Meu Ahjussi (2018)

The best thing about My Mister is its character driven plot which alternates between nail biting suspense and quiet scenes depicting the tenuous and deep connections between its characters. Ji An, a down and out young woman, involves Dong Hoon, her unwaveringly decent and morose boss, into a precarious situation of intrigue and brutality.

The pacing is varied. Many scenes feel overly drawn out, but each episode manages to move the plot forward in unpredictable fits and starts. It is well acted throughout. Some of the side characters bothered me - particularly the female characters, Jung Hee the bar owner and Yoo Ra the actress. They are so over the top pathetic, it's annoying. They take up too much screen time.

Its actually a little surprising to me that I watched this drama all the way through because its not really my taste. There is an oppressing bleakness that permeates everything in this drama - literally shading their world a dismal bluish gray in most every scene. Everyone is having a hard time here - the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the good, the bad, the successful, the defeated. Basically the overall message is that it sucks to be human. At times this message feels pretty heavy handed. There are several too many monologues about the bitterness of life by its many characters. But quality storytelling and character development win out and this drama drew me into its dreary world from the first episode.

Sympathizing with these characters, often stirred up my own feelings of fear and inadequacy that sometimes keep me up at night. Don't watch this if you are looking for a feel good show or are having anxiety in your own life. But I couldn't help being drawn in and hoping that these characters would eventually find some solace or maybe even happiness in their connections with each other.

Leia Mais

I feel like all my reviews these days start off with me saying that this type of drama isn’t USUALLY what I watch, but that’s only because I’ve really been pushing myself out of my rom-com comfort zone. My Mister was a drama I kept hearing about, and one day, when I was unsure of what to watch because of my long-ass watchlist, I went on r/kdramarecommends on Reddit and put up a post that I will watch someone’s favorite drama, because I probably already have it on my watchlist anyway. It’s a long watchlist. I literally just don’t have enough time in my life for all the dramas that I want to watch. Anyway, the very first person to comment on that post told me to watch My Mister, and at first, I was like, really? The last non-romance drama I watched I ended up rating a 5/10, and oh, look at that, the one before it was also a 5/10. For some reason I am fucking incapable of being interested in dramas that don’t follow some sort of romantic storyline. But oh, man, My Mister sure is one hell of a trailblazer in that regard. I do admit the first episode was boring as hell to me, and I had to rewatch it because I kept spacing out and was very confused when it ended. The more I got to know each of the characters in this drama, you could not have physically pulled me away from my laptop, because I was INVESTED and needed to know what happens next. By the way, this is coming from a person who sincerely believes that she has some undiagnosed mild ADHD. I just cannot for the life of me sit through this much of a kdrama on a normal day, but there was something about My Mister that just captivated me so much that I didn’t want to stop watching. When the drama ended, I sobbed for about 10 minutes straight (this might be a tad of an exaggeration) and sat there for a little while, not knowing what to do with my sad life now that my only source of entertainment in a while is finally over. I loved all the characters of this drama (even the “evil” ones) because none of them were written to be completely good or completely evil. Our main leads, even, have done some questionable things in this drama, however this type of unexpected behavior coming from seemingly predictable characters is what added the depth to their personalities. I could relate so much to the less moral characters, because as fucked up as their actions were, you could understand where they were coming from. There aren’t villains or heroes in My Mister. There are just regular people who do what they need to do for their and for other people’s happiness. The OST was absolutely incredible, and I loved the atmosphere of this drama quite a bit. The pacing was on the slower side, but this was totally okay and still engaged me throughout the whole series. If I have any parting words, it is to just watch this drama even if you don’t think you’d like it, because I, too, was incredibly turned off by the seemingly boring synopsis that MyDramaList provided. This Kdrama will be one I will not forget for a long time.

