My Mister (2018)

Started watching this drama with no expectation, thinking it is just another slice of life drama. I have to say at the beginning like at least 5 episodes it did somehow feel as such, a drama that totally people in general able to relate to and even a bit slow, boring with the many conversations in between characters and with the focus on office politics. However if you stay on and immerse yourself into any of these characters as they move along with the story plot, I guarantee you will feel rewarded on the experience of what relationships between humans really are and how we are all just surviving and thriving (or failing) in the act of being in relationships with one another. This drama stays true to its theme on exploring and unfolding human relationships - love (also self love and care), belongingness, betrayal, forgiveness, acceptance, letting go, and I can go on and on because I'm amazed by the writer nim's ability to pack so many things in 16 episodes and yet it all fits accordingly and not overwhelming the story plot at all!

The existence of the male MC, Park Dong Hoon in this story and the way it is being written really carried all the other characters so well throughout the plot - he is really just an ordinary genuine ahjussi, at some point in your life, you wish you get to meet in real life or perhaps you have even met such a person before. He has his own shares of life frustration but always chose to do things that would determine the outcome of what already happened (staying in control) and not wallow in what already happened (e.g., blame or accept his 'destiny'). His attitude of if you see it as nothing then it will become nothing and life goes on, is really a good learning point in life. Try putting yourself in the shoes of the female MC, Lee Ji An, and experience the tough life she had to go through (someone who accepted her 'destiny') and understanding her reactions and actions as well as what made her blurred the line between gratitude and romance because in the end how do we, as human beings express of our love to someone whom we see as angel sent to us and telling us life is what we made of, instead of destiny.

This drama not only developed strongly anchoring on these two characters but also the entire characters in the neighborhood detailed in the drama. I see it as every single characters revealed in this drama are as equally important to showcase how we all influence one another when we gather together in our lives. From relationships among family members (siblings, mother-sons, grandparent-grandchild) to brotherhoods who stay in same neighborhood (the extended society family) to the 'family' at work and to the point that even a monk character speak volume in this drama - all depicting the sense of belongingness in human beings that is so reflective of reality world. Their interactions in this drama are gems, teaching you the many perspectives of life.

I am just so grateful and satisfied with this drama that lived up to its title and for the writer nim who preserve the beauty of the relationship between the two MCs without tainting it with the usual reciprocating romance theme. The most memorable thing from this drama for me, apart from the awesome casts' performances, is to slowly decipher and digest the meaningful conversations between the MCs especially with the constant illustration using metaphors. Oh and the music and bgm throughout the drama are like, prefect to the core. The whole wire tapping and listening to the audio along with Lee Ji An - every single sound was crisp clear and really made it feel as if the audience is transported into it. Also up until now there are still various vivid scenes from the drama that keep appearing to me visually, such as the walk home at the neighborhood between the MCs and the subway train ride.

This is definitely one drama that will leave a big impact to you if you take a chance to watch it. It hurts a lot at certain point to come to terms with reality of life but it hurts so good because that's how you grow to be a better person.

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I'm really having trouble sorting out my thoughts and feelings about this drama. I seriously don't know where to start.

I was excited for this drama because IU starts in it (I'm a fan), and decided to watch it because of that fact alone (Oh and the director also because of Misaeng). I didn't even read the synopsis or anything.

This drama is just... everything. I have finished all episodes and yet I still don't know where to categorize this under. Maybe it deserves a new category on its own. Maybe it doesn't need to be.

Perfecting the trifecta of directing, writing, and acting is a given in every well-made drama. This drama did that and more-- its story is seemingly bleak and gloomy but strangely... refreshing. How they were able to make each line and each character greater than the sum of its parts was way beyond anyone's expectations.

The ending was one of the best I've seen, I was contented, and everything was beautiful, but I didn't want it to end. I'm still craving. I still want to see them go to their workplaces every morning, then to Jung Hee's at night. I'm just thinking that there's a parallel universe out there where Ji An buys Dong Hoon food (and drinks!) for the first time, and the neighborhood gang still stuck together. Just seeing them live their mundane lives... (After the credits finished rolling I was still crying, half because of the overwhelming feelings, half because it's truly over).

