SKY Castle (2018)

EVERYTHING IS EXECUTED PERFECTLY

The show is entirely about parenthood and Korean education system. It has a great cast and all of them performed excellently. There were so many characters but all of them are remarkable. Even the kids and teens delivered their performances very well. The show has a deep storyline (which is about parenthood) but it managed to balance the watching experience by comedy scenes.

What I saw in the show is that Coach Kim is a representation of a living demon. The main character Seo Jin always ended up asking for help from a demon, which is Coach Kim. There was always temptation from Coash Kim and Seo Jin seemed like sold her family to the devil. The show emphasized to let go all the greed, ambition and wrongdoings to make things right. And I'm glad that Seo Jin chose the goodness in the end.

Here are my views on the families in SKY CASTLE:

Hwang Family- The model family. The parents are well mannered and managed to raised their son without any pressure. I understand in the end when U-Ju decided to drop out in school. For me, he knows what he wants and he wants to live his life to the fullest and his parents support him 100%.

Kang Family- The ambitious family. I really hate Seo Jin for being a manipulative mother, wife and neighborhood, so as Ye Seo for being so rude and having no respect to elders. Honestly, I wanted them to have the same fate as what happened to Young-Jae's family because of their attitude. However, for the sake of character development that will give lesson to viewers, their ending is so much okay. Jang-suk is so handsome! LOL

Cha Family- The comic family. They have the most hilarious scenes from the disbandment of Reading Club, to the noodle scene and many more. I love the bond between the mother and her children. Even though she had so much pressure in her studies when she was just a student, she chose to protect her children from her husband from being so obsessed in harsh teaching methods.

Woo Family-The happy family. Even though the parents have high ambition for their son, they still manage to be loving parents to him. I admire how the mother hugged her son in the bed.

This dark comedy series has a good run. I'm so amused of the rivalry of the two doctors, Professor and Doctor Kang, the fight of the families, etc. I thought the story was stupid during watching the first episode because of the parents' ambition for their children and I was feeling like I didn't like it. But I was wrong, it has a relevant goal and the show is executed perfectly and successfully. I firmly believe that Sky Castle Story can happen in real life. Most of the scenes were written in a realistic way, some of those was when Hyena didn't have the chance to confess to her Dad that she is his daughter.

PS: I watched this because of Kim Dong Hee (one of the twins) and ended up liking al the characters.

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I have seen so many people recommend this drama, and after watching it, I can see why. I really appreciate this plot because it wasn’t the typical lovey dovey kdrama. Instead, it focused on how society has an impact on what we believe is successful and how stressful school can be. It hit close to home and I’ll admit I was a bit too invested in this drama.

The characters were really well portrayed. Some of them were so annoying that I wanted to jump through the screen and personally beat them up (especially the pyramid dad). What I loved most was how the characters developed and grown in the final episodes. When Ye Seo’s mom turned in the files to the police, I cried so much. I thought she was going to disappoint us again but she FINALLY did the right thing. In the beginning, the twins’ mom was so weak, but I was so happy when she finally stood up against her husband. His reaction to her rebellions were PURE COMEDY. Even though the coach was evil, it‘s okay because she’s hot (all fax no printer).

I cried so many times throughout this drama it’s ridiculous. I’ll quickly mention my favorite scenes that I cried to, since this review is getting long. The first one was when Soo Han and his mom were laying in bed together and she mentioned how she doesn’t know if she’s doing the right thing by making him study so much. The second scene was when the writer took Kay to go see her mom in jail. That just poured more salt on my wounds since the final episodes were already making me sad. After everything the coach did to her, the writer still managed to look after her daughter and it was just so kind. I couldn’t help it and cried HARD.

There were so many layers and twists in the plot, but everything closed off perfectly in the end. Truly, chef’s kiss.

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I wasn't going to watch this drama originally as I am not one for heavy dramas with mean parents who lack basic morals but the High viewing rate and deep reviews convinced me to give it ago and I can say this is one of my top favourite dramas (which so far is a list of 2).

