This is a spoiler-free review, so I'm gonna be very generic from a certain point on. I adored this drama, it got me hooked from the first minute of the first episode, but in the second episode there is the actual beginning of the plot: Myungjoo's death shocks everybody, in first place the viewer. She seemed to be living her best life, with a respectable husband and a perfect son who managed to get in SNU. Yes, this is the main focus of the characters in SKY Castle, getting their children into the top university in Korea, at all costs. Don't forget this "at all costs".
When Sooim's family move into what was Myungjoo's family house, everything seems to be getting even worse. Sooim is a courageous woman, bold and determined to discover what was the secret lying underneath Myungjoo's death.
In the meantime, Seojin manages to get famous teacher Kim Jooyoung tutoring her daughter, Yeseo. And Kim Jooyoung looks like a ruthless woman, and seems to be hiding far more secrets than she wants to believe.
So, the story leaves you hanging episode after episode, the plot is extremely well-structured because the characters are extremely well-structured. They are not characters anymore, they are people. Each one of them has their own reasons to act the way they do, whether it's right or wrong. They are very strong-willed (except for Jinhee and her husband, but it's characteristic either way) and hardly ever back from their positions.
The cinematography is excellent, nothing much to say, I've rewatched my favourite scene in episode two always getting chills with how well it was taken.
The musical choices were amazing (the OSTs were the best ever, probably?), nothing much to say here either. It accompanied very well the main scenes.
Honestly speaking, I've been recommending this drama for months to all my friends and acquaintances. This drama is entertaining cause you just can't get your eyes off the screen, but it's also taken to an almost surreal level in order to actually provoke something inside viewers, to raise awareness of how dangerous and harmful this school system can be to children from such a young age.
This drama actually had a huge impact on Korean general public, but apparently some didn't seem to understand the satire and the social criticism behind the characters and their actions.
Anyway, great great great. All actors were beyond spectacular. Kudos to all of the people who worked on this legendary production.