a long time to come and watch this show. I knew it would be good so I wanted to give it the respect that it deserved by slowly watching it ,savouring every moment of it. This drama is a treat for the soul. It's so deep, nuanced and meaningfull that it has climbed on top of my favourite dramas if all time list .It has been a week since I finished it , and I wouod still think about this drama and tear up as a mix of emotions roll inside me. There are not enough words to describe how i feel about this drama but I'm gonna try.

One of a kind story of how two depressed leads find comfort and assurance in each other. Tagged as a non romance story,it was he most romantic non-romance i have ever watched. It was a romance of the soul for it didnt even need a touch to make it real. It felt real ,and that's all that was needed.

IU's depiction of JiAn who somehow survives everyday ,her despair ,her pain was so perfect ,it felt like she was born to do it,like she didnt even act,it was all so real. JiAn felt like someone walking in a deep dark tunnel without an end at sight,who is completely exhausted but must keep on going. In her smallest movements and in her eyes you could feel the struggle she has endured and her scars that she she keeps hidden with her silence.

Lee Sun Gyun as the ahjussi shined in his role as kind and gentle person who bears through life while being hurled into a cruel mix of betrayals and politics. At times it felt like all thats helping him keep his head above water is the knowledge that it would all be over someday and his brothers and friends who make it all more bearable.
The music is melancholy and sweet. Its bittersweet vibe goes well with the washed out and mesmerising cinematography .
The hardest part of this drama is to describe why watching two people struggle through life is so wonderful. Its wonderful because its not. Its real and thats where its true beauty is. If i could describe the vibe and mood , it is like sitting on an armchair,watching the fire burn and feeling warm,safe ,comfort ,almost happy even ,while a storm brews outside.
It is how some people bring a warmth and glow to each others lives simply by being there ,by listening and understanding in a world that is cold and harsh.
I cried as much for the charachters as i did for myself as their warmth comforted my lonely heart just as they comforted each other.
Please give this gem of a drama a chance . Its beautifully captivating and heartwarming.

Leia Mais

Rewarding drama with an incredibly moving soundtrack

This drama has been on my radar since it first released but I put it off for 2 years. Why? I couldn't get past the first episode where we first get a glimpse of Ji-Ahn's miserable life - her getting her grandma home by pushing a hospital bed through the streets in the dead of night because she couldn't afford the nursing home bills. It was too unbearable to sit through and I much preferred bubbly happy dramas to help me escape from my own reality.

Now that I've finally gotten round to watching it, I'm finding that a big part of what makes this drama beautiful. It tells life like it is - it doesn't sweep the shitty parts under the carpet and gloss over it with positivity. It's a drama that shows you life can be made beautiful by the people and relationships you have in your life; a rewarding drama full of life lessons if you're ready to receive them... with an incredibly moving soundtrack to boot.

Leia Mais

important to me

This review is highly personal, but to the effect of how personal My Mister was to its two leads, and to the characters surrounding them, I can only extend the same.

There are so many things I want to say about 나의 아저씨. I want to say thank you to the writers for believing in the resilience to find what makes one happy and not walk along streets without sighing every few steps what makes us wake up each morning to get into our clothes. What makes us smile and say thank you and think we are good.

When I was in my freshman year of college, my first semester, I was in the lowest place. What got me out wasn't people. It wasn't my family, the few real friends I had, or even the faint dream I had been conjuring, which is now my foremost motivator. It was anime. It was the illusory friendships and the strength of "nakama" found in a silly adventure starting from a barrel. But what it really was, and what I've realized steadily with the kinds of shows and stories I draw to, is a semblance of the real, human closeness that to this day I hesitate to extend to my siblings, much less my friends. I realized that first year that I couldn't open up to others which remains key to my identity, which in the past few years I expressed more in writing or other artistic works I would share with others.

