My Mister

When love saves.

While I have never actually written a review for this 2018 work of art that was My Mister, it nonetheless changed my way of envisioning dramas and raised my expectations tenfold for every subsequent one after I discovered it a few years ago. If you haven't watched it, I will somewhat spoil it here. Although there isn't much to spoil, really. If you want to entirely discover it yourself, I will add a spoiler alert at the paragraph concerned by the spoiler regardless. Other than a review, it's more like a spontaneous rant meant to alleviate the feelings I'm feelings in the feels right now suddenly remembering it for some reason.

Until this show, never have I been this close to seeing my own perspective about love materialized on screen. It was at arm's length when I went through the anime Naruto, many years prior. Exemplary tale of pure, unconditional, sacrificial love. An everlasting brotherhood, an unbreakable friendship, a beautiful growth, sadly mistaken by many as a basic boring power of friendship shōnen that just went on for way too long. While it was far from a perfect score, if I remove all the filler and nonsense and inappropriate stuff, it's still today one of the most beautiful stories I've ever watched.

Except from this, I thought that outside of Christian or deep Buddhist contexts it simply wasn't possible to encounter stories of very profound spiritual and platonic love, unending forgiveness and redemption in the face of any fault, and impeccable uprightness without mixing in a lot of romance and passions to make it palatable to conventional audiences. My Mister proved me half-wrong, as it is still very much anchored in Buddhist philosophy and it has its fair share of romance, but at the same time it doesn't matter that much. It then opened the door for me to discover many other beautiful tales of love that are out of this world. Asian dramas simply have a way of doing that. Their romances are beautiful - their non-romances are exceptional. However, this far, nothing quite hit me as deep as My Mister did.

Therefore right now, I just want to talk about it. In particular, about this magical relationship between Park Dong Hun (marvellously interpreted by Lee Sun Kyun, who tragically took his life in 2023, December 27th, following false accusations) and Lee Ji An (made alive by Lee Ji Eun with all her heart, also known as IU).

Some people consider this a star-crossed lovers story, where neither time, nor space, nor circumstances were right for them to come together romantically but where they nonetheless wished they could. I see it as an entirely platonic bond devoid of wordly desires that transcends time, space and circumstances without burdening itself with any labels. While this isn't just about them but also about many other miserable people around them, all unhappy, flawed and relatable in their own pathetic ways, what I will never forget is these two characters whose pitiful lives got intertwined and could never again be separated.

I genuinely believe there is no ambiguity about the nature of their relationship in this drama. Even if they had tried to make it ambiguously romantic, it simply doesn't work for me. This is just not the kind of energy and dynamic that is going on between them, at all. Dong Hun on his side made it crystal clear from the start : she could be his own daughter (age gap of +15 years !) and in no way did he think of her like that. He is as close to perfection as could be a faithful, principled and selfless human being, and he never gave any indication that this kind of relationship with her was something he actually desired, at any point. Added to that, Dong Hun was married, and divorce or cheating simply weren't in his vocabulary.



[SPOILER ALERT]

He even forgave his wife with all the meagre strength he had left for her unfaithfulness and remained loyal to her to the end of the drama - and, I believe, to the end of their fictional lives.

While Ji An did 'kiss' Dong Hun once, it is very clear that this was out of her desperate, malicious, confused aim to create a scandal and provoke him, trying to shake off of him what she thought was merely a fake facade of integrity. As inappropriate as it was, and as distressed as that made Dong Hun, it simply made sense for where she was on her growth arc at this point. Then not only did he reject her firmly, she also ended up hurting herself instead of him as others saw right through it, and in no other instances did she appear to love him in a way that was sexual. She loved him, there is no doubt. But I sincerely believe it was not a physical love.