Another new thing this drama brought to the table was Ji An and Dong Hoon's relationship. Words are definitely not enough to describe how simple and complex their relationship is--at the same time. I wouldn't delve into this further because I honestly don't know how to; it is best enjoyed and witnessed first-hand. I'm just sad whenever some viewers reduce this pair into a typical 'romantic' one, when they are much, much more than that.

If I were to describe the overall theme of this drama in one word, it's humanity. That simple... yet arduous to define, what more to put into a drama. Yet this crew did it, and with flying colors.

My Mister is definitely my insaeng (life) drama.

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Life is not easy but never give up, fighting!

"My Mister" is a healing story about three brothers struggling in their midlife crisis in both their workplace and family. This narrative is intertwined with the story of an extremely damaged young woman dealing with debt and poverty. The show delves into office crimes and corporate espionage, all while exploring marriage problems and the socioeconomic gap. It effectively illustrates that people are messy, showcasing their life situations and the reasoning behind their actions. The quiet, cold, and gritty tone of the show works really well with the OSTs and ASMR, such as footsteps and breathing.

When the two leads start interacting, I become very intrigued to know their story, especially Lee Ji An (IU), who grew up to be an endearing thug. She's a very guarded person with nothing to lose and no fear, doing anything to survive. Her mannerisms are touching, and I feel her vulnerability. I particularly loved her character growth. Then, of course, I can't think of anyone besides Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hun. He truly is noble, with respect for people, life, being generous and sincere. His beautiful voice, heard directly and through Lee Ji An’s perspective (which I avoid explaining further to prevent spoilers), makes him unforgettable. The ending feels complete and gives me a warm feeling. My only quibble is the silly subplots. I think the drama as a whole would be more engaging with less time dedicated to the subplots.

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I started watching my mister while it was airing in April 2018. The past couple of years were extremely hard for me, personal problems, battling with myself, and on top of that health issues manifesting. The saddest part about me while being in this tough place was that I started losing interest in things that used to make me happy, watching dramas included. My mind would be screaming way too loud for me to pay attention to the show. In spite of that, my mister was compelling enough for me to follow it. However, I put my mister on hold in its 12th episode, despite me loving it while airing due to the aforementioned issues. My mental stasis wasn't strong enough to watch such a serious drama.

A year and a half has passed since then and I find myself now mentally healthy enough, in defiance of every day problems, not only to watch and finish it but also to rewatch the whole thing from the beginning. In retrospect, what exactly put me through hell weren't really the hardships that may, or may not, had come my way, but the feeling of being lonely, scared that nobody will understand, afraid that nobody will like the true sad face behind this ever-glowing smile. Little did I know, and little had i understοοd back then, this was exactly what my mister was about in the end.

My Mister isn't just a drama, isn't, probably, just the best drama that i have ever watched, it is life itself. Trying to delve deep into My Mister and then convey its meaning in written form ends up being a challenging job as I have taken so many notes in order to write this review, and yet nothing really makes as much sense as the feeling while watching and as I have finished this peace of true art. Therefore I'll start backwards and prompt everyone to watch this masterpiece. It doesn't really matter what genre you like, what mood you are into, what type of person you are, if you have feelings, are romantic or dead inside, my mister will open and warm a beautiful place in your heart with its rawness, its beauty, its soul, its reality.

The drama talks about the hardships of adult life and how they shape us, directing the way we live and the type of people we end up being - good or bad. Problems, sucky lives, faking it till we make it, facing horrible, selfish people, emotional draining jobs and a rotten society that makes good people feel worthless for being fair.

The goal of the drama is to show us how to battle the inescapable sadness that attacks the earnest people and eats them alive while showing several personal life issues, always putting in the center that everybody has it hard and that should not make them evil, but rather more caring instead. Survival, strife for money, unfulfilled dreams, giving up hope, career problems, society demanding and accepting only perfection from us, failed marriages, wrong choices, family issues, fear of failure, fear of being misunderstood are only glimpses of what my mister has to offer as reasons for sadness in people's lives.

How to survive? Two ways are offered by my mister's profound writer, or are they offered by life itself?

