I was excited for this drama because IU starts in it (I'm a fan), and decided to watch it because of that fact alone (Oh and the director also because of Misaeng). I didn't even read the synopsis or anything.
This drama is just... everything. I have finished all episodes and yet I still don't know where to categorize this under. Maybe it deserves a new category on its own. Maybe it doesn't need to be.
Perfecting the trifecta of directing, writing, and acting is a given in every well-made drama. This drama did that and more-- its story is seemingly bleak and gloomy but strangely... refreshing. How they were able to make each line and each character greater than the sum of its parts was way beyond anyone's expectations.
The ending was one of the best I've seen, I was contented, and everything was beautiful, but I didn't want it to end. I'm still craving. I still want to see them go to their workplaces every morning, then to Jung Hee's at night. I'm just thinking that there's a parallel universe out there where Ji An buys Dong Hoon food (and drinks!) for the first time, and the neighborhood gang still stuck together. Just seeing them live their mundane lives... (After the credits finished rolling I was still crying, half because of the overwhelming feelings, half because it's truly over).
Another new thing this drama brought to the table was Ji An and Dong Hoon's relationship. Words are definitely not enough to describe how simple and complex their relationship is--at the same time. I wouldn't delve into this further because I honestly don't know how to; it is best enjoyed and witnessed first-hand. I'm just sad whenever some viewers reduce this pair into a typical 'romantic' one, when they are much, much more than that.
If I were to describe the overall theme of this drama in one word, it's humanity. That simple... yet arduous to define, what more to put into a drama. Yet this crew did it, and with flying colors.
My Mister is definitely my insaeng (life) drama.
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Life is not easy but never give up, fighting!
"My Mister" is a healing story about three brothers struggling in their midlife crisis in both their workplace and family. This narrative is intertwined with the story of an extremely damaged young woman dealing with debt and poverty. The show delves into office crimes and corporate espionage, all while exploring marriage problems and the socioeconomic gap. It effectively illustrates that people are messy, showcasing their life situations and the reasoning behind their actions. The quiet, cold, and gritty tone of the show works really well with the OSTs and ASMR, such as footsteps and breathing.When the two leads start interacting, I become very intrigued to know their story, especially Lee Ji An (IU), who grew up to be an endearing thug. She's a very guarded person with nothing to lose and no fear, doing anything to survive. Her mannerisms are touching, and I feel her vulnerability. I particularly loved her character growth. Then, of course, I can't think of anyone besides Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hun. He truly is noble, with respect for people, life, being generous and sincere. His beautiful voice, heard directly and through Lee Ji An’s perspective (which I avoid explaining further to prevent spoilers), makes him unforgettable. The ending feels complete and gives me a warm feeling. My only quibble is the silly subplots. I think the drama as a whole would be more engaging with less time dedicated to the subplots.
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A year and a half has passed since then and I find myself now mentally healthy enough, in defiance of every day problems, not only to watch and finish it but also to rewatch the whole thing from the beginning. In retrospect, what exactly put me through hell weren't really the hardships that may, or may not, had come my way, but the feeling of being lonely, scared that nobody will understand, afraid that nobody will like the true sad face behind this ever-glowing smile. Little did I know, and little had i understοοd back then, this was exactly what my mister was about in the end.
My Mister isn't just a drama, isn't, probably, just the best drama that i have ever watched, it is life itself. Trying to delve deep into My Mister and then convey its meaning in written form ends up being a challenging job as I have taken so many notes in order to write this review, and yet nothing really makes as much sense as the feeling while watching and as I have finished this peace of true art. Therefore I'll start backwards and prompt everyone to watch this masterpiece. It doesn't really matter what genre you like, what mood you are into, what type of person you are, if you have feelings, are romantic or dead inside, my mister will open and warm a beautiful place in your heart with its rawness, its beauty, its soul, its reality.
The drama talks about the hardships of adult life and how they shape us, directing the way we live and the type of people we end up being - good or bad. Problems, sucky lives, faking it till we make it, facing horrible, selfish people, emotional draining jobs and a rotten society that makes good people feel worthless for being fair.
The goal of the drama is to show us how to battle the inescapable sadness that attacks the earnest people and eats them alive while showing several personal life issues, always putting in the center that everybody has it hard and that should not make them evil, but rather more caring instead. Survival, strife for money, unfulfilled dreams, giving up hope, career problems, society demanding and accepting only perfection from us, failed marriages, wrong choices, family issues, fear of failure, fear of being misunderstood are only glimpses of what my mister has to offer as reasons for sadness in people's lives.
