Understated and thoughtful
I enjoyed the way in which this drama brought me on an exploration of internal human struggles in a mature way. From office politics to abusive relationships to just hanging on through daily struggles, it handled these issues with a quiet, understated, and thoughtful approach.Lee Sun Kyun plays his upright but anxious white collar character with depth, and IU plays the struggling young secretary in a way that resists manipulating our heartstrings just for the sake of easy sympathy. I appreciate the writing and directing to this end, making it more realistic and a true exploration of the characters for their own sakes, not for the audience's sake. Some would call the execution of this show boring because of the lack of overt emotional manipulation, but if you watch closely, you get absorbed into the quiet struggles of each character. So you need to be in the mood for the pace and details in order to enjoy it.
One thing I loved about the show was the element of the supporting characters who meet at the community bar to drink together. Their collective nostalgia and comradery is used as a blanket to support each other, and they warmly adopt IU's Lee Ji Ahn into their circle. Despite their hardships, they care for each other with unspoken kindness.
This was a slower paced, detailed, and satisfying show. There is rewatch value here in which you could do detailed character studies and notice the way in which the dialogue shows character growth and personal insights.
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Worth every single second of your time
I watched this drama last year, early 2019. At first I’ve only watched it only because IU was in it and I stumbled upon the OSTs of the drama but I was by the end of it, I didn’t know I would get this attached. This drama got me extremely hooked on the main character’s plot the whole series, though I have to admit I wasn’t that interested to the other character’s scenarios. I even had a point in the drama where I skipped some of the side character’s part because I found it a bit boring. However, I laughed, cried and smiled all throughout this drama. It made me feel different variants of emotions all throughout the series.Now its 2020 and we’re in the middle of a pandemic which made me rewatch this drama again and it honestly feels like Im watching a whole different drama.
“You’re all decent people. May you hang in there until you find comfort for yourselves.”
This was the production team’s message at the very end of the drama but for some reason, even the statement made me cry. For months, ever since I first watched the drama, I’ve held on to this statement without knowing why. For some reason it brought tears to my eyes.
And after finishing the drama again today, it was the same. I cried when I read it. However, the thing that changed the most is that I finally understand, the reason why the statement made me cry. It was because it brought me comfort. For some reason, I cried throughout the most scenes that lead towards the ending but when the ending scene actually came up, it only made me genuinely smile. Without even knowing it.
The bright smiles of the two main characters was truly very fulfilling to see in the end especially when I saw the struggles and the frowns they almost seemed to wear all throughout the series. Their smiles was comforting.
This drama brought me such a huge comfort in coping with my own struggles. It helped me understand the people around me, I honestly never thought I’ll get this attached to a drama like this but it’s definitely worth every single second of watching it!
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Loved JiAn and DongHoon together. True definition of soul mates. Should you watch it? I think you’re definitely missing out on something amazing. Its a kdrama not like any others. It felt like a genre of its own.
And I made an account just because of My Ajusshi! Now, to start my rewatch...
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But then I started My Ajusshi, which portrayed - once again - messed up characters and unbearing pasts, though in a very different way.
What is truly wonderful about this drama is the realistic way everyone is described. The point isn't to simplify or beautify, but rather to show us raw emotions. People in their weakest moments to understand how they're inclined to react differently or where their strengths and weaknesses are coming from. There is a darkness lying deep in each character, being intensified by equally gloomy environments, and that's what I love about it. The conflictual thoughts and desperate actions. The will to help and protect facing the sense of self-preservation. This is partly what human nature is made of, and it's good to be reminded of that once in a while.
The most faithful representation of this idea in this drama would be Kwang Il. The duality in this character made him one of my favorite protagonists in this show - maybe even of all dramas combined. He truly was a captivating character, conflicted between his old memories and his current situation. The way he found to cope with this duality was wrong in so many levels, and made me wonder even more what he could have been.
As the story goes on, we learn more and more about the characters, pieces of information being given to us progressively until, getting deeper into the story, we finally grasp the whole picture.
This is why IU has done such a great job portraying Lee Ji An. We knew very little about her in the beginning and her repulsive actions could have made her really dislikable. But somehow she managed to pique our interest. And there was so much more to this character than her cold demeanor. Constantly trying to push people away, she conveyed such strong emotions while maintaining her blank face, I could never understand it. Whether it be an attempt to appear strong or to hide the feelings or thoughts tormenting her, we could almost always see past the surface and perceive the purpose of her actions.
