Great Show!

I've watched a lot of Kdramas (and received apt summaries from my unnie who's watched even more). A lot of them tend to drag in the middle, or add unnecessary plotlines, or even stupid twists. This drama has none of them. In a time where shock value is sometimes valued over narrative sense, or even to substitute for lazy writing, this drama knows Exactly where it's going with the story and it's characters. And while that may make it a little predicable, it is Extremely satisfying to go, "I KNEW IT!" or go "Ohhhhh my god, that makes sense!"

MPUB at first starts out pretty episodic, with Wol-joo and the gang helping out various people, but the show is great at getting you invested in solving their grudges. At times it even gets pretty heavy and makes you shed a bunch of tears, with just how emotional it can get. As it goes on, the little bits of foreshadowing and character building we've seen in early episodes build up into a plot that focuses more on the main cast, but it is a welcome change and a chance to solve the questions viewers having been asking themselves. It also helps that all the cases the main cast help out with relate to their own backstories and struggles, and never really feels out of place or random. This show knows exactly when to hit you with the comedic beats but also lead you into more emotional moments, and even takes the time to linger silently on the heavy/somber ones.

The main characters are compelling and enjoyable to watch. Their personalities mesh well together; especially Kang-bae's puppy-like personality. The show also takes the time to explore the deeper depths each main character has and has some really great character development. The main trio really start to feel like a little family, and their bonding moments are especially heartwarming.

The show definitely takes the time to flesh out the Afterlife, and while many aspects of it are mostly comedic, they're also weirdly brilliant. Some references might be lost on viewers who aren't familiar with Korean folk tales/legends, but the show is pretty good at giving context in case you don't. Also a quick google search will answer any other questions you might have.

MPUB is also very pretty to look at, looking warm and cozy at the bar and showing us delicious cooking shots. While the OST isn't exactly memorable (I still clearly remember "You are my destiny" from My Love From the Star, even after 7 years), it fits with the emotions of the scenes and is nice to listen to.

Overall, if you want a show that won't drag on, neatly ties up (almost all of) the narrative plotlines, makes you both laugh and cry, and has a great cast of characters, watch this show. This show might not be for you if you like your shows more grounded in reality/melodramatic, or don't like the episodic narrative format. My only complaint is that I want more.

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