[END SPOILER]



In fact, this story could not be further from being about a passionate, forbidden, secret 'love' affair between a mentally-ill girl and a middle-aged man on the edge of a complete breakdown. It's about true and unconditional love that doesn't care about anything but what is right and just, forgiveness that remains even when everyone else would condemn, hope in absolute darkness, sacrifice without asking anything in return and unfailing virtue, that healed and transformed two people whose hearts had been ravaged by life, and whose lives were completely falling apart.

To go even further, from how I see it, Lee Ji An could have been a child, a senior lady, a man, a pony or an alien life form from another dimension, it wouldn't have changed anything or made inappropriate the love they had (minus what I talked about in the spoiler section, obviously). It is the purest, the strongest and the best rendition of true unconditional platonic love I have seen in any fiction this far, and haven't come near this again. Except for some good bro-sismances, but not between a male and a female, and certainly not to this extent.

Apart from this, watching this show feels like taking a deep dive into psychology and Buddhist philosophy. The amount of pertinent life quotes these beaten-down guys say, that make you feel both exposed and healed is something that really attracted me. Yet, this is also one of the reasons I cannot rewatch it. I have rewatched it multiple times already. But that was before Lee Sun Kyun passed away. This a psychologically and emotionally very difficult story to endure, as rewarding as it is in the end. It's heavy. It's depressing. Many of these people are walking corpses. Their last resort to survive is either make-believe and cynicism or ridiculous attempts at grasping some air with one nostril while they're themselves blocking the other one and the entire ocean is filling up their lungs through their mouth. It's not like they're going through extreme, abnormal trauma. It's just... life. And it's already so hard. It's not a tale culminating in well-earned success, perfect health, eternal happiness, wrongs made rights ; it's a realistic yet satisfying and spiritually uplifting one. Now that it's said, the fact this great actor and good man is gone only leaves us a painfully bittersweet memory. It truly makes journeying with his character that much more gutting. Which is why I don't feel ready to rewatch it. However - if you haven't yet watched this and are considering it because the themes appeal to you - please, please, please : do. Really. You will cry. You will be angry. Your heart will rise, and then it will fall flat. It will swell, then it will be crushed. But in the end, it will all be worth it.

I hope that anyone coming across this drama will remember it, carve it in their heart, feel it in their soul. If only Lee Sun Kyun had done so.

"So just watch. Watch and see just how happy I live my life. None of this is a big deal. Being humiliated ? People gossiping about how my life is ruined ? None of that is a big deal. I can live a happy life. I won't be broken. I will be happy." - Park Dong Hun to Lee Ji An.

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If you like this drama, consider reading Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

This is a wonderful drama rich in introspection and life philosophy. It has a comforting and healing quality without resolving all of the questions that it poses.

It is a great example how Korean dramas address issues of self-worth, self-image, and loneliness with a quiet depth that resonates. In doing so, it contributes to a language of compassion conveyed with honesty and restraint that I have come to love in Korean cultural works.

This drama is also a great example of the dramas that portray meaningful relationships outside the one romantic relationship (e.g., like Navillera). It also has lovely depictions of Korean family life that feel warm.

I appreciated that miscommunication (or the absence of communication) is not the primary driver of conflict and resolution in this drama. Even though the characters often fail to speak honestly to one another, they each have someone else with whom they are able to open up.

While the drama has some typical tropes of Korean dramas that can be unfamiliar (e.g., material wealth as status and the role of shame), they are not overstated (e.g., not too much fairytale).

As someone noted before, this drama is very well balanced between emotional, action, comedy and thriller elements. Compared to others, I enjoyed the music (although not all of the themes).

If you liked this drama and its themes, consider reading Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop.