All the characters influence each other at one point or another, and the relationships forming are so complex that it wouldn't be right to try and put a label on it. Lee Ji An and Park Dong Hoon have had a rough start, but their strength is that they understand the other and recognize the purpose in each of their actions.
In the end we're left to feel like we've grown along with the protagonists, and it is one of the main reasons why I would recommend this drama. Well, along with the beautiful OST and the unique characters depicted.
This drama is definitely worth it.
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One of the strengths of this drama is the characters portrays each of the protagonists. The way the emotions and frustrations executed are all flawless. It was so deep that you will cry and sympathize with them. All the supporting characters steal some moment too, the sense of community and loyalty has been build up to make the story warm amidst the struggles.
The plot is so well-written, the story is consistent and unpredictable. The relationship between the two leads is extraordinary, nothing is overdone and offensive. The concepts of love, family, and marriage depict the sense of reality in a very delicate matter, and that’s what I really like about.
While watching this drama, I realized that my life is somehow far better to compare, and I am thankful for that. Yes, it’s okay to be lonely and pitiful, everyone has this dark hour of battle. And when we fall into the hard time sides of our life, let’s think, “it’s okay, it’s no big deal, hang in there until I’ll find comfort for myself.”
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This review may contain spoilers
It would have been an amazing movie didn't need 16 episodes for such small story
I've watched this drama after a lot of recommendations from my friends and others ,, they said it's the bestand I had high expectations then it let me down
The story itself isn't bad , it's kind of realistic not romantic or fantasy but it's not actual reality story
Yes ,, there are girls similar to the female lead in real life and there are few good men such as the male lead also but even a righteous man has his breaking point not that passive about every thing happening to him ... the writer didn't bother to give more effort on the story and add more details about every character ,, she just focused in few characters then put them in a bar and repeated the scenes of drinking , eating , sulking and crying hours and hours through the episodes
we didn't get to see the Ajussi's son at all or how he feel about his parents ,, we didn't ge to see the older brother's family and how they treat him ,, we didn't get to see more details to the cooperate corruption of the company ,, we didn't get to see what happened to the gangster who bullied the female lead all the time ,, we didn't get to see more of the happy ending if we can call it that
she just stuck with the most boring annoying scenes of drinking and eating at the bar most of the time wasting hours not minutes ,, they were too much ,, I skipped a lot
I've pinged watched this so I've noticed that a lot
all I've said after finishing it ,, that would have been great movie ,, why did I waste hours of my life watching grown men repeatedly crying ,, drinking and eating at a bar sulking about their Misérable lives
Over all for me this was a boring drama with nice sad story stretched out
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My Mister – A Masterpiece Etched in Silence and Sorrow
There are stories that entertain, stories that move, and then there are stories that change you. My Mister isn’t just a drama—it’s an experience, a deep, soul-wrenching journey that lingers long after the credits roll. It doesn’t rely on grand gestures or melodramatic flair to tell its story. Instead, it thrives in the mundane, the quiet, and the unspoken, proving that sometimes, the softest whispers echo the loudest.At its core, My Mister is a story of two people drowning in life’s weight, finding an unlikely connection that neither romanticizes nor simplifies their pain. Park Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) is a man in his forties, suffocating under the sheer gravity of existence—trapped in an unfulfilling marriage, burdened by family responsibilities, and slowly eroded by the small betrayals of everyday life. Lee Ji-an (IU) is a young woman who has never known warmth, scraping through survival in a world that has shown her nothing but cruelty. Their bond isn’t one of passion or romance, but something far more profound—recognition. A silent acknowledgment of shared loneliness, of a mutual understanding that transcends words.
Many dramas rely on explosive confrontations and grand resolutions to convey emotions. My Mister does the opposite. It lets pain settle in the spaces between dialogue, in the weary sighs, in the exhausted way Dong-hoon trudges through life, in the hollow yet defiant way Ji-an stares at the world. It’s a symphony of restraint, where every pause, every stolen glance, every half-smile screams louder than words ever could.
