'My Mister' and Incorporating Life’s Painful Truths
by Isobelle Cruz [April 29, 2022]
Lee Sun-kyun and Lee Ji-eun as Dong-hoon and Ji-an in tvN's 'My Mister'
There are several gems in Korean Dramas that depict the realities of life and growth, and ‘My Mister’ written by Park Hae-young is definitely one of them. Instead of pursuing the plot of another typical love story and corporate lifestyle, 'My Mister' tells the story of a man and woman, with over a twenty-year age gap, finding in each other their shared need for growth and healing in the frightful environment that society has become.
Without much skinship and hardly any heart-fluttering words of love and need, the show was able to intrigue its watchers and have them feel heartbroken and compassinate for the characters nonetheless.
Lee Ji-an portrayed by actress Lee Ji-eun
REALISM
Park Dong-hoon, a man in his 40s, is wrongfully accused of accepting a hefty bribe at work. Lee Ji-an, a temporary employee and subordinate in the same department, helps Dong-hoon with the case and asks for dinners in exchange for her deed. In the midst of external conflicts and other similar misfortunes which both Dong-hoon and Ji-an face, the two form an odd relationship that gives each other the ability to grow.
Feign ignorance. Keeping one informed may be a sign of friendship among kids your age, but adults don’t work that way. Feigning ignorance is a loyal and polite thing to do.
Park Dong-Hoon, episode 6 of 'My Mister'
Hae-young incorporates a lot of lessons garnered from the sensitive topics and conflicts of the world, which is what I’d consider scarcely found in K-Dramas, especially the ones centered around romance. Unlike what we usually encounter on TV, ‘My Ahjussi’ clearly depicts the troubles of poverty and failure without glossing over its truths.
It's easy for people who have money to become good people.
Lee Ji-an, episode 5 of 'My Mister'
Episode 7 of 'My Mister'
ACQUAINTANCES OR LOVERS
The show did not make me wish so much that Park Dong-hoon would reciprocate Ji-an’s likeness for him, but it doesn’t mean I was completely against the thought. I simply found the status of their relationship to be realistic and not lacking in any way that it needed to be more than what it already was.
Then why are you crying? – Because I’m happy. I’m happy that I’m close to someone like him. I’m happy.
A conversation between Ji-an and her grandmother
The happiness Ji-an feels alone to have had Dong-hoon in her life was enough for me. And was implied, enough for her as well. Ji-an’s feelings were inevitable, especially for someone of her age and someone who had experienced so little of the care she receives from Dong-hoon before.
I really lived my life for the first time ever because of you, Mister.
Lee Ji-an, episode 7 of 'My Mister'
Only in her early 20s, Ji-an is already the breadwinner of her small family and struggles with a drowning amount of debt and abuse. Yet despite her "damaged" background, Dong-hoon remains in her life. They both remain in each other's lives until they were both filled with the will to completely live.
The Park family on episode 8 of 'My Mister'
THE PARK BROTHERS
Screenwriter Park Hae-young was able to make every character that appeared on screen to be relevant and either admirable or loathsome. The Park brothers, Sang-hoon in particular, stole my heart and received all of my admiration and tears. Although neither are generally considered “successful” in the working field, Sang-hoon and Ki-hoon are able to make their misfortunes seem easy to tolerate--always finding a way to have a laugh at the right times and help whenever they could.
My life is already in ruins, so what's the point of crying?
Park Sang-hoon, eldest of the Park brothers
Resilience is often seen as idealistic or a display of maturity, but I usually view it as a pitiful thing to obtain. Because the chances that the most resilient people we know may carry the heaviest burdens are high. To witness such unfortunate people smile ear to ear is a painful but understandable encounter.
Rather than letting you escape from the living world and into a completely fictional one, ‘My Mister’ allows you to understand and prepare for life even further. If you’re seeking to go through sixteen episodes of a slow-burn type of love for the biggest tear-jerker on the final episode, then 'My Mister' is just the right choice for you.
(Click HERE for Writing Commissions)
132 notes
·
View notes
In a time where pandemic restrictions have made it really hard to connect regularly with friends, with most interactions being in the form of Zoom meetings, I found myself so grateful for these heartwarming friendship scenes. I miss my friends so much more, but recognize that in staying in, minimizing contact, we are protecting the exact people described in this show.