Leia Mais

It was such a great show but they ruined it so badly in last 4 episodes that I wont reccomend it to anybody who loves cinema.
Story- 10/10 I am giving 10 because main heart of the story was mid life crisis and all other mental problems faced by middle class adults of all ages. It was frighteningly real. I will not go into romance part bcoz I will not even consider it in actual story.
Writer - (7/10) Park Hae-Young wrote such a wonderful script but in order to write a romance she ended up ruining it. It could have been a perfect masterpiece but it felt short of it bcoz of Romance. Writer lost her sense of purpose in last 4 episodes. In first episode it has been clearly said that without romance drama couldn't be successful thats why they included woman in the drama and it actually felt like it, romance was the most unnecessary part of this drama and that's what ruined the last 4 episodes. They could have easily skipped the romance part and presented as normal healing relation bw boss and employee. I will deduct 3 points out of her work because I feel like she forcefully added romance to make it a hit, either she was forced or decided to earn money by sacrificing a great story. She is such a big writer she could have easily held her ground and would have decided against it but she didn't.
Camera work: (5/10 ) Camera work for such a great drama was not upto standard, felt like somebody has employed novice to the work. In the first five minutes of drama they chose shaky effect but it was so shaky that I felt dizzy and in later episodes it was quite lacking too. In one of the episodes where ML enrters in the restaurant to meet his ex director, just when he opens the door, his face is covered with foggy apearance and not clear bcoz of shitty camera work. Effect chosen for the Drama are of some1 who is new to effects.
Director- I didn't find much of reason to criticise the direction, director pretty much held the drama together.
OST- 10/10. I have not found a single drama where IU has acted and OST want good. Every IU drama makes me wanna search for OST.
Acting-7.5/10 Although Acting was decent on everybody's part but some stalwarts like Park Ho-san seriously failed to give his best, he is such a good actor but I felt like he never really felt like acting in the Drama hence he decided not to put his heart into it. This drama made good actors look bad. And dont let me start on actress Lee Ji-Ah, her acting never looked good in front of great actors. I dont get it who decided to emply her for the role.
Makeup artists, Costume designer- (4/10) in last 4 episodes it felt like even they have given up on drama. They dressed the ML so badly in last 4 episodes that it felt like ML has changed to some other actor. To make IU look too miserable, they chose a makeup that would look good on a person who has been forzen in ice, I mean what's up with too much red undereyes.
Apart from that a great story depicting the realistic lifestyle of Korean middle aged men, Hardships in life faced by both young people who didnt get to meet right persons in their childhood and Hardships faced by adults even after trying living their life the way society expects them to be.

Leia Mais

This drama says the real meaning of this sentence : the true love is when he loves you while you don't even love yourself !
Indeed, if someone has a man like Park Dong Hoon in her life, will never be hopeless in life !
But I thought Kang Yoon Hee should will get a bad luck in her life cause of the treason... It's not justice to continues to life like nothing happens !
And about IU, this cute girl i've to say, she is perfect ! But i think she could use more feelings in her character as any person !
Overall, it's one of the most amazing dramas I've ever seen ! <3

Leia Mais

I don't know how to react to this drama. Surely, the cast is great. The acting is also superb. The story is very unique...but sometimes too unique.
I don't like how unclear the ML feelings for FL, if there's any. Like I know he's just too decent and kind, but sometimes his actions lead me to believe he indeed fell for the FL. Other side characters also affirm to my thoughts but he never did put blatant actions to pursue her... and that ending too. It's fine if they didn't went to that romantic sides too but at least be clear.
It's nice to watch it but I won't probably rewatch it. It's just too painful that my soul is still feeling the pain.

Leia Mais

I was always wondering how this drama could have the highest rating here since it is a melo and not many love this genre, yet somehow this drama managed to win the hearts of many. How? I've put this drama on-hold for many months and finally decided to give it a try yesterday. As like my previous two times of trying to watch it, I was ready to drop it within the first ten minutes. The drama seemed too dull, depressing and the cinematography also gave me that stressful feeling. But I forced myself to continue as I loved the actors of the leads.

I've watched the main lead before in coffee prince and 'My wife is having an affair this week' and the female lead was an amazing actress despite her young age of just 25. She has received many criticisms for being an idol actress but her acting is far superior than many veterans I've seen. She managed to deliver her lines and portray the characters in her previous dramas: "The best lee soon shin", "The producers" and the best of them all: "Scarlet heart". She always managed to capture my attention regardless of whether she was the female lead or not. I was a bit hesitant when I heard she was playing a depressing, mature and witty role this time as I was so used to her cheerful characters in the above mentioned dramas, but she really proved herself to be a versatile actress in this drama, one I'm really looking forward to seeing in future dramas :)

Anyways, once i got to the middle of the episode, I was totally glued to my screen and unable to divert my attention elsewhere. The cinematography, the A-list actors, the story, the characters, everything made me fall in love with this drama. And before I knew it, i had already reached the end of the episode and was once again awestruck by IU's acting and found myself clicking the next episode, and the next, and the next, till I had already reached the end. The ending was also perfect for me.

The chemistry between the leads was also surprisingly good. I thought it would be difficult to show romance since ML is already married and FL is too young but man, their actions, expressions and their eyes when they look at each other were enough to tell me how they feel for each other. No words were needed. Now, this is what I call amazing acting skills!

A must watch for all K-drama lovers, regardless of whether you like this type of drama or not. Just watch at least until episode 2. If it still doesn't catch your interest, then just move on to another drama.

Leia Mais

My Mister was the most realistic and moving drama I've ever watched. There's no glamour, the characters are all sad in their own way, the mood is subdued, the colors are dark, the music melancholy, it's slow, and nothing much happens. Yet, My Mister turns all of these things in to positives, into strengths. If you are not someone who can handle slow dramas with no action then this is not the show for you. However, if you are the type of person who desperately wants to feel with your whole soul the very essence of what it is to live then this drama is perfect.