How to survive? Two ways are offered by my mister's profound writer, or are they offered by life itself?
The goal is to not let all that destroy us, destroy the hope, the confidence, the faith, the optimism in our lives and how we get to do that? How we get to stay afloat and survive, just a little bit? Just enough to get through the day? Friendship and family. Family, those people who will always be there no matter what, no matter if you want them or no, the people who will be summoned at once when you kneel. And of course friends, the family we choose from ourselves, the people who will put a smile on our faces even when the whole world around us is crumbling, who will listen to all our stupid shit no matter how tedious they might be, just because they care. People who, around them, it's ok not to be ok, it's ok not to be perfect. Not being alone is the goal. People's support is the key to happiness and survival. A beautiful soul once said "every person in our life has a purpose and what we should do to repay them is to live a happy life". Let's all live a happy life, let's all be grateful for the people we have in our lives that love us and thank them! Happiness is small things.
And then in midst of all that, that may or may not turn us in complete passive doormats trying to survive in the sidelines or crazy dogs trying to fight our way through, a special magical person will appear who will, without trying, maybe even without even wanting, tap deeper inside our soul, see us for who we really are, understand us respect and love us for us. A person who will be there, a person who will see you being vulnerable and will stay, a person who will see you cry and won't bat an eye, your person. The drama is about finding our person, that one special person, around whom, we can fully be our perfect broken down selves and that will be ok. Our person!
The drama teaches us the importance of forgiveness, empathy, understandings, meritocracy, of acceptance of others, of ourselves and our mistakes and so so on. Hell, it even showed a great, magnificent example of what transformational leadership is like! I have a MBA and this drama did it better than managerial books (lol). It seriously compells you to watch, it touches your heart, it shocks you and simply moves you with its beautiful message and pacing.
Plot-wise you are thrown in a company with some serious scheming going on and you get to witness how the two main leads seamlessly grow closer together without any cliche happening, without any classic romantic scene by the book. The plot, however, was mysterious and pretty dark without it being makjang though. It might be argued that it was slow, but the build up and the development was so well thought out, I cannot really point out any flaw or any plot hole or any actual dragging or plot slower device or sub story of filler episode. Even the comic relief was so, so meaningful. This is one smooth drama.
Moving on to acting, "life work" has been called the actors' effort in this drama and It is totally, absolutely justifiable. IU shut a lot of mouths with her work here and I'm so glad for that. She can pretty much act solely is silly rom coms from now as she has done this! Her performance was shivering in every way. This is truly a life's work for IU who ended up being my favourite actress after this.
Lee Sun Kyun didn't really need to prove anything, however I firmly believe this is one of his best works so far and he will be remembered for this. His character and his portrayal was luscious and I'm Thankful for him acting in this role.
The whole support cast was marvelous, an overall standing ovation. No character was there simply as a plot device, even the antagonists ended up showing deeper complexity by the end. Having such multiple layered characters is just so unique, especially when the cast is so big.
At this point I want to thank and mention the writer, Park Hae Young outdid herself. This was beautiful, the most accurate and simple word I can use. I wish i had a more sophisticated one. This was truly beautiful. Thank you.
Finally the music was excellent and purposeful as well as absolutely appropriate.
The drama gracefully doesn't reduce the concept of "my mister aka my person " to just romance, your person can be a friend, a relative, a family member, a lover even a co worker. Your person can be anyone who can see you for you without trying, that special person. Here's to all of us finding that special person. I found him, and God, I'm happy, for the first time in my life I've been alive, so yes, my mister did that for me, and I wish that to all of you. Let's hang in there! Fighting!
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This show is about friendship, kindness, family, community, forgiveness and so much more. Honestly, I would not know how to describe every beautiful moment within each episode. Topics such as adultery, greed, depression, loneliness, etc are dealt with such finesse. It doesn’t feel like a trope used to force a situation or outcome. It’s real and raw and handled very intelligently. More shows should use this show to understand how to portray difficult topics such as the ones shown.
My Ahjussi is beautiful and delicate and wraps you up in the stories of everyone involved. You'll find yourself crying, smiling and rooting for everyone in the show. Each character is developed fully and you get to see their journey throughout the series. The cast did an excellent job in telling their characters story and making the viewer understand their actions and emotions. Oh the emotions! In scenes with hardly any dialogue, you know exactly how each character is feeling. Especially with IU’s character; she doesn’t talk much but you can see the pain and worry and strong resolve in her facial expressions and body language. Lee Sun Kyun is a standout actor in portraying the inner turmoil of Park Dong Hoon.
