This review may contain spoilers
This drama is incredibly well written, most fall into cliches and tired plot-holes. This was refreshing we see a young and desperate young man trying his best in a ruthless and vicious world. He had a poor upbringing and had a singular activity which he abandons his whole identity taken away and he has little to his name, we see him gain competence, confidence and move through the corporate world in such an inspiring way. The way that office-place dynamics were represented were very unfiltered we see how harassment plays a place in terms of misogynistic workplace culture, hierarchies in the workplace and topics nuance explored and represented I think this drama gives voice to a world that is less shiny but still beautiful in it's ruggedness the way in which we see each of the interns feelings through their difficulties was so well portrayed the actors and script were amazing, bar the final episode I was taken a back from that. Was this review helpful to you?
This show is so heartwarming and real that it almost feels like a documentary. No fluff, just straight up slice of life.
The acting was the best part. Each actor embodied their characters in a way that felt so true and intense.
Im Siwan and Lee Sungmin especially outdid themselves. So much so that I can't un-see them as their characters.
I'm also glad that they didn't feel the need to insert pointless romance or some convoluted side plot.
The middle bit definitely felt slow as the tension in the first few episodes was not built up on. The ending was also silly but I guess the actors/director just wanted to have some fun with the story after so many serious episodes.
Either way. I truly feel like misaeng is one of those kdramas that I will forever cherish in my heart and always miss.
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It teaches me a lot--literally
I watched this as I wait for the next episode of Summer Strike and it was the best thing that I did last week! God, this drama is so good. This slice-of-life drama doesn't only get me reflecting on my own life but also triggers my strategic thinking. The way the characters interact with one another also gave me some ideas on how to handle different people. The plot is also quite good, I didn't remember watching this quality in slice-of-life drama back in 2014. The scenes are all efficient. Everything that happens has its' meaning that we can see later on. There's no useless scene, really. I enjoy watching every moment in it.Was this review helpful to you?
Korean Drama at it's best
What I liked:1. I almost missed this marvelous series because–who wants to watch a drama about the daily grind of a bunch of ordinary office workers in a large corporation in Korea? I gave it a try because of the high ratings, and I’m so glad I did. This story is absorbing.
2. It’s hard to single out any one actor because everyone’s work was outstanding. How Ling Sun-min is able to convey a whole world of emotion with his poker face is almost beyond comprehension. Im Si-wan’s acting was also remarkable. His character and confidence level subtly change as the story progresses.
3. The plot was unpredictable, but believable–at least until the ending, which I’ll get to below.
4. Another great feature is that the cast consists (mostly) of characters who look like ordinary people, not glamorous movie stars.
What I didn’t like:
1. Hey guys! Movie makers have an unwritten contract with the audience. If the film starts out as a horror film, it shouldn’t suddenly change into SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. If it begins as a musical comedy it shouldn’t suddenly turn into a crime drama.
Sure, surprises within certain boundaries are fine, but you don’t undermine the fictional world you’ve set up by pulling the rug out from under the viewers. This series does that.
For some reason, the directors decided to change things up at the last moment. And suddenly we were all watching RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARC.
Next time wait until the credits roll before you move on to the next project. I deducted one star because of episode 20.
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What a disappointment, both in Story, growth, character developments, everything felt…. Unfinished.
I really had to force myself to get through the end of this show, maybe there was no drama factor here and I completely missed the plot, it was just meant to be an “as real as possible” interpretation of office life. Show, I really wanted to love you but you ended up disappointing me from the beginning.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the dearest dramas to me :)
I really, really liked this drama, and it's one of the best I've ever seen. I started watching it because of Kang Ha-neul and Yim Si-wan, but I found myself falling in love not only with their characters but also with others like Ahn Young-yi and Han Seok-yool.The friendship between the four main characters—Jang Geu-rae, Jang Baek-gi, Ahn Young-yi, and Han Seok-yool—was one of the most beautiful and wholesome friendships I've ever seen in a series. They didn't become friends right away; it was more of a slow-burn kind of friendship. But once they did, it became such a deep and supportive bond. They didn’t hang out together or go drinking every day, yet their relationship was amazing, filled with mutual support and understanding.