The goal is to not let all that destroy us, destroy the hope, the confidence, the faith, the optimism in our lives and how we get to do that? How we get to stay afloat and survive, just a little bit? Just enough to get through the day? Friendship and family. Family, those people who will always be there no matter what, no matter if you want them or no, the people who will be summoned at once when you kneel. And of course friends, the family we choose from ourselves, the people who will put a smile on our faces even when the whole world around us is crumbling, who will listen to all our stupid shit no matter how tedious they might be, just because they care. People who, around them, it's ok not to be ok, it's ok not to be perfect. Not being alone is the goal. People's support is the key to happiness and survival. A beautiful soul once said "every person in our life has a purpose and what we should do to repay them is to live a happy life". Let's all live a happy life, let's all be grateful for the people we have in our lives that love us and thank them! Happiness is small things.

And then in midst of all that, that may or may not turn us in complete passive doormats trying to survive in the sidelines or crazy dogs trying to fight our way through, a special magical person will appear who will, without trying, maybe even without even wanting, tap deeper inside our soul, see us for who we really are, understand us respect and love us for us. A person who will be there, a person who will see you being vulnerable and will stay, a person who will see you cry and won't bat an eye, your person. The drama is about finding our person, that one special person, around whom, we can fully be our perfect broken down selves and that will be ok. Our person!

The drama teaches us the importance of forgiveness, empathy, understandings, meritocracy, of acceptance of others, of ourselves and our mistakes and so so on. Hell, it even showed a great, magnificent example of what transformational leadership is like! I have a MBA and this drama did it better than managerial books (lol). It seriously compells you to watch, it touches your heart, it shocks you and simply moves you with its beautiful message and pacing.

Plot-wise you are thrown in a company with some serious scheming going on and you get to witness how the two main leads seamlessly grow closer together without any cliche happening, without any classic romantic scene by the book. The plot, however, was mysterious and pretty dark without it being makjang though. It might be argued that it was slow, but the build up and the development was so well thought out, I cannot really point out any flaw or any plot hole or any actual dragging or plot slower device or sub story of filler episode. Even the comic relief was so, so meaningful. This is one smooth drama.

Moving on to acting, "life work" has been called the actors' effort in this drama and It is totally, absolutely justifiable. IU shut a lot of mouths with her work here and I'm so glad for that. She can pretty much act solely is silly rom coms from now as she has done this! Her performance was shivering in every way. This is truly a life's work for IU who ended up being my favourite actress after this.

Lee Sun Kyun didn't really need to prove anything, however I firmly believe this is one of his best works so far and he will be remembered for this. His character and his portrayal was luscious and I'm Thankful for him acting in this role.

The whole support cast was marvelous, an overall standing ovation. No character was there simply as a plot device, even the antagonists ended up showing deeper complexity by the end. Having such multiple layered characters is just so unique, especially when the cast is so big.

At this point I want to thank and mention the writer, Park Hae Young outdid herself. This was beautiful, the most accurate and simple word I can use. I wish i had a more sophisticated one. This was truly beautiful. Thank you.

Finally the music was excellent and purposeful as well as absolutely appropriate.

The drama gracefully doesn't reduce the concept of "my mister aka my person " to just romance, your person can be a friend, a relative, a family member, a lover even a co worker. Your person can be anyone who can see you for you without trying, that special person. Here's to all of us finding that special person. I found him, and God, I'm happy, for the first time in my life I've been alive, so yes, my mister did that for me, and I wish that to all of you. Let's hang in there! Fighting!

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I have watched a lot of shows in my life and I have not come across one quite like this. They say that it’s all about the journey and not the destination. This phrase is especially true for My Ahjussi. The journey that each and every character goes through to get to a place of happiness in their life is what makes this show enthralling.

This show is about friendship, kindness, family, community, forgiveness and so much more. Honestly, I would not know how to describe every beautiful moment within each episode. Topics such as adultery, greed, depression, loneliness, etc are dealt with such finesse. It doesn’t feel like a trope used to force a situation or outcome. It’s real and raw and handled very intelligently. More shows should use this show to understand how to portray difficult topics such as the ones shown.

