Mr. Plankton (2024)

I guess it's a comedy because life can be funny even when it's not.

"Mr. Plankton" is a drama that makes it clear from the opening scene what exactly you are in for. Yes, a lot of the characters are comedic even though their situations are dark, but if you're a person who appreciates a good trigger alert know that abandonment issues, terminal illness, fertility issues, and hospice are major themes in this story. This story is also full of horrible circumstances, bad luck, and lingering hurt, so this isn't the kind of drama you watch for fun escapism. A lot of the dark comedy in this story is about how these characters interact with each other when their lives are at their lowest. The comedy is never so silly that it takes away from the impact of the drama. I was very invested in Hae Jo's journey with Jae Mi, no matter what odd turns the plot would take.

Woo Do Hwan is amazing to watch, and his charm shines through even when his character is super toxic. Hae Jo as a character managed to make me laugh at his worst behavior, and empathize with him when he was at his most vulnerable. Hae Jo's impulsive behavior made the story feel a little more unpredictable even with so many standard tropes. He is matched with Lee You Mi, whose epic role in Squid Game reminded me more of Hae Jo, but as Jae Mi she leans more into a more optimistic and upbeat character which was nice to see. They had great chemistry even when my rational brain couldn't root for their codependency, the natural fun they exuded together was palpable.

I liked the rest of the cast but Oh Jung Se as Eo Heung was the stand-out among them. I loved him so much as Sang Tae in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay", and he brought a lot of those same elements to this role even though he is an entirely different character. Kim Hae Sook playing his mom was also great to see since she is one of my all-time favorite KDrama actresses. I also really enjoyed Jo Han Chul's guest role.

For people who hate love triangles, yes this one is a big part of the plot, but because the story is more about character development than just romance it may not be as upsetting to watch, and is often played up for laughs much more than for drama.

Would I watch this again? Maybe. It is a short drama, and I did enjoy the characters, but for me, a lot of the themes were a little too intense to want to rewatch. There were also points in the story that felt like filler and a few characters that got a lot of screen time that I thought could have been better with less like Oh Dae Hwan as the gangsta set on revenge and the odd mysterious bodyguard John (?). I wish instead more time was spent on the stories and perspectives of the main characters, and less on cheesy fights and slapstick humor, but I guess that would make the whole drama more dark than they wanted it to be.

Plus, some of the repeated songs did start to drive me a little crazy, and not in a good way.

As a new Woo Do Hwan fan, maybe just watching him is enough to justify a rewatch. Yes, He's THAT good.

I was unsure about how I felt about this drama once it was over, but I found it tragically sad but also inspiring. I loved the theme of following your path as you go and appreciating what you have instead of harping on what you don't have or can't do. Yes, I expected to be heartbroken at the end but instead, I felt unsettled which I think is better and a more realistic ending feeling. We don't necessarily know the fate of all of the characters but we know how they faced their issues about family, discovering where they belong, and how this odd character of Hae Jo impacted their lives.

Overall, I feel like this is a good drama to watch if you are ok with inevitable tears. This is not a drama that attempts to solve the meaning of life but honors the journey for all its happiness and misery and unmet expectations and imperfections. It's also beautifully directed, and the episodes flow seamlessly into each other for great binging.

I got to visit a Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico so the imagery of plankton shining was a vivid one for me. I love the idea of glowing plankton as witnessing unexpected beauty and purpose in small seemingly insignificant things and stars as the glow of what has long been gone. Hae Jo's perspective is an interesting one to follow as it changes and evolves, but his Plankton perspective was especially touching, and his observations never felt heavy-handed or sappy which made its emotional impact stronger on me.

It's not a perfect drama, and there are plenty of clichés throughout, but the main characters in "Mr. Plakton" are what made me a fan. I also appreciated a sobering look at how life may not always be fair but there's still space for laughter, love, joy, hope, and redemption until your very last moment.

Lire davantage

Best drama, sad ending !

Really this drama is amazing. The story is a bit stupid to be honest, yet you cannot stop watching until the end. Why? well, maybe the mix of emotions you have while watching the story : You can go from laughing one minute, then cry the next.
The acting is also fantastic. Kim Min Seok is very cute as the unlucky bad boy and Woo Do Hwan is sexy as usual.
But the trio with Woo Do Hwan, Lee You Mi and Oh Jung Se was very satisfying. A love triangle that is not at each others throat is a change I liked. Usually the want revenge, but here is about love and understanding.
One of the best drama this year!