The friendship between Baek-gi and Young-yi was particularly profound. If you've seen the series, you know that Baek-gi was somewhat arrogant, but when it came to Young-yi, it was different. He was so supportive of her, listened to her, and cared for her in his own way. He may not have always expressed it in the best way, but his concern for her was evident, and I found that really beautiful. I think I would have loved to see them go from friends to lovers—I shipped them throughout the entire series! :) Also, I feel there was great chemistry between Kang Ha-neul and Kang So-ra, and I would love to see them together in another drama.
Ahn Young-yi, in my opinion, was one of the strongest female characters I've ever seen in a series—independent, intelligent, kind, and diligent. She stood up against injustice and patriarchy in her workplace, and it never felt cliché.
Seok-yool’s relationships with the other characters, especially Jang Geu-rae, were so deep and meaningful. His scenes were among the most valuable to me. He was one of my favorite characters, always making me smile whenever he appeared. Such a sweet and lovable character!
Jang Geu-rae was kind, hardworking, and clever but struggled to fit into the system because he lacked certain qualifications they deemed necessary. But was it Geu-rae’s problem? Of course not—it was the system’s flaw. To me, Geu-rae was the symbol of perseverance and effort.
And finally, Mr. Oh… the best boss ever. One of those rare, honorable people you’d truly want to work with. I would have loved to work beside someone like him.
This drama tells one of the most beautiful and realistic stories I've ever seen, and I cherished every moment of it. It made me laugh, cry, and feel. I could put myself in the characters' shoes and experience their struggles. The characters felt like real friends, and I will miss them dearly.
I really hope the rumors are true and that we get a second season of Misaeng: Incomplete Life soon!
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I like films and tv shows that have a background or topic that is based on topics that affect everyone in real life, so this is definitely a bonus watching this tv series!! After all mostly you don’t have that much extraordinary happenings or out of this world romance in your life. (Those can be good to watch sometimes, but they never affect me as much.)
The main character and his colleagues develop so much. You get to see flash backs in time bit by bit with the episodes.
I liked the difficult topics - for example career changes, social issues, bullying, corruption - mixed with the particular humour of this show.
I’m not from Korea so the work place drama side was very interesting to watch!!
Of course some things are universal about bosses and subordinates… (my area of of work is quite hierarchical as well with an extremely long training pathway and lots of trappings along the way so I can empathise for sure…) also and you really feel for the characters.
Then there is the aspect of leaving your dream career and how you deal with this in your life. How you are deeply affected by it and how it can destroy you or make you stronger.
I did also enjoy the soundtrack in this and I’ve actually listened to it quite a bit after finishing the series.
Finally, this reminded me of when I tried to learn Go when I was about 18 or 19 years old… incredibly hard!!
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It's a 10
So why I gave it 9.5? I'm asking myself that and I might change my opinion soon. But the answer is not important. Review is just a number when it comes to this drama. You as a viewer has to come up with what this drama might mean to you. And in that aspect it has a lot to offer. First of all, this review is coming somewhat late and it's my first review on MDL ever, so I might not do the drama any justice so I should give up now. But I just couldn't resist hyping up this drama. Because it truly deserves it. I have no idea at this moment what I was thinking when I went into this drama. But after watching, I am left with this feeling of comradeship and a subtle motivation. The latter I think, is in my poor formation of words, is the best thing ever.This process, this journey of life, that seems to be monotonous many times but without letting you catch a break, that's what this drama is all about. But then, how come you still feel good after watching it. I heartily give up on explaining this point right now and instead recommend you to watch it and find out for yourself.
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Awesome
Awesome❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️♥️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Jokes aside, it was not an easy watch. The show is filled with workplace abuse and unfairness, with little happy moments. If you want an underdog winning at the end against all the odds, this ain’t that. Even the positive moments, mostly led to misfortune.
And yet I did not drop it, and it’s all thanks to the characters and their relationships. I guess there is something heartwarming seeing people suffering together and trying to survive the nasty environment. The writer made sure we knew the characters, they seemed real - someone we actually could meet in the office. This helped me relate to them and care for their journeys.