1. The acting is so incredible I was screaming at certain scenes and characters I was fully invested. The parents are cast perfectly. Kim hye Yoon portrays the Seojins daughter Yesoo amazingly she is strong and frightened and completely corrupted by her parent's upbringing yet still has the strength to (eventually) be a better person. Every character grows in the end despite it seeming impossible (you'll know what I mean by the end)

2. A satire, completely over the top but also perfectly accurate, I wouldn't be surprised if things like this actually occurred in certain rich areas. The rich can truly be corrupted.

3. Very emotional with secrets that can destroy a family in a second. My heart ached for Hye-na and woo and the injustice they had to endure. But equally, there are some great laugh out loud moments to lift your spirits especially cha min-hyuk!

Please take time to watch this but be warned it deals with mental health, suicide.

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Sky Castle is innovative, and I appreciate new ideas and stories (why I like foreign dramas) as it makes it fun to watch. The cast is excellent, and acting is top notch. The music is well thought out - don't expect to go searching for an OST unless you are looking for a dopamine hit as in most Dramas its usually repetitive BGM throughout. Camera work is great and utilizes many angles and lens. The show is shot on quality film and is a big budget show based on the quality of the filming. Reviewers who gave this show 10s across appeared to be more emotionally involved than critically reviewing and that's ok. The writers are talented; However, there are too many situations where people are conveniently snooping or hearing things with perfect timing and feel the writers got lazy or didn't know how to resolve those situations. I find that the writers made all the men (Men who are supposed to be high level doctors) slow, dumb, bumbling, and mostly the comic relief. Currently, a Japanese version is airing, and it is clear that they saw this too and throttle it down a lot.

Again, the acting is top notch. You can tell the actors really enjoyed the roles they played. Sky castle at times feels like a movie and then you get sucked back into going - ok this is a drama because of the Dialogue and camera work is not consistent ... it kind of hurts the flow the show - but not enough to want to stop watching. The rest of the Review will have to contain spoilers.

***** Spoilers beyond this point

Here is my biggest problem with Sky Castle. What exactly does it want to be? Does it want to teach a lesson to overbearing parents, or does it want to feed on the emotions of people who may have felt the pressure and/or abuse of parents pushing them to be in the top 1% and getting ratings. The character Cha Min Hyeok (pyramid guy) I get it he is overbearing, obsessive, narcissist even; however, his daughter blows off 60k and fakes going to college, his wife constantly goes behinds his back and undermines him. Many of the parents depicted in the show are disrespected, written as incompetent and feel that it simply pushes away the people who need to see it the most and Sky Castle missed a great opportunity to create some kind of balance were the parents can be respectively written yet be thought a lesson. So basically, revert the show as pure entertainment and nothing more.

Han Seo Jin (lead)- is kind of like the Anti- hero, in a way you want her to win at the end. You kind of understand where she is coming from, and she wants the best for her daughter (and the daughter is on 100%). She is witty, smart, calculating and at the same time she is vinegar and can lie, manipulate and be a *itch. Other than Han Seo Jin - everyone is pretty much unlikeable and this forces you to care for Han Seo Jin because she is the most likable person, and I had no attachment to any of the characters even Noh Seung Hye or Kim Hye Na

Noh Seung Hye (The new neighbor) - I wanted to like her. I think I am supposed to like her, but again Han Seo Jin is the anti-hero so any butting in makes me disconnected from her. Towards the end her character changes dramatically and her character is a critical role for the plot . In reality she should have been the main character and Han Seo Jin "the Villian" but the story builds too much on Han Seo Jin.

Kim Hye Na (The girl that moves in)- this is another character I had no attachment too. She was smug, arrogant, she had no likable features. She even used Noh son as a tool to manipulate Han's daughter. She was constantly snooping around and challenging authority and adults and got caught up into. Its more likely the writer was looking for a Shakespear like tragedy. They could have made her more likable loving and the outcome would have made me feel more like "damn" what a twist.