In this sense I related most strongly with Park Dong-hoon, although I am not well into any career nor married, I don't really talk to people when I have problems. I hold it in, and try to resolve it on my own. Occasional stories empower me such as this one, and the most significant preceding, Lucifer. Stories tell relationships and conversations between old friends. 나의 아저씨 is a "Korean drama" then in the truest sense of the word. I have not seen a work on the screen, while still young to it, as close to common and familial Korean manners of interaction, from the many Koreans I interacted with during my childhood and through today. 나의 아저씨 is not your standard "K-drama" although it is intensely emotional, incredibly emotional, one of the most emotionally powerful works of television I have seen ever since I started watching these pretenses. I don't think I've seen my eyes as red as they were, looking at myself in the mirror, after the last episode. That of course is a personal sharing and many K-dramas are emotional, that is what they are known to be. But this is different. How do these three people act as if they've known each other for over forty years as brothers? It's not too easy to describe their mannerisms well but as a Korean who grew up with a Korean brother, while these three were in their forties, I saw it. I saw it when their mother, a halmoni, reprimanded them and made their box lunches; my mother did the same for my education all until college. The screenplay more broadly was, especially for the drama, impactful, realistic in the manner of Korean speech, heartfelt, memorable, and grounded. There were many moments throughout where, sensitized as I have been to the tropes of storytelling, I had certain expectations, and they were simply ignored for a more realistic or compelling to-character decision and event. I am almost surprised that the land of Korean drama has works such as these, from my limited exposure, and particularly for why I even watched this one in the first place - IU, or her real name, Lee Ji-eun, my favorite artist.

I sampled some of the first episode of Hotel Del Luna and didn't much like what I saw of IU's character there. I started 나의 아저씨 and pretty quickly saw that Lee Ji-eun is, well, a pretty good actress, way better than I expected, perhaps I bent too much into her singing voice than her acting voice. While of course this was not watching a part of Lee Ji-eun's life, but a character she portrayed, some aspects are shared, such as her childhood being raised by her grandmother. I thus felt not only watching the character of Lee Ji-an, but also a part of Lee Ji-eun, whom I only knew as IU; I feel like she put a great part of herself into her performance. Having listened to her discography in release order prior to 나의 아저씨 and reading about her career, I saw some of what she put of herself in her music, in 나의 아저씨. An artist-to-person experience that I feel honored to have watched. One could say that this entire series is about waiting for IU to smile; and while certainly that is the case, there are many other things. Lee Ji-an is closed off to others for parts of her past, and doesn't trust others; doesn't think she's necessarily a "good person." Park Dong-hoon isn't happy as a general manager at a large corporation, and doesn't tell his family and friends what he's feeling. It is when these two meet, amidst the political machinations of the corporation, that spring a subtle, particular, special, under-explored relationship. The word "ajeossi" (아저씨) is not quite "mister" as it's used in America; it's not even the way the girl sees the older man in Goblin, which plays for a potential romance between the two, which is not the case here; or the anime After the Rain. While as with the Goblin who plays a "guardian" role, here the two grow to simply need each other in their lives. Do I have someone in my life that keeps me strong? and when I couldn't really think of anybody, I cried. Another way to put 나의 아저씨 is that of two depressed, miserable people who comfort each other in their shared pity. More broadly, "My Mister" is about being happy; and about how you can learn how, from those who keep you strong, those who tell you, "fighting," those who know you, really know you, so that no matter what you do, they don't care. The extent to which you see the characters on 나의 아저씨 be unhappy about their lives is significant; pretty much everyone hates themselves. But they keep living. A group of friends from a town who live together for forty years, is still living there, and they're OK.

행복하자. Let's be happy. It's not an easy thing to do but I hope you find someone who can encourage you to get there. I hope I do.

Leia Mais

A Masterpiece

Originally, I had put this on my watch list because of IU. I had no idea what it would really be about as the description I read didn't sell it as something great. The poster for the drama is also quite deceiving as well. I also had really no expectations of the acting as generally most people who are singers are not great actors. I can see why people say this was IU's best performance. Though her character doesn't speak a ton of lines, but when she does, it's blunt, cold, and of few words, but you can feel every emotion portrayed by her words and actions. I never cry when I watch dramas, in fact, the last time I cried in real life was at a funeral, but there were so many scenes towards the end that made me well up in tears.

I finished it over the course of two days and I can say it's by far the greatest drama I've seen ever. It'll be very hard for anything to top this for me. The plot is not cliche like many other dramas out there and while it might not be for everyone's tastes, I'd say it's a shame if you didn't watch this if you're a fan of dramas as a whole. The music is also great and really enhances the emotions behind some of the scenes.