The scenes with both IU and Lee Sun Kyun feels so natural and you can feel the chemistry that flows easily between them. Their love for each other feels so untainted and pure. It's the kind of love you feel when you truly and wholly know a person, the good and the bad. It's different from what is normally shown on tv and yet it's just as beautiful and heartwarming.
This is not a love story though, rather it is a life story. How the life of someone can be changed by showing kindness and respect. The values shown are so important and yet so simple that we take it for granted in our everyday life.
The soundtrack is captivating. I especially love "The Man" when it’s played for the two brothers. The mood set when it's played is fun and mischievous, perfectly capturing the adventures of Sang Hoon and Gi Hoon. "Grown Ups" is a song that when I hear it, I’m instantly reminded of the moments I’ve spend watching My Ahjussi.
My Ahjussi is a drama that will tug at your heart strings. I don’t think there will ever be another drama that’s quite like this. It’s unique and will be my No.1 drama for a very long time.
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This review may contain spoilers
I still Don't Understand whats so SPECIAL about this K-Drama!
How can this Drama be a masterpiece?There are so many problems in the story.
For instance how is it that Ji Ahn is able to break the law and get away with it? How is it that she is easily forgiven by everyone for invading her co-worker's (male lead's) private life. Through wiretapping and stalking. Stalking and invading a person's privacy like that is not okay. So many people claim this to be a realistic Drama. Far from reality!
Imagine if the roles were reversed, and Dong Hoon is the one stalking Ji Ahn and wiretapping all her conversations with her husband for example. Isn't that creepy? What happend to double standards?
Also let's not overlook how Ji Ahn is constantly being beaten up by Kwan Ii, and no one else seems to notice and do anything about it.
It's really irritating when this drama focuses so much on this depressive aspect! There's no real end goal towards the end of the story. Like goals to achieve for the main leads.
And the brothers are not interesting at all, they are drunken bums who adds very little to the story, just comical. While the Drama is pretty dark itself, and a lot of the time the characters are like depressed. And basically stuck in their situations. The pacing and story is really boring, at least include something interesting about the brothers.
I appalud them for not going the romantic way, meaning Ji Ahn and Dong Hoon were not ending up together.
Also Ji Ahn should have at least seen a psychiatrist at this point! Instead of taking all that abuse and hardships. She could have done something earlier! But all she does is cry half the time on the show, there is no real growth with her till like the last episode when we see her after the time skip.
Well this Drama is definitely not for me! Waste of Time!
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First couple episodes are quite slow, but you'll regret not watching the whole series
Wow - what a turn around this drama was after a couple of slow episodes at the start! Acting and plot thickness was a delight to behold, the music was intense and gripping, the big-time production helping bind all the greatness together - what a drama!I also like the originality of the characters, something you would find really rare when considering the normal personality traits that main characters show in a drama. Supporting characters are also great as you will definitely find some emotional attachment to them too.
Overall I strongly suggest you try this show out - 'My Mister' is an underrated gem.
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My Mister successfully touches on universal themes of brotherhood, friendship, perseverance, selflessness, accountability, forgiveness, acceptance, and letting go. The stellar supporting cast makes a frank exploration of these themes not just possible, but deep and poignant, adding to the already rich narrative. Much like adhering to strict building codes, these friends and family members resemble pillars which boost each other up in good times and bad
So somone plz give this show all the Korean Oscars known T__T
hope everyone start this drama without read any synopsis , just start watching and enjoy with everything in screen ❤
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Story - The drama tells the story of an apathetic structural engineer and an impoverished young lady and the hardships that they face with their respective families. It takes you on a long and emotional journey depicting the bond that grows between the two main characters. At first, I thought it sounded a bit boring. I didn't think there would be anything special or really interesting about the interaction between two different people... and I've never been more wrong in my life. In retrospect, the story can be said to be predictable, but this drama isn't about the twists and turn. Rather, it's about being human and overcoming life's obstacles which is something everyone can relate to.
Honestly, I'm not a big crier, but this drama made me bawl. Hard. I never thought I could feel this much emotion watching something. The writers get you hooked onto the depressed and broken character of Lee Ji-An to the point where you can completely and realistically feel her pain and absolutely empathize with her. Same goes for the character of Park Dong Hoon. They're just ordinary people, yet there's something so appealing and engaging about their stories, you can't help but be emotionally attached. The setting and cinematography were also so fitting and masterful. Some scenes and shots were truly gorgeous and breathtaking.
