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Family: The Unbreakable Bond korean drama review
Ongoing 9/12
Family: The Unbreakable Bond
1 people found this review helpful
by Loren Evans
Dec 12, 2023
9 of 12 episodes seen
Ongoing
Overall 8.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Amazingly Absurd/Strangely Realistic

This project is helped by experienced actors and competent technical staff, but weakened by being a story with excellent setups but too little time to pay them off.

Among the things to appreciate in the story is the character interactions, the comedy which I found to be cringe and still ended up amused. Talented actors playing their roles pretty well and since it's a comedy you can expect more of the absurd to slap you on the face.

The strongest elements of the story came in the initial part, taking the form of a slice of life and the struggles of a father, in an unconventional job he can't speak much about, unable to balance both his home and work life. This is creating great strain to him and his family even though it's a family full of love.

The plot is weakened by an overarching thread that doesn't have the details and development that worked well with the slice of life elements. This I think for some will be a turn off. The mystery elements in the story didn't quite support the overall plot.

Thematically what I appreciate the most in this work is it's treatment of family life and marriage. In particular a modern marriage with all the flaws that make divorce almost inevitable without some extreme measures; and how meeting the needs of both involves lots of negotiation and sacrifices on the part of both; and the extent both the man and woman must push for each other to protect the relationship, even if it entails putting trust at risk. This is paralleled with the interactions with the extended family. Contrasting family as tied together by blood, friendship and/or marriage.

How many lies do we tell our loved ones? How do they affect our friendships and relationships with each other? What effect does it have in our relationships with each other? What does it take to stay together despite the many mistakes that we make?

As for it's examination of marriage and what it takes to make it work is quite poignant, considering drama explorations of marriage tend to be quite simplistic. For the marriage to survive and work out it involves making serious choices. Same is to be said when it comes to being a parent. Being a sibling. Being a child. Be it we are orphans who suffered exploitation and abuse at the hands of the authorities in our lives affecting how we have relationships with others; or grown up in a loving close knit family forced to take employment than traumatizes and warps your personality.

It is why I praise the actors while lamenting the overarching plot. The setup for too long for the type of climax we were being given, that I wonder if it would have been better to sacrifice it and have it as more episodic stories with the family's absurd shenanigans. True such a thing would get old real quick but it would be tempered by the growth each of the characters learning their lessons and overcoming their weaknesses as they suffer through the consequences of their actions.

Music and cinema work is excellent. Competent action and stunts. Music that works excellently with the story. Themes that explore the most important relationships we have in life. So the only things that hurt the show is plot and re-watch ability.

I'd give it an 8. Settings and Characters are not cliche though might seem to be at first. Explores a wide variety of themes really important to explore given the social issues of our age due to the breakdown of social institutions and public trust and it's impact on family and work life. Great visuals and costumes. Competent Action, drama and Comedy. Which would have benefited more from more time and care given to the characters and their development.

The set up should have been shorter or the story made longer with less repetition. Not bad story for a family to set up discussions about these issues, and the things we sweep under the rug. That element I think counts in favor.

This show is not for binging. It's more useful for family members to have honest conversations about the choices they are making and how they affect each other.
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