Lire davantage

holy shit im gagged

GUYS WTF im actually like so in love with this drama its not even funny like its been 2 days since i finished it and im STILL thinking about it. everytime i close my eyes to sleep i see the last scene of hae jos smiling face looking up at jaemi and my heart breaks ugh

also. i want woo dohwan to be in more romance dramas PLEASE he is so fine im dead

so first of all: everything about this drama was perfection, the acting, the ost, the cinematography, the chemistry, the cast, the character development like holy moly i seriously think this deserves drama of the year like legit, i literaly searched up 'how do kdramas get nominated awards' to figure out if i could vote or some shit for this to win cos this DESERVES ALL THE AWARDS

if ur thinking about watching this, i do say, please avoid this drama if u get uncomfortable with the fact that haejo finds jaemi and kidnaps her to come with him in his journey, and also the fact that jaemi technically does cheat on her fiance because she kisses haejo back. i really think u need to watch this with an open mind cos this is supposed to protray real relationships with flaws and its not supposed to be some sort of unrealistic fantasy movie moment where the perfect prince charming finds his princess. it supposed to be a very complicated portrayal of a relationship with doubts and rollercoaster rides. obviously not justifying their actions!! but still we live in a world where this is a norm for some unfortunate people, so this was just showing those ups and downs of relationships and how they bounce back

later throughout the drama we see jaemi open back up and choose to stay w him, and it really helps that they were exes cos obviously if he js kidnapped a random girl i wouldnt have even started watching and definitely wouldve been stockholm syndrome but the fact they had such a strong bond during their 3 yrs together and SOO MUCHH chemistry i can slightly forgive the ml, because never during his 'kidnapping' does he make a move or even plan to harm or put jaemi in harm at all! he only js wanted her to come with him and spend his last days w her, as well as save her from here miserable situation with her soon to be inlaws. his execution was js a little toxic to say the least, but this adds to his character due to his upbringing. also people have been saying him tying her up to that table was not okay, yes it wasnt okay but he wouldnt just leave her like that forever right?, and again, he didnt intend to harm to do anything to her at all!

anyways yall tysm for reading if u made it all the way
live laugh love mr plankton

Lire davantage

Funny, cute and veryyy sad

i definitely didn’t think id love this kdrama so much, i just started watching it for the main cast ofc mainly for woo dohwan but i loved the story soo much, the pace was perfect and every ep was soo entertaining, i cried almost every ep cuz the acting was soo good and i could feel every single emotion that the cast portrayed💯 i loved all the characters and how different and unique each one of them were, i also love the ending, the sad ending was unavoidable since he was dying and even tho it was sooo sad it was still the best ending in my opinion, both main leads stories break my heart but at least they experienced real love even if it didn’t really last unfortunately☹️ id love to watch this again… definitely worth the time and id definitely recommend👍🏼

Lire davantage

This made me start watching k-dramas again after a 4 years hiatus!

(this review could be biased by the fact that I actually imagined myself having children with that Man)
let's start by the most important factor that made this drama that good, THE ACTING, Woo Do Whan was too good I was feeling all the distress he was feeling, he is such a great actor that many times is judged only by his (EXTREMELY) good looks but he was outstanding and he should get more reconignotion for that, also the chemistry between the main couple was such a different vibe from the one they usually deliver in K-dramas, it was like they actually were a couple that were in love but then broke up but still love each other, and it's shown in the way they are not embarrassed and they feel very comfortable with each other.
The plot was cool but very tragic and made me stare at the wall thinking about how I am wasting my life not making the right choices.
The music choice was unexpected in the most positive way, California dreaming is stuck in my head rent free.
I would recommend this drama 100000/10 cause it's also the reason I am now starting watching dramas again. <3

Lire davantage

Mr. Plankton is an extraordinary K-drama that takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster, blending humor, heartache, and profound moments of self-discovery. From the very first episode, I was captivated by the unique storytelling and the depth of the characters

The series brilliantly balances lighthearted moments with heavy themes, such as abandonment and the quest for belonging and the The climax left me utterly devastated yet uplifted. I cried so hard at the end as Hae-jo came to terms with his identity and relationships, ultimately realizing that family is not solely defined by blood but by love and connection. The final scenes were beautifully crafted, leaving an indelible mark on my heart.

This K-drama is not just a story; it’s an experience that encourages viewers to cherish every moment and appreciate the people who truly matter in our lives. I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Plankton to anyone looking for a series that will make them laugh, cry, and reflect on their own journey through life.

