This review may contain spoilers
The thing about this show is that starting from the first scene right to the end, there is nothing that can be considered filler content. Nothing is done without reason. You are given a puzzle of a story but the truth is it's not about the answer to the puzzle but about the things you learn getting to it. In a time, where people only want guilty pleasure and happy happy happy, this show gives a voice to so many children who are ignored every day. I'm one such survivor and this story got to me in a way that is hard to explain. Children of Nobody. Can there be a more heartbreaking phrase? The actors made it so you get lost in the fantasy and even root for the villain at times I believe that was the point. That people lose their way. N's story was the saddest and no spoilers but I'm glad finally in a TV show this topic was touched. Honestly just a phenomenal script and acting I wish there were more like this one. Was this review helpful to you?
A strong production. A bold story that comes across without make-up by Korean standards
If you're looking for a KDrama of the usual type, then you won't find it in "Children of Nobody". Here you are dealing with an impressive psychological thriller with lasting influence that comes across without make-up by Korean standards. This is about child abuse. The powerful here are not the economic giants, but the parents in their sacred halls. Not funny. The story wants to stir you up and it does. In the original, the title is actually "Red Moon, Blue Sun" and alludes to modern South Korean poetry that has been quoted several times. In connection with the crimes against children, poetry seems downright paradoxical.If "Children of Nobody" at the time didn't make spectacular waves in the ratings, it's not because it wasn't done convincingly, but because there are a large number of unreported families in South Korea for whom physical abuse and the "stick of love" are still taken for granted. Sooner or later, these viewers would have to take a good look at their own noses. The topic is treated in a differentiated manner from a wide variety of perspectives.
----------------------------------------- SIDE NOTE: --- child abuse vs free, upright citizens ---
If people are broken mentally and physically from an early age, how are they supposed to learn to live as upright citizens? The road to free, responsible citizens still seems a long way off. 20/30 years ago in South Korea - without high technology, ubiquitous internet and social media - many people in their personal world largely only knew people for whom these practices of physical abuse were also a matter of course. The children and young people of today and the young parents of tomorrow, on the other hand, grew up in a time when they could learn a lot more about alternative living environments, value systems and educational concepts through the media. The field of consciousness is expanding. Conflicts with traditional structures arise. New perspectives are given space. In the exchange via social media, resistance and support can form, discussions are held and new values and self-images spread. Change becomes possible.
---------------------------------------------------------------
KDramas increasingly provide positive models of how things must become different in the future. In its own way, it tries to straighten things out in the context of child abuse that many take for granted.
Therfore "Children of Nobody" is a strong production. A bold story. A commitment to a future with free, responsible citizens - precisely because they are ruthlessly confronting with where society (in South Korea) actually stands.
Fantastic actors. Captivating story. Highly valuable.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
As a big fan of thrillers, horrors, and criminals I quickly added this drama to my watchlist when it popped out at my recommended page. However, as I lately often end up getting this feeling of disappointment at the end of the drama, either because of the plot holes or tension lost halfway through I didn't watch it immediately nor started watching it with big enthusiasm.
I did have some hopes as I started watching when I found out that Children of Nobody has the same screenwriter as Achiara which I really enjoyed, but worrying that it would end up being another overdramatized, not too interesting series my hopes weren't too big.
How happy I was to find out I had no reason to be worried. From the first episode, I fell in love with the atmosphere, tension, acting, characters... The whole drama in general. I couldn't wait for the next episodes to come up getting all excited since the morning of the day they were coming out.
Obviously, I was still kinda anxious since let's be real here, it happens often that the captivating drama you would recommend to everyone at first becomes a draggy, filled with plot holes mess at the end.
It wasn't the case this time. Children of Nobody gets more interesting as we go deeper, the plot is developing and getting even more intriguing as the action develops, the characters are acting logically are well build and thought through, plot holes are nowhere to be found, therefore as I was watching I was getting more and more invested.
This drama also became the first drama that I'm currently watching with my parents. We are not watching new episodes together but I'm watching them one more time when the lyrics in my native language come out since neither I or my parents are not native English speakers ( which you can probably tell reading the review heh) and they don't understand English enough to watch it.
Anyway, my parents are far from being enthusiastic about Asian dramas in general, but since I'm learning Japanese for 5 years now they just kinda think of it as my passion and weird interest and don't mind it too much, which doesn't stop them from harsh commentary and ridiculing content I sometimes show them.
It was also the case in Children of Nobody case so when I put the first episode on the TV screen in the living room, being all the way enthusiastic and immune to protests, dad was commenting sarcastically about every scene from the start to something like the almost end of the first episode. But as it finished, he fell silent, and after waiting a while he asked: "why are you not playing the next one?" > <. It was the first time it happened and we watched all the episodes available in my language and as I asked if he wants to know when new ones came out, he said he does ><.
