SKY Castle (2018)

Material success versus true happiness?

This show is definitely worth the hype and record breaking ratings. It's tightly scripted, compelling, multi faceted with an ensemble cast of drama veterans who deliver very convincing performances.
The social satire is well portrayed with some excellent acting and dialogue, it may appear high brow on the surface but I found myself watching back to back episodes once I got into the stride of things; this is due to the excellent script which is cleverly written with little to no loose ends.
This show tends to reveal information in an unfolding manner, so every episode peels back a new layer and facet of the story and characters and I think this is what keeps it so entertaining. You don't get the whole story at once, as each event unfolds new tidbits are revealed to keep the viewer fully engaged, so the pacing is tight and consistent. This is where I think the OST was used to maximum positive effect; the song "We All Lie" was so very well applied, every time this song played I knew something was about to go down, this was so exciting to anticipate.

The entire adult cast of this show is amazingly skilled, I enjoyed the fact that they were in the spotlight for a change since these actors usually play supporting roles, they really shine whilst bringing their characters to life and all their skill and experience takes centre stage. Each family was so clearly defined that it didn't take me long to figure out who's who.

The Show's social commentary about the parents' and often children's unhealthy obsession with obtaining top grades in school is delivered in a theatrical and sometimes over the top fashion and this is what gives the show it's special identity and uniqueness, the social satire and dark comedy aspect of it, showcasing the characters' ambition, greed and pretention.
The power plays and stringent adherence to social hierarchies contributes much into how the characters interact with each other.

At the end the Show adequately conveys character growth and plot resolution, I think the last episode went a long way to show us how each character was now living and behaving after mending their ways so to speak.

Overall this Show is bold and I think it achieves what it sets out to do, I thoroughly enjoyed it because it's so polished and very expertly written and acted. Bravo!

Lire davantage

An exceptional show, coming from a family forced to take a degree it really hit straight to my soul. However did i only realise now the hard work and nagging paid off. At times we don't understand our parents , we thought we knew everything.
All the actors in the drama are really experienced and skilled at their craft,
Love the OST . SKY Castle has it all, and it all comes together in one polished, dysfunctional package.

P.S : I dont like Young Jae, he didnt realise there are many people who could not study nor does not have the privilege, he should be grateful :)

Lire davantage

I finished watching this drama within a month since I was so attached to it I couldn't stop watching. The plotline is so gold. It criticizes the system of teaching and how families would do anything in order to keep their reputation and improve their children's education. I personally could relate to this drama very much since I too am a student who just recently submitted their applications. The stress over rankings, grades, maintaining my reputation, and ofcourse, the multiple tests you have to take are all incredibly real to me. The casts were amazing. There's no one else who would do a better job. This drama does an incredibly great job of evoking my emotions of anger, sadness, empathy, hate, as well as humor. I am glad this drama is one that has so much to take away from. I highly recommend Sky Castle to viewers of any age range. (Also remember to prepare some tissues I sob in like every episode it just really hits home for me.)

Lire davantage

A must watch! So original and captivating.

I watched this drama at the very beginning of 2021, and wow I did not expect it to be that good. It's definitely worth the hype that it had when it came out a couple years ago! okay the storyline is SO original and unique and the acting is splendid. The plot is twisted and wild and captivating and wow! Just amazing! I binged watched this one pretty quick, it gave me anxiety and I just needed to know what happens. It always spreads a very good awareness of the struggles and hardships that a lot students face when they have strict parents in Korea. Very amazing drama, well done to the cast and writers!!! A must watch for any kdrama fan!

Lire davantage

“You have to trust me.”

what can i even say about this drama? should i even call it a drama? it’s a piece of art. it’s a masterpiece.

i’ve cried more times watching this drama than i’ve ever cried in my entire life. this drama is so raw and makes us realize how humans actually behave when they need to achieve something. it shows us what are we driven by, what makes us accomplish stuff, what makes us obsessed, what makes us sad, happy, angry and the list goes on. the amount of emotion this drama makes you feel is just unbelievable and the casting team for this drama really deserves a raise (i hope they got it) because i’ve never seen such a perfect group of actors act in something.

i wish i was a better reviewer because i can honestly talk about this drama for hours on end….. but still wouldn’t be enough to explain how i felt watching this show.

Lire davantage

Impactful Critic Towards Education

I put this drama on hold for its first episode, which when it's released, it is so depressing and hits close to home. However, the remaining episodes remain attention-grabbing. And it is now, one of the reasons I will look forward to more serious dramas.