Though each character is pitiable in their turn they all have human faults and strengths. Each is relatable not because you can see yourself in them but because you can recognize their humanity. It was incredibly slow at first and difficult to commit to for that reason. It is also not a drama to be binge watched. Instead My Mister should be taken slowly so that it can seep into your skin and down to your heart. But if you can get passed that it is worth every minute of your time. You may ask what is so captivating about two brothers running a cleaning business, a poor girl harassed by debtors, a cheating wife, or a middle aged salaryman and I would answer that it is their humanity. This drama so perfectly captures the human condition that it at times frightened me with its understanding. I cried so many times over this drama. It moved me in a way only the best novels have ever done before.

Don't let your misconceptions about the age gap blind you. This is not a romance. It is simply about people. People struggling to live and being forced to keep going no matter how much it hurts. And it was beautiful.

Leia Mais

The best Korean TV show I have ever seen.

I've never done a review before so i'll try to keep this short, but this show is absolutely amazing and that's all you really need to know.

Many Korean shows deal with the idea of love, loss and tragedy... but no other does it in such and understated yet powerful way. Dong-hoon and Ji-an are intelligently written characters that feel completely genuine and real, as if they aren't characters to entertain you but real people out there in the world. Their onscreen chemistry is amazing. Though its not romantic, that doesn't take away from the fact that when these two are on screen together it is always magic; and that is only uplifted by the understated nature of every performance in this show, only strengthening the power of what is happening onscreen. That is especially apparent for the two leads in this show, seriously watch this show even if its just to see these two acting side by side.

However, I don't think the two leads are the strongest part of this show. The side characters often steal the show entirely. The brothers of Dong-hoon, Sang-hoon and Ki-hoon have a brilliant bond with each other and the main, and both have their own personal problems that are equally compelling even if they lack the depth that Dong-hoon's problems have.
Though the real star of the show for me is Kwang-il. His screen time is limited in comparison to many of the characters in the series, but his relationship with Ji-an is incredibly captivating leaving u wanting to know more by the end of each interaction between them. The conclusion to his character, involving a somewhat surprising turn of good will towards Ji-an, is perfectly written and only adds to my already high opinion of him. Of course his actor Jang Ki-yong does an amazing job and completely steals the show in every scene he is in.

This isn't my area of expertise, but to my untrained eyes the visuals of this show are spot on, the camera angles and visuals created at each pivotal scene within the show are brilliant and really support the weight of what is happening onscreen effectively. The soundtrack is also fantastic, helping you to feel the weight of the emotional moments of the show, especially the more thoughtful tracks within the listing.

Overall, My Mister is a special kind of show that only comes every so often. Though its slow pacing and plot twists make a second viewing a lesser experience, for a first time watch, there isn't much out there better than My Mister.

9.5/10

Leia Mais

"You're Nice".

There was something profoundly heartfelt about My Mister. This is a drama - a true drama - about pitiful people for pitiful people. Our main characters are essentially losers, outcasts, jokes amongst their peers. However we learn vital lessons through their actions, we hear healing stories as well as heartbreaking ones.

Park Dong Hoon is the man everyone wants to be while also being the man no one wants to be. No one is more genuine and honest than Dong Hoo, but that affects his life in a huge way. No set of brothers are so close to each other that when one is sad, they are all upset by proxy and feel guilt at any form of happiness. That bond is unbreakable. And thus, this affects his home life with his wife feeling isolated, lonely and, herself, an outcast. Of course, this leads to her being unfaithful with one of the few people Dong Hoon dislikes. But My Mister is so much more than a story about infidelity. It's about the hardships of life. Nothing is more evident than his relationship with a subordinate, Lee Ji-Ah. A broken person who is stuck in a life of debt, pain and frustration. Lee Ji-Ah spy's on Dong Hoon because of the affair under the orders of CEO Do Jun-Yeong, who is sleeping with Kang Yui-hi, Dong Hee’s wife however she develops love for Dong Hee in the process and begins to help him in this struggle. Is My Mister about romance? No, but there is a clear returned love between the two characters, as shown through dialogue and visual storytelling in Dong Hee’s case. But again, there is a maturity to the relationships as well. My Mister is so multi-layered in that regard. Outside of our main story of lust and politics, there is the comonardary with the brothers and the neighbours friends of Dong Hee. And the subsequent stories that are splintered off and are given just as much meaning and purpose to the story as Dong Hee’s climb to the top. There were so many characters, so many plots that were quite frankly perfectly executed and mapped out flawlessly.

Every episode felt like a movie in itself. There was a long run time with each episode which was risky because it can feel long winded. However the lengthy time run only made me feel more immersed in the story. It made me feel a part of everything. When it was sad, I felt it. When it was happy, I was happy. My Mister played with your emotions. And that was thanks to the immaculate performances from each character. IU and Lee Sun Kyun especially. Kim Young Min as Jun-Yeong as well. It's difficult to pick out certain people because this was truly a team effort.

My Mister was very sentimental, sad and euphoric at the same time.

Leia Mais

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