My Ahjussi is beautiful and delicate and wraps you up in the stories of everyone involved. You'll find yourself crying, smiling and rooting for everyone in the show. Each character is developed fully and you get to see their journey throughout the series. The cast did an excellent job in telling their characters story and making the viewer understand their actions and emotions. Oh the emotions! In scenes with hardly any dialogue, you know exactly how each character is feeling. Especially with IU’s character; she doesn’t talk much but you can see the pain and worry and strong resolve in her facial expressions and body language. Lee Sun Kyun is a standout actor in portraying the inner turmoil of Park Dong Hoon.
The scenes with both IU and Lee Sun Kyun feels so natural and you can feel the chemistry that flows easily between them. Their love for each other feels so untainted and pure. It's the kind of love you feel when you truly and wholly know a person, the good and the bad. It's different from what is normally shown on tv and yet it's just as beautiful and heartwarming.
This is not a love story though, rather it is a life story. How the life of someone can be changed by showing kindness and respect. The values shown are so important and yet so simple that we take it for granted in our everyday life.

The soundtrack is captivating. I especially love "The Man" when it’s played for the two brothers. The mood set when it's played is fun and mischievous, perfectly capturing the adventures of Sang Hoon and Gi Hoon. "Grown Ups" is a song that when I hear it, I’m instantly reminded of the moments I’ve spend watching My Ahjussi.

My Ahjussi is a drama that will tug at your heart strings. I don’t think there will ever be another drama that’s quite like this. It’s unique and will be my No.1 drama for a very long time.

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"I continue to live because I need to. My heart wants to go somewhere else, but I force myself to live. Just because I need to" From that sentence uttered by the main character of My Mister, Park Dong Hoon, I ask what is the heaviest burden you have carried in your lives? Regardless of your answers, I feel compelled to answer that, for some, the very act of living, going through the days, is too heavy, because loneliness and uncertainty in the face of other people's lack of understanding of their feelings lead to the complete emptiness , a situation in which even breathing becomes unbearable. And life as we know it becomes a succession of events, faced apathetically, because suspended from "reality", we lose what can be defined as the true meaning of existence, if anything like that exists. Immersed in such a "feeling", if we can define this absence (of meaning) are the protagonists, Ahjussi Park Dong Hoon, a structural engineer, and young Lee Ji An, who only has her grandmother as a relative and a lot of debts, which are recognized and understood from a relationship that does not begin in a conventional way. Well, Lee Ji An times after joining the company in the company in which Park Dong Hoon is general manager, begins to act as a spy for Seu Ahjussi's rival, Ceo Dung Yeong (lover of Dong Hoon's wife), who moved by vested interests plans the downfall of those who bother him. However, what could become an ill-fated encounter started a journey of self-healing, as these two broken souls find the comfort they had never achieved before. For some to hear that he is a good person, finding someone who will not flee when confronted with his past can be a harbinger that the end has not yet come. For others, finding a balm for their wounds that hitherto remained "hidden" can show that, even with so much pain, it is possible to be happy. And it is precisely this "encounter" that makes it possible to feel (yes, to feel, because when dealing with a script that accounts for the frustrations experienced by us, human beings, it is impossible not to immerse in such an "atmosphere") the true meaning of understanding, of love, which we all, in some way, seek.

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I still Don't Understand whats so SPECIAL about this K-Drama!

How can this Drama be a masterpiece?
There are so many problems in the story.
For instance how is it that Ji Ahn is able to break the law and get away with it? How is it that she is easily forgiven by everyone for invading her co-worker's (male lead's) private life. Through wiretapping and stalking. Stalking and invading a person's privacy like that is not okay. So many people claim this to be a realistic Drama. Far from reality!

Imagine if the roles were reversed, and Dong Hoon is the one stalking Ji Ahn and wiretapping all her conversations with her husband for example. Isn't that creepy? What happend to double standards?
Also let's not overlook how Ji Ahn is constantly being beaten up by Kwan Ii, and no one else seems to notice and do anything about it.

It's really irritating when this drama focuses so much on this depressive aspect! There's no real end goal towards the end of the story. Like goals to achieve for the main leads.

And the brothers are not interesting at all, they are drunken bums who adds very little to the story, just comical. While the Drama is pretty dark itself, and a lot of the time the characters are like depressed. And basically stuck in their situations. The pacing and story is really boring, at least include something interesting about the brothers.
I appalud them for not going the romantic way, meaning Ji Ahn and Dong Hoon were not ending up together.