Education takes a lot of time in our lives. The war within is variable, and I am glad that this drama exists to point out the essential problem (that I think is) in Asian families. Even though my condition is not an exact reflection of the characters in the drama, the point of view of the parents still stuck. The meaning of life is to live comfortably, with wealth and power. It's inevitably true however this series, though it may seem idealistic, prove you something.

Some scenes happened in real life, no matter how I experienced it myself or that I know about it. It makes me look forward to the problem solving the writer, and the director offers to me. I think it pretty makes sense.

I really love the acting of the mothers. They reveal a natural sense of mental state the mothers experienced. I learn to side with the kids but then finished with another point of view with the parents'. Again, the characters in the series are privileged, the one who is not ended up badly, so it is not entirely fair...but you get what I mean. Each episode's ended with a cliffhanger that is addicting. I keep on looking forward to more. It is great that the characters are having two sides or many, it makes the story more complex.

I really reflect on this drama.

Lire davantage

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.

Lire davantage

REALISM IS THE KEY WORD HERE

This show is a punch in the guts. Emotional with plot twists and breathtaking acting.
The show didnt hold back and went all in showing how the educational system works or better dont work.
The characters were well written with diversity and many layers that we got to explore more and more as the show progress.
I truly believe that SKY Castle is probably one of the most important shows to watch if you want to watch how the Korean culture is treating children.
Amazing acting by everyone and beautiful scenery.
Please have in mind that this show has some strong scenes that can trigger some people.

Lire davantage

Revolutionary

This drama was nothing short of revolutionary, as someone who grew up in an Asian country and has seen the effects of what undue pressure from adults about grades and careers can do to children. The best thing about this drama was how life-like and realistic the characters and their portrayal by the actors was. There were no black and white, evil and good characters in this show and that made their actions less predictable and their stories more interesting. The OST was eerily perfect for the mood and vibe this drama was going for. And the sets were beautiful, along with the cinematography and direction.

Contrary to popular opinion, I liked the ending. The show not just managed to wind up all plot points and lose ends without dwelling on any single one for too long but also managed to assuage all the emotions it had invoked, in the last ep. Just the corny part about glorifying Uju dropping out of HS to discover himself could have been taken to a different direction, as this show had never blatantly shunned the prospect of education itself in the last 19 eps but seemed to do so at the very end, it just seemed a little trendy. Other than that, perfect storyline and acting.

Lire davantage

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" - Sir Walter Scott

Playing catch up can be really fun (at times). I've had "Sky Castle" in my queue for a while. Mood played a part in the delay. I moved on to other themes after I finished a similar genre with "Crash Course in Romance." I'd had enough of bratty kids. Though "Crash Course" was good, "Sky Castle" had a much deeper experience. It wasn't long after episode 10 that I was already thinking about how I was going to review this show. Just so much going on and many roller coaster of emotions.

A father of 6 myself, I originally had so much to say. Even though it's from 2018, I'm sure the new Kdrama watchers will love it. So, I tried to keep it short:

An upper class group of families lives in Sky Castle, which is an exclusive and prestigious residential complex. There are a lot of academically driven residents and their kids go to a prestigious school. Family dynamics are explored in the series, showing the pressure parents put on their kids to do well in school.

The show highlights the fierce competition within Korea's education system. The acting was fantastic. Actors Yeom Jung Ah (Seo Jin), Kim Seo Hyung (Kim Joo Young), and Lee Tae Ran (Lee Soo Im). These were my standouts, but credit is definitely due to everyone else. Everyone did a great job. Characters are well-written and complex. A major theme of the film is the ambitious and driven parents, who often sacrifice their own needs and desires to help their children succeed. It's outright ridiculous in some cases. My blood was boiling in some episodes, while others just intrigued me.

The cinematography is also impressive, with the use of camera angles and lighting techniques to enhance the storytelling and create a visually stunning viewing experience.

Sorry I just have to explain my rating for rewatching of 6.0, which isn't terrible. Let's be honest. This show is a well-written "one and done"type of series. This type of story is structured like that. I like how the story unfolds with each episode showing you critical points, character revelations, character motives, and answering most of your questions. The second time around won't be the same. Those emotions you felt during your second 20 episode watch may be diluted, because you already know all the secrets. I feel of 50 folks that rate the rewatch at 10, only about 15 or less will actually rewatch.

Over all, "Sky Castle" turned out to be a very enjoyable watch and earned a high mark.

Wow, and this is my short review.

Lire davantage