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Hmmm from the beginning I'm not excited about this drama. I want to watch this drama because of IU. I even sleeping cause of the length of the drama so long. But after seeing some reviews I just wonder what makes people fall in love with this drama. after I try to watch it again in the middle of the episode. Finally, I know this drama contains much moral life from a hard life, loyalty, and pure love that means not belong each other but support each other. And every interpersonal relationship has a special way for each other. This drama has many sad scenes about life that maybe happened in our life. I feel so sad, pain, and heartache even when IU cried. She has a magic to make me cry and feel what she feels. IU's acting is great. In here she is really hard work for be Ji An that opposite with her character as IU. Besides that, Ahjussi Himneyo !! Dong-hoon is an introvert so he can't express his feeling well. He buried his feeling inside his heart and make me sad to see him. I love to see three musketeers brothers that support and always be there for each other.

The soundtrack also really supporting the scene and situations. Anw I hate why Jang ki Yong so cruel in here. I just watched "go back couple" and fall in love with his character as nam Gil sunbae but now I really angry to see his character in here. I also feel pity for Joon Young. All his plan failed even though I think he's one of the antagonists cast in here. But he loses against Park Dong Hoon. He also already paid Ji An but as a result, she betrayed him, and at the end episode he maybe gets punished or jailed and lost his title as CEO. He also was punched by Dong Hoon but he can't fight. After this drama ends I learn many things in life. Thank you "My Ahjussi"

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Very Beautiful Drama

I didn't expect this drama to be so good, I don't usually like watching drama reviews because I don't want to know anything about that drama in advance, I want to be surprised by the story, and I was very surprised, luckily it was a very nice surprise.

Story: 10.0 *** THE SPOILERS AHEAD ***
An interesting plot, unusual, full of unexpected events, as in crime stories, and yet somehow oriented to show the lives of ordinary people and their relationships in their wonderful neighborhood.

The main plot is about the lives of two people who are separated by their age, status, family life and yet similar mental characteristics.
They both feel lonely, especially the male lead, although he has a wife, a child, a mother, two brothers, friends, he still feels lonely and misunderstood, while the female lead has only a few people around her, a difficult childhood and even murder on conscience . These two people are fighting inside and outside so that circumstances would lead them to find each other in that fight, but this is not a typical love story in which they end up with each other, the goal here is not to find physical love but the real unconditional love, love within themselves.
*** THE END OF THE SPOILERS ***

If you have problems in life, this story can help you see them from a different angle, to see the light at the end of the tunnel, to keep the love inside you no matter what happens to you from the outside, if the love is in you, the whole world can hates you but that feeling of love will be in you and keep your soul alive forever.

The family and friendship aspect of the story is portrayed exceptionally in this drama.

Due to its slower pace, this drama is experienced more through emotions and less through the mind, and that is what thrilled me the most.

Cast: 10.0
I haven't seen so many K-Dramas so I'm not familiar with any of the actors but very good acting of all them, especially the main roles who did a really good job showing deep emotions of sadness and loneliness which can be very difficult to express.

Music: 9.0
Music is great and fits into the atmosphere of the story

Re-watch: 9.5
I will watch this again for sure

I strongly recommend this drama.

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Almost perfect?

Well, it's really hard to write anything about this drama at this moment because I just finished it, so my thoughts are all over the place. But one thing is fore sure: This show needs one or two simple fixes, and it would be perfect. The first half of the season was but slow and sometimes over the top, and I really needed some explanation, that I've got much later. Also, I felt the ending was a bit rushed. These two things aside, it's pretty much perfect. The writing, the OST, the directing, (except the weird look of the flashback scenes) and of course THE ACTING! Holy Mother of Jesus, the acting in this drama is something else. Sure, some people could say I'm a huge IU fan but man, if this drama would be an American show, she would've won an Emmy for her acting! Lee Sun Kyun and IU carried this show like it was nothing. Also, the supporting cast was amazing too. I really loved the brothers, even tho, sometimes I wanted to slap them so hard.😅 I don't think I will ever forget Lee Ji Ahn and her sweet relationship with her grandma. I was so angry when she died, but it was great to see everyone support and love Ji Ahn. After 21 YEARS, she can be happy finally!!! And thank God for the happy ending, even tho it was rushed, like I said.

