Wonderful World (2024)

Wonderful People in a Wonderful World

"In the middle of life's journey, I got lost and wandered. No matter how much time passes,losing someone precious to you will always be lonesome. I will try to keep going. If i keep going, one day the pain will lessen. I hope all those grieving find comfort. I hope the world will be more friendly to those in pain. I hope a beautiful world will come while you overcome your pain."

I never thought a story of revenge and salvation can be this satisfying.

Full on heavy drama shows are never my priority to watch. With so much content nowadays, you have to have a list of priority and this initially wasnt in my top, but i ended up eagerly waiting for each episodes. This series is anxiety-inducing but is also satisfying and inspirational.

The first episode hooks you in. The perfect perfect casting of Kin Nam Joo and Kim Kang Woo - as Eun Soo Hyun and Hang Soo Ho as perfect husband and wife ,and parents who tragically lost their kid due to a an accident - the death that could have easily been prevented had the perpetrator just took their son to seek medical assistance. The accident and the justice system's inability to punish the criminals made Soo Hyun take matters in to her hands - further destryoing her once perfect life by killing the man responsible for the death of her son. This is the story of her (and her husband's) disappointments, healing, salvation and triumph.

The series also introduced us to Gwon Seon Yul. A man-child seeking revenge to those who have destryoed his family - with a surprise casting of Cha Eun Woo. The character needed the depth of someone who has lost everything in life - someone you are supposed to despise but is too good looking to hate. He fits the bill perfectly and I am pleasantly surprised with how well he acted in this series - i never thought Id say this but with the right direction he has finally proven something and has indeed become an Actor here.

Fanatics beware this is the part were i say some things you might hate. The story, to be quite honest, is not really unique - in fact a lot of times it verges on the typical melodrama soap opera. The overall plot is predictable and we can see from a mile away who the real culprit is. The attempt to make Seon Yul's character the fadeaway villain is also not convincing - like I said in the last pharagraph Cha Eun Woo is just too good looking to hate and you know all their efforts for a fakeout is not believable. Also, I am sorry to say but for me, the pacing too can sometimes be a little slow (I watched most of it in 1.25 speed) with a lot of emphasis on quiet, thinking scenes.

With all that said, this is still a very satisfying and inspirational series and the series finale was executed beautifully - tieing up Soo Hyun and Seon Yul's storeis perfectly and leaving viewers with a feeling of hope that no matter how dire their cumstances are, good things are still bound to happen and that no matter how hard life is, thare are still wonderful people and this is still a wonderful world to live in.

Maybe a hard sell for a rewatch, but seeing it one time is enough to send its message. Overall its a 9.5, especially for the acting and direction. A show most reccommendable to watch.

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A lesson learned

Don't judge a book by its cover is a saying you hear time and again. For me it was an perfect example of that.

I wasn't going to watch this drama. It looked too dark and the age gap between the leads was too much to accept. But on a whim I decided to start it anyway and I have no regrets.

The story is not a noona romance, nor is it about two individuals supporting eachother through hardship. It is much deeper than that. Eventhough it was sad and gloomy and heartbreaking, I looked forward to new episodes each week. It was at times predictable and I didn't always agree with the direction of the story but it kept me fully engaged and ended on a satisfactory note.

When it comes to acting, everyone did an good job, particularly Kim Nam Joo. She expressed the grief and desperation of losing a child beautifully. That said, it was Cha Eun Woo's performance that made the drama truly memorable. I could feel Seon Yul's pain and desperation as if it were my own. This was easily the best performance of his career. I'm glad he's finally taking on darker, more mature roles, it really suits him. On a side note, while Cha Eun Woo has always been attractive, in this drama he is next level handsome.

The music and cinematography were on point. It was haunting and bittersweet. These two elements really suited the sombre mood of the drama.

Looking back, I'm glad I watched the drama while airing. This is not the kind of drama you can binge. You have to experience it a little bit at a time to not let it overwhelm you. No matter how great a drama it is, I don't think I'll ever rewatch it. I already know the twists and turns. The surprise element is gone.

To summarize, I consider Wonderful World to be among the best dramas so far this year. Don't be like me and judge it based on superficial things. Just give the drama a chance, and you will be hooked in no time.

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