Strongest Deliveryman (2017)

Perhaps I feel differently than most because I'm in my early 20s and felt a connection to most of the characters in this drama. For me personally, this drama really grew on me to the point where I was a little disappointed that the end came so quickly. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

The first few episodes were kinda meh to say the least, not terrible, but not amazing. However, I always had an affinity for slice of life dramas and I continued watching. I think the shift happened right around when they decided to become 'Strongest Deliveryman' and that's when it started to feel like I was watching a whole new and exciting show. I will have to disagree with the majority and say that i absolutely loved Kang Soo and Dan Ah's relationship more than I did the second leads. Don't get me wrong though, the second leads were lit and sooooo funny but the first leads were more impactful to me, because I wasn't sold on their compatibility as a couple initially. In the earlier episodes I never felt the chemistry, but as the episodes progressed I fell for how well it was portrayed as a realistic relationship.

What I really enjoyed in this drama was how it made me feel as young adult who often felt like the world and everything was against me. Dan Ah calling Korea hell resonated with me so much because I feel that everyday here in America. I'm not rich, I'm not even "comfortable" in that sense. I have student loans and car payments and rent and its hard to not feel discouraged at times. Kang Soo was relatable to me because I'm the type of person that would give the clothing off her own back if it meant someone else was comfortable. Min chan, I saw myself in the way he was trying to live up to his parent's expectations; i also saw my friends who have graduated from college, but still cab't secure a job. This drama really was like a breath of air and a word of encouragement for me (so corny, I know!).

I appreciated Kim Sunho's portrayal of Jin Gyu so much because brought such depth to his character that it was ridiculous to even think that he was supposed to be a "villain" earlier in the story. Honestly, Ji Yoon's character was comedic, but that's really the extent of it which wasn't bad in the least.

I'm kind of rambling now, but yeah, I really digged this one. And I'll definitely miss it.

Read More

The paragraph of blurb on this one didn't engage with me at all, so even though it was a Chae Soo Bin story it kept getting bumped down my watch list.

Decided that it's been long enough and I wanted to watch another CSB drama so I fired it up. I wish i'd watched this one sooner, it was SO good. Watched the whole thing in a fairly short space of time (2 days i think) and was driven to keep going to continue to find out more about how the situations evolved and the characters developed.

There are lots of little stories going on in here, there's more than two couples - with two of them being at the forefront and another one or two sneaking in the sidelines. There's actual real development in the maturity and growth of at least two of the characters as they evolve from the way they are at the beginning to being better human beings. There's one moment that starts to smack of "oh god here comes the stupid breakup", but it's on something like Episode 15 so... you can kinda guess it's not going anywhere, but it does go further to re-enforce the strength of the characters involved and their resolve to help each other.

Chae Soo Bin is marvelous as always, a strong and independent character who takes charge of her own life and safety of it numerous times. It's always good to see when a story has both the male and female leads being strong, it's too easy to have one strong character (whichever gender) and one weak leaning on them. It's much harder to have two strong characters who lean or support as each situation requires - but it's so much better when it works that way I think, the best relationships have strong independent people in them.

Music - one track stood out, Must Have by Jang Jae-in, I need to listen to the rest of the OST but I love that track, it kept notably popping up and now i've listened to the whole thing on YouTube it's just a great song overall with a beautiful voice in some quieter moments without much backing track, and others with a much more full sound. Brilliant.

Hmm, another bit of the OST comes on in the background while writing this, The End of the Day by Na Yoon Kwon - that ones a cracker too.

The story overall is a bit of a david vs goliath. It's really interesting as they start out with the food alley in the situation it's in and then the evolution of idea after idea to improve and change things combined with the challenge and response coming from the "goliath" in the story. I really appreciated the business elements of this one and the creative (but quite reasonable) solutions they were putting forward, along with a reasonable reaction from the consumers to the idea.

There is a bit towards the start where she thinks that he's a transvestite which makes some some hilarious bits.

Definitely recommend a watch if you like romance, nothing really bad-heavy happens, characters emotionally developing - and if you're a fellow Chae Soo Bin fan, then it's really a no-brainer, stop reading this and get watching.

Read More