Bocai
This review may contain spoilers
A must watch if you're interested in environmental protection!
Wow, I'm impressed! It's refreshing to see a non-wester-centric perspective and approach to environmental protection compared to what I am used to seeing when studying environmental issues.
What I liked:
Normally, these types of dramas have around 40 episodes and can drag on for a bit or have really slow parts but I didn't find that was the case with this one. I felt it was an easy watch and not emotionally taxing. I think the drama did a good job of showcasing environmental issues and how factors such as personal greed, bureaucracy, group dynamics, and the divide between researchers and politicians affect the success of environmental protection. It also accurately depicts how low-income and rural areas are often hit harder by the effects of environmental pollution due to the government turning a blind eye to their situation and the lack of resources such as education, access to medical care, and proper infrastructure for dealing with waste disposal and sanitation. Additionally, when implementing pro-environmental policies in these areas, considering the interests of both people and nature is vital. Although they didn't specifically mention it by name, I was happy to see the concept of eco-tourism (sustainable tourism that promotes the protection and enjoyment of nature while accounting for the well-being of locals) being used as one way to satisfy economic and environmental concerns. This drama is a good example of how some environmental issues and environmental governance issues are hindrances that transcend culture and place. At the same time, others are innate and unique to specific people and environments. It was also refreshing to see a work-life balance struggle that didn't result in marital issues.
Critiques:
I would've liked to see the protagonist struggle a bit more when implementing environmental policies because I felt that issues were often solved either too quickly or smoothly. However, that might have been a result of the drama being 24 episodes. I felt that some of the ways our main character solved issues were a bit unorthodox, but that's probably how it was intended to be.
The other issue I had was with one of the female characters. In general, the drama was male-dominated which was fine. But, I felt the character of Su Na, the internet celebrity/blogger was a huge flop. It almost felt like they added her character to make the drama feel less male-centric. Instead of Su Na appearing strong-willed and genuinely concerned for the people, she was the stereotype of the annoying, naive, and outspoken woman depicted in movies and shows. Showing up at our main character's home after 10 pm doesn't showcase passion and dedication, rather it screams lacking professionalism, especially considering our main character has a wife and child. I felt her character didn't add much to the plot.
Overall, as someone who studies human-animal/environmental interaction, I felt this drama did a decent job of introducing a surface-level view of environmental issues and governance.
What I liked:
Normally, these types of dramas have around 40 episodes and can drag on for a bit or have really slow parts but I didn't find that was the case with this one. I felt it was an easy watch and not emotionally taxing. I think the drama did a good job of showcasing environmental issues and how factors such as personal greed, bureaucracy, group dynamics, and the divide between researchers and politicians affect the success of environmental protection. It also accurately depicts how low-income and rural areas are often hit harder by the effects of environmental pollution due to the government turning a blind eye to their situation and the lack of resources such as education, access to medical care, and proper infrastructure for dealing with waste disposal and sanitation. Additionally, when implementing pro-environmental policies in these areas, considering the interests of both people and nature is vital. Although they didn't specifically mention it by name, I was happy to see the concept of eco-tourism (sustainable tourism that promotes the protection and enjoyment of nature while accounting for the well-being of locals) being used as one way to satisfy economic and environmental concerns. This drama is a good example of how some environmental issues and environmental governance issues are hindrances that transcend culture and place. At the same time, others are innate and unique to specific people and environments. It was also refreshing to see a work-life balance struggle that didn't result in marital issues.
Critiques:
I would've liked to see the protagonist struggle a bit more when implementing environmental policies because I felt that issues were often solved either too quickly or smoothly. However, that might have been a result of the drama being 24 episodes. I felt that some of the ways our main character solved issues were a bit unorthodox, but that's probably how it was intended to be.
The other issue I had was with one of the female characters. In general, the drama was male-dominated which was fine. But, I felt the character of Su Na, the internet celebrity/blogger was a huge flop. It almost felt like they added her character to make the drama feel less male-centric. Instead of Su Na appearing strong-willed and genuinely concerned for the people, she was the stereotype of the annoying, naive, and outspoken woman depicted in movies and shows. Showing up at our main character's home after 10 pm doesn't showcase passion and dedication, rather it screams lacking professionalism, especially considering our main character has a wife and child. I felt her character didn't add much to the plot.
Overall, as someone who studies human-animal/environmental interaction, I felt this drama did a decent job of introducing a surface-level view of environmental issues and governance.
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