Therefore I'm also kind of thankful to this drama for the opportunity of watching it again with my parents as our tastes are usually a lot different > <. I guess it was a good choice to show a psychological drama to pair of psychologists, hah ><.
Anyway not to take too long, in summary:
Children of Nobody is a truly amazing gem and I can't find enough words to express how much I love it.
It became my favorite drama in no time. Excellent acting, thought through rich plot, the tension, not becoming any less interesting, but in contrary becoming more engaging as the action goes... This drama has it all and more.
So if anyone is hesitating: watch it, you're not gonna regret it!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Unfortunately for this drama, it was utterly overlooked due to other dramas airing at the same time. Due to that fact the ratings for this drama in Korea was low but do not let it put you down. This drama is one of the few dramas that have ventured to a side that K-dramas hadn't before. It touches a heavy topic but gives it in a way that can be digested by all. The story behind it is simple. The unfortunate truth is that this will continue. This gives us a dash of reality, the hard truth that is happening in the world. In our country unfortunately these types of abuse is taken lightly. It's swept under the rug saying that it's to teach children. I have many friends who have had the same experiences (not as bad as this but the beating and the mental abuse) but still go on with their lives thinking it's normal. For me this is not normal. The fact that we are beaten is (like I mentioned above) very normal in our country. I would say 95% of our generation would have been beaten and once my own mother has told me that she had beaten by her father to the point she lost three teeth. Asia in that manner is still in the dark regarding these situations. Thus this is a start to let everyone know the truth also to educate people.Also I would like to especially applaud N's acting here. It is commendable and without doubt he stood out among everyone. His realistic acting made me feel so much for Lee Eun Ho. He brought the character of Lee Eun Ho to life perfectly. His character will stay with me for a long long time.
Was this review helpful to you?
This story talks about those who are forgotten and ignored by society. When a child screams for help and endures such cruelty who is here to help? Parents mean the world for their child but when It's not the reality is there someone else to protect them?
This drama portrays the lack of children's protection, justice and the killer who I consider as an anti-hero felt so helpless that he knew he has to do something. I won't judge him or the victims, I don't know what I would do if I were in their shoes.
Props to Kim Sun Ah, who gave life to her character. She did an amazing job even though she had an introvert character her face told us everything. A very skilled actress I don't see anyone else doing it. Cha Woo Kyung has been through so much, I hope she will recover and live a great life.
Props to Lee Yi Kyung, who had great character development, he's a great actor.
I never thought I'll be able to finish this story and I don't regret it I felt so many things watching this drama: anger, sadness, happiness also rage. I held my tears so many times and It's only a glimpse from reality. So many children suffer from abuse in this world secretly.
Thank you for all the cast, the production, director, screenwriter for putting lights to those who suffer in silence.
Was this review helpful to you?
Especially on topics like child abuse and domestic violence, things can get really dramatized and only shown as a form of miseryporn. Children of nobody does not do that, and really uses their actors (especially child actors who where phenomenal) in a way that still feels respective to the dark stories that come up as the plot goes on.
The only real criticism I have is that even though the writing is really good and holds up, some of the characters (like the police) gets sadly underdeveloped and it feels like they scrapped some extra plot lines for them (especially the female detective) in the end to focus more on the whole. Also, how it ends feels a bit dragged out, but still not at all because how it really shows the characters reactions of the big resolution, but still opens a lot more questions just about how the characters will move on.
Was this review helpful to you?
On the face of it, the issue handled here is child abuse. But through numerous powerful moments achieved by brilliant staging, upending the inherent socially constructed meaning of certain daily moments, it has portrayed how complicated and unfairly influential a parent-child relationship is.
There is a prevailing mystery which keeps the show engaging. But you get a feeling that without it there is nothing substantial, This notion is broken when the show reaches a certain point when you are made to feel useless at the helpless state of affairs. Until that moment, the effect of abuse or a sense of appreciation for vigilantism itself was significantly less. This may be since previous victims were not exposed to the audience as much as the one who drills through the viewer. But it could also be because until then, the need for such unlawful heroism was mildly established.
After that point, the show expedites the process of resolving its mysteries. But you start noticing the minor and implicit psychological effects of the victims after that. That one particular point accentuates the whole show considerably. The complex dynamics involved in a parental relationship or any relationship in which one person has some sort of nurturing or forced authority over the other or the minute hierarchy of abuse or the subconscious response to ensure being enmeshed in such a hierarchy can be seen more clearly.
Towards the end, it just clings to classic mystery novel and other tropes by making some horrific reveals. Those are a tad bit extreme but that does not negate the underlying point it has always made throughout the show.
One should not mistake this show as an issue-based one. This a well-done killer investigation drama. There is tension, a well-ordered sequence of revelations; classic cliffhangers at the end of each episode; and a fair share of subterfuge. Multiple intensely staged scenes are placed when the show seems to dip slightly. It had its precursors and payoffs wherein some of those were incredibly disturbing. So this show is a worthy killer investigation drama in the first place. It has smartly plugged in child abuse for the most part without it being contrived.