Also Ji Ahn should have at least seen a psychiatrist at this point! Instead of taking all that abuse and hardships. She could have done something earlier! But all she does is cry half the time on the show, there is no real growth with her till like the last episode when we see her after the time skip.

Well this Drama is definitely not for me! Waste of Time!

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First couple episodes are quite slow, but you'll regret not watching the whole series

Wow - what a turn around this drama was after a couple of slow episodes at the start! Acting and plot thickness was a delight to behold, the music was intense and gripping, the big-time production helping bind all the greatness together - what a drama!
I also like the originality of the characters, something you would find really rare when considering the normal personality traits that main characters show in a drama. Supporting characters are also great as you will definitely find some emotional attachment to them too.
Overall I strongly suggest you try this show out - 'My Mister' is an underrated gem.

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There are great dramas, then there is "My Ahjussi"

After finishing “My Ahjussi” (My Mister/나의 아저씨, 2018), I’m certain there are no words that can possibly do it justice, but I owe it to this absolute precious gift of a drama to at least try. First of all, I hesitate to even refer to My Ahjussi as a K-drama because it doesn’t feel like one; it’s more like a movie in 16 parts. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen and I agree with the K-drama sunbaes who say there may never be anything like it ever again. It’s that rare of a gem.

It took me a while to build up the courage to revisit this — I watched just three episodes a few months ago and paused — because I thought it might be too depressing. I’m glad I listened to my friends who said that despite its heaviness, it’s actually uplifting and satisfying. They were absolutely right: in my eyes, My Ahjussi is THE definition of a healing drama. Its message is simple, clear, and beautiful: that kindness has the transformative power to heal even the most wounded among us, that relationships are precious and amazing, that love in any form–even in ways that are hard to label or define—can help us get through the struggles of life.

Every aspect of this wonderful story came together beautifully to deliver that message: the thoughtful direction, the lighting which is a character on its own, the delicate OST, the insightful script, and the powerful, career-defining performances from its leads and supporting cast.

Lee Sun-kyun inhabited the character of Park Dong-hoon, a kind, upright, and compassionate structural engineer who quietly bears the burden of middle-age, with dignity and strength. Although he may be extraordinarily kind, he is no pushover and will not hesitate to defend those who need defending.

Lee Ji-eun (IU) is breathtaking as Lee Ji-an, a cold, hard, and cynical young girl who carries the weight of a “30,000 year old soul” in her diminutive frame. A temporary office worker at the same company as Dong-hoon, life’s unjust cruelty towards her keeps forcing her hand, driving her to cunningly manipulate people and situations in order to survive, regardless of who gets hurt.

I also grew attached to Dong-hoon’s family, especially his two brothers whose constant misfortune burdens their mother, and his tightly knit neighborhood community. All the characters are sad and broken in their own way, but the middle-aged antics and drama of his brothers and the rest of the Hugye ahjussis and ahjummas, their habit of ruminating over their troubles over soju, provide levity and comic relief. It never feels like you’re laughing at them, but with them.

I think what sets My Ahjussi apart from the rest is its realism, rawness, the melancholy that runs through it, its “flawless depiction of the human condition”-- in the words of Paulo Coelho. For those who are interested in Korean culture, look up “han” and “jeong” — two uniquely Korean concepts that are perfectly embodied here.

My only problem with My Ahjussi is that I’m afraid it’s going to ruin everything I watch from now on. I’m just going to have to keep reminding myself that it would be unfair to judge other shows by the impossibly high standards this has set — otherwise I won’t be able to enjoy anything else.

One of my greatest simple pleasures from the past months is getting personal messages from friends who’ve enjoyed the dramas they watched upon my recommendation. Because it brings me so much joy to share my happiness, I've made it my personal mission to get as many people as possible to watch this masterpiece, my new favorite show (not just Korean, but of any origin).

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If I try to describe it in words this drama come from other earth , it's not like anything watching ever , Amazing acting .. Great Music .. Simple story with deep meanings dug deep into my heart ..