One small downside I can think of would be the interaction between one of Park Dong Hoon's brothers, Park Ki Hoon and an actress Choi Yoo-Ra. Even though they received a decent amount of screen time, I wasn't able to deeply connect with the two and could not find any substance to cling onto. Nonetheless, the extraordinary main story completely overshadows any dull plot points, making them really insignificant in the grand scheme, at least for me.
Acting - The chemistry between IU (Lee Ji An) and Lee Sun-Kyun (Park Dong Hoon) was heavenly. How could anyone come up with such a perfect pairing for these two roles? IU man. Lee Ji-Eun. Saying she was perfect for this role is an understatement. I've been a long time fan but seeing how well she embraced this role heightens my respect for her. All her moments of silences in this drama spoke volumes. Her soft voice, her facial expressions & microexpressions, and her tears were all so heartrending. There was one scene towards the end where she said one line and I completely lost all ability to hold in my emotions.
Lee Sun-Kyun was a very fitting Ahjussi for this role. A reserved, intelligent and kind-hearted man who sparingly shows his emotions. When you do get a glimpse of his emotions, you can feel just how heavy his burdens are. A fantastic character and an even more fantastic actor.
All the supporting characters did an excellent job, but Song Sae Byuk played an unbelievable brother. Although, as I said before, I didn't really feel his chemistry with Kwon Nara, certain dialog exchanges between him and LSK were incredibly moving.
One character that I felt didn't give me the emotion I wanted at times was Lee Ji-Ah's character, Kang Yoon-Hee. Some emotions felt a little forced and unnatural, but given that her character was tough to portray, she did pretty well.
Music - There's not a single thing wrong with it. I don't know what else to say... Every piece fits so well, seamlessly into the drama and enhanced the already powerful emotion that the actors drew out. The main theme - "Adult" by Sondia truly captured the essence of the film. The lyrics were so deep and powerful and really brought the drama to another level.
Besides the main theme, a couple of other OST/BGMs really stood out to me. "Feel Guilty" by Jeon Se Jin is a dark, eerie and melancholy piece which, for a strange reason, really worked with those "guilty" scenes. "My Family" by Lee Yun Ji is a really heartwarming piece that contributed to a lot of the tears, always played at just the right moments and killing me emotionally.
Some people are asking for a second season, but that is definitely a no from me. This drama ended perfectly. Like legitimately, perfectly. The last dialog and scene were perfect. I know I keep using the word perfect, but that's the closest word to my feelings. If there was a word better than perfect I would use it. I tried my best to describe this drama in words, but honestly, I can't do it enough justice. Even now, I'm still at a loss for words. My Mister is just a drama you have to watch for yourself. Really sit there and watch it. Remove yourself from reality and really place yourself into this world when you watch it. You will laugh and you will cry, but you won't regret it one bit.
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The Best Ever Made
It cannot be overstated, how masterful the acting performances were in this drama. Each and every actor, no matter how large or small their role had moments where they moved me in some way. IU may as well have been Ji-an, she so perfectly embodied Ji-an’s misery and loneliness which eventually gave way to acceptance and peace. The way she let go of her unhappiness after Grandma’s funeral was so subtle yet so powerful, I had to stop and collect myself before I could go on watching. Jang Ki-yong as Kwang-il made a similarly deep impression on me, somehow making me care even for such a violent man, even if it was mostly to mourn for the loving person he could have been if he hadn't trapped himself in his unfortunate circumstances. And of course, Lee Sang-hyun, Lee Ji-ah, and the rest of this amazing cast gave what I would call performances of a lifetime, each bringing something special to the characters that made me fall in love with each and every one of them (Okay, maybe not Joon-young). But even he did a stellar job with his role.It may seem overly dramatic to those who haven’t seen My Ajusshi, but I think that those of us who have been graced by this beautiful drama will understand when I say that this drama is a precious gift. It reminds us that what’s important in life isn’t material things, or appearances, or even whether we find perfect happiness. It’s the relationships we share with others, whatever shape they may take, and how we treat those around us that give our lives meaning. As Grandma said: “If you think about it, each and every interpersonal relationship is quite fascinating and precious. You must repay them. Live a happy life. That’s how you can repay the people in your life.” I don’t think it can be said any better than that.
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