Lee Sun-kyun delivers a masterclass in quiet devastation. He embodies Dong-hoon as a man who has been beaten down by life but refuses to break, holding onto his decency like a life raft. His every movement is heavy with exhaustion, his rare moments of joy fragile yet radiant. There’s no dramatic breakdown, no theatrical outburst—just a man enduring, because that’s all he knows how to do. Then there’s IU. This is the performance that shattered every preconception about her as an actress. As Ji-an, she is a ghost of a girl, worn thin by hardship, navigating life with a survivalist instinct that leaves no room for softness. Her eyes—hollow, unreadable, yet brimming with unspoken emotion—do most of the acting. When Ji-an finally allows herself to feel, even if just for a second, it’s like watching the first cracks in a dam before the flood. Their connection is so profound because it isn’t forced. There is no “saving” each other. No grand promises of happiness. Just two broken people walking the same dark road, offering the smallest flicker of light.
But My Mister isn’t just about Dong-hoon and Ji-an—it’s about all the people weighed down by life’s burdens. Dong-hoon’s brothers, endlessly flawed yet deeply human. His colleagues, wrapped in office politics and petty betrayals. The neighborhood ahjummas, the struggling bar owner, even the antagonists—all of them feel like real people with real struggles. There are no caricatures, no villains twirling their mustaches. Just people, messy and imperfect, trying their best. Even Dong-hoon’s wife, whose betrayal could have been written as a one-dimensional act of villainy, is given depth. Her actions are painful, yes, but never cartoonish. Like everyone else, she is just a product of her own loneliness.
One of the most stunning aspects of My Mister is its use of subtext. This isn’t a drama that spells things out for you—it lets you observe, feel, and piece things together yourself. It respects its audience’s intelligence, layering its story with nuance that rewards attentive viewers. Dong-hoon and Ji-an’s conversations are often not about what they’re actually about. Their silences hold more weight than entire monologues in lesser dramas. And through it all, the drama asks: What does it mean to survive? Not just physically, but emotionally. How much pain can a person carry before they collapse? And if they do, is there anyone there to catch them?
The soundtrack of My Mister is a quiet storm—melancholic, haunting, yet strangely comforting. Sondia’s Grown-Ups lingers like an ache in the chest, a song that perfectly encapsulates the bittersweet weight of growing older, of carrying wounds no one else can see. The music isn’t just accompaniment—it is the very breath of the drama, weaving through its most powerful moments like an invisible thread tying everything together.
If My Mister has a flaw, it’s its pacing. It is slow, deliberate, demanding patience. But calling this a flaw feels almost wrong—because this isn’t a story that can be rushed. It is a sunrise, not a firework. If you’re waiting for grand payoffs or dramatic showdowns, you won’t find them here. But if you give it time, if you let it settle into your bones, My Mister will change you.
Verdict: The term “masterpiece” is thrown around far too often, but if there’s one drama that earns it in its purest form, it’s My Mister. It isn’t just about pain—it’s about the resilience to endure it. It isn’t about grand, sweeping love—it’s about the small, quiet kindnesses that keep us going. This isn’t just storytelling. This is life, captured in its rawest, most beautiful form.
Final Score: 10/10
A once-in-a-lifetime drama that doesn’t just set a standard—it defines one.
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FINDING BEAUTY IN BROKENNESS
Watching My Mister wasn't just about finishing another kdrama for me. It felt like peeling back layers of my own life, one painful and beautiful truth at a time. It's not the kind of drama that entertains you with crazy twists or exaggerated romance. Instead, it looks you straight in the eyes and quietly asks, Are you okay? Are you tired too?The story of Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An is heavy, but not in a way that pushes you away. It's heavy because it feels so real. The loneliness, the quiet suffering, the unspoken burdens, they are things I've felt, and maybe things you've felt too. Their pain doesn't feel like fiction, it feels like watching your own scars being mirrored on screen. Sometimes I found myself crying not because the characters were sad, but because I suddenly remembered the parts of myself I'd been ignoring for so long.
The performances of the two main leads are beyond phenomenal. Every small glance, every silence, every restrained word carried weight. IU's portrayal of Ji An broke me. The way she bottled up years of pain, surviving each day, felt like embodiment of all the times I've swallowed my tears just to get through another night. And Dong Hoon, with his quiet kindness and despair, reminded me that in brokenness, there's still dignity and comfort left in humanity.