#kdrama
0 notes
#Repost @topikmagazine ... 🚫ADVERTENCIA: CONTENIDO SENSIBLE ¿Desde cuándo los g*lpes se convirtieron en un saludo o regalo de cumpleaños? Aunque no lo creas esta es la manera de pensar o mejor dicho la "excusa" que dio un grupo de adolescentes, quienes fueron filmados in fraganti el pasado 9 de mayo durante un ataque a otra adolescente. Este indignante hecho sucedió en las afueras de una construcción en Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu. El testigo informante que grabó el vídeo, lo publicó a horas de la mañana del 10 de mayo, titulándolo como 'Asalto en el sitio de construcción del Hospital XXXX en Cheonho-dong'. Durante el vídeo, se puede escuchar a la víctima diciendo: "¿No puedes acabar con esto si te doy dinero?", sin embargo fue ignorada, y continuaron ab*feteándola y m*ltratando. Uno de los agresores vistos en el vídeo le contradijo diciendo: "¿Te gustaría que te p*gara un puñetazo con el cigarrillo?", luego le ordenaron que se posicionará contra la pared, para p*tearla. “¿Qué, duele? Levántate. No pretendas sentir dolor, puedes abrir los ojos XXX, ¿por qué evitas el contacto visual?", le gritaban. Tras la viralización del vídeo, las autoridades correspondientes iniciaron una investigación y según el informe los cinco adolescentes mayores de 14 años (2 hombres y 3 mujeres) quienes pertenecen a los niveles de secundaria y preparatoria, inicialmente han sido acusados por asalto en pandilla. De acuerdo a lo declarado por parte de los perpetradores, esto era un simple acto de "g*lpes de cumpleaños a un compañero" y la víctima ni siquiera era compañera de colegio, solamente conocida de uno de los agresores. Los cargos que enfrentarían los estudiantes serían agresión conjunta en virtud de la Ley de Sanción de la Violencia y Otros Actos, y ojo, que debido a que los agresores superan los 14 años, no serían procesados como menores de edad. Sin duda para algunos la vi*lencia es solo un simple acto de diversión. Acá estamos en contra de cualquier gesto, pensamiento y acto de agresión. 📝- Karla😃 #kpop #kpopnews #kpoplatam #kpopjournal #noticiaskpop #kpopchile #kpoper #kpoplatinosparty #kpoplover #kpopespañol #kpoplove #kpopupdate #culturakpop #koreannews #kdram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdmf6kWru8FXLlOa3wmhf9xGEWNfav7oAYFLdc0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
0 notes
Beating Again OST
An Unexpected Time - Kwon Won Jin
A Worry - Noh Yoo Rim
Betrayal’s Trap - Shin Eun Rae
Burn With Hatred - Jun Se Jin
Butterfly - Jung Se Rin
Changed Position - Lee Yoon Ji
Crying Out - Lee Yoon Chan
Detective Ma Dong Wook - Jun Se Jin
Dissension - Kwon Won Jin
Hanging By a Thread - Goo Bon Choon
Heart Racing - Kim Joon Suk, Jun Se Jin, & Noh Yoo Rim
Heart’s Memory - Shin Eun Rae
Is It Love - Lee Yoon Ji
Madly - Yoon Duk Won
Not a Dream - Lee Young Hoon
Paradise - Davink
Revolving and Coexisting - Jung Se Rin, Jun Se Jin, & Lee Yoon Ji
Sad Heart - Lee Yoon Ji
Sadness Too Will Pass - Jung Se Rin & Lee Yoon Jin
Serial Killer, Kang Min Ho - Kim Joon Suk & Jun Se Jin
The Plotter - Jun Se Jin
Walking Towards One Another - Jung Se Rin & Goo Bon Choon
What - Noh Yoo Rim
Wishing - Kim Joon Suk & Noh Yoo Rim
Without a Reason to Love - Jung Se Rin & Goo Bon Choon
Your Heart Doesn’t Possess - Shin Eun Rae
4 notes
·
View notes