Currently Watching: Mr. Back

Currently Watching

Mr. Back

“In this business world, that is like a quiet battleground, there’s only been one sole reason why I’ve been able to survive this long, because I never trusted people.”

Ya! Choi Go Bong! You are an old fart. Yes, you are. A nasty one. You dislike everything, the people around you, the trees, the bees, the rivers, the seas, the whole universe, even your reflection in the mirror. Yet, there are two things you do like, yourself and money, lots of money; and yourself. You’ve worked hard for decades, you built a renowned colossal hotel whose value in money is more than money itself. You’re about to enter the seventh decade of your life and health is playing tricks on you. You were supposed to live a happy life with beloved people around you, but you’re the personification of misery and your brain has a ₩ shape. In the end, what did you achieve in this lonesome journey of yours? You have nightmares at night, don’t you? The afterlife police are after you! Yes, these people in white suits, they crave your soul. You know your time feels near, what would you do if you could turn back time? These things don’t happen though, and you know it. It’s too late to set a different course. Isn't it?

Welcome to Kwon Sang Seung’s drama kitchen. Today we’ll cook a meal of pretty much everything you’d require to feel complete. The meal’s purpose is rejuvenation and its title is Mr. Back. The ingredients are simple, it’s in the way they interact and co-exist that makes the difference. One thing is required. Otherwise, I’m afraid parental advisory would be essential. It’s called strong stomach, you have been warned because laughter marathons lie ahead. And I can say it with my hand on the place where the heart lies, that during some episodes my stomach was wigwagging so hard in my central torso, I thought it would reinstate somewhere else from its arch position by the time the episode would reach its end.

Mr. Back is the latest Wednesday-Thursday MBC drama attempt as a successor toThe Spring Day Of My Life. Do you remember the scriptwriter Choi Yoon Jung? No? Let me refresh your memory, she’s responsible for the scenario behind Emergency Couple which I liked pretty much earlier this year. The script is based on Lee Jo Young’s Old Man novel. I haven’t read it, so I’ll invest directly in the drama scenario and I’ll give you an idea of what to expect. It’s a complex work and even though it might seem light-hearted at times it shouldn’t be received as such, there’s depth even when you don’t expect it at times. There are many things going on. The good thing is that they progress naturally and the flow of the story feels neither rushed nor draggy. There are many factors that consist of Mr. Back’s warfare, but first let’s take a look at the figures partaking in this wonderful drama.

We’ve got Shin Ha Kyun as Choi Go Bong, but I’ve talked about him in the beginning, it was kind of inevitable, such a workaholic villainous grandpa always stands in the first place. After 70 years of life another chance appears, will he treasure everything he’d been missing for decades now? Jang Na Ra’s here as well, who didn’t adore her on Fated to Love You and Old Goodbye this year? She’s Eun Ha Soo in Mr. Back and she’s a hard worker. Part-timer seems to be her middle name and she longs for a stable work position. She’s a gentle and kind person, and she’s often being misunderstood.  However, this doesn’t mean that she won’t raise her voice when her rights are being violated, and it doesn’t matter who stands in front of her. Lee Joon is Choi Dae Han, Choi Go Bong’s son, he’s a rascal careless figure who lives an easy life due to his father’s wealth. He doesn’t care about his father’s company and he’s been floating in oceans of alcohol for some time now. Could there be any reasons behind his behavior? Last but not least, Park Ye Jin is director Hong Ji Yoon. She’s been Go Bong’s right hand for many years and she’s everything Dae Han’s been missing when it comes to his father’s company. First of all his brain, his eyes and the hand that helps his hand to sign the papers. Practically, she’s Dae Han’s decent reflection.

As for the supporting roles, there are plenty. They live up to the expectations and they complete the scenario in a quite representative way. Secretary Gyung Bae is an utterly humorous figure and Go Bong’s scapegoat. Director Yi Gun is a shady figure of many tones. Young Dal is Go Bong’s brother and along with his wife, In Ja, they crave Go Bong’s inheritance. The same applies to Go Bong’s sister, Mi Hye. And let’s not forget Ha Soo’s family, her mother Jung Sook, her brother Sung Bum and her closest friend Woo Young. So many characters have their own background and we get to know them step by step. Whereas at the same time, they progress as they learn from their mistakes and they welcome the future that lies ahead of them with open arms, no matter what it may hold for them. Scriptwriter Yoon Hung is capable of handling so many side-stories by letting every aspect of them breathe. Director Lee Sang Yeob and the people behind the cameras do justice to Mr. Back’s visuals and the close-ups portray in a more vivid way our character’s emotional charge or tranquility.

Who would expect Mr. Back to take by force the drama sphere without firing a single bullet? Mr. Back needed only two episodes to set its own rules in 2014 drama ratings and even if it lost a battle, the war still marches on. Why? Because there’s a sense of romance on the background that tries to make it to the surface and the more it struggles to appear the stronger the bonds become in secrecy. And there's a supernatural approach with its pros and cons that should be considered as natural from the moment you decided to approve of Go Bong's renewal. There are also conspiracies, plots and backstabbing, and the changes in this vicious world of companies come and go, there’s never a static master plan going on until all hell breaks loose. It’s almost like guerrilla tactics, attacks and counter attacks take place all the time. And there’s humor, tons of it, and I’m grateful for that! The comical moments are hilarious, and they turn the overall ambiance into a vibrant circus. Who wouldn’t enjoy a good laugh? Even misanthropes would approve, for different reasons though. And for these reasons and many more I’d like to refer to but I would be spoiling the magic of Mr. Back, I’m really glad I started watching it in the first place.

But enough with me, how do you find Mr. Back so far? Does it live up to your expectations? If not, why? Did the laughter improve your six-pack? Be my guests and feel free to talk about anything, or else Dae Han will come after you.

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