Lire davantage

WDH HOTNESS

7 for plot
4 for execution
10 for WDH
10 for WDH smile
10 for WDH abs
10 for WDH emotional scenes
10 for WDH sass
10 for WDH charisma
5.5 for fl, she wasn’t bad but most times she wasn’t good
2 for 2ml, only redeemable scenes was with WDH and they should’ve had more instead of him crying over a girl half his age
5 for Johnna
-10 for bathroom jokes and motel scene
5 for editing skills, tho great cinematography, some “teleportation” and jump scenes were confusing


They should’ve focused more on the concept of unlikely familyness, eps 6 and 7 were just useless, and some big plot moves had me



So the dad didn’t abandon him when he was 8, WDH left when he was 18ish

Sure the dad went blank and empty on him but he wasn’t bad and the mom overreacted, agh like seriously it’s not like anyone thought she cheated, or he was gonna leave them or she was hurt and shamed
And she wasn’t gonna leave town, she was gonna kill the kid along…


On another hand, with everything the little girl should’ve had more scenes, also fls life felt sadder and it didn’t make sense why he acted like they’re the same
Her mom abandoned her when she gave birth, then years later went and made another family

2ml did have the trauma of mamas boy but it was pathetic

The mom being suddenly nice and “accepting” anyone ppl as kid replacement but she wasn’t gonna accept her daughter in law
And fl going from marring another dude to randomly not leaving ml and ml hurting her cuz he didn’t want to get hurt

lol I forgot to change the rating, I won’t keep it a 10, it had great promise and potential also saying the dad took him back like he was waiting, and the questionable 2fl and her “mom or lover” yet another weird 12 age gap honestly she was better of with 2ml

The name puns were only fun the first time it was mentioned and I hated the ending like just give us unbelievable happy resolutions honestly his not dad dad was rich enough so was his not lover mom and even 2ml’s mom who was nice when she wanted

Lire davantage

The irony of life

This show precisely captivated a lot of lifetime problems, from broken hearts to loneliness inside, that only yourself can see and battle.
Acting is amazing, just from the eyes you can see emotional shifts, realization and acceptance. Very emotional drama, cried from happiness, cried from sadness.
Interpretation of comedy was spot on, not too overwhelming, not too cliché.
Feels so close to reality, you hide yourself, you mourn yourself, you self criticize yourself until you wonder with no destination. What's your actual place? Where do you belong? Do you even need to belong somewhere?
Everything always feels one step away, but seems like life loves irony and you're taking 3 steps back. This drama showed best, real interpretation of mostly used phrase: life is a joke. Those who say it was a messy drama without straight plot and storyline, clearly watched it without learning a lesson and it's so sad.

Lire davantage

Impactful drama

Wow I finished this one at 2 am this morning, went to sleep, and woke up thinking about it. I loved this drama. I don't know if you'll like it, but I think this was a really important drama to me.

Were there things that could only occur in fiction that happened, like stealing someone from a hospital, or ripping the toupee off of a major Pharmaceutical CEO in order to get a paternity test? Yes, absolutely. But I think when you're watching a piece of fiction, you need to be able to suspend your disbelief while you're watching. Fiction has the privilege to do what only fiction can do, and twist reality to make the story work. And this one worked with those liberties.

But it also really got me thinking, and i think it had a lot to say. One thing was, sometimes you can do everything right and it still won't work out. Eo Heung did everything correctly. He loved Jae Mi with all that he had, and he didn't do anything wrong, but she still didn't pick him. That's reality. Even Hae Jo didn't do anything wrong to start. All he did was be born, but the circumstances were all f'ed up. He acted in ways that were consistent with abandonment PTSD, and treated others in a way that would allow him to easily abandon them first so he would never be abandoned unilaterally again.

Another thing was about how fleeting life is. I think this is the one that hit me the most. We know exactly how this one is going to end from the opening scene. And we also know how this life of ours is going to end. With death. And it's inevitable. But should you not watch this drama, or live your life, because you know how it's going to end? I think knowing the ending should not influence how you enjoy the story, or how you enjoy life. The little moments, like getting food with a loved one or simply watching them walk away, while they keep peeking around the corner to make you smile, or reconnecting with someone who you lost contact with, or watching a sunset, are what add meaning and make the ending worth it. Those moments are all we end up having at the end. And I'd like to live with that in mind going forward, especially since it's the start of the New Year. That the little mundane moments with people you see every day are actually what matter. Stop worrying about tomorrow so much. Today, and right now, is all that exists.

Again, I loved this drama. It's going in my Top 10.

Lire davantage