Kim Joo Young - excellent actor - love the fact you really don't know her motives for 90% for the drama - you don't know if she is bad or good till the very end. I feel that Kim represents more than just a single character - but is the essences of despair among parents and that they are willing to destroy the relationship and mind of the child simply for them to achieve a power position.

Kang Joon Sang (father)- I am glad the Japanese version has cleaned this character up. They made him smart, kind and tolerable. I'm not sure why Sky castle original writers could not write him this way.

Cha Min Hyeok - The comic relief. This is probably the best actor in the show in my opinion, if not second to the Lead actor. My issue again is how the men in the show are all depicted as the emotional abusers of the kids and somehow all the mothers are just willing participant (or victims) when we know in reality they can be just as bad or worse. Again, the writers really drop the ball on making this a good teaching lesson instead of disrespecting the very Parents they are trying to give a message too.



There are 100s of positive reviews and I didn't want to rehash all those points - so even though my review sounds negative all in all it is a great show .

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It’s been a while that i watch this type of drama. It might start out slow and little complicated because there are many characters and the story throw in somehow like rich family theme with some mystery hidden which you can feel like away, i would say i give this atmosphere a thumb up for the director.

The story might not be new for someone, you might see this type of drama somewhere else such as US series. However, this kdrama still deliver the asian stereotype that still see it with wealthy families. There always some issue and secret within wealthy family from what i seen and experience myself. The actors are great and perfect for their role its like they have 3 dimension not bald at all.

The music is also a plus and suitable with the drama.

I would say this drama will definitely get your attention even though you could guess what will happen but still how smooth they writer made for this drama is brilliant, its get your attention and draw you in after watching 2-3 episodes. I wouldn’t spoil anything on my review but if you are looking for a drama that leave you a great message or teach you a issue we had in our society, give this one a try you will love it.

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Prepare for roller coaster ride through Korean life of the privileged.

Here is a drama that completely captures you and will not give you up until the very last episode. The creators of this drama take a very delicate subject matter and tell a painful story of what it's like to grow up Korean with parents whose only design is to make their offspring into masters of the universe.

For the families who inhabit the SKY Castle, a posh living community of the ultra wealthy, the greatest achievement is to churn out children who are doubly successful, as well as provide a source of pride and bragging rights for their over-achiever parents. The journey to this success, however, is filled with sleepless nights, sweat, blood, tears, over paid cutthroat tutors, and lots of parental abuse. The consequences are equally tragic and sets the tone for the ensuing 20 episodes as mothers scheme to get their children into the most exclusive schools while backstabbing and gossiping behind each others' backs, rejoicing in their competitors' misfortunes while compassionately commiserating in the open.

When a new family moves into the community who are less sophisticated and not as driven to achieve the level of success the other parents desire due to natural talent, they unwittingly set of a chain of events that threaten to destroy the SKY Castle as they know it. The story revolves around four families who reside at the Sky Castle, their lives entertaining at home and work, and how they push their children into greatness despite tears and gnashing of teeth.

The creators of Sky Castle bring together an ensemble of extraordinary talent, young and old, to tell this masterfully written story about families who suffer all kinds of tragedies in the quest for greatness. The music is key and woven into the most heart-wrenching scenes. It expresses the dark, twisted personalities within the composed exterior the characters. There are twists you never see coming that utterly devastate you.

Now for the the things I found dissatisfying:

Some of these moms were downright evil. Their lack of compassion and scheming was so over the top, that I really wanted to see them come to a bad end. Instead, they are given an arc of redemption which is a bitter pill to swallow taking into account some actions were illegal as well as malevolent. I am all for people seeing the error of their ways, but there has to be consequences. Some of the characters in this drama show us some filthy sides of their personalities which can be astounding. Yet, they seem to come to their senses almost miraculously and turn into normal people. I don't buy it. There were some plot holes in the minor storylines but, in general, the writing was above average. This one is definitely one of the better k-dramas out there. I recommend this one.