The relationship that interested me the most and slowly I started to pay a lot of attention to was Young Yi and Sung Joon. They had a really interesting dynamic and it was amazing to see the differences between their interactions depending on the situation.
What’s most important - the drama never felt preachy. It shows you various characters with different takes on life, different priorities and ways of dealing with problems and tasks. It highlights how the same trait can be both an asset and a setback, depending on the situation and people you interact with.
The acting left nothing to desire. I felt physically and emotionally exhausted just looking at Lee Sung Min - his performance being one of my favorites. I could just feel the frustration leaking through my screen while I was watching the show. I also enjoyed Kim Dae Myung’s portrayal of a slightly passive, but ready to give a logical and more objective advice Kim Dong Shik.
The whole OST is a masterpiece. While these are not songs I would put on my playlist and listen to, they all matched the tone of the show perfectly.
Overall, I suffered a lot while watching, no idea how I finished the show, and yet I could not rate it lower than 8. That’s the charm - you are grateful for the frustration it caused.
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This review may contain spoilers
O drama para você nunca querer trabalhar em um ambiente corporativo
Infelizmente, não é meu caso, já que trabalho há anos em escritório, mas hoje estou salva pelo home office. Tendo essa experiência, impossível não associar algumas situações do drama sem sentir alguns gatilhos. Porém, talvez até por questões culturais (ou por sorte minha?), os conflitos do drama são bem mais hardcore. O drama retrata uma rotina de abusos e assédio normalizados por todos que estão inseridos naquele meio. A pergunta que fica é: cadê a CLT desse pessoal?Pois bem, começamos o drama sofrendo desconsoladamente pelo Geu-rae, um ex-jogador de GO que, por mais talentoso que fosse, sua rotina doméstica e familiar evitou que ele conseguisse se profissionalizar. Por indicação, ele foi trabalhar numa empresa de comércio, o que gerou comentários e atitudes maldosas por parte de seus colegas que viram tal indicação com maus olhos. Achei interessante que, no momento que passa a introdução da história dele e entendemos de onde vem suas motivações, caímos na sua rotina de adaptação na empresa e nas suas diversas situações e problemas. Vemos o personagem crescendo naquele meio, melhorando seu relacionamento com seus colegas e suas habilidades de trabalho. Assim, vem uma sensação de estabilidade. O tempo vai passando até que, lá pelos últimos seis episódios, vem à tona a questão dele ser um funcionário temporário e a desgraça cai sobre nós novamente. Um aspecto bastante interessante do crescimento de Geu-rae é que ele sempre associa os ensinamentos do GO nas atividades e dinâmicas do escritório, mas vai aprendendo, na raça, que nem sempre a teoria funciona naquelas situações. Ele fracassa diversas vezes. Esse realismo e o pouco uso da idealização das circunstâncias (e personagens) é maravilhoso!
Um dos pontos mais bonitos do drama é que, no fim, muito se resume à relação do Geu-rae e do Sr Oh, que é o chefe da equipe de vendas onde o Geu-reau é alocado e é um sujeito à beira de um burnout. Durante todo o drama vemos como um ajudou o outro a crescer como profissional e como pessoa. Muita da pressão que o Sr Oh sofre está relacionada à sua personalidade forte e relutante em ceder à todas as restrições da empresa. Ele tem seus princípios e sempre dá um jeito de segui-los de forma que não prejudique a companhia. Um impacto claro da sua relação com o Geu-rae é quando ele deixa de lado esses princípios ao tentar manter o novato na empresa e torná-lo funcionário fixo.
Os demais novatos que entraram com o Geu-reu na empresa também tiveram ótimos destaques!
O Baek-ki é um mala egocêntrico aprendendo as verdades da vida. Levou muitas cortadas do seu colega, Sr Kang, e foram esses golpes de humildade que o ajudou a refletir sobre sua própria arrogância.