This is a drama that depicts two people at rock bottom in their lives who find comfort and healing after meeting each other. A story of everyone on the verge of having nothing to redemption in their own way. It shows you what empathy means.

Rather than focusing on the relationships between the leads as most people normally like to do, we should look at the overarching message this drama is trying to send...to find happiness. We have Park Dong Hoon on one side where he seemingly has a pretty decent life with a stable job, money, and family and in contrast we have Lee Ji An who has no stable job, no money, and no immediate family other than her grandmother. When you have money, it's not a problem you worry about, but when you have no money, it's all of your problems. There are many people in this world who can relate to both these characters, if not maybe some of the supporting characters, and their situations they portray in the drama.

Leia Mais

Yes, this drama moves slowly at times, so it depends on the kind of drama you like to watch. If you're someone who loves the slice-of-life type show that lingers on moments of reality, then this could be your type of show.

I started this show because the director is behind two of my favourite dramas of all time, Misaeng and Signal. I loved those dramas because of the realistic way in which they depicted human relationships, and My Mister is no exception.

This drama features a lot of stories around loss, as well as the aftermath and how different characters cope with loss. All of the characters felt relatable in the ways that they dealt with loss. As I mentioned earlier, this isn't one of those dramas filled with thrilling moments of action. Certainly the corporate drama has some tense moments, but at no point did the drama fall into the trap of using overdramatic cliches to drive the story along, despite having some familiar elements (the ones you may expect in a typical corporate drama, where characters are vying for higher positions). The ending was appropriate and realistic.

In terms of the main characters, I have to commend Lee Sun Gyun and IU for playing their roles well. Their relationship is likely my favourite platonic relationship in all of drama land, in that it really highlights how each character grows with the relationship. It is certainly not one without imperfections and power imbalances, but I was never disappointed in the direction the drama went with these characters.

The family and friends are a really lovable crew when it comes to supporting one another, and they make the drama a heartwarming one to watch. Like any family relationship, the brothers have their ups and downs, and they have their likeable and unlikeable moments as well. By the end of the drama, I was left with an appreciation for the different character dynamics and how they came to be who they are now in the current timeframe, in which we get a glimpse into the lives of their small community. My only complaint is that the workers at the company are more two-dimensional. (But then again, if you're looking for a really good drama focused on company workers, there's Misaeng.)

Music choice was also well done.

Overall, I would strongly recommend this drama if you're a fan of this director's previous works and are looking for a drama that really does a good job in depicting the nature of human relationships. It was at times very serious, but also heartwarming.

If you're looking for something lighthearted, a romance drama, or something filled with exciting action, I would give this one a pass.

Leia Mais

I didn't think that a drama can give me hangovers . It's been almost an year since I finished this drama but yet to get over with it. A lot of things made me hesitated to watch this one . The main reason was Lee Sun Gyun as I haven't heard about him before. Well, after watching this drama, he became one of my favourite actor in Korea, along with his voice.
I didn't knew that platonic love would give me so much pleasure and this one was so memorable and heart wrenching that no other drama could give. Watched over a hundred dramas and still nothing could come close to this beauty. IU is ❤️. She is a baby faced assassin. Her performance one of the best by a female lead actor I have seen in kdrama.
Whenever a scene is played along with the OST 'There is a Rainbow', I goes deep into my heart . Sondia is beautiful as well but my favourite is the former. I have been hearing this OST over an year and it still doesn't bore me.
Every charater has their own identity and the actors portrayed it in the best way they could.
This is a must watch drama as I think this is one of the best if not the best .

Leia Mais

So much to learn from this drama.

Just finished watching My Mister. What a beautiful and breathtaking drama! The -not always expressed- love between the three brothers, the friendship that goes beyond friendship of the people of the neighborhood is so beautiful. The ML (Lee Sun Kyun) played a wonderful role of being compassionated for a human being, even if they had done ‘bad’ things. I wish everybody had someone like him in his / her life. The FL (IU) played her part so well I hated her in the beginning for the things she did and became to love her more and more while the story developed.
I really like it was about real life and real life issues like being jobless, being depressed, rivalry, adultery and such. Be aware you’ll cry a lot watching this. But it brought me so much, it made me believe more in goodness, kindness, acceptance and being able to comfort someone.
The OST is beyond beautiful also, listening to it gives me goosebumps.
Very highly recommended!!

Leia Mais