There are these little details that elevate the experience. For one, this is a dimly lit show. The color tone and the pervasive grim lighting never provides a chance for you to escape this debased world the show is set in.
The world in which the show is built in seems confined. This claustrophobic effect adds to the inescapable situation of the victims.
There is a serial killer here. But the killer is not given a demented outfit. He/ She is not painted as having a twisted view of the world. They do not derive an unpleasant form of pleasure from their acts. Their actions are motivated by a combination of empathy and trauma. They are not addicted but convicted in their ideology to stop the suffering of a kid and punish those who caused such pain. Their actions are not persecuted as deranged but offered a more optimistic approach. This is an amazing aspect because this way the show acknowledges the diabolical nature of the legal system and the torturous flow of bureaucracy. At the same time, does not encourage the concept of judge jury and executioner.
The acting in this show needs to be mentioned as this show is heavily psychological. The actors have brought out every form of good, evil and trauma and sometimes all juxtaposed in a character. This is especially true for child actors. It is difficult to show an emotional wall built whilst hiding deeply disturbing memories behind for a kid. It is not just about being quiet, There should be something disquieting behind that quietness. The lack of expressiveness should be expressed. And this is what the kid does. And finally, during a particular moment when that wall breaks, it is elevated to be the best scene of the show.
Also, some characters’ development is well written. This is brought to the screen by some subdued presence with sporadic emotional bursts.
Even though this show does well in blending mystery and message, it fails to do the same for some of its characters. Their dynamics ls criminally underexposed.
Towards the end, mild redundancy starts to set in. The ultimate reveal does not produce any effect. This may also mean that while the show hooked in the viewer for its suspense, it made them stay for its heavy pathos.
This show may not be revolutionary but it does offer a must-have perspective into Corporal Punishment. The underlying point mentioned earlier is slowly etched in the viewers’ minds. It is not in the face of or explicit but once you complete watching it, you get their point about the issue. Corporal punishment of any degree is bad. It doesn't matter what your reasons may be or how small it is, it should never be the option one should opt-in parenting.
“ A child’s whole universe is its parents. There is no bigger horror when that universe starts attacking it.”
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
PERFECTION
I watched this drama when it came out because of N (I am a Starlight what can I say), that time I didn't watch a lot of dramas. But this drama blown me away. It is one of the best series I ever watched. I literally recomend it to everyone I meet... This drama has a lot of layers. It starts with some murders and a crime theme but as the story goes, it goes deeper and deeper. It deals with a really heavy and important topic, which i think is a tamboo. They are really careful and they approach it with a objective way. In a lot of parts the characters and the viewers are trying to choose what is worst, if the first justify the second or not and this moves the plot. The drama doesn't take sides and we sometimes sympathize with the murderer, because even they have their one story to tell. No one is totally innocent for something, even the psycologist or the detective who try to solve the cases.It is a really dark drama with great suspense (I remember I couldn't watch it at night). There is no filler or missing. Everything is there for a reason. The mystery is built really greta, I think this drama has to become the textbook for the mystery thriller genre. it is one of best series that I ever watched. This drama is the reason I started loving asian crime/mystery thrillers. I think East Asia are the best in this genre, especially Korea and Japan. For so many years I didn't find a drama that can come close to this.
I am really dissapointed that this is a relatively unknown drama, maybe because of its story and it was only in korean tv.
Was this review helpful to you?
A must-watch
i think this is one of the best kdramas ever.the story, as you can see from the plot, is quite heavy so it may not be for everyone. i think the story itself unfolds really well in every episode. there are some things you can guess about, of course, but every episode has at least one plot twist. every evidence, quote, and scene has a meaning here. there weren't any necessary things that made the series longer. the cast is seriously good, they were fully immersed in their roles. especially as someone who loves children a lot, i felt terrible. all of it was so heartbreaking, and it gets even sadder when you remember that these kinds of things happen every day. i was quite surprised to see this drama isn't very popular, because it should reach more people. ost was quite good as well.
some scenes will haunt me for a while. definitely will rewatch, you should watch it too
Was this review helpful to you?
One of the most consistent dramas. Watch it till its final episode and don't read the spoilers.
This is one of the best dramas you can watch ( and not only among the S. Korean ones).I will not spoil a single detail as this drama is so well written that you'll have to watch itup to its final episode in order to figure out who did what.
The credits should go of course to the writers who kept the plot consistent from the first to the very last episode without deviating from the theme, the mood and the atmosphere of the series and without finishing this drama with a hasty, or incomprehensible or disappointing end as so often we have seen them doing on other dramas.
The above along with the great performances from all the actors and particularly the child actors and actresses make "Children of Nobody" one of the best series I've ever watched.
10/10 from me.
Was this review helpful to you?