Particularmente, me identifiquei um pouco com o Seok-yul sobre ver outros se beneficiando em cima do seu trabalho. Ele é bastante extrovertido e vê-lo perdendo a animação, aquele brilho no olhar, pelos abusos de autoridade do Sr Sung, foi bem triste. A mudança de corte do cabelo foi bastante simbólica. Ele aprendeu, na marra, que não se deve combater fogo com fogo. No fim, ele focou no que importava: fazer bem o seu trabalho e deixar o carma agir sobre o Sr Sung. Porém achei um equívoco grotesco terem retratado ele como um pervertido, no começo da história, com algumas atitudes que beiravam o assédio. E pior: foi usado como artifício de humor no drama. Numa narrativa que condena diversas situações de abuso, isso me pareceu um pouco incoerente.
Finalizo com a Young-yi, que comeu o pão que o diabo amassou, tanto no serviço quanto em casa. Ao chegar na empresa, ela se submete ao assédio moral e maus tratos dos colegas. É extremamente frustrante o quanto ela abaixa a cabeça para essas situações. Ela realmente não retruca ou combate em nenhum momento. Porém, quando ela conta sua história, todas essas atitudes fazem sentido. Ela sempre foi rejeitada pelo pai por não ter nascido homem e sustentou a família que sempre perdia dinheiro em maus investimentos; então, lutou desde nova para garantir sua independência e personalidade própria. Ela prefere se adaptar para poder sobreviver. Engraçado que a mudança de atitude dos colegas dela veio quando eles viram outras pessoas tratando ela da mesma maneira que eles a tratavam (ou até pior, vide o Sr Ma). Ela conseguiu perseverar no meio de tanto abuso. Não sei se teria tanta força para aguentar e não sei nem se deveríamos ter. É criminoso aquele ambiente de trabalho.
Para finalizar, passei o drama inteiro tentando entender quais seriam as circunstâncias que levariam àquela perseguição do início. Por mais que tenha sido legal por si só, super bem produzida, contextualizada e tals, achei que ficou tão fora do tom do drama. Pareceu algo à parte, dirigido por pessoas diferentes ou retirado de outra produção que não deu certo. Sei que o Geu-rae já tá amadurecido pela passagem de tempo (que foi de apenas um ano), mas pareceu outro personagem. Pode até ser algo simbólico, por finalmente estarem livres daquele empresa e em um ambiente mais amigável, mas foi uma quebra estranha.
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O que parece “incompleto” revela sua beleza
A genialidade do título está em sua honestidade. Todos ali, Geu-rae, seus colegas, seus chefes, são pessoas em processo. Nenhum personagem é “pleno”. E talvez seja essa a lição mais potente: não existe ponto final no desenvolvimento humano. Estamos sempre em construção.O que a série nos joga na cara (com carinho, mas sem anestesia) é o quanto o sistema cobra eficiência, resultados e máscaras... enquanto nosso coração só quer dignidade, reconhecimento e espaço pra ser quem somos.
Corporate sem glamour, só realidade: Nada de escritórios glamorosos ou trilhas românticas. “Vida Incompleta” mostra a rotina cansativa, as microviolências do ambiente corporativo, os jogos de poder, o medo do fracasso... e, ao mesmo tempo, os pequenos atos de coragem, ética e solidariedade que mantêm o fio de esperança aceso.
O jogo é interno: Geu-rae aplica os princípios do baduk para lidar com os desafios da empresa. Ou seja: estratégia, leitura do ambiente, paciência e antecipação. Quem dera todo onboarding corporativo ensinasse isso, rs?
Mentoria salva vidas: O supervisor Oh Sang-shik é um dos personagens mais marcantes. Líder de verdade, ele protege, ensina e inspira. Prova que liderar é formar, não mandar.
Ser vulnerável é humano, não fraqueza: Mostrar cansaço, pedir ajuda, chorar no banheiro... a série normaliza isso com muita elegância. Porque nem sempre dá pra ser “forte” o tempo todo.
E na vida real?
“Vida Incompleta” nos lembra que, mesmo quando nos sentimos perdidos ou ‘aquém’ do que o mundo espera, ainda assim temos valor. Ainda assim, podemos crescer. Ainda assim, podemos influenciar positivamente o espaço à nossa volta.
“Não somos peças encaixadas, somos peças em movimento. Incompletas, mas essenciais.”
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