This show is a MUST for everyone!!!

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Phenomenal Side Character Writing.

NOT A LOVE STORY but kinda is though
GREAT ACTING, dialogues, greatly written, perfectly connected and realistic characters, 2-3 good music pieces
premise:
the most innocent, forgiving and kind guy as MC who lives in a neighbourhood of people who just by being on-screen make you and his day better.
but MC gets cheated on by his wife with his CEO.

The show revolves around how the MC deals with family, love, office problems

the ending was good but could have been more elaborated

the side stories and MCs interacting with them is an example of phenomenal writing
it offers drama, heavy and realistic life situations and problems.
The ending could have been more detailed but other than that the show was 10/10 '
highly recommended by me

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Great watch

Honestly it was a great watch overall. It had some quite emotionally inducing scenes that make you really connect with the characters and their experiences.

I would recommend this series if you’re looking for something that explores life, purpose, happiness, and connection.

The background music is also very nice and builds nicely upon the flow of events. Overall, the elements of this show come together to create a nice piece of work.

It’s true that the beginning is a little bit slow paced, but I felt like exploring the mundane day to day life and relations between the characters was essential to understanding the dynamic they have with eachother and the struggles they struggle to solve later on throughout the series. The show picks ip nicely between the fourth and fifth episodes.

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I admit that I had a hard time making it through the first two episodes because Lee Ji-An seemed like such a terrible, amoral character. But I kept watching because the reviews were good and I’m very glad that I did. It kept getting better and better. The drama is a heartrending but ultimately inspirational and moving story about a damaged, emotionally numb girl and an equally emotionally distant man. I thought that Lee Sun-Kyun and IU were fantastic but all of the actors were also great (including Kim Young-Min, who made me actually feel sympathy for the antagonist). Some of the story lines ended messily and unhappily, just like in real life, but somehow that was fine because they all showed that what matters more than money or prestige or even romance, is the connections we make with those around us. As I said, the drama gets better and better with every episode.

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Touching on so many levels

The way the relationship changed and grew between the ML and FL tugged at my heartstrings and so much was conveyed with just the way they looked at each other. Superb acting and brilliant writing!!

Some of the side stories were interesting particularly the one with Jeong Hui and the one with the loan shark. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect much with the one involving the actress and found myself skipping those scenes. Without that side story, my rating would have been higher.

Cinematography and music suited the sentimental mood of this slice of life drama. I could understand the struggles of the ML and his wife and I am glad to see the story showed the wife’s view as well and how she tried to make amends with it. Realistically painful especially when they talked honestly with each other. I appreciated how the story refrained from going down the usual drama route of dragging on misunderstandings by lying or hiding the truth.

This was truly a case of melodrama done right.

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A MASTERPIECE forever - mesmerizing, hyphnotic, psychological thriller

One of my favorite art pieces ever.
An iconic kdrama about what life and love and friendship really mean. I am not going to include any spoilers because you must NOT watch spoilers before watching this.. It is a mesmerizingly hypnotic story, it is really a thriller quality.

It starts super gloomy and is quite gloomy as the plot is ... about decay - a middle aged man sees his whole life falling apart after living in drudgery misery for years...
In some ways, he is lucky, because if this misfortune had not happened, he would probably have died very unhappy in old age after wasting his whole life.... rotting miserably - drudgery work, drudgery wife ....

The main point of this kdrama for me was ML's utmost integrity and kindness...
and FL responding to it. So this drama is highly highly healing

FL character is sooooooo complex... . yet so simple... and very deep.

The acting is just AMAZING, both ML and FL actors.
It also has a few minutes of the young villain who tortures FL, that is an extremely memorable role for that actor too. I would say one of his best roles.
There are no pretty chaebols in this drama... it is all about ordinary people...

The ending is the start of season 2. Which is impossible because ML actor committed suicide. He will always be remembered for his amazing roles, and esp this one imo.

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