My Mister successfully touches on universal themes of brotherhood, friendship, perseverance, selflessness, accountability, forgiveness, acceptance, and letting go. The stellar supporting cast makes a frank exploration of these themes not just possible, but deep and poignant, adding to the already rich narrative. Much like adhering to strict building codes, these friends and family members resemble pillars which boost each other up in good times and bad

So somone plz give this show all the Korean Oscars known T__T
hope everyone start this drama without read any synopsis , just start watching and enjoy with everything in screen ❤

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Oh my God. This drama transcends anything I've watched, and honestly, probably anything I will watch. Normally when I see reviews with perfect 10's across the board, I just think to myself that they're overly exaggerated, just blinded by some aspects of the drama, but right now, that's me... The pros so heavily outweigh the cons that even after a week since finishing the drama, I can still only see positives.

Story - The drama tells the story of an apathetic structural engineer and an impoverished young lady and the hardships that they face with their respective families. It takes you on a long and emotional journey depicting the bond that grows between the two main characters. At first, I thought it sounded a bit boring. I didn't think there would be anything special or really interesting about the interaction between two different people... and I've never been more wrong in my life. In retrospect, the story can be said to be predictable, but this drama isn't about the twists and turn. Rather, it's about being human and overcoming life's obstacles which is something everyone can relate to.
Honestly, I'm not a big crier, but this drama made me bawl. Hard. I never thought I could feel this much emotion watching something. The writers get you hooked onto the depressed and broken character of Lee Ji-An to the point where you can completely and realistically feel her pain and absolutely empathize with her. Same goes for the character of Park Dong Hoon. They're just ordinary people, yet there's something so appealing and engaging about their stories, you can't help but be emotionally attached. The setting and cinematography were also so fitting and masterful. Some scenes and shots were truly gorgeous and breathtaking.
One small downside I can think of would be the interaction between one of Park Dong Hoon's brothers, Park Ki Hoon and an actress Choi Yoo-Ra. Even though they received a decent amount of screen time, I wasn't able to deeply connect with the two and could not find any substance to cling onto. Nonetheless, the extraordinary main story completely overshadows any dull plot points, making them really insignificant in the grand scheme, at least for me.

Acting - The chemistry between IU (Lee Ji An) and Lee Sun-Kyun (Park Dong Hoon) was heavenly. How could anyone come up with such a perfect pairing for these two roles? IU man. Lee Ji-Eun. Saying she was perfect for this role is an understatement. I've been a long time fan but seeing how well she embraced this role heightens my respect for her. All her moments of silences in this drama spoke volumes. Her soft voice, her facial expressions & microexpressions, and her tears were all so heartrending. There was one scene towards the end where she said one line and I completely lost all ability to hold in my emotions.
Lee Sun-Kyun was a very fitting Ahjussi for this role. A reserved, intelligent and kind-hearted man who sparingly shows his emotions. When you do get a glimpse of his emotions, you can feel just how heavy his burdens are. A fantastic character and an even more fantastic actor.
All the supporting characters did an excellent job, but Song Sae Byuk played an unbelievable brother. Although, as I said before, I didn't really feel his chemistry with Kwon Nara, certain dialog exchanges between him and LSK were incredibly moving.
One character that I felt didn't give me the emotion I wanted at times was Lee Ji-Ah's character, Kang Yoon-Hee. Some emotions felt a little forced and unnatural, but given that her character was tough to portray, she did pretty well.

Music - There's not a single thing wrong with it. I don't know what else to say... Every piece fits so well, seamlessly into the drama and enhanced the already powerful emotion that the actors drew out. The main theme - "Adult" by Sondia truly captured the essence of the film. The lyrics were so deep and powerful and really brought the drama to another level.
Besides the main theme, a couple of other OST/BGMs really stood out to me. "Feel Guilty" by Jeon Se Jin is a dark, eerie and melancholy piece which, for a strange reason, really worked with those "guilty" scenes. "My Family" by Lee Yun Ji is a really heartwarming piece that contributed to a lot of the tears, always played at just the right moments and killing me emotionally.

Some people are asking for a second season, but that is definitely a no from me. This drama ended perfectly. Like legitimately, perfectly. The last dialog and scene were perfect. I know I keep using the word perfect, but that's the closest word to my feelings. If there was a word better than perfect I would use it. I tried my best to describe this drama in words, but honestly, I can't do it enough justice. Even now, I'm still at a loss for words. My Mister is just a drama you have to watch for yourself. Really sit there and watch it. Remove yourself from reality and really place yourself into this world when you watch it. You will laugh and you will cry, but you won't regret it one bit.

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