And then there's the OST. My God, the OST. Every track felt like a heartbeat echoing in the background of my own life. What makes My Mister so haunting and universal is that it doesn't pretend life is easy. It doesn't give you simple answers or happy illusions. But it shows that even in the bleakest corners of life, a single act of understanding, a single connection, can keep someone going. That's why people can relate to it. It's not about resolutions, it's about surviving the day, and maybe finding one person who sees you when the world doesn't.
For me, this drama was a mirror and a comfort at the same time. It broke my heart but also held it gently. And maybe that's why it lingers, it reminds us that even when we're at our lowest, there's still hope in connection, still beauty in brokenness, still meaning in simple enduring. None of this impact would have been possible without the brilliance of the director and screenwriter, kudos to them. It takes a rare sensitivity to tell a story this raw yet still give us space to breathe, and for that, I'll always admire them.
Let's be happy!
Plot 10/10
Acting and Characters 10/10
Cinematography 9/10
Writing 10/10
Pacing 10/10
OST/Score 9.5/10
Overall 9.5/10
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This review may contain spoilers
My 15 favourite scenes of My Mister *SPOILERS*
Hi everyone,
Rather than writing a review of this show, I thought I will list 15 of my favourite scenes. It was VERY hard to narrow it down, and also very hard to order it. My number 1 is clear favourite, then 2-6 are also about my next favourites although order changes based on the day. The rest is very loosely ordered. I have also cheated little bit to sneak more than 15 lol.
I wish I could speak Korean, because I am sure this drama would have been even better.
Before I start the countdown, I would like to state my strong desire to stand in the middle of the biggest public square in Seoul and bow to the creative team (especially the writer) 10 times and say "gamsahamnida"
15. Various scenes of Ji-An listening on her own and silently reacting. Probably the pick is when she hears him breaking down and start to cry.
14. Buy me new slippers. Great speech concluded by a great line. I think most of us saw this line coming, but it was still very satsfying to hear. And, I don't want even to get into what slippers really mean.
13. Karoke scene. Boy! aren't those two songs AMAZING! and Oh Na-Ra and LSK killed it with their voices. Afterwards I went hunting for them on YouTube. "In A Faraway Place" is just awsome!
12. Ji-An: Call me. Oh! & Yoo-Ra speech about AI.
11. Ji-An breaking down in tears in E9 when she hears Dong-Hoon standing up fo her. Finally! someone knowing her darkest secret, and still standing by her.
10. First smile. We had to wait for it fo very long time, but that little smile between them warmed my heart so much.
09. Older brother apologising to Yoon-hee. I know he cries and apologise all the time, but this one REALLY hit me hard, and my tears were rolling with him. I think he really felt partly responsible, and was in his way trying to "fix" the problem. He wanted them to stay together.
08. Ji-An worrying about Dong-hoon (snow and bridge scenes). I believe the snow scene was one of the pivotal and turning points in the series. Ji-An could no longer pretend indifference. She clearly cared about him, and was worried about him
07. Walking home at night. That was such a BEAUTIFUL scene culminating in another turning point. Ji-An for the first time sincerly bowing and saying "Thank you"
06. The Finale. This was one of the best final scenes ever. I know some people didn't like the ambiguity of it, but I actually think it was a genius finale. IMO it managed to satisfy both camps. Those who were looking for romantic relationship and those who were not.
...Ok..now we got to the super-emotional scenes.
05. Phone call in E14 between Ji-An & Dong-hoon. Man! that scene is heartwrenching. I lost it when she told him "you have been kind to me more than 4 times". Everyting about this scene is amazing. The writer is a genius, but so is the director and cinematography. And of course the actors. LSK in this scene said more with his body language, breathing, sighing, and unspoken words than by what he actually said loudly.
04. I really wanted you to be happy & hospital: The emotional climax of the series. Damn! just thinking about the scene in the shed bring tears to my eyes.
03. Yoon-Hee apology & confrontation. As someone still relatively new to K-drama I didn't know Lee Ji-ah. Not anymore. I was very impressed by her acting. Yoon-hee is a really interesting character. While I do think her affair is wrong, we have to admit that Dong-hoon is not a great husband despite being a wnderfull and amazing human being. What I am most critical about her is her willingness to go along with the original sacking plot. Adultery is bad, but there are mitagating circumstances, but ruining Dong-hoon reputation is unexcusable. But, I was glad she got a redemption arc.