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Most sophisticated and spectacular

Wow! Finally finished this drama after 20 episodes and i must say that to anyone wondering whether this drama is worth watching, do yourself a favour and just watch it.
A lot of dramas i watch, i tend to drop it when it is close to finishing because it doesn't keep me on the edge of the seat to keep wanting to watch it. However, this drama has so much suspense but at the same time is balanced with the humour added, making the drama seem quite realistic, relatable and not tooo dramatic.
I must congratulate the producer, director, writer, costumers, and everyone who participated in this drama because the filming, cuts etc. were truly well done and not a scene was boring. I loved how they played the music at exactly the right moment, it definitely played with my emotions :D This is definitely not a cliche! This drama, although it focuses on the pressures of school, and getting into university, it has been executed in such a different and sophisticated way.
This had me on an emotional high HAHAHA crying one moment, laughing the other and feeling anxious for the kids because it was so relatable. Throughout the drama i was left shocked at the surprising scenes as well! Also, the introduction of new characters throughout the first half of it was very well planned! I was so amazed by what a huge role Hye Na ended up playing.
The ending didn't leave any gaps unfilled and covered every single characters' ending in a very unique way. I love how they especially ended Hye Na's character, Yeh Suh's and Kim Yoo Jung's. Also, how they introduced the new family at the end was very unforseen but made the ending more symbolic, meaningful, and rids of any feelings of cheesiness because you can see that their showing that it isn't the end but a continuous cycle.
I congratulate the whole crew and cast!! The acting was absolutely spot on!!! This is a drama i will definitely rewatch now, and in the future :) I will truly miss this drama!

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After it took me so long to decide which final score I would give to this title, I am now able to write a review about it.

To begin with, the idea of the story was indeed a very serious one. It contains a lot of psychological aspects as well as criticism towards the modern korean society (and sure some other parts of the world). While I was watching this series I've only thought about how they'll deliver such a soul-stirring topic to the viewer. I didn't want to be disappointed first -which I was until episode 6/7. But all of those past episodes served only as a preparation to what'll come after the families will realize what they've done so far to their children. This is why I kept believing in this Kdrama and I didn't regret it after all while at some moments I just wanted to stop watching.But something just kept me going on with it.

After rethinking I guess it were the somewhat comedy-like scenes which I found very disruptive. I don't think they've blend them well into this Kdrama. Or atleast I didn't find them funny at all because I expected a deep analysis of the given subject throughout the whole Kdrama.

But with all due respect I have to admit, that I was attracted by how the writer contrast the families - including their beliefs, likes, dislikes, interests and overall way of living - with each other. Of course, some things might've been way too exaggerated but all in all it was still credible.

This Kdrama was made to let us reconsider what is really important and matters in live. The example with the pyramid was perfect tho to emphasis how people of power think about everyone who are beneath them or live in poverty. The families were ADDICTED to think that way and as a result couldn't think of a way to get out of it. Everything that has happened to them and nearly destroyed the familie's life and cohesion, was because of their greed. They've completely ignored their children's wishes, sorrow, stress. It was all about reputation, authority, power, performance.

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We All Lie

This drama reminded me of this Western TV series Wisteria Lane Desperate Housewives and a suburban TV series entitled to that of the neighborhood they live infused as one. It is somehow giving off that vibe. But on a serious note, the plot is a cutthroat reality of the educational system in the country of South Korea. A lot of power play in this drama.

As I carefully examine the lives of the women in these series and their role as queen of their respective houses, I cannot help but place myself in their shoes. I have never believed that a woman could only function as someone who picks the children from school, prepare meals, and see to the comfort situation at home. Not to sound so feminist, I do believe that a woman could also have a career, run a house, and have time for herself. Yes, it could be quite a challenging feat, and a lot of times, only one role emerges supreme. It is to the point that she has to give up one or the other. Although for me, I have always challenged the status quo. Our parents put us to a reputable school and struggled the same to make something of our lives.

Don't get me wrong; I think there is nothing wrong with staying at home and be a full-time mom and wife. It is the noblest and the hardest of jobs/role to be with no salary at that. I am just saying women should also have a choice not to succumb to the norm of society and tradition.