The scene between them though was heartbreaking, and SO well acted!. And when you add Ji-An silent reaction and her tears at the hospital, it is for me one of the most memorable scenes.
02. Ji-An replaying "You are nice" again and again. I don't see this mentioned very often, but for me it is amazing. Here she is hearing for the first time in her life someone (beside close ones) telling her something positive about herself. Even people who lead a very nice and comfortable life long for such things, so we can imagine how much more this meant to her. Such a simple silent scene, but it wrecked me.
01. "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida" "Jalmottaessupmida"
Ji-An breaking down in the middle of the street. When I was watching this for the first time I had to stop the episode because I was properly crying. I have watched this scene countless times now, and I still get emotional. This is basically all her remorse and guilt coming out.
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There is no need for more words so explain the greatness of this drama because it will do it injustice. Just watch it yourself and enjoy every minute of it while it lasts.
I would like to add that the acting was great, and the music especially brought out the exact emotion from me as it was expected to, which is something that one should always appreciate. There wasn't any unnecessary drama and it does not feel elongated at all; it was quite the contrary, you would want to stay going on for longer. The last words at the very end also console the watcher, pulling you into the depths of its story-line, making you an intrinsic part of its very core. It is very real and rooted in reality, making it a great watch because you can ultimately relate to it as a human-being and the moments where there would, in reality, be no music to mask the awkwardness or the tension, there isn't. It shows you real life in the surrealistic nature of a TV show. And at the very end, you truly feel happy for everyone, as though they are real people.
I know this might be too much but it truly touched my heart and I thank everyone who worked on this drama because it has made me happier than I have been in a long while.
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ENGROSSING
This drama is a wonder due to its exceptional writing and direction.It's not your normal drama but so much engrossed and focus on each element, which takes over your attention slow and steady.
The depth of each character is enigmatic as they reveal it slowly which makes it more exciting.
The drama is slow and gets dragged towards the 2nd half, particularly the last 4 episodes.
What makes this drama distinctive is the realism with which it tackles human nature, difficulties, relationships b/w people, corporate hierarchy and how a family plays part in your living.
That misery brings misery and your company matters.
The side character story was pure BS as I didn't like the brother's struggle at all.
It was pure incompetency but still, the characters are characters and the focus was to highlight the what-if situation
The ending is on a positive footnote which is overwhelming.
The most important aspect that many would ignore is the relationship b/w the Husband and Wife that improves as the drama progresses coz initially many people think that in these types of dramas you'll encounter a typical love story which is not the case.
This drama also represents what unrequited love feels like, how it goes and how it ends as well .
Overall, they could've made it 12 episodes and been done with it.
Hence it's an 8.5/10
PS: To me, Lee Ji Ah stole the limelight with her acting skills instead of IU despite having a side role.
SPOILER POST THIS SO DON'T READ :
This drama had such a great ending, I'm glad they didn't show and forced a sh*8ty love story b/w Ji an and Dong Hoon and shifted their focus to progressing the relationship b/w Yoon Hee and Dong Hoon which was wonderful to watch and as real as it could get.
How the affair happened and whatever reasons were given felt so genuine that for the first time you could understand why She did what she did and how both of them were equally responsible for it.
Brilliant writing I must say.
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The Best Drama I've Seen So Far
I normally don't write reviews, but now I'm compelled to because of how amazing and breathtaking this drama was.I'm glad I watched this drama after all this time. I found this drama awhile ago, but I never watched, it probably wouldn't have suited my tastes when I was younger. But, when I started watching it recently I was hooked. I binged watched it in a few days.
This is by far the most realistic show I've ever watched. Each character you can feel their emotions perfectly that's how good the writing and acting is. I never related to the main leads in a drama as much as I did in this one.
If I had to describe it briefly, it's about humans and their emotions.
The music is also fantastic, my favorite song from the OST being There's a Rainbow. With the rewatch value, I can see myself watching this again sometime which is huge for me since I rarely ever rewatch dramas.
I recommend that everyone gives this drama a chance. It's truly brilliant.
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