The mystery that engulfed this drama is one great reason why you need to stick this one out through the finish line. All actors gave it their all and gave a superb job in giving its audience the astounding acting experience there is. Intrigue, tears, mystery, innocent love, and passion all rolled into one incredible drama.

I like character Oh Na Ra's character Jin-Jin as she brings out the lightness to the ever seriousness of the other characters. What I find disturbing is the sleeping arrangement of some couples. Do they sleep in separate beds? Is that how a wealthy married couple lives? I was seriously stunned by a sudden culture shock upon seeing that for the first time! Hilariously extreme scenes, to the point where you do not know whether to be angry or laugh, are one of the highlights of the drama.

Thoughts to ponder.
There are always things that we cannot control.
When are you going to be enough? Shall we define everyone by the profession you are in, how much money you have in the bank? If you are living in the most prestigious and posh neighborhood? When are we ever going to be enough? Can we just be a father, husband, mother, wife, son, daughter, and friend?

As a parent myself, there is nothing we cannot do for our children. What kind of happiness and success do parents want for their children? And is this aligned with their's as well?

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SKY Castle isn’t really my kind of television. Wealthy people trying to get their kids into college, ehhh, there’s nothing telling me I need to watch it just from the plot description. And honestly, the show isn’t much more than the synopsis. But what sets it apart is great directly, a tight script, and an amazing ensemble cast.

There’s not a lot I can talk about that hasn’t been said already, but I just like expressing my opinion so I will.

What I will say is that I wasn’t sure if I liked this show at the outset. The characters are all a little frustrating and the reveals take time. I don’t think I was able to appreciate the humor. If it hadn’t been for the great reviews and my compulsion to finish everything I start, I don’t know if I would have watched all of it. But it’s way easier for me to forgive shows that start out alright and have a really strong second half than the other way around. It took awhile for me to fall in love with SKY Castle, but boy did I when shit hit the fan.

I found out later that this writer, Yoo Hyun-mi, had written Gaksital (my newest old favorite show). SKY Castle is so so different, but what hasn’t changed in the 7 years between these shows, is her love of setup. Ultimately for me, Gaksital was the one I liked watching more, but SKY Castle is definitely the better show.

One wonderful thing about SKY Castle is that it’s a confident show. This show knew what it was and what it wanted to be at the outset. Nothing felt shoved in to fill airtime. Everything seemed like there was higher purpose and a plan, and it was nice to sit back and watch it unfold. It’s sometimes hard to watch a show when it feels like every word holds weight. Every scene felt like it was leading somewhere else, but it doesn’t feel like one cohesive story until the second half.

There are some scenes that in retrospect don’t seem important anymore, like the ones that took place with the dads in the hospital. It felt like a completely different show, and those scenes were often the boring ones. Eventually things connect, but I don’t think we needed to spend quite so much time there.

Ultimately I’m really glad I kept watching. The characters sometimes seemed so alien that I couldn’t relate at all to their motivations, but as we got to know them more, I started to love all of them, even if I didn’t love the storylines initially. I loved the cast for their literal quirks. And I felt their pain in the hard moments. Situations that I will probably never be in seemed so real, and I realized that everything that goes on in SKY Castle, though exaggerated, happens in the real world, which makes the emotional moments even more charged.

SKY Castle isn’t an emotional show (or at least it wasn’t for me), but there were surprising tear-inducing moments. It’s not in-your-face super sad or anything, but the cast and directing is so great that you can’t help but feel what the characters are feeling in the moment.

I didn’t realize until later on what an impression this cast made on me. Characters I hated or found boring originally had me cracking up later on (mostly Professor Cha). I was so happy to see such a strong female cast backing this drama. Even the child actors made an impression, and I’ll probably be following their careers (Kim Dong-hee was actually great in Extracurricular, I highly recommend).

Final thoughts: There’s no doubting that SKY Castle is good television, even though it wasn’t always my thing. I’m a new fan of everyone involved in this production, and I’m excited to see what’s next for them.

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